International: All stories

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.

Bush about to make major climate policy change?

16 Apr 2008

The White House held a meeting with Republican lawmakers to gauge the reaction to the idea of supporting a limited cap on greenhouse gases, AP reports.

Top 100 corporate polluters announced

16 Apr 2008

First weekly GHG calculator shows NSW emissions up

16 Apr 2008

The world’s first weekly greenhouse indicator has revealed that greenhouse emissions from energy in NSW and Victoria have risen for the first quarter in 2008.

US Government ETS revenue windfall $1.13 trillion: new official estimate

14 Apr 2008

US officials have just released a new report estimating emission trading there will increase Government revenues by about $1.21 trillion over the 2009-2018 period.

WHO's stern warning on climate change impacts: 'hundreds of millions' to die

10 Apr 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the health of hundreds of millions of people may be put at risk by the effects of global climate change.

Rudd announces stepped up international action on climate change

9 Apr 2008

Australia and the United Kingdom yesterday announced an enhanced partnership to tackle the causes and impact of climate change.

Now it's an offset with your Obama

9 Apr 2008

Delegates to the Democratic Convention with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon emissions will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Convention - if they offset their travel they’ll also receive a “green item” to be worn for Convention week.

NEW EVENTS: Carbon Trading, Sydney, 14 May

9 Apr 2008

Check our Events section for important meeting relating to the new carbon markets. With an Emissions Trading Scheme coming into force in less than 2 years, Australia is on countdown to Carbon Trading.