Climate Culture

The best climate strategies don’t start in your backyard

In my line of work, one sometimes hears strange things. These include allegations that leaf blowers or pet manure should be high-priority targets for reducing climate emissions. I'm in a myth-busting mood today, so I am happy to report that leaf blowers don't really rate.

In the U.S., the emissions from all leaf blowers, both residential and commercial, for all of 2008 will be roughly equivalent to the emissions from driving that occurred between the arrival of the new year and 11:00 a.m. on January 1.

Add to that the entire year's worth of snowblowers, and you can equal the driving emissions up until 1:30 p.m. on the first.

Add in all lawn mowers, both residential and commercial, including the big riding and tractor-type units. Add in rototillers and other turf maintenance equipment. Add chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, and shredders. Now add trimmers, edgers, brush cutters, and any other garden tool you can think of. The combined emissions from all of that racket-making equipment, for the entire year, is roughly equal to the driving that occurred before afternoon rush hour on January 6.

Of course, that's not really the whole story.

How fake trend pieces are born

Culture reporter wants to write something on green, but needs something new, a counterintuitive trend piece that can get some attention. PR shill pitches reporter on fake trend: blue is the new green! Perfect. Reporter calls actual green journalist. Actual green journalist points out that trend is fake. Even better! Now you’ve got a trend […]

Research on changing behavior

Frank Zaski is a retired auto executive who has made something of a name for himself by pursuing a campaign to get shopping mall owners to turn down the heat. He put together some interesting thoughts on how to get people to use energy more wisely:

Umbra on leather vs. pleather shoes

Hi Umbra, As a devoted vegetarian, I try to make it a point to avoid leather footwear. However, after too many hours of deep thought on the subject, I am now conflicted about the environmental ramifications of my choice to buy processed petroleum shoes, i.e., pleather. Leather is, after all, a natural material; pleather is […]

United States scores badly in world environmental assessment

The United States ranked poorly in a recent international environmental assessment, coming in 39th out of 149 countries. Nations were ranked according to their performance in key categories, including agriculture policies, air pollution, sanitation, greenhouse-gas emissions, and more. Countries in Europe scored well as a whole; seven of the top 10 nations were European: Switzerland, […]

Green films premiering at Sundance Film Festival

If you’re a super-hip journalist with awesome connections and a sweet gig, you’re spending a cush week writing about the Sundance Film Festival from snow- and celeb-covered Park City, Utah. If you’re me, you’re sitting in front of a computer screen in an office building in Seattle reading about all the super-hip journalists with the […]

Shorter work week bleg

I’m writing a short piece on the environmental benefits of a shorter work week. There’s lots of stuff out there on the social benefits (more time for family, better health, etc.) and the economic benefits (higher productivity, higher employment), but very little on the environmental benefits. If anybody out there has thoughts on the matter, […]

A review of six Central American coffees

Coffee surely counts as one of our more problematic daily pleasures. Java-slugging Grist readers should know that coffee deserves some of the blame for global warming. A lucid account by University of California-Santa Cruz historian Chris Brooks tells the sad story, which encompasses slave labor, razed rainforests, and the colonialism of the 19th century. Six […]

From Bling to Brothel

Air of mystery Hmm, should we buy the ridiculously expensive “green” MacBook Air, or the ridiculously expensive “green” Air Jordans? What do they think we are, Million Airs? Photo: Apple.com Under where? When it comes to what we wear under there, we prefer eco-lingerie … though, truthfully, we’re most happy when we’re wearing nothing at […]

Vegan vixen designs shoe collection

Everyone’s favorite gangsta (and Official Grist Girl-Crush) Natalie Portman has designed a collection of vegan shoes for specialty retailer Té Casan. Styles range from satin sandals to faux-patent pumps to ballet flats. “As a vegan, it’s been challenging finding designer shoes made of alternative materials,” Portman says. “This collection offers a great selection without compromising […]