| Where Owe Where Has Our Eco-Debt Gone? Where Owe Where Could It Be? Study quantifies ecological debt owed to world's poorest countries New research has attempted to quantify the costs that richer and poorer nations inflict on each other through environmental degradation. And guess who gets dumped on more? Turns out, the poorest countries have endured more environmental strife from richer countries than the other way 'round. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focused on six environmental issues and their effects on low-, middle-, and high-income nations -- agricultural intensification, climate change, deforestation, draining of coastal mangrove wetlands, overfishing, and ozone depletion -- from 1961 to 2000. It concluded that low-income countries effectively subsidized higher-income countries to the tune of some $3 trillion over that time in the form of displaced emissions, disproportionate impacts on people and the environment, and more. "Our analysis highlights the ecological harm poor countries bear to indirectly enable the living standards of wealthier nations," the report said. The true cost of environmental degradation in poorer countries is thought to be much higher since the report didn't focus on impacts from other eco-issues such as biodiversity loss, invasive species, or war. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: The Canadian Press, The Guardian, Telegraph |
2008 -- new year, same old eco-dilemmas. From breakfast to babies and commuting to consumption, Grist's got your every eco-worry covered with our practical green guide to your daily routine: Wake Up and Smell the Planet.
TODAY'S NEWS
 It's the Green Economy, Stupid At Dem debate, candidates agree on green jobs, fight over everything else At the acrimonious Democratic presidential debate on Monday night, the three leading candidates bickered over a whole range of issues, but they all agreed on one thing: the need to invest in creating green-collar jobs. The CNN moderators didn't ask any questions about the environment, but Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama all brought up the importance of building a clean-energy economy when they were asked about the country's economic health. "I want to put money into clean-energy jobs, green-collar jobs," said Clinton, borrowing talking points from environmental-justice leader Van Jones (we're betting he didn't mind). "We could put hundreds and hundreds of young people to work right now, putting solar panels in, insulating homes," she continued. Edwards and Obama echoed those points. No word on how that message resonated with Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a coal industry lobbying group that sponsored the Monday matchup as well as previous debates. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: CNN |
| She'll Be Comin' Down on the Mountain Clinton and Romney win in Nevada; McCain wins in South Carolina Hillary Clinton got the most votes in the Democratic caucuses in Nevada on Saturday, after touting her pledge to shut down the embattled Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site, which is under construction 90 miles from Las Vegas. Barack Obama too calls for closing Yucca Mountain, but Clinton raised questions about his commitment by pointing out that he's gotten a number of campaign donations from employees of Exelon, a major nuclear company that supports the waste dump. Of course, Clinton's got nuclear industry donors of her own who also want Yucca's doors open. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Associated Press see also, in Grist: How Green Is Your Candidate? A special series |
| Out Like a Sea Lion Federal officials suggest killing sea lions to protect salmon To protect endangered Northwest salmon, the National Marine Fisheries Service suggests giving Oregon and Washington state officials the authority to kill sea lions, which last year gobbled up more than 4 percent of the salmon running through the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam. The action would likely result in about 30 sea lion deaths a year. The federal agency is taking public comment through Feb. 19 on its recommendation and three alternatives: taking no action, using nonlethal weapons to deter sea lions (which has so far been ineffective), and killing all of the 150 or so sea lions within five miles of the dam. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: The Oregonian, The Columbian, Associated Press |
| Stranger(s) Among Us Conservationists highlight weirdness of rare amphibians in push to save them Scientists at the Zoological Society of London have evaluated all the world's amphibians and compiled a list of the most unique and imperiled species. The top 10 most imperiled amphibians were highlighted as being in the most need of immediate action. Among the most imperiled are the Chinese giant salamander that can grow to lengths of nearly six feet; the olm, a blind salamander that lives underground, hunts using electrosensitivity, and can go 10 years without eating; and the Gardiner's Seychelles frog, believed to be the world's smallest, that grows to less than half an inch in length. "These animals may not be cute and cuddly, but hopefully their weird looks and bizarre behaviors will inspire people to support their conservation," said ZSL's Helen Meredith. "[These] amphibians are amongst the most remarkable and unusual species on the planet and yet an alarming 85 percent of the top 100 are receiving little or no conservation attention and will become extinct if action is not taken now." Or, make that yesterday. Roughly 20 percent of the 100 most imperiled amphibians haven't been seen for years. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Zoological Society of London, Reuters, The Guardian straight to the photos: Pictures of the 10 most imperiled amphibians |
| Rise to Power Clean-tech and wind power both soaring Investment in clean-tech companies rose 44 percent from 2005 to 2006, and jumped an additional 44 percent from 2006 to 2007, soaring to $5.18 billion, according to the Cleantech Group LLC. Last year in clean-tech, energy generation received $2.75 billion in investment, followed by energy storage ($471 million) and transportation ($445 million). And you know what that means: "More new car companies were financed in the last 12 months than probably in the last 50 or 60 years," says the Cleantech Group's John Balbach. Um ... great? In related news, U.S. wind power grew by 45 percent last year, boosted by federal and state energy policies and green-energy incentives. The American Wind Energy Association predicts that wind could provide 20 percent of U.S. power by 2020. Let it never be said that they don't have ambition. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Reuters, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal (access ain't free) see also, in Gristmill: As economic indicators trend downward, the clean-tech sector is still looking up |
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GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
 Java Good Time A review of six Central American coffees Feeling sleepy on these cold, dark winter mornings? We've got just the thing to put a little pep in your step: a taste test of six coffees from regional roasters and national stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Which bean will prevail, and what advice does Consumer Reports GreenerChoices offer? Grind on over to our product-review column to find out. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] new in Grist: A review of six Central American coffees |
Coming Wednesday: Advice columnist Umbra Fisk on leather vs. pleather
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
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