CLIMATE CHANGE: Big Carbon Players Jockey for Advantage

Political and business leaders may agree in principle that climate change is a serious threat, but there is a startling lack of consensus and a 'you-go-first' attitude on taking action, even amongst a small group of high-level decision makers disconnected from their cell phones here in the Arctic.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Science vs Politics at the Edge of the North Pole

Spectacular views of mountains and glaciers here in the world's most northerly permanent human settlement contrasted with business and political leaders' pessimism and concern about the enormous gap between the action on climate that science deems necessary and what politics considers realistic.

CLIMATE CHANGE: ‘We Have Run Out of Time’

New scientific research suggests that climate change is taking place faster than foreseen in studies considered so far, according to environmental experts at a forum on climate change called by the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE).

CLIMATE CHANGE: China Rallying South to Defend Right to Development

As the December deadline for reaching a global climate deal in Copenhagen approaches, China is claiming leadership - rallying emerging economies to defend their rights to development and strike bargaining positions with rich nations.

ENVIRONMENT: The Greening of the French, Finally

Compost boxes on the balcony of small apartments. Queues at market stalls selling organic produce. Massive audiences for a film about the state of the earth. Unprecedented votes for environmental politicians in the European elections...

ENVIRONMENT: Mexico Yet to Cross Clean Energy Threshold

Despite its great potential for energy from the sun, wind and water, Mexico has not taken advantage of the Clean Development Mechanism laid out in the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

ENVIRONMENT-EUROPE: The Light Could Go All Green by 2050

The EU could meet all its electricity demands from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun by 2050 if governments take the right decisions now, leading environment and energy experts say.

EUROPE: Big Plans, But Little Money to go Nuclear

Eastern Europe is promoting nuclear energy as the only way to tackle climate change and reduce dependence on Russian gas, in spite of costs of going nuclear that it cannot meet.

ENERGY: New Moves to Bring More Light to Africa

Looking at night-time satellite pictures of Africa, most of the continent seems to be suffering a giant power cut, especially when compared with brightly lit Europe or the United States.

POLITICS: U.S.-China Deal Crucial for New Climate Treaty

Cooperation between the U.S. and China was at the forefront of discussions this week in Washington at two events focusing on the possibilities of a bilateral relationship between the two countries on cutting emissions.

Q&A: "I Hope We Are Civilised When Climate Disaster Hits"

"When the first great climate disaster strikes, I hope we will all pull together just as if our nation were being invaded," says British scientist James Lovelock in this exclusive Tierramérica interview.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Twilight of the Fossil Fuel Era?

The world has turned a green corner toward a more sustainable future, with investments in clean energy outpacing fossil fuel power generation for the first time.

ENERGY: South African Government Edging Towards Renewable Sources

South Africa is slowly moving towards exploring renewable energy sources, having set itself a target of three percent of energy being generated from renewable sources by 2013.

ENERGY: Oil Economy Driving Growth of Controversial Tar Sands

A report from one of the world’s top energy consultancies says oil production in Canada’s tar sands could see a five-fold increase by 2035.

CLIMATE CHANGE: More Subsidies for Fossil Fuels in Recovery Plans

Despite the economic slow down, growing numbers of world leaders are calling for urgent action on climate change while many governments used their economic stimulus packages to increase subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.

COSTA RICA: Indigenous People Sidelined in Plans for Dam

The Diquís dam, the largest hydroelectric project in Central America, is worrying indigenous communities because Costa Rica’s state power company has excluded them from the decision-making process, in spite of international treaties that stipulate that they must be consulted.

COSTA RICA: Indigenous People Sidelined in Plans for Dam

The Diquís dam, the largest hydroelectric project in Central America, is worrying indigenous communities because Costa Rica’s state power company has excluded them from the decision-making process, in spite of international treaties that stipulate that they must be consulted.

ENERGY: Geothermal Is Not So Clean

Geothermal energy has always been thought of as a clean, renewable form of power, but since the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant began operation about 30 km from central Reykjavik in 2006, various problems have come to light.

U.S.: Green Groups Hail Plan to Slash Transport Emissions

Environmental groups are applauding President Barack Obama’s new nationwide rules for car emissions and mileage standards, announced Tuesday.

FINANCE: ExxonMobil Faces Growing Dissent in the Ranks

After years of boycotts and protests, the pressure on the world’s largest oil company to change its practices might soon be coming from the mutual funds that invest in it, some shareholders hope.

MEXICO: Nation’s Future Hinges on Near-Empty Science Classrooms

Many solutions for sustainable development in Mexico lie in the scientific and technological training of its younger generations, say academics. But students in this country, where everyone wants to be a doctor or accountant, are ignoring those fields.