Latest Articles

It’s a Lap Dog’s Life

Blair heads to D.C. to beg for Bush’s support on G8 climate agenda U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair has put his political life on the line to support the Bush administration numerous times, citing the “special relationship” between the two countries. Ha ha, sucka! Next week Blair will fly to Washington, D.C., to beg the […]

You Take ’em Both, and There You Have … Um, Stapleton

Denver neighborhood on former airport site exemplifies “new urbanism” A new mixed-use development in Denver, built on the former site of Stapleton International Airport, is being touted as a model of “new urbanism.” Stapleton’s homes are situated close together, with garages in back and porches in front, creating walkable neighborhoods, and plenty of open space […]

Lights, Climate, Action

Schwarzenegger declares war on global warming “I say the debate is over. We know the science, we see the threat, and the time for action is now.” With those words, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) yesterday defied Bush administration orthodoxy, announcing ambitious plans to reduce his state’s emissions of greenhouse gases. The Governator issued an […]

Oil pumping capacity

Don't miss Part 4 of Kevin Drum's ongoing series on peak oil. It's about pumping capacity, or the lack thereof.

This is what peak oil has brought us to. The actual peak may happen this year or it may not happen for a couple of decades, but just the fact that we're close means that we've already hit the point in the curve where spare capacity is a luxury of the past. The result will be increasing global instability caused by a turbulent economy held permanent hostage to terrorists, unstable dictatorships, resource wars, and natural disasters.

He promises Part 5, on sane energy policy, tomorrow.

California solar roofs on the way

FYI: The California Senate just passed the Million Solar Roofs bill (SB 1). It now goes to the Assembly, for a hearing later in June. Momentum is on its side. For more on the bill, check Environment California's rundown.

Radiohead singer called out for hypocrisy.

Thom Yorke, leader of the critically-revered rock band Radiohead, has this to say:

"Climate change is indisputable and we have to do something dramatic. You have a certain amount of credit you can cash in with your celebrity and I'm cashing the rest of my chips in with this. ... The music industry is a spectacularly good example of fast-turnover consumer culture. It is actually terrifying. Environmental considerations should be factored in to the way the record companies operate."

Well, the Sunday Times went and hired the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management to do an environmental audit of the band.

It found that 50,000 trees would need to be planted and maintained for 100 years in order to offset the amount of CO2 produced by Hail to the Thief, the group's last album and tour.

These figures, said the Times with poorly concealed condescension, "highlight the complexity of seemingly simple arguments on protecting the planet."

Umbra on reducing emissions, one person at a time

Dear Umbra, I want to adopt the Kyoto treaty myself and adjust my lifestyle accordingly. No waiting, and to hell with George Bush! If my nation had adopted it, I’d have to be doing it anyway. So what is my per-capita fossil-fuel ration for the next 10 years, how do I measure it, how do […]

Craigslist Foundation turns its energy to green networking

Today: the personals. Tomorrow: the world? Since its founding in 1995, Craigslist has gained a devoted following in cities around the world. As filmmaker Michael Ferris Gibson showed in his recent documentary “24 Hours on Craigslist,” the online community board brings strangers together for all sorts of transactions and revelations. Now the website’s namesake foundation […]

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Build

Brownfield redevelopment increasingly popular in U.S. cities Developers the U.S. over are lately enamored of “Cinderella” properties (aka brownfields). These formerly contaminated sites can transform into luxury real estate, thanks to the magic of fairy godmothers like, um, the federal government. Once upon a time, the abandoned toxic sites were shunned and only a brave […]

Salarymen of the World: Untie!

Japan adopts “no-tie” look for summer to save energy The paradigmatically propriety-conscious Japanese bureaucrat may be loosening up and dressing down, thanks to, well, orders from above. In an effort to conserve energy by reducing air-conditioner use, Japan’s Environment Ministry today launched a campaign urging government workers to leave suit coats and ties at home. […]