This volume covers seven major indicators of environmental progress, including air quality, energy, climate change, water quality, toxic chemicals, forests and land, and biodiversity.

Improvements seen across key environmental indicators should be cause for celebration this Earth Day, according to Steven F. Hayward, Ph.D., author of the new book "Almanac of Environmental Trends."

In the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill, the Obama administration has failed to take charge of coordinating the long-term clean-up and restoration effort.

Hefty majorities approve of President Obama's economic performance, but approval numbers for congressional Republicans remain dismal.

In the remaining days of its lame-duck session, the House should adoptthe narrowly drawn Domenici-Landrieubill to expand Gulf Coast oil and gas production.

With Congress having sent a bill to the president, a lot of people inside and outside Washington will breathe a huge sigh of relief that the trauma is over. Now get ready for the next set of "my way or the highway" showdowns.

This edition of the Index reveals that environmental quality continues to improve in many key areas, including air pollution, mercury emissions, wetlands, and forestlands.

After Congress passes FTAs with Korea, Columbia and Panama, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) will become the single most important US trade initiative, serving as a building block for a larger Free Trade Area for the Asia Pacific Agreement.