Articles by Grist staff

Plans to boost energy efficiency start getting traction in Congress

What’s not to love about energy efficiency? It’s the paradigmatic win-win scenario — save money, protect the climate and broader environment, and reduce reliance on unsavory sources of energy, all in one fell swoop. As efficiency guru Amory Lovins puts it [PDF], “Using energy more efficiently offers an economic bonanza — not because of the […]

Barack Tease

Obama pledges to save the civilized world with baby steps “This is our generation’s moment to save future generations from global catastrophe,” declared Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in a speech on Friday. He heralded a “grassroots effort to make America greener and end the tyranny of oil.” And just as greens were up on […]

Vote Surly, Vote Often

Aluminum smelting defining Iceland elections You no doubt know that Iceland’s elections are coming up on May 12. But here’s something you may not know: the country’s aluminum-smelting boom has become a key issue in the race. With three smelters up and running and three more planned, fans and foes alike are fired up. A […]

The Gothman Prophecies

New York City mayor unveils ambitious sustainability plans New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg used Earth Day to announce plans to make his burg bloom. The comprehensive “PlaNYC” outlines 127 green dreams, including a congestion charge for lower Manhattan that would — like programs in London and Singapore — see drivers cough up a fee […]