Environment 
Recent Research and Commentary
How Green Are Your Nukes?
Environmentalists Stewart Brand and Al Gore debate nuclear power in two new books.
November 10, 2009
The role that nuclear power might play in addressing the problem of man-made global warming is fiercely disputed among environmentalists. Two new books by big names in the movement stake out the boundaries of that debate. On the pro-nuclear side stands Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto, by Stewart Brand. And parked in the (more or less) anti-nuclear corner is Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis, by Al Gore. A self-described “green,” Stewart Brand founded and edited the counterculture Whole Earth Catalog back in 1968. In his first book, Earth in the Balance (1992), then-Sen. Al Gore argued, “We must make the rescue of the environment the central organizing principle for civilization.”
SuperFreaking Out Over Climate Engineering
Freakonomics authors freak out environmental activists by suggesting a technical fix for global warming
November 3, 2009Although flawed, in SuperFreakonomics, Levitt and Dubner have done citizens and policymakers a real service by breaking the taboo on discussing the feasibility and risks of climate engineering in public.
Will SuperFreakonmics Effect Our Approach to Climate Change?
October 31, 2009, 12:12pmPolicy Stinker of the Day: Arizona Mulls Hiking Vehicle Fees to Fund State Parks
October 23, 2009, 1:28pmAs an Arizona taxpayer, an outdoor recreationist, and transportation wonk, I'm frankly offended by the latest bad idea to craftily pick our pockets in the midst of the state's cascading budget deficits.
A Nobel Prize for Showing That Freedom Works
Why Elinor Ostrom won
October 22, 2009Ostrom's work concentrates on common-pool resources (CPR) like pastures and fisheries. Policymakers assume that such situations are plagued by free-rider problems, where all individuals have a strong incentive to use the resource to the fullest and no incentive to invest in order to enhance it. Analysts across the political spectrum theorize that only bureaucrats or owners of privatized units can efficiently manage such resources.
Few scholars actually venture into the field to see what people actually do when faced with free-rider problems. Ostrom did. It turns out that free people are not as helpless as the theorists believed.
Dishonest Attacks on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
October 19, 2009, 1:05pmNo one can fault Apple for supporting legislation that would hurt its opponents more than its costs would go up. In fact it is good business. But passing the bills would be bad politics.
View Resources by Type
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- Will SuperFreakonmics Effect Our Approach to Climate Change?
Adrian Moore
October 31, 2009, 12:12pm - Policy Stinker of the Day: Arizona Mulls Hiking Vehicle Fees to Fund State Parks
Leonard Gilroy
October 23, 2009, 1:28pm - Dishonest Attacks on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Anthony Randazzo
October 19, 2009, 1:05pm - 23 Firms Eyeing Indianapolis Superutility
Leonard Gilroy
October 6, 2009, 3:12pm - Novato, CA Sanitary Board Privatizes Wastewater Treatment Plant
Adam Summers
September 30, 2009, 5:50pm - Cash 4 Clunkers: Now, for the Unintended Consequences
Samuel Staley
September 23, 2009, 2:12pm - Was Cash For Clunkers Successful?
Anthony Randazzo
September 4, 2009, 2:14pm - California Can Keep Parks Open with User Fees
Adam Summers
September 1, 2009, 12:39pm - Green Buildings Not So Green
Samuel Staley
September 1, 2009, 7:50am - Nissan Rolls Out Mass Production Electric Car
Samuel Staley
August 21, 2009, 3:07pm - Arizona Communities Preparing to Tap Private Sector for Major Water Project
Leonard Gilroy
August 13, 2009, 5:31pm - Euthanizing Cars Won't Heal the Economy or the Planet
Shikha Dalmia
August 12, 2009, 1:02pm - Efficient, Effective And Run Privately
Adrian Moore
August 7, 2009, 10:55am - U.S. Dances Around Carbon Limits with India
Samuel Staley
July 20, 2009, 5:45pm - Carbon Dioxide May be Less Important to Global Warming
Samuel Staley
July 17, 2009, 8:27am - On the Very Idea of the Agricultural Committee
Carson Young
July 1, 2009, 9:00am - Will the Climate Change Bill Cost Just a Postage Stamp?
