menu_open Columnists
Kristin Toussaint

Kristin Toussaint

Vice

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Scrapping your gas-powered car right now would actually be better for the planet than fixing it, study says

While it may not make sense financially, getting rid of a brand-new gas vehicle and switching to an EV would have environmental benefits.

friday 7

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Ford’s affordable midsize electric truck officially has a name and starting price

The American automaker is ‘super confident’ about the price point as it aims to compete with Tesla and cheaper EVs from China.

06.08.2026 4

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Farmworkers across 22 states will get free access to electrolytes to combat dangerous heat stress

The Fair Food Program, whose buyers include major retailers like Walmart, McDonald’s, and Trader Joe’s, will now mandate electrolytes for workers.

05.08.2026 0

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Big Oil profits are soaring while extreme heatwaves scorch the planet this summer

Emissions from the largest oil companies were enough to cause to 1 in 4 heatwaves over the past two decades, according to a new analysis from Oxfam.

28.07.2026 7

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Home energy costs are soaring. Why does Trump want our appliances to be even less efficient?

The war in Iran, climate change, and data centers are all driving up energy prices. Experts say Trump’s policies are making things worse.

24.07.2026 9

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Nobody knows how bad corporate AI emissions really are. This startup has a way to estimate them

Investors, auditors, and regulators are asking companies about their AI emissions, but precisely measuring them is a challenge.

22.07.2026 7

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

The wishful thinking of ‘climate havens’: Canada’s wildfire smoke is debunking myths about the Midwest

Cities like Detroit and Duluth, Minnesota, were once thought to be safer from the impacts of climate change. Their air quality this week says...

17.07.2026 6

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

‘More bad news’ for people struggling with energy bills: AI data centers are driving costs even higher

PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator, just revealed how demand for electricity is growing faster than supply, thanks in large part to the data...

15.07.2026 7

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Microsoft’s emissions rose 25% last year. Experts say they’ll surge even more dramatically in the years ahead

Tech giants have been been polluting more heavily as they ramp up their aggressive AI data center buildouts.

14.07.2026 8

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

The housecleaning is free—but it will cost you your most intimate data

Shift is paying cleaners to wear camera headsets inside customers’ homes, building the datasets that could shape the future of domestic work. Is the...

28.06.2026 30

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

The Trump administration has attacked science 574 times. Track each instance with this online tool

The Union of Concerned Scientists is aiming to visualize the scale of the president’s anti-science actions, from censorship to the sidelining of...

24.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

There’s a deadly heat wave in Europe. Experts are begging media outlets to stop making it look fun

Images of crowded beaches or people swimming in pools are known to make extreme weather seem less dangerous.

23.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Should we just get rid of corporate net-zero goals?

The AI data center boom is highlighting major flaws in a common and well-meaning practice that doesn’t actually help the planet, a new paper argues.

20.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

El Niño is here—and it will ‘pour fuel on the fire of a warming world’

NOAA scientists say the climate pattern is likely to be one of the strongest on record. It could lead to drought, floods, fires, and more.

11.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Your sunscreen is outdated. The FDA has finally cleared a path to make it more effective

Sun protection products in the United States have long lagged behind their counterparts in Europe and Asia. That could change soon.

09.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

USAFacts’ new campaign is showing voters that data rules everything around them

USAFacts, helmed by new president Lauren Woodman, says fixing America’s data infrastructure will get people more involved in civic life.

09.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

How Big Tobacco helped design Lunchables—and gave birth to the ultra-processed food industry

R&D from the cigarette business played a surprising role in engineering snack foods for ‘consumer pleasure,’ a new study reveals.

05.06.2026 9

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Retired Waymo EV batteries will get a second life as grid storage

Electric vehicles are still relatively new to American roadways. One startup is making use of their batteries once they’re no longer fit to power...

04.06.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

‘Tomatoflation’ is the latest extreme price increase to hit grocery bills. The reasons why are alarming

Tomato prices have recently soared to highs not seen in 45 years. It’s thanks to a number of supply-chain disruptions, and it’s not likely to get...

03.06.2026 8

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Will Kevin O’Leary’s massive Utah data center actually get built? Don’t count on it, says this energy analyst

The controversial Wonder Valley project is expected to be 40,000 acres, but one expert puts the likelihood of it materializing at “roughly 15%.”

22.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Why are there so many Salmonella outbreaks? 4 reasons for the nonstop food recalls, sicknesses, and safety warnings this year

From salty snacks to backyard ducks, it seems like the bacteria is showing up everywhere lately. You’re not just imagining it.

21.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

AI slop farms are churning out anti-AI data center memes on Facebook

The worst types of engagement seekers have discovered how much the world hates data centers, and of course they’re using AI to stoke the flames.

19.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

More companies are offering a simple workplace perk to make commutes less painful as gas prices soar

Ridepanda, which allows companies to offer e-bike subscriptions, has seen a spike since the Iran war began.

13.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

The global oil crisis is proving the case for sustainable aviation

Rising oil prices have set the stage for sustainable aviation fuels. Are airlines ready for them?

13.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Everglades wildfire: Maps show devastation as 5,000 acres burn in the wake of an extreme Florida drought

The the Max Road Miramar Fire, located outside of Miami, was first reported on Sunday. Florida has seen nearly 2,000 wildfires this year.

