Latest Articles

From Petra to Paint

The recycled envelope, please We’ll be Blunt: “Green” and “Oscars” used to be about as likely a match as James and Petra. But these days, they go hand-in-hand — to pre-Oscar eco-parties in ZAPs and Teslas. Oscar hasn’t been this green since Sesame Street. Photo: Lester Cohen / WireImage.com Does the Hoff know about this? […]

Detroit Should Get an Award for Ending Every List

New report ranks U.S. cities on environmental and social realities A new report ranks 72 U.S. cities on their greenness — but we’re not talking just parks and bike paths. The Urban Environment Report, put out by the Washington, D.C.-based Earth Day Network, includes a “vulnerable population index” that takes into account the segment of […]

Now That’s a Bald Spot

Demand for air conditioning in developing countries hurts ozone Remember when Britney had just broken up with K-Fed, and she seemed happy and healthy and getting her life back on track, and then things … took a turn for the worse? Let us draw a slightly strained analogy to the ozone layer. As ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons […]

What, Me Warring?

President Bush visits North Carolina lab, burbles about alternative fuels Tired of explaining why other countries are pulling troops out of Iraq, President Bush switchgrassed to a favorite topic yesterday: alternative energy. A photo op at a North Carolina research facility saw the Commander in Chief don a lab coat, squint thoughtfully at a jar […]

A message from Kenya and Biopact

Over on the Biopact website -- probably the best website for up-to-date international news on bio-energy science and markets -- they have posted an interesting commentary, based on a BBC interview, on how small Kenyan farmers, Mr. Peter Ndivo and Mr. Samuel Mauthike, are affected by the confusion engendered by concepts such as "carbon footprints," "fair trade," and "food miles."

Biopact's message? Buy your vegetables and fruits locally, if you must, but please allow developing countries to supply your biofuels.

Win a compost bin designed and autographed by celeb-types

Youth-focused group Global Inheritance has teamed up with hip-hoppers The Roots to get composting into schools across the U.S. As part of the Feed Your Roots campaign, elementary, middle, and high schools who develop composting programs will have the chance to win a Roots compost bin autographed by the band. To enter, students/teachers must submit […]

She’s not into it

A couple weeks ago, Daily Grist noted Richard Branson’s $25 million prize, offered for some kind of widget that will take CO2 out of the atmosphere. I didn’t have much to say about it — Tom more or less captured my feelings in his comment. Somebody with Branson’s money and profile shouldn’t be promoting magical […]

Vilsack is out

Vilsack, we hardly knew ye. A long shot, yes. But those energy policies … so dreamy.

British-built server up for big award

We here at Grist love computers, even if sometimes they don't love us back. Every once in a while, a piece of technology comes out that you can't help but get excited about (and I'm not talking about the iPhone).

It’s all the buzz in Europe

Global warming and Chinese pottery to blame!