Articles by Grist staff

Democrat gets black mark from environmental lobby for backing of corn-based ethanol

This Guardian story was written by reporter Ed Pilkington. Grist is a member of the Guardian’s Environment Network. —– BROWNSVILLE, Neb. — Barack Obama has enjoyed near-universal backing from American environmentalists, with the Sierra Club, the country’s largest grass-roots environmental group, and Friends of the Earth both endorsing the Democratic nominee for president. But there […]

Oregon guv outlines climate-change-fightin’ plans

Oregon’s governor on Monday unveiled an ambitious plan to attack climate change. Under Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s (D) vision, which will be taken up by the state legislature, homes and buildings will produce net-zero emissions by 2030; a $5,000 tax credit for all-electric cars will replace an existing $1,500 credit for hybrids; and energy efficiency will […]

Bad air stripping months off Mexicans’ lives, says study

Once upon a time in Mexico, a study estimated that residents would live 2.4 months longer on average if the air they breathe wasn’t so smoggy. According to the research, published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, cleaning up Mexicans’ drinking water and household fuels as well could increase their life expectancy […]

Reliance on coal ain’t cheap, study says

A new study from Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund has found that China’s dependence on coal to fuel its economy cost the country some $248 billion last year in hidden expenses, including health care costs and environmental damage. “Recognizing the true cost of coal would create incentives to developing cleaner, sustainable energy sources,” said […]