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Quick, Hide the Mung Beans

Unexpected levels of human-caused methane could mean trouble A rise in human-caused methane emissions — a phrase that certainly does not make us giggle — has been masked by a decline in natural methane releases, says a new report in Nature. Atmospheric concentrations of methane, less abundant than carbon dioxide but 20 times greenhouse-gassier, have […]

Anti-Kelo measures cover for anti-planning measures

There was an odd little story in USA Today on Sunday, covering the raft of so-called "property rights" initiatives on the November ballot throughout the Western U.S.

I say odd, because it almost completely misses the point.

Man-made reef of tires deemed failure

Off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale lies a 36-acre pile of tires -- 2 million of them to be exact. Could it be the final resting place of the infamous Firestone recall of 2000? Not exactly. The area is actually Osbourne Reef -- a man-made reef that's been around since the '70s. At first glance, it looks more like a sea of tires than a marine habitat. But upon closer inspection ... yup, still a sea of tires.

Until you know what

... until the election.

With people like Pombo and Inhofe chairing the most important environment-related committees in Congress, there has never been a more urgent time for change since, well, since the last time we had a chance to throw the bums out.

Seriously, if this were a movie, you'd pan it for being too over the top. "C'mon," you'd say. "Just as time is running out in the fight against apocalyptic global warming, the most important committee chairpersonships are given to anti-science flat-earthers in the pocket of big oil? You expect me to believe that? The situation was too unrealistic for me to emotionally identify with the crisis. Hollywood ... " a rueful shake of the head, "Thumbs down."

It's not essential to defeat them individually, though that would add welcome schadenfraude. We just need to change the balance of power in Congress, and let someone else take the reins. You know the score. We need a net of 15 seats in the House, and 30 plus are well in play. We need 6 in the Senate -- that's a tougher fight. I don't give a flying flip if you want to save the whales, kill the whales, or just use alternative interrogation methods on them -- my idea of an environmentalist is someone who doesn't wake up November 8 thinking: I coulda done more.

Fully built climate satellite left sitting unused in warehouse

This article at Seed is astonishing:

At a time when the Earth's climate is at the top of practically every nation's agenda, it might seem perplexing that there's a $100 million, fully completed climate-sensing satellite stored in a warehouse in Maryland ... Could the decision to kill DSCOVR have anything to do with the politics of climate science?

The shocking answer after the jump!

Weaving all over the U.S. to draw attention to environmental justice

The Environmental Justice for All tour plugs onward at a breakneck pace, weaving through Albany and Hartford yesterday and up to Boston today. More videos online today.

The fight is on

This is a war I expect will only get more heated over the next few years: the fossil-fuel industry (last century's dominant power) and the Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur set (this century's).

The first major battle has broken out in California:

Overfishing, global warming causing increases in jellyfish populations

Ahoy, me hearties! Me hopes ye've now recovered from Talk Like a Pirate Day. Turned out to be a jolly good time here at Grist HQ aboard me ship -- a good lot of pirate jokes and a few noggins o' rum and me timbers were shivered, if ye know what I mean.

Well, this week mateys, me post was inspired by the maritime adventures of a coworker shipmate during his travels in Cabo. Apparently, after a dip in the refreshing waters, his partner started to develop a large welt -- likely from a jellyfish floating stealthily nearby. The anecdote led me to mention how jellyfish had ruined many a day at the beaches where I grew up and how I thought populations were increasing due to warmer waters in recent years. Read: global warming. So I did a bit of research to find out if this is, in fact, true.

Worldwatch founder says stuff

I (w/ Lisa) had coffee this morning with Chris Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute. He's a sharp guy, and I was thinking, hm, I wish I had my recorder, I'd interview this dude.

But look: Worldchanging already did, just yesterday. So read that.

We mostly chit-chatted about our respective organizations, but he said a couple of intriguing things.

Oldie but a goodie!

From the album Old Friends: Live on Stage, I give you Simon & Garfunkel's "Citizen of the Planet":