Daily Roundup: September 22, 2009

Positive Progress: U.S. carbon emissions have dropped 9 percent since 2007, bucking the century-long upward trend. Also, oil use declined 5 percent since 2008, and coal use fell 1 percent in that same period. Treehugger

Following Soot: China, Japan, and the global airline industry all vowed to slash their emissions. Yahoo! News, AFP, and CNN

Visible Impact: Google Earth and NASA are collaborating to create a map that illustrates the world’s carbon dioxide. PhysOrg.com

Grizzly Outlook: Yellowstone’s grizzly bears are back on the endangered list; only about 600 of them are left. Los Angeles Times and Sierra Club

Impending Water Hogs: As Asians start to crave more meat, the world’s water supply may be in danger. In China, water amounts needed to produce food for the increasingly carnivorous diet are predicted to rise as much as 50 percent by 2040. National Geographic

--Avital Binshtock