News Flashes

U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer, on the eve of the world talks on global warming, called here on Sunday for fast-track aid of 30 billion dollars to help poorer countries ease carbon emissions and shore up defences against climate change.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the end of the U.N. climate summit, joining dozens of leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, in the latest sign of growing momentum toward a new global accord.

The number of world leaders due to attend the Copenhagen climate conference has risen to 105, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Saturday. They represent 82% of mankind, 89% of the world's GDP and 80% of the world's current greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

China's renewable energy strategy through 2050 envisions renewable energy making up one-third of its energy consumption by then, the China Daily said, as the upcoming Copenhagen conference on climate change highlights the world's dependence on fossil fuels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will early next week, possibly as soon as Monday, officially declare carbon dioxide a public danger, a trigger that could mean regulation for emitters across the economy, according to several people close to the matter.

One might reasonably ask, why is it so hard to agree on a plan to curb those activities? The answer lies with the many fault lines that cut through the debate over climate change.

China, the largest greenhouse-gas emitter, will not take on emissions caps but has announced its first numerical target. The U.S. and E.U. are likely to push for more at Copenhagen climate summit.

President Barack Obama is heating up his efforts on climate change, with decisions that have some Democrats in Congress starting to sweat.

President Barack Obama is pushing back his trip to Copenhagen in order to be at the international climate talks during the critical negotiating period.

Based on his conversations with other leaders and the progress that has already been made to give momentum to negotiations, the President believes that continued U.S. leadership can be most productive through his participation at the end of COP15 on December 18 rather than on December 9.

Man-made U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell last year as record oil prices and a weak economy reduced demand for fossil fuels, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.

Ahead of the global climate talks at Copenhagen, the Government has announced that India will cut carbon intensity by 25% by year 2020 and made its position clear on the climate change.

During crunch talks in Copenhagen next week, Mexico will propose to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 so long as it receives international aid, officials said Tuesday.

A federal plan to limit carbon-dioxide emissions would cripple small business, subject Americans to "reckless taxes" and increase "wasteful Washington spending," contends House Minority Leader John Boehner. Does he know that a similar scheme already operates in 10 states from Maryland to Maine?

Is saving $40,000 at the showroom enough to get drivers behind the wheel of an electric car? With a program in the works to add easy access to charging stations, Denmark is about to find out.

The almost 200 countries that will meet starting Dec. 7 won't be able to complete an agreement, the initial target for the Copenhagen gathering, UN officials have said. The event will draw a record number of CEOs for a climate gathering, said Carlos Busquets of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Monday that his government had not tabled a proposal for an agreement on fighting global warming for next month's U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen.

Ten companies from eight countries have sought permission to invest in solar energy projects in Cambodia after the August removal of a 15% duty on imports of the materials needed to build solar plants, local media reported Thursday, citing an official from Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

On the eve of COP15, a group of scientists has issued an update on the 2007 report of the IPCC. Their conclusions? Ice at both poles is melting faster than predicted, the claims of recent global cooling are wrong, and world leaders must act fast if steep temperature rises are to be avoided.

India's chief climate change negotiator has flatly rejected taking on emission reduction targets a day after Premier Manmohan Singh said the country would commit to cuts conditionally.