UN Should Be Sidelined in Future Climate Talks, Says Obama Official (Guardian)

America sees a diminished role for the UN in trying to stop global warming after the "chaotic" Copenhagen summit, Jonathan Pershing, the U.S. deputy special climate change envoy, said.

Britain Confident of Climate Deal in Mexico (Reuters)

Britain is confident of reaching a legally binding climate agreement by the end of the year in Mexico, British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said.

Major Antarctic Glacier Is ‘Past Its Tipping Point’ (New Scientist)

A major Antarctic glacier is poised to collapse in a catastrophe that could raise global sea levels by 24 centimeters, according to a new study out of the University of Oxford.

Kentucky Senate Panel Passes Nuclear Power Bill (AP)

Kentucky lawmakers approved legislation that would reverse a 1984 law barring construction of nuclear plants in the state until a permanent waste storage facility is in place.

Chu, Orszag at Odds Over Yucca Funding (Wall Street Journal)

Energy Secretary Steven Chu and White House Budget Director Peter Orszag are wrestling over how quickly to slash funding for a proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear-waste repository in Nevada.

Rendell Gets Tough on Energy Bill (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Gov. Rendell has called for an all-out "war" to win passage of long-delayed legislation that would increase Pennsylvania’s requirements for alternative-energy use.

Europe Mulls Deeper Emissions Cuts, Deadline Looms (Reuters)

EU environment ministers will seek a strategy for reviving global climate talks at a meeting in Spain this week, but they are unlikely to take any step to increase the bloc’s 20% carbon-reduction pledge to 30 percent.

Merkel Committed to Extending Nuclear Plant Lives (Reuters)

German Chancellor Merkel told Handelsblatt newspaper on Thursday she was committed to her pledge to extend the lifespan of nuclear power plants and was in talks with plant operators.

India Says Energy Efficiency Credits May Grow to $16 Billion (Bloomberg)

India plans to start trading energy efficiency credits, which could curb CO2 emissions growth and develop into a $16 billion market by 2015, a government official said.

Iberdrola Renovables, EBRD Join Forces In Eastern Europe (Dow Jones)

Spanish renewable energy company Iberdrola Renovables and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or EBRD, plan to jointly develop wind-power projects in Eastern Europe, the company said.

US Insurance Group Says Stolen E-Mails Show Risk in Accepting Science (ClimateWire)

A major trade group for the insurance industry is warning that it is "exceedingly risky" for companies to blindly accept scientific conclusions around climate change, given the "serious questions" around the extent to which humans cause global warming.

A Cement Giant Tackles its CO2 Emissions (Green Inc.)

Cemex, one of the world’s largest producers of building materials, is angling to bring down its global warming emissions and wind up with some credits it can sell.

Why Don’t TV Weathermen Believe in Climate Change? (CJR)

There’s a broad rejection of climate science among America’s weathercasters. Several scientific institutions believe the problem is education, and have launched projects aimed at teaching them the basics of climatology.