Articles by Grist staff

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 […]

Thefts of nuclear material worldwide ‘disturbingly high’

The number of reports of stolen nuclear material worldwide last year was “disturbingly high,” according to Mohamed ElBaradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency. All together, nearly 250 such thefts were reported last year, with the main concern that the nuclear material could end up in so-called “dirty bombs.”

Climate treaties likely to be too little, too late to save world’s reefs, study says

The successor to the international Kyoto climate-change treaty will likely do too little, and emissions reductions will be too late to save the world’s coral reefs from the ravages of global warming, according to a cheery new study by U.S. researchers. Even if the world’s nations agree to meet the ambitious emissions targets favored by […]

Hundreds of U.S. car dealerships going out of business

The economic slump and its attendant credit woes, combined with America’s declining love for the automobile, have already shuttered some 590 new-car dealerships this year, as well as 430 last year. Before 2008 is over, 110 more U.S. dealerships are expected to close their doors for good. May we suggest a nice bike shop instead?