Shikha Dalmia
June 29, 2009, 10:12am - U.C. Berkeley: Trains are Not So Environmentally Friendly
Adrian Moore
June 29, 2009, 4:52am - The Real Climate Change Deniers
Shikha Dalmia
June 25, 2009, 11:39pm - Killing G.M. Softly
Shikha Dalmia
June 3, 2009, 1:34pm - Milwaukee Puts Water Privatization Study on Hold
Leonard Gilroy
June 1, 2009, 6:35pm - More on the Negatives of Increased CAFE Standards
Anthony Randazzo
May 20, 2009, 11:33am - Helping Consumers and Taxpayers? Gov't to Buy GM and Tweak CAFE Standards
Anthony Randazzo
May 19, 2009, 3:42pm - New Jersey to Privatize Toxic Waste Site Cleanup
Leonard Gilroy
May 12, 2009, 6:55pm - Spring Madness on Global Warming
Shikha Dalmia
May 5, 2009, 5:40pm - How Would Cap-And-Trade Affect Transportation?
Robert Poole
April 21, 2009, 6:51pm - More Thoughts on "Stimulus" Tax Cuts and the States
Adrian Moore
April 9, 2009, 2:47pm - The Pros and Cons of Tax Incentives for Hybrid Vehicles
Adrian Moore
April 8, 2009, 1:59pm - Bipolar Bad News for Global Warming Alarmists
Shikha Dalmia
March 23, 2009, 10:14pm - EPA Proposes Regulating CO2 as a Pollutant
Adrian Moore
March 23, 2009, 6:13pm - First They Came For The Light Bulbs
Steven Titch
March 23, 2009, 3:51pm - ANWR Morass Redux
Adrian Moore
March 18, 2009, 2:05pm - Inside the Black Box of Climate Change
Samuel Staley
March 2, 2009, 2:59pm - USDA Tries Pricing and Trading Environmental Benefits
Katie Hooks
January 26, 2009, 6:16am - Pocketbook policy: SFpark
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
November 18, 2008, 10:10pm - Governors' Global Climate Summit makes case for baskets
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
November 17, 2008, 3:03pm - FLOW: For Love of Water...as long as it's not bottled, processed or delivered by a for-profit company
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
November 16, 2008, 5:21pm - Farmers vs. Feds
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
November 12, 2008, 6:00pm - Green idealists aren't so green
Samuel Staley
September 24, 2008, 6:35am - Water PPPs Offer Financial, Environmental Compliance Solutions
Leonard Gilroy
September 23, 2008, 3:45pm - The Benefits of Privately Financed Water Infrastructure
Leonard Gilroy
September 13, 2008, 7:11am - Tax Hikes vs. Privatization For Water Infrastructure
Leonard Gilroy
September 2, 2008, 10:24am - Polar Pawn
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
September 1, 2008, 1:58pm - Paper or plastic--or else!
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
August 25, 2008, 11:05am - California Seeks to Reduce Driving and End Sprawl
Chris Mitchell
August 25, 2008, 7:52am - Looking for Cost-Effective Climate Change Solutions
Chris Mitchell
August 18, 2008, 7:57am - Ethanol Craze: Corn Is For Food, Not Fuel
Chris Mitchell
August 12, 2008, 11:48am - The Role Our Cars Are Playing in Global Warming
Chris Mitchell
August 12, 2008, 11:35am - Global Warming and Property Rights - A Reason Roundtable
Chris Mitchell
June 11, 2008, 7:16am - How to shrink your carbon footprint without changing a light bulb
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
May 29, 2008, 9:55am - Paper Bags Use More Energy Than Plastic Bags
Chris Mitchell
April 16, 2008, 1:22pm - Redistribution of water
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
April 13, 2008, 2:19pm - Reviewing Blue Covenant
Chris Mitchell
April 2, 2008, 2:39pm - Paper v. plastic: the interactive version!
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
March 12, 2008, 6:52pm - Reason Study: U.S. Hemp Ban Hurts Environment and Economy
Chris Mitchell
March 12, 2008, 11:00am - Can water markets stop climate change?
Samuel Staley
March 12, 2008, 8:38am - Dangerous, dirty ad from "safe, clean" water advocates
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
February 28, 2008, 4:40pm - DWR: ProgressÖ pending
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
February 21, 2008, 7:16pm - Environmental justice with brain damage
Adrian Moore
February 19, 2008, 7:36am - Paper v. plastic debate finally has its day in court
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
January 29, 2008, 9:06pm - China wants LA's waste paper?
