Latest Articles

Seaweed is the best garden amendment, hands down

My wife and I have been living in a beach house for the last two weeks, and have been blessed with an incredible run of perfect summer weather. The exclamation point came with the passing of tropical storm Hanna on Saturday whose winds piled fresh seaweed high on the beach — a literal windfall for […]

Where energy/environment issues stand in the Republican Party

Now that the Republican convention is over (I hope you all followed Kate’s stellar coverage), it’s worth stepping back and assessing the big picture: Where do energy issues stand in the GOP? (As far as I can tell, environmental issues, including climate change, stand nowhere — the only person I heard mention McCain’s cap-and-trade program […]

Tom Friedman talks up the need for an ‘energy revolution’ on ‘Meet the Press’

New York Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman was on “Meet the Press” yesterday, discussing the need for an “energy revolution.” The appearance coincided with publication of his new book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America. Said Friedman, “What we need today is an […]

Arctic ringed by navigable water; rush to exploit it may spur new int’l law

For the first time in recorded history, the world’s cap of Arctic sea ice is surrounded by a ring of theoretically navigable water. It’s a phenomenon sure to pique the interest of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S., which all have Arctic territories and are maneuvering to claim as much of […]

Charlie Rose chats with pre-VP-candidate Sarah Palin

Since everyone seems obsessively interested in Sarah Palin these days, here she is in Charlie Rose’s “Green Room,” saying, among other things, that Alaska’s oil can revitalize our economy and give us energy independence, which is of course, um, false: And here’s a full hour of Charlie Rose with Ariz. governor Janet Nepolitano and Palin: […]

U.N. climate chief urges eating less meat to combat climate change

Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said this weekend that eating less meat may be the best way for people to reduce their personal carbon emissions. “In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is […]

Federal Highway Trust Fund nearly depleted due to driving cutback

High gasoline prices have spurred Americans to sharply curtail their driving in recent months and the resulting sustained dip in fuel sales has helped bankrupt a federal fund for major transportation projects across the country. The Highway Trust Fund, which is paid for almost entirely through money generated by the federal gasoline and diesel taxes, […]

Grist and Arizona State University team up on newsletter for students

As Newsweek reports in its latest issue, Grist is launching a newsletter designed specifically for Arizona State University, which has built up an impressive rep on sustainability by doing everything from installing significant solar capacity to opening the nation’s first School of Sustainability. Every two weeks the newsletter will go out to 60,000 students and […]

Grist talks to Republican convention-goers about McCain’s climate and energy plans

While at the Republican National Convention, I caught up with some of the delegates and others milling around downtown St. Paul to talk about John McCain’s climate and energy policies. Most supporters were enthusiastic about his support for expanded oil drilling (especially the Texas oilmen I ran into), but they think he’s been deluded by […]

Grist talks to Jim DiPeso of Republicans for Environmental Protection

David and I talked to Jim DiPeso, policy director of Republicans for Environmental Protection, while we were covering the Republican National Convention this week. The group endorsed John McCain way back in October, and despite the addition of the less-than-green Sarah Palin to the GOP ticket, DiPeso said his group stands by McCain. We caught […]