1. Election of Barack Obama
When the presidential campaigns began, greens might have thought they'd win either way: Both Barack Obama and John McCain were on record supporting strong action on climate change — and McCain could even point to his co-sponsorship of one of the first carbon cap-and-trade bills in Congress. But as the campaign wore on, the details set them apart. McCain re-entered the fold of the Republican orthodoxy, chanting "Drill, baby, drill" along with the best of the fossil-fuel enthusiasts, while Obama built a compelling program around alternative-energy investment to create viable green jobs. As President-elect, he's pledged to put energy at the forefront of his agenda — and says he won't back down on cap-and-trade even in the face of the recession. If Obama can pull that off, he'll be America's first truly green President.
Photos: Hamas Recruitment Day
Going Bald for the Box Office
A Brief History of First Ladies and Their Causes
Patti Smith and Mapplethorpe: Bohemian Rhapsody
How They Train: Speed Skater Apolo Ohno
Asian Carp in the Great Lakes? This Means War!
Gift Giving on Facebook Gets Real
The Boy Scouts of America Turns 100
Robert Gates in Afghanistan
10 Questions for Grammy Winner Maxwell