Chris Turner Blog

Germany: A cleantech case study for a post-Fukushima world
In the wake of the worst nuclear disaster in a generation, Germany doubled down on a decade of success, pledging to eliminate nukes by 2022 and switch almost exclusively to renewable power by 2050. A report from the front lines.
Is the future of urban innovation in leisure or new industry?
For a generation, decaying industrial cities have looked to leisure megaprojects for salvation — from casinos and stadiums to festivals and conventions. In these lean times, maybe cleantech R&D would be a smarter bet.
Climate scientists unveil new communications tool: Hip hop
In a goofy, profane, self-mocking rap video, a handful of young Australian climate scientists preach an inconvenient truth: There are two few scientists at the center of the public conversation about climate change.
Coal Cares brings biting satire to clean energy debate
A note-perfect 'clean coal' parody site has become the talk of the Internet. With its Coal Cares campaign, the heretofore unknown activist group Coal is Killing Kids leaps into the energy debate — with a biting laugh.
10 simple steps (and pedals and rides) cities are taking to move beyond the automobile
In a magnificent mini-epic series, Streetfilms has created a handy, eye-catching primer to the most important transformation our cities need to create real sustainability.
In the persuasion game, beware the backfire effect
For a generation, activists have built their protest movement on the scientific facts of climate change. But the facts of another kind of science — neuroscience — indicate that this only reinforces the point of view of the unconvinced.
A Spanish train may have created the perfect solution to long-distance travel
In less than 20 years, Spain turned its joke of a rail network into the best high-speed system on the planet. And the real revolution happened once people stepped off the rails.
Do robber barons ride fast trains? (And other questions in the high-speed rail debate)
As high-speed rail comes (finally!) to America, it may be important to remember the lessons of the 19th-century rail boom. It may be even more important to learn the lessons of the boom already under way this century.
Earth Day's framing problem
By treating 'the environment' as something outside our daily lives, Earth Day is no longer calibrated to meet the scope of the climate and energy crises — nor the world to be gained by reinventing civilization. Earth Day: 1970-2011, RIP?
A maverick architect proposes radical tool for liberating urban space: Cars without drivers
Bjarke Ingels, wunderkind of Scandinavian architecture, based his idea that cars autopiloted by computer on smart solar roads could reinvent the city. His slideshow makes for pulse-racing eye candy.

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