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
December 11, 2007, 4:48pm - Fiber farmers DEA-nied
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
November 29, 2007, 2:13pm - Of planners and horses
Samuel Staley
October 25, 2007, 2:39pm - No false sense of security here
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
October 11, 2007, 10:10am - How Environmentalists and Scientists Mislead Americans about Air Pollution and Climate Change
Adrian Moore
September 14, 2007, 7:36pm - In Order to Solve the Problem, We Need More of the Problem
Geoffrey Segal
August 27, 2007, 6:16am - Jerry Brown, planning commissioner
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
August 21, 2007, 3:19pm - Is Your Web Site Eco-Friendly?
Steven Titch
August 16, 2007, 10:36am - Bottled Water: The New Cigarette
Geoffrey Segal
August 14, 2007, 6:12am - Another good reason to drink fine wine
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
August 5, 2007, 12:49pm - California's Global Warming Budget Crisis
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
August 2, 2007, 1:59pm - Tap vs. bottle: Battle continues
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
July 19, 2007, 1:37pm - If you care about the environment, youíll stop drinking water
Alex McCorbin
July 16, 2007, 1:36pm - Dreamliner a nightmare?
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
July 9, 2007, 3:20pm - Bottled Water, Choice and Privatization
Geoffrey Segal
July 2, 2007, 7:09am - Bald eagle, phone home!
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
June 27, 2007, 10:03am - Let them drink cake!
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
June 24, 2007, 2:36pm - The zero emissions endgame
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
May 27, 2007, 12:16pm - Not dazed or confused
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
May 10, 2007, 12:34pm - One-square toilet paper limit? Demonize cars?
Ted Balaker
April 24, 2007, 10:38am - The Cart before the Horse
Adrian Moore
April 21, 2007, 7:33am - Innovative Solution to Saving the Environment
Geoffrey Segal
March 1, 2007, 10:11am - Q: Who Owns the Sky? A: Californians
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
February 25, 2007, 2:35pm - Climate uncertainty and thinking about the worst case
Adrian Moore
February 14, 2007, 5:56am - Todayís ìtelecommuting is on the riseî tidbit brought to you by Ö
Ted Balaker
February 8, 2007, 9:38am - Burying Evidence--Contruction Equpment and Air Quality
Adrian Moore
January 20, 2007, 4:43am - Looking at the ìwholeî hybrid
Ted Balaker
January 8, 2007, 10:19am - Greens Showing Some Love to Wal Mart
Leonard Gilroy
November 14, 2006, 9:24am - Hollywood pollutes the most in LA?
Samuel Staley
November 13, 2006, 6:45am - Not being productive? Maybe a nap is what you need
Ted Balaker
November 1, 2006, 12:52pm - Mars Needs Kyoto!
Leonard Gilroy
October 16, 2006, 9:14am - Is "Climate Change Denial" Worthy of a Criminal Offense?
Leonard Gilroy
October 15, 2006, 8:07pm - Working from AnywhereóInternational Space Station Edition
Ted Balaker
September 24, 2006, 12:56pm - I support Al Gore
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
September 19, 2006, 1:29pm - About that leak
Ted Balaker
September 6, 2006, 4:13pm - Obesity ìas big a threat as global warming and bird fluî
Ted Balaker
September 5, 2006, 12:07pm - What would Jesus drink?
Ted Balaker
August 17, 2006, 5:27pm - Alligators make the short list
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
August 16, 2006, 9:19am - Green Cities
Ted Balaker
July 18, 2006, 1:50pm - Not so keen on telecommuting, after all?
Ted Balaker
July 12, 2006, 3:45pm - Idle-free or idle-full?
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
July 10, 2006, 11:27am - Why not try telecommuting?
Ted Balaker
July 10, 2006, 11:12am - Cut telecommuting, then cut office space?
Ted Balaker
July 5, 2006, 2:22pm - Lukewarm or cold?
Ted Balaker
June 29, 2006, 12:26pm - A weed to watch out for
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
June 26, 2006, 10:58am - Getting Real on Air Pollution and Health
Adrian Moore
June 23, 2006, 7:59pm - SCOTUS Issues Decision on Rapanos/Caraball Wetlands Case
Leonard Gilroy
June 18, 2006, 8:25am - Todayís ìTelecommuting is catching onî article is brought to you by Ö
Ted Balaker
June 8, 2006, 11:38am - Whatís really going on with HP?
