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Grain Production Falling as Soil Erosion Continues

The thin layer of topsoil that covers much of the earth’s land surface is the foundation of civilization. As long as soil erosion on cropland does not exceed new soil formation, all is well. But once it does, it leads to falling soil fertility and eventually to land abandonment. As countries lose their topsoil through […]

Making fuel-efficient cars will create hundreds of thousands of jobs

Jobs … who needs 'em? Not Congress, apparently. (The unemployed thank you for that debt deal! Or not.) But it turns out that the new fuel economy standards that President Obama announced last week will create jobs! Somewhere between about 500,000 and 600,000 of them by 2030, according to a report by Ceres, a group that works on sustainability issues:

Free birth control ruling is preventive care for the Earth

As of yesterday, new and renewed private insurance plans will now have to cover contraception, according to a ruling from the Department of Health and Human Services. Given that population reduction is one of the best things we can do for the planet, this is awesome news -- it removes the biggest financial barrier to people having only the number of kids they want and no more (or having no kids at all). 

Mayor of Vilnius takes out Mercedes parked in bike lane — with a tank [VIDEO]

Artūras Zuokas, the mayor of Vilnius, Lithuania, makes his point crushingly clear: Bike lanes are for bikes, not luxury vehicles.

Critical List: Debt deal cuts energy programs; solar-powered spacecraft goes to Jupiter

Is Congress passing a bill? Then you can bet it's bad for the environment. The debt deal is no exception.

We're almost out of time to start dealing with climate change, a new report says. Emissions would need to peak in 2020 in order for the planet to escape real damage. So … yeah.

Related: "Expectations are not high at the moment" for the Durban round of climate talks, according to a UN official.

Radiation levels in some parts of the Fukushima plant are still deadly.

Hope: the care and feeding of

Everywhere, along with nightmares and despair, are victories and emerging possibilities.

McChange doesn't come easy

McDonald's announced that it will include apple slices and a smaller French fry serving in its Happy Meal. How significant is the announcement?

Doing civil disobedience with style

Civil disobedience doesn't accomplish anything if it's boring. To make a real impact, direct action must involve the crucial elements of surprise and delight -- just like Tim DeChristopher's stunt.

Why is the EPA still an economic scapegoat?

Every time the economy declines, the same anti-EPA rhetoric is trotted out. But a clean environment and a strong economy are not mutually exclusive. A cost-benefit analysis of regulation shows taxpayers coming out on top.

Green crush: A restaurant, a cause

The Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York honors employers that provide safe, just workplaces for food service workers. Anna Lappe honors them with a haiku.