Pacific Institute

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Water for Africa, and the Nobel Peace Prize

Peter H. Gleick | Posted 12.07.2011

Peter H. Gleick

The remarkable president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen for their work on women's rights.

Another Cost of Bottled Water: Environmental Injustice and Inequity

Peter H. Gleick | Posted 08.09.2011

Peter H. Gleick

There is new and growing evidence that the failure to provide safe drinking water, or the fear (or reality) of contamination in tap water that forces people to buy bottled water, imposes special financial burdens on poor and minority communities.

The Science of Climate Change and Closing Doors in Congress

Peter H. Gleick | Posted 05.25.2011

Peter H. Gleick

On Dec. 1, I provided oral and written testimony to a hearing of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming of the US Congress. It turns out this was the very last hearing of the Select Committee.

Unavoidable Climate Change -- Past the Point of No Return

Peter H. Gleick | Posted 05.25.2011

Peter H. Gleick

The world has missed the opportunity to avoid serious, damaging human-induced climate change. How bad it ultimately gets depends on how much longer Congress hides behind political ideology, and religion to deny the reality of climate change.

Time for a "Cash for Water Clunkers" Program

Peter H. Gleick | Posted 05.25.2011

Peter H. Gleick

Here is a long-overdue idea for an additional piece of "stimulus" for local economies, and one that won't cost any money in the long run - indeed, it ...

Stockholm Water Confab Rings Alarms, Offers Hope

Magda Abu-Fadil | Posted 05.25.2011

Magda Abu-Fadil

According to freelance journalist Rose George, a child dies from diarrhea -- usually brought on by fecal-contaminated food or water -- every 15 seconds. But human waste can be used to good purpose.

Popping the Bottled Water Bubble

Peter H. Gleick | Posted 05.25.2011

Peter H. Gleick

There are new data to support the idea that consumers are beginning to reconsider their recent love affair with bottled water. For three decades, bott...

Eco Etiquette: Is a New Prius Worse for the Environment Than an Old SUV?

Jennifer Grayson | Posted 05.25.2011

Jennifer Grayson

While you certainly won't get as many nods driving a 1994 Geo Metro XFi as you would with a new loaded solar-roof Prius (though you may get as many looks), I will grant you more green bragging rights.