‘NEW YORK Reuters – A new U.S. government study on Tuesday adds to a growing list of experts concluding that climate legislation moving through Congress would have only a modest impact on consumers, adding around $100 to household costs in 2020.’

via U.S. consumers spared big costs in climate bill | Green Business | Reuters.

‘CAIRNS, Australia — Attempts to reduce the impact of climate change are crucial to the future of vulnerable Pacific island nations, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Wednesday.Rudd was speaking as the Pacific Islands Forum summit of regional leaders opened in Australia’s northeastern city of Cairns, where climate change was expected to be a key issue.’

via AFP: Stakes huge for Pacific in climate change talks: Rudd.

‘MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico aims to put a detailed offer to cut the growth of its own greenhouse gas emissions on the negotiating table at global climate change talks in Copenhagen this year, a senior environmental policymaker said.’

via Mexico aims to bring CO2 cut plan to climate talks | Green Business | Reuters.

‘SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Even if the world is successful in cutting carbon emissions in the future, California needs to start preparing for rising sea levels, hotter weather and other effects of climate change, a new state report recommends.’

Agricultural climate adaptation is also mentioned:

‘The report says farmers should be encouraged to be more efficient when watering their crops, and investments should be made to improve crop resistance to hotter temperatures.’

via Report: Rising Sea Levels, Temperature Inevitable In California, State Must Prepare.

‘Exxon Mobil, based in Irving, Texas, spent $14.9 million lobbying in the six months, 23 percent more than the $12.1 million laid out by companies that make solar panels or wind turbines to generate electricity, London-based New Energy Finance said today in a note to clients. Oil and gas companies spent a total of $82.2 million on Washington lobbyists, according to the report.’

via Exxon Outspends Clean-Energy Industry on Washington Lobbying – Bloomberg.com.

John Kerry’s Huffingon Post Op-Ed on U.S. / China Cooperation on Climate Change.  His key summary of scientific details sounds very much  in line with the narrative presented by the scientists at Copenhagen’s Climate Congress last March:

‘And make no mistake, unless we act dramatically — and act fast — science tells us our climate and our way of life are literally in jeopardy. Just the basics: In the industrial era, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen from 280 to 385 parts per million. Scientists have drawn a red line at 450ppm — which represents a warming of 2 degrees Celsius. Anything beyond that presents an unacceptable risk. But unless we take dramatic action — now — we are actually headed to 1,000 ppm by century’s end. And today, over 40% of those emissions belong to the United States and China.’

via John Kerry: Who Lost the Earth?.

‘WASHINGTON Reuters – The United States and China, the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, signed an agreement on Tuesday that promises more cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment without setting firm goals.’

via U.S. and China sign memorandum on climate change | Green Business | Reuters.

‘BEIJING (Reuters) – Rich nations must agree to large, measurable cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions, if the world is to set a framework to tackle global warming at U.N.-led talks in December, a senior Chinese official said on Wednesday.’

via China says rich nation CO2 cuts key to Copenhagen | Green Business | Reuters.

‘NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India will unveil its first solar power target as soon as September, pledging to boost output from near zero to 20 gigawatts (GW) by 2020 as it firms up its national plan to fight global warming, draft documents show.’

via India to unveil 20GW solar target under climate plan | Green Business | Reuters.