International: All stories
Water, water everywhere … but it’s running out
6 May 2008
Water one day will be a commodity traded as oil is today and already supply shortages are becoming a problem of global proportion.
US ponders what to do with millions of out-of-date TVs
6 May 2008
The change in the US to digital-only broadcasting next February will have many Americans scrambling to buy new digitally compatible televisions, relegating millions of their old TVs to the dump -- an alarming prospect for environmentalists and some lawmakers.
Europe-US biodiesel row heats up
6 May 2008
European biodiesel manufacturers have filed an official complaint to the European Commission regarding "unfair" US biodiesel subsidies, substantiating expectations that biofuels could be at the heart of the next large-scale trade spat at the World Trade Organisation.
US report shows cap-and-trade scheme won't hit economy, boosts pressure to pass bill
5 May 2008
The proposed United States cap-and-trade scheme would result in GDP being just 0.3 per cent lower than business-as-usual projections by 2030, a new study shows.
Joint warming statement likely at Fukuda-Hu meeting
5 May 2008
The Japanese government is hoping to secure agreement with China over a joint document on environmental issues when Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda meets Chinese President Hu Jintao this week.
Aussie big boys scramble for carbon trading exemptions
5 May 2008
MAJOR Australian companies and industry bodies are pushing to be made exempt from the impact of a national carbon emissions trading scheme, claiming they will be hurt by cheap imports or lose out in export markets.
US airlines face $9 billion carbon bill by 2020
5 May 2008
Proposed US emission-trading legislation could leave its airlines with a crippling $9 billion annual bill in carbon costs in just over a decade.
Asia tourism, airlines 'complacent' on climate change
5 May 2008
Asian airlines and tourist firms are too complacent about the urgent need to address global warming, industry leaders warned at a conference on climate change.
Humans get 10 more years to save the Earth
5 May 2008
While humans have been heedless in making global warming a reality, nature has given Earth a break. Nations and leaders may get a rare chance to sink their differences and fix climate change as latest research shows that natural phenomena could keep Earth's temperatures in check for the next 10 years.
100ft propellors and the new wonders of the world
5 May 2008
Three 100-foot-wide propellers have began turning between the two towers of the recently completed World Trade Centre building in Bahrain.
Big Aussie cities right in the firing line
2 May 2008
THE regions most at risk from climate change in Australia are where most people live, the Climate Institute has warned.
Tokyo carbon market raises prospect of round-the-clock trading
2 May 2008
The reputation of carbon credits as tradable commodity could take a major leap forward if the Tokyo Stock Exchange presses ahead with plans to create Japan's first greenhouse gas emissions trading market next year.
Russia’s no adds to UN climate treaty troubles
2 May 2008
Russia's opposition to new cuts in greenhouse gases means all of the world's top four emitters are against making quick reductions, complicating plans for a new UN climate treaty by the end of 2009.
State gives $120m to find way to cut coal gas emissions
2 May 2008
The Victorian Government will give more than $120 million to Australia’s coal-fired power industry for measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Rockefeller offspring demand Exxon takes action on climate change
2 May 2008
Descendants of legendary oil tycoon John D Rockefeller have accused ExxonMobil of adopting a myopic approach towards alternative sources of energy and of refusing to engage in any meaningful discussion about the future of the planet.
Asia-Pacific slowly wakes up to carbon-neutral tourism
2 May 2008
Asia's carbon-neutral pioneers say this is already bringing them credibility in lucrative longhaul markets such as Europe and North America.
UN 1: Ban Ki-moon to lead task force to tackle global food crisis
1 May 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today that he will lead a high-powered task force to coordinate the efforts of the United Nations system in addressing the global crisis arising from the surge in food prices.
UN 2: Surging food prices not just threat, but also opportunity, says official
1 May 2008
The world must not only take immediate action to address the current food crisis, but also take advantage of the higher food prices by assisting farmers in developing countries to thwart similar situations in the future, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.
Philippines experts try to figure it out
1 May 2008
Government statisticians are seeking ways to measure the impact of climate change on the Philippines, a country that expects to be hit hard by warming.
Agroforestry the best bet, say Aussies
1 May 2008
Agroforestry and reforestation are the best option for providing carbon offsets in the initial phase of an emissions trading system, according to Australian researchers.
Poor households’ carbon bill: It’s all about location
30 Apr 2008
The location of poor households in Australia will be an important factor in how much a price on carbon emissions eats into their household budgets with the introduction of an emissions trading scheme, says research released by the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Everybody join the fight, says United States
30 Apr 2008
A national campaign to help Americans to join in the fight against climate change has been launched by the Environmental Protection Agency.
