A clear victory: A federal appeals court upheld the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions yesterday. The court's decision said the interpretation of the Clean Air Act that leads to limits on greenhouse gases from some sources was "unambiguously correct." Washington Post, Seattle Times, New York Times
Sunshine State?: Tropical Storm Debby helped much of Florida go from drought to flood in just a few hours this week, dumping more than six inches of rain across parts of the state. Climate Central
Hey Debby, over here!: With a week straight of 100-degree heat in Colorado and elsewhere in the West, conditions continue to be perfect for spreading the flames. Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado are all under red flag warnings for fire, and not surprisingly, the hot weather is making battling the blazes even more difficult for firefighters. The Guardian
BPA on the brain: As if we weren't worried enough about bisphenol-A, a hormone-disrupting chemical that the FDA continues to allow in our food supply, a new study has linked BPA to brain tumors. Mother Jones
Hello, Mr. Lamp?: Forget to turn out the light before heading out of town? No problem. A new LED light bulb allows you to use your smart phone to turn the light off and on (and dim it, for those romantic occassions when you're not there). And if you still forget to turn the light off remotely? Don't worry, the bulb has a life span of around 20 years. TreeHugger
What's your beef?: Find out what it takes -- from land and water use to energy and greenhouse gas emissions -- to produce just one hamburger patty. Then take into account that with the average American eating 270 pounds of meat per year, the U.S. is second only to Luxembourg for meat consumption (and we've got like oodles and oodles more citizens than tiny Luxembourg). NPR
Sewage swims: A report by NRDC, which publishes OnEarth, found that although beaches around the country were closed due to pollution 3 percent less in 2011 than in 2010, 2011 still had the third highest rate of contamination closures and notices in 22 years. And if you are one of those "I-like-clean-water" types, head to Delaware, which came in first place for least contaminated beaches. It really is the Small Wonder State. Los Angeles Times
Atlantic Avenue: Even if we manage to keep global warming to two degrees Celsius (this is getting more and more unlikely), the seas will rise between two and three feet by 2100. And if we hurdle past that two-degree mark? Yes, your beachfront home will be in serious trouble (and yes, even if it's in North Carolina). Climate Progress
Rhino birthday: A rare Sumatran rhino gave birth to a healthy male calf in an Indonesian sanctuary this week, the first such event in captivity in the country in 124 years. Fewer than 200 Sumatran rhinos are alive in Indonesia and Malaysia, so the new addition is worth celebrating (and he's really cute). Sacramento Bee
Tips: @OnEarthMag (tag it #greenreads)
Photo: International Rhino Foundation
