Articles by Grist staff

The Magnificently Clean Mile?

Chicago officials say that within five years, at least 20 percent of electricity used by the city to power everything from public buildings to elevated trains will come from renewable sources like wind and solar power. City Environment Commissioner Bill Abolt said, “The competition Chicago is involved in is an international one to establish itself […]

The Ancient Mariner Started It

Seven countries signed a plan yesterday meant to save the albatross, those big seabirds with wingspans of up to 11-and-a-half feet. Australian Environment Minister Robert Hill said all 20 albatross species in the Southern Hemisphere would become extinct if steps weren’t taken to protect them. Australia, Brazil, Britain, Chile, France, New Zealand, and Peru have […]

Wet 'n' Wild

The Ocean Conservancy, a group with a (not-insignificant) budget of $15 million a year, announced a campaign yesterday to get wilderness protection for 5 percent of the U.S.’s marine territory. Fishing would be prohibited in the wilderness areas, and access would be limited to kayaking, scuba diving, and other “low-impact” activities. Its wish list of […]

From the Folks Who Sold You the Brooklyn Bridge

ExxonMobil is planning a public-relations offensive to counter an international boycott campaign that is calling attention to the company’s opposition to the Kyoto treaty on climate change. The campaign, which began in the U.K. and has spread to Germany, Norway, and New Zealand, has gained momentum as U.S. President Bush, a former oilman himself, has […]