News From The Grist.org

4/29 Start Your EnginesFeds set fuel-economy benchmarks for automakers
Federal regulators last week proposed benchmarks for automakers to hit on their way to reaching a fuel-economy requirement of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Auto fleets will have to average 27.8 mpg by 2011 and 31.6 mpg by 2015 -- a more aggressive timetable than was required by Congress. That's 35.7 mpg for passenger cars in 2015 (new cars averaged 31.3 mpg last year) and 28.6 mpg for light trucks (new trucks averaged 23.1 mpg last year). The proposed standards were timed to coincide with Earth Day, and came one day after the average price of gasoline in the U.S. topped $3.50 a gallon for the first time. Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers spokesfolks said the numbers will "stretch the industry to innovate" and that "automakers are prepared to meet that challenge." Environmentalists were set to applaud the surprisingly ambitious targets before reading more closely: included in the 417-page proposal was the statement that the even stricter tailpipe-emissions laws favored by California and 17 other states are "an obstacle to the accomplishment" of the feds' proposed regulations and are "expressly and impliedly preempted" by federal law.
see also, in Gristmill: Governors rally against dirty Bush car

Interference and Loathing in Washington, D.C. Over 800 EPA scientists report political interference in their work, survey says
More than 800 U.S. EPA scientists reported some form of political interference in their work in the last five years, according to a survey of EPA staff by the Union of Concerned Scientists. UCS sent out some 5,500 questionnaires to EPA scientists and received some 1,580 responses; over half the respondents asserted they had experienced political meddling of one kind or another in their work. Those most likely to report interference worked in offices involved in writing regulations or conducting risk assessments. Industry groups and the White House Office of Management and Budget were cited repeatedly by the EPA scientists as sources of pressure. Rep. Henry Waxman, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter to EPA head Stephen Johnson last week warning of an upcoming hearing on the UCS survey results. "These survey results suggest a pattern of ignoring and manipulating science in EPA's decision making," Waxman wrote

Mountain pine beetles fueling climate change via tree deaths
Ravenous populations of mountain pine beetles in Canada's forests are contributing significantly to climate change through killing off large numbers of trees, according to a study in the journal Nature. So far, the beetles have killed trees in over 50,000 square miles of forests in western Canada, and hundreds of thousands of square miles in the western United States. "When trees are killed, they no longer are able to take carbon from the atmosphere. Then when dead trees start to decompose, that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere," said study coauthor Werner Kurz. The study estimates that by 2020, beetle-killed trees in Canada could release some 270 megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. "This is the kind of feedback we're all very worried about in the carbon cycle -- a warming planet leading to, in this case, an insect outbreak that increases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which can increase warming," said Andy Jacobson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Congress investigating industry's role in bisphenol-A health studies
Democrats in Congress are investigating the chemical industry's influence in regulating the chemical bisphenol A, which is widely used in many plastic products and the lining of food cans. Over the years, plenty of evidence has surfaced that bisphenol A can potentially harm human health as it can mimic the effects of estrogen and has been shown to affect the health of lab animals even at very low doses; BPA has also been linked to breast and prostate cancer. However, the U.S. EPA and the Food and Drug Administration have insisted on BPA's safety, due largely to industry studies that conclude the chemical poses little risk, despite over 100 non-industry studies to the contrary. One focus of the congressional investigation will be the role played by a for-hire private firm specializing in defending products from legal and regulatory action. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who is leading the investigation, said the group's tactics "raise serious questions about whether science is for sale at these consulting groups, and the effect this faulty science might have on the public health."

At Lung Last Smog can kill, says report
Short-term exposure to smog is clearly linked to premature deaths, a National Academy of Sciences report has concluded. Some Bush administration officials have claimed that the link between ground-level ozone and health is, well, hazy: when the U.S. EPA was determining acceptable air standards for ozone last month, officials in the Office of Management and Budget claimed there was "considerable uncertainty" of a link. But the NAS declared that such arguments should be given "little or no weight," and that agencies should assume that smog can kill when formulating future regulations.

Drawing on Experience
Architect R.K. Stewart on building the future of sustainable design
If breathless media reports are to be believed, green building is sweeping the nation. But how much are architecture students, real-estate lenders, and communities really latching on to the trend, and where will it go from here? Sarah van Schagen talked with former American Institute of Architects prez R.K. Stewart to find out.

Me, worry? Most Americans don't believe global warming will pose a threat to them.by Maywa Montenegro
Virtual water is the new carbon footprint. Calculate how much water your lifestyle requires.by Sarah van Schagen
Rationing food in the land of plenty? It's happening, reports The New York Sun.by Tom Philpott
Power to the people. Neighbors help neighbors get power from the sun.by Erik Hoffner
Generate energy locally; recycle whenever possible. A Pollan-esque energy objective in six words ... and then some.by Sean Casten
Please, sir, I want some GMOs. Worldwide resistance to GMOs dwindles as food bills rise.by Tom Philpott
Sticker shock! What's causing the sudden run-up in food prices?by Tom Philpott
Thinking outside the cereal box. Thoughts on the farm bill and the skyrocketing cost of food.by Alan Hunt
What are GMOs good for, again? Study: transgenic soy brings lower yields than conventional.by Tom Philpott

4/23
Down to the Last Drop Nalgene, Wal-Mart back away from BPA

Bottle manufacturer Nalgene will stop using plastic containing bisphenol A in response to concerns from the National Toxicology Program and the Canadian health department that the chemical probably shouldn't be sucked on by kids. Nalgene says it still believes its clear, hard plastic bottles "are safe for their intended use" but says it's responding to customers who "indicated they preferred BPA-free alternatives." Wal-Mart also announced it would pull all baby bottles made with BPA from its shelves by early next year.

