EcoTalk's Archives

The Greenest Automakers

Vehicles Engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists, Don Mackenzie reveals the greenest of all automakers (and not any one model, but the company top to bottom) in a recent UCS study. Envelope please...and the winner is: Honda, in a squeaker over Toyota! OK, so perhaps that's not quite  "Shakespeare in Love" over "Saving Private Ryan", but it is an indication that competition is bringing out the best in Japanese automakers (as well as rapidly improving Korean brands). Where are the Americans? I'll let Don explain. LISTEN (7 min)

Rebates for Cleaner Vehicles

Just when you think California has been as ambitious and unequivocal as it can be in the face of a looming energy crisis and climate change, the state steps on the gas: Dan Kalb, California Policy Analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, tells us about the latest bill in the California legislature, proposing a steep discount for fuel efficient vehicles, and a surcharge for gas guzzlers. LISTEN (12 min)

Dr. Francesca Grifo testifies before Congress on Supression of Science

Yesterday Dr. Francesca Grifo of the Union of Concerned Scientists testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on systematic and widespread suppression of climate science by the upper echelons of our government. If true, such suppression of the public service performed by government scientists amounts to reckless endangerment of public health and welfare. PART ONE (11 min)  PART TWO (7 min)

ExxonMobil: Manufacturing Uncertainty

Freelance Environmental Journalist Seth Shulman was commisioned by the Union of Concerned Scientists to write a report on the tactics ExxonMobil uses to encourage public skepticism of the dangers posed by climate change. Today the Union of Concerned Scientists released his report titled Smoke, Mirrors, and Hot Air: How Exxon Mobil Uses Big Tobacco's Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science.  LISTEN (11 min)

Outraged Scientists against the Politicization of Science

Can 10,600 scientists be wrong? That's the number of scientists who have signed a petition condemning the politicization of science. "The motivations are many, but they tend to come back to ideology and commercial interests," says Francesca Grifo, Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists Department of Scientific Integrity. LISTEN (11 min)

Lexie Schultz: Science further marginalized at the EPA

Lexie Schultz of the Union of Concerned Scientists says that in its latest maneuvers the EPA is attempting to circumvent any science that doesn't fit pre-determined policies: "The EPA has cut science out of all climate decisions." What does science have to do with climate anyway? LISTEN (10 min)

Inappropriate Manipulation of Science at the Department of the Interior

Michael Halpern of the Union of Concerned Scientists tells how high-ranking political appointees within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have rewritten scientific documents to prevent the protection of several endangered species (including the prairie dog). LISTEN (8:50 min)

Cameron Wake: Climate Change In The US Northeast

Cameron Wake talks about the report Climate Change in the US Northeast that was recently published with the support of the Union of Concerned Scientists: Global warming is poised to substantially change the climate in New England if heat-trapping emissions are not curtailed.  The extent and impacts of the change depend on the choices that governments, businesses and citizens make today.
LISTEN (11 min)

Is Spinach Safe to Eat?

Margaret Mellon is Director of the Food and Environment program with the Union of Concerned Scientists. She talks about the E-Coli outbreak in spinach.
LISTEN (8 min)

Greener Pastures

This is a rerun of our April 1st program.
Kate Clancy , Senior Scientist with the Food and Environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists authored the report “Greener Pastures: How Grass-fed Beef and Milk Contribute to Healthy Eating” : "There are no losers in producing cattle entirely on pasture. Farmers win, consumers win, the environment wins, and even the cattle win." LISTEN (8 min)