Ted Balaker
June 8, 2006, 11:24am - HP yanks telecommuters
Ted Balaker
June 4, 2006, 10:29am - Címon boss!
Ted Balaker
June 1, 2006, 1:28pm - Look whoís saving the world now
Ted Balaker
May 18, 2006, 10:35am - Who said creating a market in carbon emissions was going to be easy?
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
May 14, 2006, 5:02pm - Sleeping with your work
Ted Balaker
May 11, 2006, 3:27pm - Telecommuting Tax Break
Ted Balaker
May 7, 2006, 3:32pm - Slackers no longer
Ted Balaker
May 4, 2006, 5:57pm - What politicians drive
Ted Balaker
April 26, 2006, 2:30pm - Quickóhow much has the earth warmed during the past century?
Ted Balaker
April 24, 2006, 5:25pm - Telecommuting nation?
Ted Balaker
April 23, 2006, 3:36pm - Here come the nukes
Adrian Moore
April 17, 2006, 10:58am - The tangled web of particulate pollution policy
Adrian Moore
April 17, 2006, 10:52am - The next time you see one of those hand-wringing, ìOverworked Americansî articles
Ted Balaker
April 13, 2006, 10:40am - How toxic was my valley
Adrian Moore
April 13, 2006, 7:36am - The eco-friendly Chevy Tahoe
Ted Balaker
April 3, 2006, 2:46pm - EVENT: Reason, South Park, and Sullivan in Amsterdam
Ted Balaker
April 2, 2006, 3:05pm - EPA revokes gasoline-additive mandate
Adrian Moore
February 15, 2006, 7:54am - EPAís Faith-Based Pollution Standards
Adrian Moore
January 13, 2006, 8:21pm - Particle Civics
Adrian Moore
January 3, 2006, 12:09pm - Public Water Systems Buys Private Water!
Geoffrey Segal
January 2, 2006, 10:00am - The Costs of Environmental Regulation
Leonard Gilroy
December 14, 2005, 11:48am - New at Reason - United Nations and Climate Change
Reason Editors
December 6, 2005, 12:11pm - No Such Thing as Free Recycling
Leonard Gilroy
December 5, 2005, 11:44am - Beware the Precautionary Principle
Leonard Gilroy
November 20, 2005, 9:59am - Holes in EPA's Ozone Policy
Adrian Moore
November 17, 2005, 3:26pm - The best defense against hurricanes
Ted Balaker
November 17, 2005, 3:01pm - Monterey Rejects Anti-Privatization Forces
Geoffrey Segal
November 8, 2005, 4:54am - How to Save New England's Fishing Villages
Adrian Moore
October 31, 2005, 6:27am - From Red to Green
Geoffrey Segal
October 24, 2005, 5:39am - House Resources Committee Passes ESA Reform Bill
Leonard Gilroy
September 25, 2005, 4:51pm - Feds move to markets for fisheries
Adrian Moore
September 23, 2005, 9:44am - Endangered Species Act Reform Bill Introduced
Leonard Gilroy
September 18, 2005, 2:07pm - Judge dismisses state lawsuits over global warming
Adrian Moore
September 17, 2005, 6:53am - Greens vs. Hurricane Protection
Leonard Gilroy
September 8, 2005, 6:38am - Precautionary principle flubs again
Adrian Moore
September 3, 2005, 11:34am - climat science is politicized?!?!?
Adrian Moore
August 27, 2005, 1:19pm - Breaking the Bank to Prevent Global Warming
Leonard Gilroy
August 21, 2005, 7:08am - Rancher Turns Tables on Enviros
Leonard Gilroy
August 21, 2005, 7:02am - How privatization gets water to the poor
Ted Balaker
August 17, 2005, 9:27am - Endangered species like war
Ted Balaker
August 17, 2005, 8:56am - Room aplenty for trash
Adrian Moore
August 13, 2005, 1:47pm - IFQs in Alaskan Crab Fisheries
Leonard Gilroy
August 11, 2005, 2:09pm - Faith in Climate Change
Leonard Gilroy
August 7, 2005, 2:27pm - Portland on CO2 Claims: Whoops!
Leonard Gilroy
August 7, 2005, 10:01am - Planet Earth: Dying? Thriving? What's the deal?
Ted Balaker
July 28, 2005, 3:01pm - "But I Was Thirsty!"