UN blames US and Europe for soaring food prices
30 Apr 2008
The United States and the European Union have taken a "criminal path" by contributing to an explosive rise in global food prices through using food crops to produce biofuels, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
UN chief raps Asia-Pacific for dragging the chain
30 Apr 2008
The Asia-Pacific region is lagging behind in providing access to energy services, says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The uplifting story of the discarded juice packet
30 Apr 2008
What do discarded juice packets, fashionable bags and survivors of sexual exploitation have in common?
$200 million boost for poor farmers to help face food crisis
29 Apr 2008
The United Nations rural development arm announced today that it is providing up to $200 million for poor farmers during the upcoming cropping season as it tries to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of millions of people facing hunger and malnutrition due to soaring food prices.
Tackling drought crucial in finding food crisis solution - UN
29 Apr 2008
Addressing drought is essential in resolving the food crisis the world faces, the United Nations agency tasked with minimizing the threat posed by natural disasters sid yesterday.
Businesses face bill for greenhouse gasses
28 Apr 2008
Hundreds of businesses in the Bay Area of San Francisco could soon be asked to pay for the greenhouse gases they create if the air regulators approve a first-of-its kind plan next month.
CO2 breakthrough ‘turns waste into gold’
28 Apr 2008
British scientists have pioneered a technique of recycling CO2 to reduce greenhouse gases – a process experts are saying is akin to “turning waste into gold”.
Ozone hole good news for Southern Hemisphere
28 Apr 2008
A full recovery of the stratospheric ozone hole could modify climate change in the Southern Hemisphere and even amplify Antarctic warming, according to scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA.
Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise
28 Apr 2008
Carbon dioxide again was the main offender as global greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2007.
The name’s Bond … battery Bond
28 Apr 2008
If James Bond were to go green and ditch his Aston Martin, probably he would get behind the wheel of a Tesla Roadster, the hottest ride in battery-powered sportscars.
UN watchdog bans ‘shamed’ Greeks from carbon trading
24 Apr 2008
Greece has become the first country to be suspended by a UN watchdog body from trading carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol.
India’s eager money men study $6b carbon trading market
24 Apr 2008
Financial houses in India are excited by the news that the local market for carbon credits has been estimated at $6 billion over four years.
Whitehall issues security warning over changing climate
24 Apr 2008
The international response to climate security threats has been “slow and inadequate” and nations need to integrate climate change into their security policy to prepare for worst-case scenarios, a Whitehall report says.
Blame it all on climate change, says Annan
24 Apr 2008
Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan has blamed climate change for a fistful of ills - and hopes world leaders can sort out the problems at an international forum in June.
Charles gets chance to tell it like it is
24 Apr 2008
PRINCE CHARLES next month will get the chance to air the views that have brought him so much criticism over the years when he addresses an audience of top British business people on the issue of climate change.
Quebec sets cuts and signs up for carbon credit market
23 Apr 2008
Quebec has said it wants to cut its greenhouse gas emissions between 1.5 percent and six percent below 1990 levels by 2012, as it announced it would become an eastern member of a coalition of western US states and Canadian provinces eyeing a regional carbon-credit trading market.
Norwegian leader digs deeps to help poor African nation
23 Apr 2008
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was quick to put his money where his mouth is after telling a summit of African leaders that the rich countries created the problems of climate change, and the rich countries should bear the responsibility for solving them.
Nashville boffins to probe your carbon footprint
23 Apr 2008
A diverse group of experts has been brought together in the United States to investigate one of the most important and most widely overlooked sources of greenhouse gases: individual behavior.
Polluter California to advise polluted Olympic city
23 Apr 2008
Olympics host Beijing, one of the world’s most polluted cities, is trying to clean up its act with advice from California, one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
Americans say they'll pay 17 to 19% more for green products, services
23 Apr 2008
While consumer spending has fallen in many categories due to a weakened U.S. economy and budget tightening, Americans are still willing to pay more for green products and services, according to a survey commissioned by SCA and conducted by Harris Interactive.
Fewer US citizens expect severe climate change
22 Apr 2008
As the United States gets ready to celebrate Earth Day 2008, attitudes towards global warming are little changed from last year. Sixty-seven percent of Americans believe the activities of human beings are contributing to an increase in global temperatures, according to a survey by Harris Interactive.
