UN Lowers Expectations for Copenhagen Climate Deal (Reuters)
UN climate adviser Janos Pasztor made clear that the secretary-general is planning for "post-Copenhagen" talks. Officials and diplomats say privately that a binding deal is unlikely and they most that could be expected was a nonbinding political declaration.
Smart Grid Gets $3.4B in DOE Stimulus (Greentech)
The Department of Energy is giving out $3.4 billion to 100 commercial-scale smart grid projects. Florida, Baltimore, and San Diego utilities are early winners.
Senate Climate Bill Revives Coal-State Complaints (Bloomberg)
The Senate’s climate legislation, headed into a marathon week of hearings starting today, has revived a fight over the cost of global warming between coal-dependent states and those that get energy from cleaner sources.
Analysts: Italy Riskiest Country for Climate Change Investments (Reuters)
Italy is the riskiest country for climate change investment because its lack of clear policies will hinder its chances of meeting greenhouse gas emission cut targets by 2020, Deutsche Bank analysts say.
Rep. Obey Uses Spending Bill to Exempt Ships from EPA Rule (Politico)
Taking a page from the Republican playbook, Wisconsin Democrat David Obey is using an annual spending bill to exempt home state interests from new environmental rules. At issue is the treatment of Great Lakes ships impacted by proposed EPA regulations.
EU Farm Policies to Include Climate (EurActiv)
The EU’s post-2013 Common Agricultural Policy may include climate change and make direct support for farmers subject to the delivery of "public goods" such as biodiversity or sustainable farming practices, according to a draft European Commission proposal.
69 in Congress Worry Ocean Policy Will Block Drilling (AP)
Sixty-nine Congress members, including 10 Democrats, sent a letter to the President’s Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force saying they worried that new ocean policy would block offshore energy development.
Kansas Wind Energy Development Suffers a Setback (Kansas City Star)
Kansas wind energy has suffered a setback with a regional power pool’s move to drop a high-voltage transmission line in the state from its list of priority projects.
Indonesia May Get $400M From Japan to Combat Warming (Japan Times)
Japan is considering offering Indonesia a loan worth $400 million to help it deal with climate change. It would be the first such arrangement as part of the "Hatoyama Initiative" to provide Japanese assistance to developing countries fighting climate change.
Singapore to Start Carbon Credit Trades by Year-End (Business Green)
The new exchange is part of the city-state’s plan to become carbon trading hub for a region where an estimated 70% of UN-backed clean development mechanism carbon offset projects are located.
DeChristopher Lawyers to Put Climate Change on Trial (AP)
Defense lawyers for Tim DeChristopher, the college student who last year disrupted an oil and gas drilling lease auction involving land near Utah’s national parks, describe in court papers how they plan to put climate change on trial rather their client.
Statisticians Reject Global Cooling (AP)
In a blind test, the AP gave temperature data to four independent statisticians and asked them to look for trends, without telling them what the numbers represented. The experts found no true temperature declines over time.
When the Ice Melts (Nature)
The disappearance of Himalayan glaciers is threatening the kingdom of Bhutan. Anjali Nayar trekked through the mountains to see how the country is adapting to a warming world.
