Uncategorized

Why are you, too, subsidizing corn ethanol?

The Globe and Mail, Canada's largest-circulation newspaper, ran an interview yesterday with Ken Field, chairman and majority owner of GreenField Ethanol, Canada's leading (corn-based) ethanol manufacturer. I will bite my tongue and refrain from comment. Let's just say that the interview says it all. And, as Dave Barry would no doubt feel compelled to add, "I swear I'm not making this up!"

Here's a selection:

Other people’s coverage

I didn’t get to watch the Waxman hearings on politicization of climate science today, and the whole rest of my day is jam-packed with meetings (urgh), so I probably won’t be able to go back and watch the video (is it even online?). Thus, I shall farm out coverage: Here’s the hearing web page, with […]

The heat is still on

Perhaps the most rewarding moment I witnessed at Sundance last week, after watching several post-screening Q&A’s with Everything’s Cool directors and stars, came on my last night in Utah. They’d just finished the film’s only screening in Salt Lake City, and the packed house had nearly all stayed for the rap session, armed with questions […]

They Put the Heat in Heath

Australian leaders suggest water recycling to address ongoing drought As evidenced by Heath Ledger, Australians are hot — so hot, in fact, that they’ve used up much of their water. As the state of Queensland suffers an ongoing drought, Premier Peter Beattie has warned that residents may soon be drinking recycled sewage water. Premiers of […]

Putting U Money Where U Mouth Is

U.S. colleges get schooled in sustainability Remember how report-card time brought a mix of emotions — excitement, anxiety, a little bit of vomit in your mouth? Oh, to be a student again. But last week, the tables were turned as 100 universities across the country were graded in a College Sustainability Report Card released by […]

Eh, You’ll Be Fine

U.S. says some gray wolves no longer need Endangered Species Act protection The U.S. government announced yesterday that it will remove 4,000 gray wolves in the western Great Lakes area from Endangered Species Act protections and work to delist 1,200 others in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Canis lupus management in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin will […]

They’re not a silver bullet, but they generally work

The last few days have been rough for carbon offsets on Gristmill, with our own Gar Lipow launching several broadsides at the whole concept. Adam Stein over at TerraPass offered to reply to some of the criticisms. Naturally, Stein is an interested party, as TerraPass sells offsets, but he’s also a clever blogger, a smart […]

U.S. response to IPCC is … something

The IPCC sent an early draft of its latest report to various world governments, seeking comment. The U.S. response (PDF) should surprise no one: it sought to push the IPCC in a favorable ideological direction. That means downplaying the negative effects of warming, bashing Kyoto, lauding the vaporous benefits of voluntary agreements, and — brace […]

Students unite to fight climate change

This week, young people at high-school and college campuses across the nation will be getting action. No, just kidding (?), they’ll be taking action — to raise awareness about climate change during the Week of Action sponsored by Campus Climate Challenge and Truth on Campus. As I mentioned earlier this month, student groups were encouraged […]

Our old friend

Later this morning (Tues.), the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — led by Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ranking Member Tom Davis (R-VA) — will hold hearings on Bush administration political interference with climate scientists. Now here’s a funny thing. Lauren Morello’s story for E&E (sub rqd.) contains this account of who will […]