Articles by Grist staff

Concerns grow about giant pollute-y cloud over Asia

A cloud of soot and other pollutants, blanketing Asia in a haze nearly two miles thick, is darkening cities, damaging crops, and killing thousands of people. But look at the bright side — it’s mitigating some impacts of climate change! Hey, they don’t call us a beacon in the smog for nothin’.

The green scoop on Obama’s Cabinet and administration picks and prospects

Lisa Jackson. EPA Administrator: Lisa Jackson (not officially announced) Background on Jackson. Some enviros have been critical of Jackson — get the story. Steven Chu. Secretary of Energy: Steven Chu (not officially announced) Background on Chu. Watch Chu talk about climate change and renewable energy. Carol Browner. Energy Czar: Carol Browner (not officially announced) Background […]

Bush admin takes first step toward new offshore drilling

The Bush administration took the first step toward new offshore drilling on Thursday, asking for public comments on a proposal to potentially open up an area to drilling some 50 miles off the Virginia coast. Even if leasing is ultimately approved, the area wouldn’t be leased until 2011 at the earliest, according to the Interior […]

Air pollution in California costly and deadly, study says

The polluted air in Los Angeles and California’s San Joaquin Valley costs residents and government some $28 billion annually in health-care and other expenses and kills more people than all the car accidents in those areas, according to a study by researchers at California State University, Fullerton.