‘In the wake of the failed Copenhagen summit, prospects for cutting global CO2 emissions are worse than they’ve been in years. With talk of mandated cuts now fading and with countries exploiting loopholes, the world appears headed toward a flawed agreement based not on science but on politics.’

via A Grim Outlook for Emissions As Climate Talks Limp Forward by Fred Pearce: Yale Environment 360.

‘(Reuters) – Congress on Wednesday took major steps to rein in Big Oil’s offshore drilling practices, as one Senate panel voted to lift all caps on liability in oil spills and another moved to deny offshore leases to companies with poor track records.’

via Senate panel votes to end oil spill liability cap | Reuters.

‘Working climate scientists are almost unanimous in their view that the earth is slowly warming up and that human activity, particularly the combustion of fossil fuels, is the primary cause. But beneath that surface unanimity, predictions vary about how much the planet will warm in the future because of rising greenhouse gases.’

via Why Climate Stumps Even the Brightest Scientists – Green Blog – NYTimes.com.

‘Russia Reuters – Russia on Wednesday took a big step toward the controversial creation of the world’s first floating nuclear power station, putting a barge that will house the plant into the water.’

via Russia floats barge for waterborne nuclear plant | Reuters.