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From One Day to One Night

Bauer beware He’s survived 20 months of torture in a Chinese prison, thwarted presidential assassination attempts, disarmed nuclear bombs, and saved Kiefer Sutherland’s career. Did you doubt he’d eventually take on global warming? Clearly, you don’t know Jack. Bottled rage We heard it through the grapevine that Brangelina may be purchasing an eco-friendly winery in […]

They’re not going to save us

Oh well, it was a nice thought: A decade-long experiment led by Duke University scientists indicates that trees provide little help in offsetting increased levels of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Note to the hordes of indignant commenters lunging for the CAPS LOCK key: this does not mean trees are worthless. Trees do many wonderful […]

15 Green Buildings

Green building has grown up, from a tiny movement of hands-on idealists to an increasingly mainstream business sector that erects office towers and research centers. Sure, the structures on this list aren’t as low-impact as yurts or straw-bale homes, but they represent green building on a broader, more public scale — where energy efficiency and […]

Except that we still have to wait another 10 years

The German government on Wednesday cleared the way -- finally -- to phase out the mining of hard coal in Germany.

As explained by this Associated Press article in the International Herald Tribune, the heavily subsidized German hard coal industry still employs about 33,000 people in eight underground mines. The plan is to phase out hard-coal mining starting in 2009, and for miners to receive compensation if they are laid off prematurely.

Hard-coal mining "has no future" in Germany, declared Economy Minister Michael Glos. "A great, long era is coming to an end in a socially responsible way."

Bring in the Reserves

Bush administration expands marine reserves off Southern California Ending eight years of debate and study, the Bush administration yesterday announced the expansion of a network of marine reserves around Southern California’s Channel Islands. The move permanently bans recreational fishing in an area of some 150 square miles; nearly 80 percent of the area remains open […]

Vehicle of Change

These touring students give new meaning to school bus When is a school bus not a school bus? When it’s a Big Green Bus, touring the country with a load of college students and recent graduates eager to spread the word about biofuels, energy, and anything else they can get people to talk about. Sarah […]

That Sounds Perhaps Not So Clean

In need of a new solvent, dry cleaners turn to petroleum As dry cleaners stop using the solvent perchloroethylene, a suspected carcinogen that’s being phased out in California, New York, Toronto, and elsewhere, some are choosing a surprising replacement: petroleum-based solvents. Um … what? Turns out petroleum was the solvent of choice in the industry’s […]

Their Bark Is Worse For Our Blight

Decade-long study says trees may not be good at offsetting carbon Step away from the vegetation, treehuggers, and find something else to embrace. New research finds that when it comes to offsetting greenhouse gases, trees may not be up to the challenge. For 10 years, Duke University researchers plied a stand of North Carolina loblolly […]

A Jolly Good Rockefeller

Rockefeller Foundation offers climate aid to Asia, Africa Comin’ on over to the dirty-hippie side, the Rockefeller Foundation has announced an investment of $70 million over the next five years to help communities in Asia and Africa withstand the effects of climate change. The foundation will focus on developing adaptation strategies for affected populations, and, […]