Biofuels Blamed in Global Food Crisis

Staff / Truthdig Jul 4, 2008 While environmentalists and opponents of foreign oil may have found common cause in the use of biofuels, a new, confidential World Bank report estimates that the recent increase in plant-based fuel production has actually contributed to a 75 percent rise in global food prices, sparking riots across the world and pushing millions beneath the poverty line. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Honda Rolls Out Hydro Car

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2008 Here's a little something to get that dad or grad you may have missed these last couple of weeks: Honda is rolling out the first commercially available hydrogen fuel-cell car. They get great mileage, emit only water vapor and run real smooth, provided they don't Hindenburg. True to form, some Southern Californians are already on the waiting list. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

EPA Official Reports White House Meddling

Staff / Truthdig May 20, 2008 A former EPA official, Jason Burnett, told congressional investigators that the White House interfered in a decision regarding California's regulation of carbon emissions. EPA staff members were unanimous in supporting California's right to tougher restrictions, Burnett said, but after the agency spoke with the White House and got "input into the rationale" from Bush aides, the state's request was denied. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope Goes Green for Christmas

Staff / Truthdig Dec 25, 2007 During his midnight Christmas mass at the Vatican on Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI paid special attention to what he called the "ill-treated world" and our "selfish and reckless exploitation" of energy. He's not just all talk: it turns out the Vatican bought carbon credits this holiday season to offset emissions. It's just a little present to the world from the biggest little city in Italy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

California Sues the EPA

Staff / Truthdig Nov 9, 2007 California is sick of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's attempts to block two-year-old legislation that would cut auto emissions in the state well beyond federal guidelines, and the state attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the agency, which under the Bush administration has failed utterly in its principal mandate. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Eye-Roller in Chief

Staff / Truthdig Sep 29, 2007 Leave it to George W. Bush to disappoint already low expectations. The president unveiled his dud of a plan to combat the climate crisis at a highly publicized meeting Friday of the world's 16 biggest polluters. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Schwarzenegger and Gore Team Up at U.N.

Staff / Truthdig Sep 26, 2007 Celebrity Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and environmental superstar Al Gore stole the show at Monday's U.N. climate crisis speechathon, offsetting President Bush's notable absence. Schwarzenegger rallied the crowd with his unique Hollywood-infused rhetorical flair: "One responsibility we all have is action. Action, action, action." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

G-8 Nations Agree on Climate Strategy

Staff / Truthdig Jun 8, 2007 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reached a compromise with George W. Bush over climate change. The G-8 nations will work toward a replacement for the Kyoto treaty and a 50 percent cut in emissions by the year 2050. But in a concession to Bush, the goals will be nonbinding. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Plays the Green Card

Staff / Truthdig Jun 1, 2007 President Bush is preparing for next week's G8 summit in Germany by stressing the importance of long-range environmental action goals for the U.S. and several other nations, including China, to adopt by the end of next year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.N. Leader: Climate Crisis as Dangerous as War

Staff / Truthdig Mar 2, 2007 U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon warned Thursday that the danger posed by war "is at least matched by the climate crisis," and urged the U.S., which produces roughly 25 percent of all greenhouse emissions, to take a leading role in addressing global warming. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Save Money and the Planet at the Same Time

Staff / Truthdig Jan 9, 2007 The higher cost of hybrid cars is worth it in the long run, according to a comprehensive new study. When considering not just fuel economy but insurance, maintenance, depreciation and other factors, a Toyota Prius owner can expect to save $13,408 over five years, compared with a non-hybrid in the same class. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Determined to Pollute

Staff / Truthdig Nov 7, 2006 America restated its opposition to limiting greenhouse gas emissions during a conference of more than 100 countries searching for a global solution to climate change According to the US negotiator: "I certainly got no indication [from the Bush administration] that there's any change in our position, nor is there likely to be during this presidency". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )