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TODAY'S NEWS
Mountains Are in a Heap of Trouble
EPA approves rule change making mountaintop-removal mining easier
The U.S. EPA on Tuesday approved a controversial rule change that the Bush administration has been trying to make for years; it eases restrictions on burying streams under piles of mining waste, making mountaintop-removal mining easier. "By signing off on a rule to eliminate a critical safeguard for streams, the EPA has abdicated its responsibility and left the local communities that depend on these waters at risk," said Ed Hopkins of the Sierra Club.
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sources: Earthjustice, The New York Times
Bill on Board
Obama nominates NM Gov. Bill Richardson to head Commerce Department
Today President-elect Barack Obama nominated Bill Richardson (D) as secretary of commerce, citing the New Mexico governor's experience working on energy issues. "Bill understands the steps we must take to build a new, clean-energy industry and create the green jobs of the 21st century," said Obama. Kate Sheppard reports.
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new in Grist: Bill on Board
Challenge to the Rising
Island nations call for steep emission cuts to curb rising seas
At the United Nations climate conference in Poland this week, a coalition of over 40 island nations called for extremely ambitious reductions in world greenhouse-gas emissions, fearing the effects of rising seas. The nations proposed that industrialized countries slash their emissions more than 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and more than 95 percent by 2050. "We are not prepared to sign a suicide agreement that causes small island states to disappear," said Selwin Hart of Barbados.
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source: Reuters
The Roadless Less Traveled
Roadless rule limited to 10 Western states, judge rules
A federal judge on Tuesday limited the scope of President Clinton's popular "roadless rule" to federal lands in 10 Western states instead of the whole country, leaving some 13.6 million acres of roadless forests largely unprotected from road-building and other development. Tuesday's ruling is a compromise between throwing the rule out and keeping protections in place for most roadless forests in the U.S. Two federal appeals courts are expected to rule on the matter next year.
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source: Associated Press
A Spend in Need is a Spend Indeed
Top scientist dismayed at spending imbalance on climate, poverty
Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Nobel-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says he is stunned at the trillion-dollar checks that have been signed to ease the banking crisis when funding for poverty and global warming is scrutinized or denied.
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source: Agence France-Presse
A Bird in the Sand Is Worth ... Very Little
Canadian oil sands projects could kill up to 166 million birds, study says
Canadian oil sands projects are likely to kill up to 166 million birds over the next 50 years through habitat loss, pollution, and other effects, according to a study by a coalition of environmental groups.
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source: Reuters
GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
Happy Holidaze
Ask Umbra's video advice for simple giving
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new in Grist: Happy Holidaze
Advanced Degrees
On turning down the heat
Q. Dear Umbra,
When I tell people I turn my heat down when I leave the house even for an hour or two, and that I turn it down to 50 at night, they say, "I thought it takes more energy to reheat the house than to keep it at a constant temperature." Please clarify. If it is better to turn the heat down, then there is a LOT of room for education on this topic.
Sarah W.
Brunswick, Me.
A. Dearest Sarah,
Either by evoking the confused masses or using all caps, you have convinced me to revisit this topic. I will try to explain, in basic terms, just why we should turn down the thermostat. But let me be crystal clear up here in the thesis paragraph: Turn down the thermostat at night and before you leave the house ...
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Read the rest of Umbra's answer.
Coming Thursday: A festive holiday recipe with chestnuts
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
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