US Sees Robust Climate Talks, No ‘Reparations’ (Reuters)
President Barack Obama’s top aides firmly stated the United States does not owe the world "reparations" for centuries of carbon pollution. Chief negotiator Todd Stern also made clear that China would not be getting any money from Washington.
Cracks Appear in Developing Nations Bloc (AFP)
Divisions are surfacing between emerging giants and nations most exposed to the ravages of global warming. The tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu drove a wedge in the bloc of developing nations by calling for discussions on an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol.
US Favors Early Action on Climate-Friendly Trade (Reuters)
The United States supports taking "early action" to liberalize trade in products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and believes that could spur progress in broader world trade talks on environmental goods and services, a U.S. trade official says.
Soros Hatches Climate Finance Scheme (New York Times)
As climate treaty negotiators continued to tussle over how much rich countries should pay to help poor ones deal with climate risks, financier George Soros appeared on the sidelines today to identify a new pot of $100 billion that could help pay the bills.
Study: Developed Countries Plan to Hide Emissions from Own Logging (Mongabay)
A study by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society reveals how developed countries are planning to hide their own forestry-related emissions, allowing nations such as Canada and Russia, as well as the EU, to contribute to climate change without penalty.
Judge Halts Timber Sale in Alaska Roadless Area (Greenwire)
A federal judge has halted a timber sale in a roadless area of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest that had been greenlighted by the Obama administration earlier this year.
New OSM Director: Won’t Stop Mountaintop Mining (Charleston Gazette)
The new head of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement promises to find a way to reduce the impacts of mountaintop mining on streams and communities but says he won’t seek to stop the practice. "That is a decision for Congress,” he says.
NOAA Spending Bill Orders New Study of National Climate Service (Greenwire)
The omnibus appropriations bill up for a vote today in the House directs the federal government to take another look at how it should organize a planned new National Climate Service.
California ARB Explores Amendments to Heavy-Duty Emissions (Green Car Congress)
The California Air Resources Board directed its staff to consider amendments to on-road and off-road rules based on the drop in emissions with the poor economy, and to redo an underlying statistical report that was originally produced under the leadership of a staffer who falsified his academic credentials.
Statoil Cuts Supply Ship Costs, Emissions Through Lower Speed (Dow Jones)
Norway’s Statoil ASA said today said it is cutting the cost and emissions from its supply ships by making changes to the speed and route of 20 of its vessels.
EU Leaders Play Catch-Up on Climate Strategy (New York Times)
Europeans were the first major bloc to agree to contribute to a global pot of money to help developing countries, but they’re still working out their negotiating tactics.
NREL’s Big Picture on the Green Economy (Greentech)
The National Renewable Energy Labs has created a portal to make it easier to find out about green activities going on in your neighborhood.
Poll: Most Americans Support Climate Bill If It Creates Jobs (Dallas Morning News)
A new national McClatchy-Ipsos poll finds that a majority of Americans are willing to pay for a solution if it creates "green" jobs in the United States.
