07
In Congress, gas prices trump global warming.
Congress retreated Friday from the world's biggest environmental concern, global warming, in a fresh demonstration of what happens when nature and business collide, especially in an election year.
Associated Press.
07 June 2008
Dry future well ahead of schedule.
For the past decade, the autumn rains that herald the grain-planting season and produce winter pasture have failed in southeastern Australia; this year was no exception.
Sydney Australian.
07 June 2008
IEA calls for energy revolution.
The good news is that there is enough oil left on the planet to allow a huge increase in consumption over the next few decades. The bad news is that the consequences for the climate of burning that much oil would be alarming.
Financial Times.
07 June 2008
International Energy Agency says $45 trillion may be needed to battle carbon emissions.
The agency said that $45 trillion might be needed over the next half-century to prevent energy shortages and greenhouse gas emissions from undermining global economic growth.
International Herald Tribune.
07 June 2008
Don't mess with Texas wind.
Eighty-year-old Texas oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens is feeling the green breeze – he’s putting 12 billion dollars into what will be the world’s largest wind farm.
Living On Earth.
07 June 2008
Putting sea life to the acid test.
A new report by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre says that about half the fossil fuel carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by humans has now dissolved into the oceans.
Sydney Morning Herald.
07 June 2008
Siberian oil boom.
Little wonder Russians are toasting oil--these are boom times. Global oil prices have increased tenfold since 1998, and Russia has pulled ahead of Saudi Arabia as the world's top crude oil producer.
National Geographic News.
07 June 2008
High tide brings seawater into homes.
On Paradise Island, Mandaue City, if daily tide readings say high tide will reach 1.9 meters or higher, that’s a cue to move slippers, TV sets and other house items to the top of tables and tall cabinets.
Cebu Daily News.
07 June 2008
Climate, arms, drugs make lethal mix In Sahel.
Climate change, fighting over water and land, trafficking in drugs, arms and migrants, and the grievances of nomadic Tuaregs have created a "lethal cocktail" threatening Africa's Sahel belt, a top UN official said.
Reuters.
07 June 2008
Global warming to decrease hurricanes, study says.
Global warming may reduce the number of hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Basin by 2060--but the storms that do form may be slightly stronger and wetter.
National Geographic News.
07 June 2008
Growing ocean acidity may erode coastal ecosystems.
Ocean waters along North America's west coast are becoming more acidic than expected in response to atmospheric carbon emissions.
National Geographic News.
07 June 2008
Australia's long drought withering wheat, rice supplies.
The dearth of water has ravaged Australian agriculture and rice farmers have arguably faired the worst--production has been slashed to a measly 2 percent of pre-drought totals and exports have virtually ceased.
National Geographic News.
07 June 2008
Turning carbon into gold.
Supporters of doomed Senate climate plan point to the success of the offsets program created in 2003 under the Kyoto Protocol - a carbon-trading system that has been more efficient and cheaper than forcing companies to cut emissions.
Mother Jones.
07 June 2008
Saving Toronto with tap water and fully inflated tires.
As Toronto is debating the merits of gas-powered lawn mowers and urging residents to properly inflate their car tires, some question whether small-scall efforts can ever take the place of sweeping national and international action.
Toronto Globe and Mail.
07 June 2008
UN to aid Africa's Sahel nations in tackling climate change.
The United Nations will help countries in West Africa's vast semi-arid Sahel region cope with climate change and conflicts, a UN advisor pledged Friday.
Agence France-Presse.
07 June 2008
New York considers joining carbon-trading compact.
As a federal bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions died Friday in the U.S. Senate, New York State moved ahead with plans to participate in the nation's first regional carbon-trading scheme, which aims to reduce emissions from Northeast power plants.
New York Newsday.
07 June 2008
AQMD takes carrot approach to reducing greenhouse emissions.
Southern California air pollution regulators took a big step toward tackling global warming Friday with plans to coax companies to cut the volume of greenhouse gases they produce.
