Vote for the Eco-Heroes and Eco-Villains of 2008

Grist, the online environmental magazine that bills itself as “a beacon in the smog” and promises “gloom and doom with a sense of humor” wants to know who you consider the best eco-heroes and worst eco-villains of 2008.

When They Were Good . . .
Grist has put together an entertaining and informative poll that lets you cast your vote for eco-hero candidates such as President-elect Barack Obama, NASA scientist James Hansen, author Michael Pollan, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, venture capitalist John Doerr, and many others.

And When They Were Bad . . .
A companion poll lets you give a thumbs down to eco-villains ranging from outgoing EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, who repeatedly ignored his own scientists’ recommendations and instituted some of the most shortsighted and destructive environmental policies and regulations on record, to fictional eco-baddy Dominic Greene, played by French actor Mathieu Amalric, in the latest James Bond thriller, Quantum of Solace.

Three On the Fence
Three names appear on both polls, because the Grist editors couldn’t quite make up their minds whether they were eco-heroes or eco-villains in 2008. (Hint: One of those names in the middle is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.) Your vote could help decide the outcome.

What's Missing?
You may be surprised, as I was, by some of the names that don’t appear in the Grist polls. President Bush is nowhere to be seen, for example, nor is California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The polls are also U.S.-centric, so they don’t address any of the great environmental work or damaging environmental missteps that took place this year in other parts of the world.

Nevertheless, you’ll have fun reading both polls, casting your votes, and seeing the results as you sip your next cup of eggnog by the fire and start thinking about your green resolutions for 2009.

• Grist eco-heroes poll
• Grist eco-villains poll