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  • Fixing the bioenergy accounting loophole

    A group of prominent ecologists and climate scientists have an important article coming out in tomorrow’s issue of Science, in which they call for “fixing a critical climate accounting error.” The error is ignoring a significant source of global warming pollution related to using biomass for energy (“bioenergy”). I know that most people’s eyes glaze […]

    Dan Lashof Climate & Energy

  • Host a viewing party for the must-see new film “Coal Country”

    This week’s post was co-written by Mary Anne Hitt, deputy director of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign “My hope is this superb documentary will shock Americans and create a surge of urgency that stops the atrocity of mountaintop removal coal mining immediately.” — actress Ashley Judd That’s the trailer for the powerful new documentary […]

    Bruce Nilles Climate & Energy

  • Methane leakage runs up a $50 billion bill

    Methane is a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, so when it’s leaking by the ton, it’s a $50 billion problem. The New York Times described the phenomenon of methane leakage in a recent article which raised questions about the true costs of this waste.  The EPA estimates that 3 trillion cubic […]

    Michael A. Livermore Climate & Energy

  • The rising tide of environmental refugees

    Desertification of formerly productive farm land is one of the many reasons for a growing number of environmental refugees around the world.Photo: pizzodisevo via FlickrOur early twenty-first century civilization is being squeezed between advancing deserts and rising seas. Measured by the biologically productive land area that can support human habitation, the earth is shrinking. Mounting […]

    Lester Brown Climate & Energy

  • Renewables are inevitable, transmission is optional

    Editor’s Note: This post was written in response to a comment by Gar Lipow in his post on 10/20. We all agree that a 100 percent renewable energy system is preferable.  But we don’t need a new, high-voltage transmission network now to reach that goal, and it’s far from clear that we’ll need it in […]

    John Farrell Climate & Energy

  • Get psyched for the Day of Climate Action — with videos!

    This Saturday, Oct. 24, is the International Day of Climate Action.  You’re all geared up to join an event in your hometown or ‘hood, right?  Here are a few videos to get you even more pumped up. 350.org, which is sponsoring the day, gives us a sneak preview of the animations that will splash across Times Square […]

    Grist staff Climate & Energy

  • Blockbuster new book exposes anatomy of denial

    James Hoggan and his DeSmogBlog.com posse might be our nation’s most important sleuths — and they ain’t even from the United States. Not that climate destabilization knows any boundaries. Not that climate change deniers and public relation firms hired by dirty energy corporations pledge allegiance to any country’s well-being. Drawing on their brilliant muckraking and […]

    Jeff Biggers Climate & Energy

  • London gathering gives boost to climate talks

    British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has committed his politically battered government to sealing a climate deal in Copenhagen this year. Above, Brown speaks at the Major Economies Forum, held this past weekend in London.UK Dept. of Energy & Climate Change It certainly caught the eye. “The world’s future is being decided this weekend” ran the […]

    Geoffrey Lean Climate & Energy

  • We need transmission to solve global warming

    The new version of Energy Self-Reliant States manages to duplicate the fallacies of their previous reports, and adds new ones. Their takeaway: “… 3 in 5 states could get all of their electricity from in-state renewable resources.” Their statistics actually support the need for transmissions. Some states can produce surplus power. Some states can’t meet […]

    Gar Lipow Climate & Energy

  • 1Sky looks to Twitter for climate movement’s next rallying cry

    Here at Grist we’re fans of (at least) two things: Climate action A snappy call to get people’s bums off the couch to make that happen Lucky for us, our buddies at 1Sky are working to bring about these two things with their 1Climate, 1Tweet contest. It’s a campaign to purge Twitter of annoying climate […]

    Ashley Braun Climate & Energy