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Pitfalls of emissions trading

More and more, I'm thinking a carbon tax and putting new energy technologies freely into the public domain is the way to go, especially after reading stuff like this.

Newer and cheekier!

With sincere respect to my colleagues across the Atlantic (this is all a matter of opinion, after all), I'm dismayed by some of the choices on their list of most important environmental books. Hoary tomes like The Lorax, an analysis of the impact of pesticides on the environment that's nearly a half-century old (I shake in my boots to criticize La Carson thus) ... if the list were of books that had a big impact in their time, or books that will bolster the sentiments of the already-sympathetic, then it would be enough.

But the "small is beautiful," "earth as organism," "pursue simplicity" approach to eco-reform reflected in most of these choices has not proven a big winner in Western mass culture. Right or wrong, converting Western mass culture is the task at hand today, if we're going to solve the problems addressed by these authors over the decades.

What are the books that speak to more recent science, contemporary events, and our evolving understanding of the intersections of environment with economy, culture, and human rights?

Here are some titles I'd consider:

Rev. Joel Hunter speaks out on broadening the evangelical agenda

In July, Rev. Joel Hunter was named president-elect of the Christian Coalition of America, the legendary political advocacy organization founded by Pat Robertson. Rev. Joel Hunter.Last month, just before he was to formally take office, he abruptly stepped down after a meeting with the coalition’s board of directors. According to Hunter, it became clear that […]

Namely, biofuels

I happened to disagree with a very reasonable critique I found on Gristmill last week, and want to use an article called "Stuck in the Middle with Fuel" (a great title by the way) by Eliza Barclay as a foil. It is a perfectly good article. I am using it as an example of traditional journalism only because it was timely and handy. Getting a piece past a battery of editors is one hurdle; having it pass muster on the comments field of the blogosphere is another thing altogether.

Keeping with tradition, Eliza must feign neutrality. She begins her narrative by painting a picture in the reader's mind, subtly suggesting that biofuels will rid third world countries of smoke belching diesel trucks:

Occasionally these rural taxis are new vehicles, but most are rickety, rusted, and running on antiquated engines and exhaust-spewing diesel.

Next, she must obtain interviews from experts:

Working less saves the earth

Woah now!

We get about 28 zillion press releases a day, and I ignore the vast majority. But this one is speaking to me!

If the world works as many hours as Americans currently do, it would consume 15-30 percent more energy by 2050 than it would by following Europe's model, according to a paper by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

"Are Shorter Work Hours Good for the Environment? A Comparison of U.S. and European Energy Consumption," by researcher David Rosnick and economist Mark Weisbrot, looks at the potential environmental effects of European and other countries adopting the U.S. norm of longer work hours. The authors find that the implications for global climate change could be significant.

Save the Earth: Work Less!

Wow

Longest ... Daily Grist ... ever.

Readers write in about factual boo-boos, fish-eating fish lovers, and more

  Re: The Great White Hopeless Dear Editor: The closing line (“The baiji thus receives the dubious posthumous award for being the first large aquatic mammal to be killed off by human activity”) in your recently published story on the baiji is incorrect. Ever heard of the Steller’s sea cow? Thanks, Bob Grant New York, […]

Giving a whole new meaning to bird lady

Part rooftop birdhouse, part funky science experiment, and part architectural marvel, Natalie Jeremijenko has created an urbanized playground for birds in Manhattan. View her work and listen to her take on "interactive collective" environmentalism.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Thank You

Grist winds down for a holiday break Before we say toodle-oo for the holidays, we must extend a ginormous and heartfelt thank you to all of the readers who donated during our recent fundraising appeal. We raised more than $62,000, considered spending it all on organic eggnog, then wisely decided to invest in more — […]

Particulate Shot

EPA sued over particulate standards The U.S. EPA has gotten itself sued once again this week, this time by 13 states and the District of Columbia that are pissed off about lenient soot-emission standards. The backstory: EPA analysis has found that reducing soot emissions by a relatively small amount could prevent 24,000 premature deaths a […]