Latest Articles

Opening remarks from Chu, Jackson, Vilsack, Salazar and Barbour

Prepared remarks submitted in advance to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Statement of Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy, July 7, 2009 Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Inhofe, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on moving America toward a clean energy economy. We face many serious and immediate […]

You and me and a billion tiny spores

The older man with the Coke-bottle lenses at the Boston GreenFest had a simple table — just a poster with a few pictures taped to it, and a sprig of something green. He looked grim and earnest, and although all the other booths were more alluring, full of enticing pamphlets about new green nonprofits, I […]

What is Obama’s international climate strategy?

International climate negotiations often seem like some sort of cosmic science fair project — an aquarium full of hamsters connected to rudimentary motors. There’s a lot of frantic running, a lot of sweat and heat, but in the end, very little light. Faith in the UN climate process has dimmed. Joe Romm calls it a […]

David de Rothschild: Saving the world, one adventure at a time

De Rothschild hopes his catamaran made of plastic bottles will draw attention to the need to develop solutions to increase the recycling and reuse of plastic.Courtesy Adventure EcologySan Francisco’s waterfront is but a Disney-fied ghost of its former life as a maritime hub. But amid the chi-chi cafés along The Embarcadero and the tourist trap […]

Britain’s battered leader is set on saving the world

At home he is almost universally seen as a politician running out of time, but Prime Minister Gordon Brown continues to stride onto the international stage as if he were guaranteed many more years in power. He may have lost his rapport with the British public, chalked up blunder after blunder, and already faced two […]

Senator, how will you vote on the climate bill?

Track the debate and take action >>> House lawmakers are now on the record about climate legislation, but senators still haven’t been pinned down. As the Senate begins deliberation on climate legislation, help Grist find out how senators will vote. Send a message like this one to your two U.S. senators, then post their replies […]

Senate panel to kick off climate hearings on Tuesday

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week will begin the task of drafting climate and energy legislation, picking up where the House left off after passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act at the end of June. A hearing called for Tuesday will look at different “legislative tools” for addressing climate change. […]

What’s become of school lunch

Where’s my bubble-gum-flavored apple? Photo: dancing chopsticks Remember back in April, when I bemoaned Obama’s choice of an industry-friendly school-lunch overseer? The job of administering the USDA’s school-lunch program went to Janey Thornton. She had made her name serving in several capacities for the School Nutrition Association–a conglomeration of school cafeteria managers who have never […]

Rep. Massa explains his ‘no’ vote

Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) was one of 44 Democrats who voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act (aka Waxman-Markey) on June 26. Massa sent out the following explanation to his campaign email list: On Friday, June 26th, the 111th Congress voted on, and passed the Cap & Trade Climate Bill (H.R. 2454). I […]

Not all green jobs are created equal

The stimulus package and the climate bill recently passed by the US House and now being considered in the Senate will create jobs while delivering a boost to our economy. A “green” stimulus will create approximately three times as many jobs as the same amount of spending in traditional energy industries. But clean energy is […]