Riverside Press-Enterprise.
07 June 2008
IEA proposes much higher carbon offsets.
The cost of carbon dioxide emissions would need to be at least $200 per tonne to deliver the cuts proposed by scientists to avert the threat of global warming, the International Energy Agency said on Friday.
Financial Times.
07 June 2008
World needs $45 trillion energy revolution.
The world must undergo a “new global energy revolution” and faces the gargantuan bill of $45 trillion (£23 trillion) if it is to halve carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2050, the International Energy Agency has warned.
London Times.
07 June 2008
German parliament adopts climate package.
The German lower house of parliament approved on Friday the first parts of a raft of measures aimed at reducing the country's carbon dioxide emissions by 36 percent by 2020.
Agence France-Presse.
07 June 2008
HK companies now eligible for carbon trading.
Hong Kong companies that cut their carbon dioxide emissions in the city can now sell those emissions reduction in a $12.9bn global carbon credit market.
Financial Times.
07 June 2008
Big energy consumers to gather in Japan as oil prices soar.
Eleven nations that guzzle nearly two thirds of the world's energy will hold talks in northern Japan this weekend, seeking ways to secure enough supply and reduce consumption as oil prices hit record highs.
France 24.
07 June 2008
Ancient "snowball Earth" melted fast due to methane.
A massive release of methane--a potent greenhouse gas--may have triggered rapid melting of the last "snowball Earth" about 635 million years ago, a new study suggests.
National Geographic News.
07 June 2008
Is this what's next for drivers?
Barbara Turpin loves driving. Expensive gasoline is changing everything about Ms. Turpin's driving, and the story is suddenly the same across the country.
Toronto Globe and Mail.
07 June 2008
Could 'scrubber' help slow global warming?
Scientists led by a physicist at Columbia University in New York say they plan to build a prototype within two years that could economically capture a ton of CO2 a day from the air.
Mail and Guardian Online.
07 June 2008
GM seeks order blocking California's carbon rules.
General Motors Corp. and 21 carmakers denied claims by California regulators that they can comply with the state's carbon-reduction rules this year and asked a judge for an order blocking the requirements.
Bloomberg News.
07 June 2008
Climate change can’t be tackled without India, China: Bush.
The White House has reiterated that the problem of climate change cannot be tackled unless new emerging economies like India and China are on the table.
Indo-Asian News Service.
07 June 2008
Japan, Turkey leaders agree on trade and climate fight.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Turkish President Abdullah Gul agreed to cooperate in building a new framework to fight climate change after the Kyoto Protocol's obligations expire in 2012.
Agence France-Presse.
07 June 2008
2050 greenhouse goals will be too late.
Pitches to cut worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 are too leisurely and must be brought forward by decades, Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute said Friday at a symposium in Tokyo.
Japan Times.
07 June 2008
Schwarzenegger: U.S. needs leadership, not politics, to fight climate change.
The United States needs leadership, not politics, to fight climate change, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday.
Xinhua News Agency.
07 June 2008
Global warming gridlock.
An historic bill to cut greenhouse gases was blown away by Washington's hot air.
Living On Earth.
07 June 2008
Republican lawmakers block US climate bill.
US lawmakers blocked a sweeping climate change bill Friday, after Republican warnings of high energy costs dashed Democrats' hopes for pollution caps under President George W. Bush's administration.
Agence France-Presse.
07 June 2008
US Senate Republicans block climate change plan.
A landmark plan to fight climate change was defeated today in the US Senate, likely postponing action on carbon emissions limits until after this autumn's presidential election.
London Guardian.
07 June 2008
Vote on climate bill is blocked in Senate.
Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases, pushing debate over the world's biggest environmental concern to next year for a new Congress and president.
Associated Press.
07 June 2008
Backers upbeat despite climate bill's demise.
A massive bill to deal with global climate change dies Friday in the Senate, a victim of its own sweep and a dose of partisan squabbling.
All Things Considered.
07 June 2008
Republicans block climate change bill.
