Latest Articles

Review of climate change impact economics

Paul Krugman has a blog post about one of my favorite economists, Marty Weitzman. He has the central point right, which is that “on any sort of expected-welfare calculation, the small probability of catastrophe dominates the expected loss.” But Krugman’s general lack of understanding of global warming — and his willingness to believe anything Bjørn […]

Snippets from the news

• U.S. passes Germany as world’s top wind power producer. • U.N. turns down the AC and encourages less clothing. • McCain talks energy in Nevada. • South Africa outlines climate-change plans. • Coal shortage brings fear of China electricity crisis.

Tips for bridesmaids wanting fair-trade frocks

As if the list of bridesmaidsy duties (party-planning, dress-bustling, photo-posing, tear-wiping, etc.) isn’t long enough, finding an ethically sourced, eco-conscious, and, um, attractive frock for the occasion is no piece of (multi-tiered) cake. Today, The Guardian addresses this very dilemma: One of my dearest friends will be getting married next year and has asked me […]

Artificial turf found not harmful to children

Artificial field turf does not expose young children to harmful levels of lead, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded Wednesday. “Our message is: go out and play,” says a CPSC spokesperson. Because it’s durable, easy to maintain, and doesn’t require pesticides, synthetic turf has increasingly replaced grass fields across the U.S. Manufacturers insist that […]

Industry report touts potential for biotech crops to combat climate change

I am always a sucker for a catchy sounding report -- like the one the World Business Council for Sustainable Development released last week: "Agricultural Ecosystems: Facts and Trends." It had it all: the noble sounding "Council," the association between agriculture and ecosystems, and the appeal to my inner science-geek with words like "facts" and "trends." I printed it out enthusiastically and got out my highlighter, ready to read all of the fascinating new insights into agriculture, food, and the environment.

I was intrigued by the beginning section on consumer patterns which detailed the increased demand for meat in developing countries and the impact this might have worldwide. One section focused on the role of animal production in climate change. I skipped along to the climate section nodding my head in agreement the entire time: converting grasslands to agriculture is a huge source of carbon dioxide emissions; conventional agriculture can threaten biodiversity; and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated by integrated crop management and minimum tillage. I balked a bit when they cited that agriculture produced 14 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the year 2000 (since then the United Nations has stated that animal production alone produces 18 percent of our global greenhouse gas emissions), but I still felt confident that the report might be worth something.

Maybe I set my expectations a bit high.

Cheney, Johnson, and CO2

Since folks are calling for EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to resign, it's perhaps time to reveal exactly why he has been such a stick in the mud on CO2.

Full hilarious details are now available, from satirist Harry Shearer's July 13 edition of Le Show: Listen to "Dick Cheney Confidential," minute 25:30. Very enlightening.

What to do with your dumpster now that you recycle/compost everything

Before you trash your dumpster (now that you recycle/compost everything, natch), consider this awesomeness:

Grape-Nuts releases global warming ad

I have no idea what this ad means. But I saw it in Newsweek and had to scan it onto the blog:

Groups sue Navy over underwater explosions

Environmental groups are up in arms about training exercises conducted by the U.S. Navy — not sonar this time, but underwater explosives. The Wild Fish Conservancy and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have filed a federal lawsuit against the Navy, saying its practice of training divers to explode dummy mines in Washington State’s Puget Sound […]

McCain compares Obama to Britney and Paris in new energy ad

In the ongoing energy ad battle, John McCain released another television ad today on the subject. Or at least it purports to be about energy. The ad juxtaposes video of Obama at his recent speech in Berlin with photos of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and alleges that while he might be celebrated the world […]