Latest Articles

To make the Thanksgiving centerpiece a sure triumph, go heritage — and reach for the deep-fryer

Fry ya later, alligator. In the 11 years between the Declaration of Independence and the ratification of the Constitution, arguments raged over the future of the nascent nation. One involved the naming of a National Bird. Writing to his daughter on the subject of his choice for the symbol in 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Eagles […]

Obama’s energy and environment adviser on 2009

“Enjoy the holiday season … and rest up because it’s going to be a very, very busy 2009.” — Jason Grumet, environment and energy adviser to Barack Obama, speaking at a conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday

James Bond a not-so-secret green agent

The new James Bond flick Quantum of Solace, which opens this weekend, has an eco-theme. I wrote about it in April: Quantum of Solace continues the storyline that began with Casino Royale and finds Bond shaken (not stirred) by the death and betrayal of a loved one. He wants revenge, and he points a (Gold)finger […]

Sierra Club win shuts down 30 proposed coal plants at a stroke

Kate’s going to have a longer story about this soon, but just to get the word out quickly: the Sierra Club just won a huge victory before the EPA Environmental Appeals Board. Basically it will require all new coal plants to use Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for CO2. As I said, Kate will get […]

Concerns grow about giant pollute-y cloud over Asia

A cloud of soot and other pollutants, blanketing Asia in a haze nearly two miles thick, is darkening cities, damaging crops, and killing thousands of people. But look at the bright side — it’s mitigating some impacts of climate change! Hey, they don’t call us a beacon in the smog for nothin’.

How investing in transit could save Obama’s butt

Nov. 4 was a good day for public transit. Ballot measures around the country performed well — the state of California even approving a first-in-the-nation plan to create a true high-speed, inter-city rail system. Increased Democratic majorities in the House and Senate will likely clear the way for infrastructure investment with a pronounced lean toward […]

Why bail out the car companies when they bailed out on us?

I have a new Salon article, “Is Detroit worth saving?” It is built around this piece, but I have expanded on the sad story of the Big Three Medium Two walking away from the development of hybrid gas-electric vehicles in the 1990s. I’ve been asked why I think they gave up on hybrids. The answer, […]

Must-read IEA report explains what must be done to avoid 6 degrees C warming

The International Energy Agency is out with its World Energy Outlook 2008. I wrote last week about the report’s stark conclusions on oil. The IEA’s conclusions on climate are even starker: “Without a change in policy, the world is on a path for a rise in global temperature of up to 6 degrees C.” The […]

Climate change and peak oil point us toward the same policies

This is, I think, one of the underappreciated aspects of the climate problem. I blog about it on Nature‘s Climate Feedback blog. While most pundits put the problems of energy supply and climate in opposition, my view is that a constrained fossil-fuel supply points our society towards the same policies that the climate problem does.

The green scoop on Obama’s Cabinet and administration picks and prospects

Lisa Jackson. EPA Administrator: Lisa Jackson (not officially announced) Background on Jackson. Some enviros have been critical of Jackson — get the story. Steven Chu. Secretary of Energy: Steven Chu (not officially announced) Background on Chu. Watch Chu talk about climate change and renewable energy. Carol Browner. Energy Czar: Carol Browner (not officially announced) Background […]