An incremental innovation to a known process. Reducing CO2 is a matter of science and technology but mainly of politics. BTW: Megawatts are a measure of power, not energy. An unaceptable error in a publication as Wired.

The article mixes the concepts of energy efficiency and energy conservation, two quite different concepts (see my comment) and fails to focus the main issue: Energy efficiency through weatherization is a local, case by case, task. The base technologies are general, their application are not. It requires highly educated and experienced designers and well trained manpower. A lot of public (and journalists) education is needed.

Informative, concise, make precise and appropriate suggestions. Mr Oboma knows a lot about the power of Internet, so he should follow the advice.

Ethics is becoming a main issue in science and technology. As one of the scientist cited says "We need at least to think about what we are doing while we are doing it, to be aware of the consequences of our research.” There are not silver bullets for the problems we face: good science, good engineering, ethical appraisal and public understanding and involvement are necessary to face them. A very good article.

A very good overview of the history of population (or birth) control, from the religious, political and practical points of view, a highly controversial issue subject. Well documented and written.

A balanced view of a the ever increasing conflicts between infrastructure works, people and the environment. But the article do not take account of all stakeholders: How will the availability of electric power influence the well being of other population groups?

The article comments Professor Bob Watson, chief scientific adviser of the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, plea “to prepare for the worst regarding climate change”: a warming of 4 degrees Celsius. He also advocates for an “Apollo type program” to introduce pilot projects for CSS (Carbon capture and sequestration) in coal – fired power plants. Also mentions, but do not comment, the Foresight programs, an effective policy tool that involves many stakeholders. A good illustration on how some governments are facing the global warming challenge.

A good story, showing the contrasts of the evolution of civil rights in China.

The author, president of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, while examining the changes in global warming reporting, from science centered to policy issues centered , suggests an agenda of themes for coverage for journalists that is also a good overview of the open questions in the subject.

A long and intelligent interview to Sir Nicholas Stern with a short preliminary review of the Stern Report and their critics by Alun Anderson, who made a career as research biologist before a becoming a respected science journalist and writer. Stern both answer the critics to his Report and presents the basic elements of an action plan he is preparing for the World Business Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen May 2009, that will be with out doubt largely commented and criticized. A recommended reading for all interested in the subject

The big issue is not how much do we value an human life, but the ethical values that are behind. "Weighing benefits to some people against costs to others is an ethical matter" as John Broome states. As long as we take supposedly "science based decisions" without discussing the ethical values involved the results can be anything you want. (Remember the discussions about the Bhopal catastrophe regarding how much was worth the life of a poor indian peasant: USD 4000 by the time by certain estimates) Politicians, who (should) represent people, not bureaucrats, must make the decisions and explain why

A short article with a hyperlink to the source

Not bad for as an introduction to PV solar, some important topics as net metering are absent.

The ICT revolution in education has a long way to make before show results in the underdeveloped world. But, for those of us who have been witness of the “cellular revolution” in the poor neighborhoods the prospect is real. Negroponte´s One Laptop per Children has open the way, the battle “open source” against “windows” is the great impediment (Thanks big humankind benefactor Mister Gates) But as The Economists article points, if consumers in the rich world adopt the concept of a cheap – take – it – anywhere laptop they can help a lot to make OLPC a reality.

David Roberts story, in fact a blog post, builds over a NYT article about the problems arising in the development of CSS, Carbon Capture and Storage, technology: Capturing the CO2 emissions generated by big producers, mainly power plants, and storing it underground for ever. CSS was regarded as a key technology for the stabilization of green house gases in many studies, some of them highly regarded. It is sure that CSS will not materialize soon and the carbon lobby will try to continue making business as usual. But Roberts only mention the key to stop it: Establish a mandatory tax policy to control the output of greenhouse gases, if possible a true tax per unit emitted, better than the cap – and- trade system favored by politicians.

A good impartial overview of one of the most pressing problems in both the developed and underdeveloped world, but lacks a global perspective.

Freeman Dyson is a well known, and sometimes highly controversial, scientist, and a long time critic of global warming studies, although he agrees on its anthropogenic origin. His informed and critical review of two books, one of which is in fact a conference proceedings, have a lot of information for the “informed layman” You can agree or not with Dyson´s opinions, I personally disagree with some of them, but there are always challenging. A scientific book review in a general media must be scientific journalism, and this story is good one.

Plastic bags are not a "chinese problem", Our most beautiful landascapes (I write from Argentina) are also threatened with the !white pollution". In our windy patagonia usually a couple of thousand acres around waste dumps are white. We are trying to use it as fuel in waste paper + biomass + polyethylene fillm brriquettes ( a clever and simple device sorts PE and toxic burning PVC). It´s not a solution, but if you can nor avoid damage, at least try to mitigate it!! The story is not a remarkable one, but I thanks the author to offer a view from the other side of the divide.

An excellent story,highly recommended for people over 40. Informative, well written, a good example itself of the "Lost media".