US lawmakers blocked a sweeping climate change bill Friday, after Republican warnings of high energy costs dashed Democrats' hopes for pollution caps under President George W Bush's administration.
Agence France-Presse.
07 June 2008
Senate's global warming legislation gets caught in political crossfire.
Global warming might be considered a threat to wipe out species and cause disastrous droughts around the world, but it wasn't strong enough to break a partisan standoff in the U.S. Senate.
Austin American-Statesman.
07 June 2008
Craig, Crapo vote to delay climate debate.
Idaho's two Republican senators helped kill a bill Friday aimed at reducing greenhouse gases by 66 percent over the next 42 years.
Boise Idaho Statesman.
07 June 2008
US climate change bill is blocked.
A US attempt to establish a system of caps and tax relief to cut carbon emissions has been blocked in Congress.
BBC.
07 June 2008
After verbal fire, Senate effectively kills climate change bill.
Some said the legislation would raise energy costs at a time when Americans are struggling with record gasoline prices. The bill was shelved until next year.
New York Times.
07 June 2008
Senate leaders pull measure on climate.
Senate leaders yesterday abruptly pulled back legislation that would have mandated major cuts in U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions after they came a dozen votes shy of ending a GOP filibuster.
Washington Post.
07 June 2008
Gas prices help defeat Senate's climate bill.
Record high gasoline prices played into the hands of climate-change bill opponents Friday, as the Senate defeated a sweeping plan to cut U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions and limit the effects of climate change.
Wall Street Journal.
07 June 2008
Global warming measure defeated.
A Democratic-sponsored measure to address global warming was defeated in the Senate on Friday because it was too aggressive and would destroy local economies, said not only opponents but even some Democrats who voted for it.
Washington Times.
07 June 2008
Atlantic provinces sign 'empty' environment deal, expert says.
The federal government and the Atlantic provinces signed an agreement yesterday pledging to co-operate on environmental issues, but one group says the time for agreements has long passed.
Canadian Press.
07 June 2008
New York considers joining carbon-trading compact.
As a federal bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions died Friday in the U.S. Senate, New York State moved ahead with plans to participate in the nation's first regional carbon-trading scheme.
New York Newsday.
07 June 2008
Bayh opposes bill to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Sen. Evan Bayh opposes the current version of a bill to significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, although he voted yesterday to keep the bill alive.
Gannett News Service.
07 June 2008
South Africa's new eco battle.
With global warming predicted to leave millions of Africans struggling with famine, floods and other natural disasters, "a crucial governance task is for provision to be made for the influx of migrants into South Africa".
Sunday Independent.
07 June 2008
Businesses told to take climate change seriously.
The State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar has appealed to Indonesian business players to cut emissions substantially, to help fight human-induced climate change.
Jakarta Post.
07 June 2008
Climate of suspicion.
The deniers of global warming are about to latch on to a new argument. The world is cooling. And they are right - well, slightly.
London Guardian.
07 June 2008
Green fuel from a brown source.
Some California drivers may tool around in poop-powered cars as early as next year.
Edmonton Journal.
07 June 2008
Toyota develops new fuel cell hybrid with improved MPG.
Toyota has developed a new fuel cell hybrid, a green car powered by hydrogen and electricity, that can travel more than twice the distance of its predecessor model without filling up.
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.
07 June 2008
"Perfect storm" in food prices caused by many factors.
The only answer, experts say, is to increase the amount of food grown on existing land, using more efficient methods--which will require years of research and investment.
National Geographic News.
07 June 2008
Calls for new 'green revolution.'
The chief scientific adviser to the British government on Thursday called for a "new and greener revolution" in agriculture to combat a global food crisis.
Agence France-Presse.
07 June 2008
Brazil creates 3 new Amazon reserves.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva created three nature reserves in the Amazon on Thursday, while warning foreigners they lack the "moral authority" to tell Brazilians how to preserve the rain forest.
Associated Press.
07 June 2008