Cries on the Prize Chevron throws hissy fit that anti-Chevron activists received award
Chevron is throwing a hissy fit over the Goldman Environmental Prize awarded to two Ecuadorian activists who want the oil company to clean up pollution in the Amazon rain forest. Texaco, which was acquired by Chevron in 2001, dumped 18.5 billion gallons of petrochemical waste in the Amazon between 1972 and 1992. Lawyer Pablo Fajardo and community organizer Luis Yanza won the Goldman Prize for spearheading a lawsuit against Chevron, saying it should be responsible for cleanup. But Chevron claims that a $40 million cleanup by Texaco in 1992 was sufficient. Chevron says through spokesfolks that the Goldman Foundation was "misled," that Fajardo and Yanza are "nothing but con men," and that "the only thing green they are interested in is money." The Goldman Foundation says its awards are thoroughly researched and fact-checked, and it continues to commend Yanza and Fajardo for taking on Big Oil.

Pet Scan Cats and dogs contaminated with chemicals, says study
Fido and Fluffy are contaminated with higher levels of toxic chemicals than humans are, according to a report from the Environmental Working Group. In a test of the blood and urine of dozens of cats and dogs, researchers found 48 industrial chemicals. The contamination likely comes from such actions as gnawing on plastic toys, sleeping on fire-retardant-covered furniture, frolicking on pesticide-laden lawns, eating potentially mercury-laden pet food, and, of course, all that licking. Researchers point to a recent uptick in animal cancers and hyperthyroidism. "Our animals are trying to tell us something here," says EWG's Bill Walker. Something besides, "Feed me, play with me, I gotta pee, feed me," that is.

Faint Nicholas Nicholas Stern says climate change worse than he thought
Nicholas Stern, the British economist known for a major report in which he declared that combating climate change would cost less than ignoring it, has announced that he was wrong -- about how bad the problem is. "We badly underestimated the degree of damages and the risks of climate change" in the Oct. 2006 report, he speechified last week. "All of the links in the chain are on average worse than we thought a couple of years ago." Thawing permafrost is releasing methane, oceans are acidifying faster than expected, and carbon sinks are becoming less effective, said Stern. He urged nations to come up with a stringent global climate treaty taking food production into account, and reiterated that the world should aim to produce zero-carbon electricity by 2050 (he backs carbon sequestration, nuclear power, and renewable energy). "This is about buying down risk," Stern said. "Starting now, that means it requires at least 1 percent of world GDP. That is small relative to a planetary catastrophe."

On His Pope-box Pope preaches environmental protection to United Nations
After gallivanting around Washington, D.C., Pope Benedict XVI traveled to New York Friday to make an address to the United Nations General Assembly. In a speech largely focused on human rights, the pope also made note of the world's plentiful other problems, including "the protection of the environment, of resources, and of the climate." Our environmental, security, development, and inequality issues "require from the international community that it act on a common basis," the pope said. He also had papal thoughts on religion-infused science. "[I]nternational action to preserve the environment and to protect various forms of life on earth must not only guarantee a rational use of technology and science, but must also rediscover the authentic image of creation," he said. "This never requires a choice to be made between science and ethics: rather it is a question of adopting a scientific method that is truly respectful of ethical imperatives

10 Green Gadgets Eco-conscious gizmos for the enviro to lust after
Dedicated enviros shun consumption, and for good reason. But some consumer items aren't all bad, and might even (gasp!) be good, particularly if they replace more harmful products or encourage greener living. We've rounded up 10 gadgets that a loyal greenie can covet in good conscience -- check 'em out.

350 Sense McKibben kicks off 350.org, a new international grassroots climate campaign
Bill McKibben -- author, activist, and the mastermind behind last year's nationwide Step It Up marches -- has a new climate-change-fightin' venture, 350.org. The aim is to stamp 350 into the minds of everyone on Earth, and McKibben wants you to help. The number 350 is the parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere that we must aim for if we want to keep the planet relatively safe and sane, according to climate scientist James Hansen and others. Read about how surfers, tarps, and church bells are already getting the message out.

Am I Blue? Adam Werbach calls for a new movement of a billion consumers
In 2004, former Sierra Club President Adam Werbach made by a splash by asking, "Is environmentalism dead?" Now he's back with a new provocative idea he's calling the "birth of blue." Werbach -- who's been working recently to help Wal-Mart employees adopt more sustainable lifestyles -- is calling for a new "blue" movement of a billion consumers buying greener products and making other positive changes in their daily lives. Is he on the right track? Read his speech and tell us what you think.

We'll Always Have Paris. Meeting of major economies ends with little progress.
New and improved ecological footprint calculator from Redefining Progress.by David Roberts
The best technology to protect the earth. Concentrated solar thermal power: a core climate solution.by Joseph Romm
An additional note on additionality. Carbon projects 'under attack' as U.N. clamps down.by Adam Stein
Oil hysteria. Let's rebuild our national rail network instead of repealing the gas tax.by Jon Rynn
Paint by number. Seattle artist illustrates statistics on waste, health, and consumption.by Adam Browning
Lapel-pin patriotism vs. protecting this country against its greatest threat. True patriots would fight global warming.by Joseph Romm
Who's cashing in on the high price of food? With food riots raging in dozens of countries, let's open the books on the finances of Big Ag.by Anna Lappe
School-lunch crunch. Higher food prices mean crappier cafeteria fare for kids.by Tom Philpott