Climate Technology

All’s Wells That Lends Well

Big banks sign on to stricter environmental and social guidelines Big financial institutions are increasingly talking green — and some of them might even mean it. Forty-one lenders from around the world, including Citigroup and J. P. Morgan Chase, have signed on to the three-year-old Equator Principles, which call for investment projects to avoid harming […]

What do you mean I can’t sell my gold-plated ivory-billed woodpecker?

As Google continues its march towards global domination with the launch of Google Checkout, Gristmillers can sleep soundly tonight knowing that the following prohibited items can't be sold/bought via the new service:

Endangered species: Plants, animals or other organisms (including product derivatives) in danger of extinction

Precious metals: Bulk sales of rare, scarce, or valuable metals

The fact the former has to be listed is depressing. Luckily it will be a four-day weekend for Grist to lift the spirits!

Two Steps Back

Ford backs out on hybrid pledge, plans more alt-fuel vehicles Remember Ford’s much-hyped commitment to produce 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010? Er, about that: CEO Bill Ford Jr. backpedaled on the promise Wednesday. While not abandoning hybrids altogether, he said Ford’s focus (ha) is shifting (ha ha) to cars that can run on alternative fuels […]

Well Aisle Be

Whole Foods unveils initiatives to boost local and compassionate farming Whole Foods Market, the fast-growing natural-foods purveyor, has announced a series of initiatives that would support small, local farms and improve treatment of animals. In an open letter to food writer Michael Pollan, who has criticized Whole Foods for relying on “industrial organic” farms, CEO […]

Bad Vibrations

Seismic movement could assist in oil production Like so much else in this crazy world, earthquakes are bad for you but potentially good for oil companies. Seismic shaking appears to increase permeability of underground rocks, leading to easier oil flow. “[T]his has practical implications for oil extraction,” says University of California scientist Emily Brodsky, who […]

Port Reform

Two busiest California ports propose pollution regulations The peerlessly polluting ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., will propose far-reaching environmental policies today. “What we’re doing right now is a no-growth, job-losing, cancer-causing plan, and we’re just not going to do that anymore,” said David Freeman, chair of the L.A. Harbor Commission. What they […]

All About EV

Grist talks with the makers of Who Killed the Electric Car? In the 1990s, California required automakers to introduce zero-emission cars. GM put out the electric EV-1, a sporty coupe that inspired head-over-heels devotion among the few people who got their hands on one. Then California backed down, the car leases ran out, and GM […]

A conversation with the makers of Who Killed the Electric Car?

Chris Paine, the director of Who Killed the Electric Car?, looks a little embarrassed as he walks toward his waiting limo. “I should really have them drop us off a block away from the theater,” he says, laughing uneasily. At least he’s carpooling. Dean Devlin and Chris Paine at Sundance. Photo: Fred Hayes/WireImage. With him […]

Just the Tax, Ma’am

A carbon tax is the answer to our energy woes, argues an economist Some recent news reports may have led you to believe that there is no “price elasticity” around gasoline — that no matter how much gas prices rise, people just keep on drivin’. But it’s not so: High prices are dampening demand. Why […]

New ad brings laundry to life

There's a wonderful new advertisement for an Italian washing machine that simulates deep sea life. A clever concept, brilliantly executed. If you've got 30 seconds to spare, check it out here.