Articles by David Roberts

Concrete

The manufacture of concrete is responsible for up to 10 percent of worldwide CO2 emissions. That's a lot. Apparently, though, the world of concrete is abuzz with innovation: Worldchanging brings us concrete that is light and concrete that is bendy, while Treehugger ups the ante with concrete that eats pollution. Who knew?

What victory looks like

Another great essay over on Tom's Dispatch: Rebecca Solnit reflects on what victory looks like in the real world:

Greener automakers

Everybody and their uncle is linking to this NYT essay, but it seems a bit half-baked to me. If the author is seriously trying to argue that an American car company could remake itself as completely green, making only hybrids and low-emission diesel cars, in today's market, and not become a "niche player," well, he's nuts. I think American automakers have adopted a disastrously brown strategy over the last 20 years, but turning in a new, greener direction is going to take time, thought, and care.

On a related note, it's too bad the auto industry isn't more competitive, such that a niche company making exclusively green cars could get off the ground.

UK biz ahead of schedule

This story is pretty cool, though I expect there's more than a little CBI PR behind it.

Steel, aluminum, cement and chemical makers made the biggest cuts to carbon dioxide emissions. Along with paper, food and drink companies, they also took the biggest strides when it came to energy efficiency.

But let's talk about the caption. WTF? Nothing in the story so much as touches on the science of climate change. BBC just thought it was worth pointing out?

When they have a story on, say, new gene research, do they caption their picture with "the science of evolution has been disputed"?