Leonard Gilroy
July 26, 2005, 9:06pm - Wow! EPA doesn't have to regulate everythign anyone wants it to
Adrian Moore
July 17, 2005, 8:40am - Glass half full on plan to deal with water needs
Adrian Moore
July 14, 2005, 4:19pm - Global Warming Policy and Rent Seeking, Part II
Leonard Gilroy
July 14, 2005, 12:41pm - G8 Rejects Kyoto Logic
Leonard Gilroy
July 11, 2005, 10:39am - Eminent Domain: Threat to Conservation?
Leonard Gilroy
July 7, 2005, 4:29pm - House of Lords Backs U.S Climate Stance
Leonard Gilroy
July 5, 2005, 9:54am - Global Warming Policy and Rent-Seeking
Leonard Gilroy
July 5, 2005, 8:48am - National Academies' Statement on Global Warming Unravels
Leonard Gilroy
July 3, 2005, 10:49am - "Sustainable" Cities Need More Than Good Intentions
Leonard Gilroy
June 13, 2005, 9:25am - Global Warming News Roundup, Part II
Leonard Gilroy
June 12, 2005, 11:35am - The hybrid capital of Connecticut
Ted Balaker
June 9, 2005, 12:13pm - Global Warming News Roundup, Part I
Leonard Gilroy
June 7, 2005, 11:00am - Hurricane Hogwash
Leonard Gilroy
May 30, 2005, 9:53am - ESA Reform in the Works?
Leonard Gilroy
May 24, 2005, 9:31am - Smart Growth and Environmentalism's Growing Pains
Leonard Gilroy
May 23, 2005, 11:15am - A Measure 37 (of Sorts) in Texas?
Leonard Gilroy
May 10, 2005, 9:39am - Now everyoneís admitting it
Ted Balaker
May 2, 2005, 6:49pm - Earth Day 2005 - Getting Better all the Time
Leonard Gilroy
April 21, 2005, 2:19pm - Global Warming and Property Rights
Leonard Gilroy
April 11, 2005, 10:12am - Bull Market for Eco-restoration
Leonard Gilroy
April 7, 2005, 9:04am - Poor disproportionately affected? Good!
Ted Balaker
April 4, 2005, 9:41am - U.N. Suggests Markets to Combat Global Environmental Degradation
Leonard Gilroy
March 30, 2005, 8:01am - No Link Between Global Warming and Air Quality
Leonard Gilroy
March 30, 2005, 7:27am - World Water Day
Ted Balaker
March 21, 2005, 2:30pm - Arnold tough on gross polluters
Ted Balaker
March 20, 2005, 5:18pm - Global Warming: Been there, done that
Leonard Gilroy
February 24, 2005, 7:18am - Hydroelectric power's dirty secret revealed
Adrian Moore
February 23, 2005, 9:45pm - Europe Dizzy Over Kyoto
Leonard Gilroy
February 23, 2005, 2:56pm - Kyoto Hot Air
Leonard Gilroy
February 21, 2005, 10:18pm - Kyoto Protocol - Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing
Leonard Gilroy
February 15, 2005, 2:12pm - Breaking the 'Hockey Stick'
Leonard Gilroy
February 14, 2005, 9:10am - Climate Change Debate Heats Up
Leonard Gilroy
February 7, 2005, 9:36am - EU Holds Uganda Hostage Over DDT
Leonard Gilroy
February 4, 2005, 11:30am - UK Climate Conference: We're Toast!
Leonard Gilroy
February 3, 2005, 8:38am - More hybrid hype
Adrian Moore
January 31, 2005, 8:55pm - Hydrogen's not so Hot
Adrian Moore
December 29, 2004, 7:08am - Finding Better Ways to Achieve Cleaner Air
Adrian Moore
November 11, 2004, 1:25pm - N.O. Drops Water Privatization Plans
Geoffrey Segal
April 19, 2004, 2:11pm - Locals See Benefits of Privatization
Geoffrey Segal
November 29, 2003, 10:38am
Out of Control Policy Blog - Environment
- Will SuperFreakonmics Effect Our Approach to Climate Change? (10/31)
- Policy Stinker of the Day: Arizona Mulls Hiking Vehicle Fees to Fund State Parks (10/23)
- Dishonest Attacks on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (10/19)
- 23 Firms Eyeing Indianapolis Superutility (10/6)
- Novato, CA Sanitary Board Privatizes Wastewater Treatment Plant (9/30)
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