US emissions down 1% year-on year, rising lower than economic growth over 16 years
21 Apr 2008
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the national greenhouse gas inventory, which finds that overall US emissions during 2006 decreased by 1.1 percent from the previous year.
World ETS expert: global trading needed or ETS unsustainable
21 Apr 2008
The costs of combating climate change are much lower than they might seem, because there are real business opportunities wherever you look, according to Henry Derwent, President and CEO International Emissions Trading Association (IETA).
THE FOOD CRISIS: Long term challenges says Rice
21 Apr 2008
By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr., Staff Writer,USINFO. Washington - President Bush is seeking an additional $350 million from Congress to provide immediate emergency food assistance, but the current food crisis has long-term global challenges, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Bush whacked over climate change goals statement
18 Apr 2008
President Bush’s announcement of a new goal of stopping the growth in GHG emissions has met with a range of reaction, from being described as his “ last gasp?” by Sky News - to simply a statement which will “be soon forgotten”.
Plastic Bag Ban A Pain. No, Really.
18 Apr 2008
In Australia, the shop assistants’ union wants laws to protect checkout operators from injury when they are forced to lift environmentally-friendly, reusable bags.
China becomes top carbon polluter - study
18 Apr 2008
China has surpassed the US as the world's largest carbon polluter, according to a new study.
Bush sets 2025 as year for nil US emissions growth
17 Apr 2008
US President George Bush this morning announced a new national climate change goal – to stop the growth of US greenhouse has emissions by 2025.
Australia lets biggest LNG plant run to 2070 in climate blow
Thu 29 May 2025
Australia gave preliminary approval to extend the life of its biggest and oldest liquefied natural gas plant for decades, potentially creating billions of dollars in new drilling opportunities but raising questions about the nation’s climate agenda.
Hawaii to make sweeping tourism changes in bid to combat climate change
Fri 30 May 2025
Hawaii has enacted a law to increase taxes on hotel rooms and vacation rentals, with the goal of generating funds to combat climate change effects such as shoreline erosion and wildfires.
For the first time, China invests more in wind and solar than coal overseas
Thu 29 May 2025
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, long derided for its heavy carbon footprint, was dominated by wind and solar power projects for the first time from 2022 to 2023, according to a new analysis. But coal plants financed in earlier years are still coming online.
Brussels to propose ‘pragmatic’ 90% climate target for 2040
Fri 30 May 2025
The European Commission will tell countries to cut 90 percent of their planet-warming emissions by 2040, but offer “flexibilities” to make the goal politically palatable, according to EU climate chief Teresa Ribera.
Why expensive gas – not net-zero – is keeping UK electricity prices so high
Wed 28 May 2025
The UK’s high electricity prices have become intensely political, with competing claims over the cause of rocketing bills and how best to get them down.
Engineer explains why Alberta’s hydrogen strategy is money-losing climate failure
Mon 26 May 2025
Desperation, bad advice and lobbying likely underpinning the province’s plan to blend hydrogen with natural gas for home heating.
Indonesia backtracks on coal phase-out in new 2034 power supply plan
Thu 29 May 2025
Indonesia plans to add 69.5 gigawatts (GW) of power capacity by the end of 2034, much of it from renewable sources, but it still expects to add new coal-fired power plants.
Pacific Island nations support China's Taiwan claims at high-profile foreign ministers' meeting
Fri 30 May 2025
Pacific nations have backed China's claim over Taiwan during a high-profile meeting, but have shied away from directly endorsing Beijing's push to "reunify" the democratically ruled island with the mainland.
I just returned from Antarctica: climate change isn’t some far-off problem – it’s here and hitting hard
13 May 2025
Antarctica is often viewed as the last truly remote place on Earth – frozen, wild and untouched. But is it really as untouched as it seems?
TotalEnergies abandons its carbon plantations in the Republic of Congo
Thu 29 May 2025
TotalEnergies has quietly abandoned the Batéké Carbon Sink project in the Republic of Congo, with only 12.5% of the proposed trees planted.
South America sets historic benchmark: Zero new coal plants planned
Wed 28 May 2025
South America just achieved a remarkable energy milestone, quietly setting a global benchmark: for the first time in history, the entire continent now has zero new coal-fired power plants planned.
Nations agree on carbon-pricing system to steer shipping towards net-zero
14 Apr 2025
Nations have agreed to introduce a worldwide carbon-pricing system for international shipping to drive the sector towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
