Today's Climate: July 11-12, 2009

G8 Makes Scant Progress on Copenhagen Climate Pact (Reuters)

A G8 summit made scant progress toward a new climate treaty due to be agreed in December, with some nations back-pedaling on promises of new action even before the end of the meeting in Italy.

Small Islands Want Deeper Emissions Cuts (AFP)

The greenhouse gas-cutting targets set by 16 leading nations in Italy will not protect island states from climate danger, the chair of an alliance of 42 small island nations said.

Rudd Gives Copenhagen Talks Little Hope (The Age)

In an embarrassing gaffe, Australia PM Kevin Rudd was overheard pouring cold water on world leaders' chances of hammering out climate change limits in Copenhagen - just hours after Pres. Obama called for global optimism.

U.S. Officials to Prod China on Climate Action (Reuters)

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will visit China this week to press Beijing to join with America in stepped-up efforts to fight global warming.

Boxer Faces Challenge of a Lifetime on Climate Change Bill (McClatchy)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) faces one of the toughest high-profile acts of her lengthy career: getting the Senate to sign off on the ACES climate change bill that passed the House.

Cap-and-Trade Support Hinges on Economy: Survey (Reuters)

U.S. manufacturers would be much more likely to support cap-and-trade legislation to limit pollution if they believed the industrial economy was about to improve, according to a new survey.

Wind Projects at a Standstill (Washington Post)

The Obama administration has made offshore wind energy a priority, but even such favorable political breezes have not been strong enough to propel the nation's first projects.

"Clean-Coal" Project Gains Government Support (Reuters)

The Taylorville Energy Center, a proposed "clean coal" project to be built in Illinois, expects to obtain a federal loan guarantee of $2.6 billion after being selected by the DOE for final term-sheet negotiation.

Feds Firm on Wind Farm Ban in Wyoming Grouse Areas (AP)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it opposes construction of any wind farms in Wyoming's core sage grouse population areas, a position that wind developers say could have a chilling effect on their plans in the state.

Study Urged on Water Demands of Next-Generation Biofuel Feedstocks (Greenwire)

Extensive studies are needed to understand the water needs of biofuel production from cellulosic feedstocks and other next-gen sources, federal auditors said in a new report.

DOE Awards Texas a New Round of Stimulus Funds (San Antonio Business Journal)

The U.S. Department of Energy is providing Texas with more than $218 million worth of stimulus funding for weatherization and pilot projects for solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy technologies.