Latest Articles

Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin

With the rumors swirling that Michelle Obama is a big fan of former FDA Commissioner David Kessler’s new book The End of Overeating, it seems reasonable to check in on the science behind an “addiction model” for salty, sweet, and fatty processed food (an assertion at the core of the book). As it happens, a […]

Google Earth salutes Appalachian heroes

Google Earth just released this wonderful series of videos on citizens groups and environmental heroes who are using Google Earth tools in their campaigns. Check out this clip on Appalachian Voices, Coal River Mountain Watch, and other Appalachian coalfield activists in their I Love Mountains anti-mountaintop removal campaign:

How green is Chicago?

On the same streets in the Windy City, where a young liberal Democratic activist named Francis Peabody peddled “smoke-free clean coal” in the 1890s, an estimated 400 Chicago residents marched to the infamous Fisk Generating Station coal-fired plant for the Chicago 350 Climate Action last week. Eight activists were arrested for blockading Cermak Road, in […]

The hidden cost of coal

This post originally appeared at Sightline’s Daily Score blog. Last week, Dave Roberts blogged about a recent — and very important — study by the National Research Council on the enormous hidden costs of energy consumption. I’m surprised that the study hasn’t gotten more press coverage.  It’s fact-rich, sober, and completely non-ideological — and, at […]

Obama’s attempt to tap an agrichemical-industry flack runs into trouble

While in charge of governmental affairs at Croplife America, Isi Siddiqui, second from left, talks global patent law with U.S. Trade Office officials on April 22, 2009. But don’t use the “L” word! Photo: U.S. State Department “[Croplife America] was relentless in its pursuit of monitoring and actively engaging with key influencers in its attempts […]

President Obama announces $3.4 billion investment to spur transition to smart energy grid

As the Senate debated the Kerry-Boxer climate bill in Washington, President Obama travelled to Arcadia, Florida to announce a $3.4 billion investment in to modernize the U.S. energy grid. Have a look at this official White House press release on the president’s new smart grid proposal: Speaking at Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next […]

This Halloween, cut flesh for the climate

  Halloween is almost upon us! Still stumped about the best way to decorate your premises for this spookiest of holidays? We have here a set of six Grist-exclusive patterns to help you carve the perfect eco-pumpkin. Each pattern comes with instructions. Just click on your favorite, print the PDF, sharpen your knife, and get […]

Kerry smacks down Inhofe’s lies about the cost of climate policy

At today’s hearing on the Kerry-Boxer bill, Sen. Inhofe (R-Okla.) was spouting the usual lies about the high cost of the policy. Kerry responded: That’s good, but he could have said so much more. Even with those shortcomings of economic models, the costs turn out to be “modest,” in CBO chief Doug Elmendorf’s words. For […]

Global civil society starts to take up the climate challenge

Environmentalists have been looking forward to the Copenhagen climate talks this December with a mixture of dread and expectation, as it may be the last opportunity to craft a global climate treaty as we barrel towards dangerous tipping points pointed out by leading scientists. Yet, as environmental organizations started to prepare to mobilize their members, send out their lobbyists, and make their arguments for climate action, there is new momentum from both ordinary citizens and unusual partners.

Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) [UPDATED]

Evan Bayh Sen. Evan Bayh is widely considered to be a fence-sitter on climate legislation.  He has a generally respectable environmental record, but his home state of Indiana is reliant on manufacturing and coal, so he worries that a climate bill could raise energy costs for his constituents and their employers.   In August, Bayh […]