11.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Saying ‘tax the rich’ hurts wealthy men’s feelings. Not taxing billionaires hurts everyone else

After a real estate executive compared the phrase to a racial slur, the pro-progressive tax group Patriotic Millionaires had a few harsh words.

07.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Top CEO pay increased 20 times faster than workers’ pay in 2025: report

A new analysis by the International Trade Union Confederation and Oxfam America highlights how CEO and billionaire wealth has grown.

01.05.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Beard Papa’s, Emack & Bolio’s, and other NYC retailers are using these plug-in batteries to slash power costs

Startup David Energy is providing plug-in batteries free to New York City businesses so they can save on energy costs and ease demand on the grid.

30.04.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

JPMorgan Chase received millions in tax breaks to expand a data center. It created 1 full-time job

The project was approved at a time when people were less aware of the data center boom, which has since attracted opposition in many communities.

27.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

A former employee is suing MrBeast’s company for harassment, discrimination

Beast Industries denies the claims in the lawsuit, filed in North Carolina Tuesday.

23.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

This new EV battery from CATL can get to an 80% charge in under 4 minutes

In striking upgrades, Chinese battery manufacturers are making EV charging as quick as refilling a gas tank.

22.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Allbirds is dumping its environmental mission as it pivots to AI

The former shoe brand is asking shareholders to approve the change, arguing that it will now be less focused on the public benefit of conservation.

22.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

How a Rhode Island apartment building for seniors installed 277 heat pumps in just 12 days

Climate tech startup Gradient tells Fast Company exclusively how it retrofitted a Providence apartment building to slash emissions and save energy...

20.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Let this goofy Trump chatbot tell you how your tax money is really spent

‘Trumpo Tax,’ a satirical take on tax preparation software, highlights how tax policies favor oil and gas companies over everyday Americans.

15.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Why Big Tech companies got quiet on climate change

Massive AI data centers are changing the calculus for friendly tech brands that once led the way in net-zero commitments.

14.04.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

The US Forest Service is closing down research stations ahead of a catastrophic wildfire season

Experts warn the changes could disrupt critical data used to predict and fight wildfires

09.04.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Japan’s beautiful cherry blossoms are facing an ugly threat

Blame warmer winters: When flowers don’t last as long, they die off as new ones bloom, leaving cherry trees looking ‘kind of bedraggled.’

08.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

How former Labor Secretary Robert Reich packages his anti-inequality message for Gen Z

Reich and Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse of Inequality Media reach millions of people with content about the imbalances of power in our democracy and...

06.04.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

See it: Air temperatures and pollution around the world are captured in real time in these animated weather maps

Earth in Action by Esri’s Maps.com brings planetary data to life, depicting the rise and fall of temperatures and the swirling of aerosols.

01.04.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

New York’s governor wants to delay a landmark climate law. That could cost households thousands in energy bills

A recent analysis by a coalition of climate and community groups says delaying the law could cost New Yorkers $9,000 per household over five years.

27.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

One Microsoft data center in West Virginia could raise the company’s emissions 44%: report

Microsoft’s use of 1.35 gigawatts of processing power in West Virginia will be entirely powered by emissions-producing natural gas.

25.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Beach cleanups can save the lives of marine animals. This calculator tells you exactly how many

Ocean Conservancy created a Wildlife Impact Calculator to help you understand the real benefits of your beach cleanups.

23.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Washington state has no income tax. It just passed one for millionaires that could be a model for other states

The bill would tax earnings over $1 million at 9.9%, which could raise billions annually. Expect a big fight from the “wealth defense industry.”

19.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Big Oil companies have moved away from greenwashing. Climate advocates say what they’re doing now is worse

BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell once touted themselves as climate leaders. Now they’re pushing ads that normalize dependence on fossil fuels.

18.03.2026 60

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Meatpackers are on strike for the first time in 40 years. Beef industry labor disputes may be rare by design

Union leaders say meat processing companies often rely on vulnerable workers who are less likely to push back against unfair practices.

16.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

More homeowners are considering solar power during the Iran oil crisis

EnergySage, an online marketplace, has seen a surge in people requesting quotes for solar installations since the conflict in the Middle East began.

13.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Extreme March heat wave will scorch Los Angeles and the Southwest this week. The long-term consequences could devastating

Forecasters are calling the early heat event ‘unprecedented,’ with temperatures as high as 25 degrees above normal in some areas.

12.03.2026 10

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

The Iran war made oil prices more expensive. Your groceries could be next

Fertilizer that our food system relies on moves through the Strait of Hormuz, where global shipping has been essentially halted.

10.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Your 401(k) could shrink due to climate risks. A lawsuit argues that your employer has a duty to protect it

A novel legal challenge alleges that a real estate company breached its duties by failing to protect retirement savings from climate-related financial...

05.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint

Trump assaulted renewable energy. Now America is more vulnerable to Iran fossil fuel shocks

Oil and gas prices are affected by global factors. Countries that invested in clean tech solutions are better positioned as the Middle East crisis...

04.03.2026 20

Fast Company

Kristin Toussaint