EJToday is SEJ's selection of new and outstanding stories on environmental topics in print and on the air, updated every weekday. SEJ also offers a free e-mailed digest of the day's EJToday postings, called SEJ-beat. SEJ members are subscribed automatically, but may opt out here. Non-members may subscribe here. EJToday is also available via RSS feed. Please see Editorial Guidelines for EJToday content.
"Obama: 'Time for Talk Is Over'"
Politico, 12/18/2009"A visibly angry Barack Obama threw down the gauntlet at China and other developing nations Friday, declaring that the time has come to 'not to talk but to act' on climate change. Emerging from a multinational meeting boycotted by Chinese Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Obama warned delegates that U.S. offers of funding for poor nations would remain on the table 'if and only if' developing nations, including China, agreed to international monitoring of their greenhouse gas emissions."
"White House Promotes Clean Energy Tax Credits"
AP, 12/17/2009"The White House is promoting a $5 billion increase in tax breaks for clean energy manufacturing in hopes of contributing to job growth and expanded use of renewable energy."
"Cities Pushing Nations Toward Deeper Cuts"
Daily Climate, 12/17/2009"COPENHAGEN -- Mayors of some of the world's largest cities flexed their muscle at the United Nations climate talks Wednesday, warning that 'billions of people' are prepared to cut emissions far beyond whatever agreement world leaders may ink this week."
"Cap-and-Trade Emissions Reduction Programs Catch on"
Baltimore Sun, 12/17/2009"In a little more than a year, a regional push to cap greenhouse gases has raised millions for Maryland energy programs, with supporters calling it a model for easing climate change on a national or even global scale."
"Talks in Deadlock Ahead of Leaders' Arrival"
Wall St. Journal, 12/17/2009"Negotiators at the United Nations climate summit scrambled Wednesday to bridge multibillion-dollar disagreements as President Barack Obama and other world leaders prepared to descend on the Danish capital Friday." ... "US Secretary of State of State Hillary Clinton Thursday proposed that major economies including the US come up with $100 billion a year over the next decade for developing nations, in an eleventh-hour effort to break an impasse." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Copenhagen with new offers of conditional aid, but it was unclear whether this would be enough to break the logjam.
"Pope Calls for Action on Climate Change"
AP, 12/16/2009"Pope Benedict XVI called for urgent action to protect the environment, saying Tuesday that climate change and natural catastrophes threaten the rights to life, food, health -- and ultimately peace."
"Obama Dials for Copenhagen Deal"
LA Times, 12/16/2009"President Obama will not arrive at the Copenhagen climate summit until Friday, its final day, but he worked the phones Monday to push world leaders to cut a deal on a new global-warming agreement."
"African Leaders' Climate Message Unheard At Home"
NPR, 12/16/2009"Africa contributes the least to global warming, but stands to suffer the most. That is the case African leaders are making at U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen. ... But ... daily survival remains the focus of many Africans."
"Gore Calls for July Summit To Finish Climate Treaty"
AFP, 12/16/2009"Former US vice president and environmental activist Al Gore called Tuesday for world leaders to meet in Mexico City in July to complete a climate treaty under negotiation in Copenhagen."
"Climate Change Poses Threat To Colombian Coast"
NPR, 12/16/2009"For more than 300 years, residents of Colombia's Pacific Coast area of Tumaco have mostly been left alone to fish or grow bananas .... But in recent years, the peace has been disturbed by new security threats, aggravated by climate change."
"Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters" -- Arrest Hundreds
NYTimes, 12/16/2009"COPENHAGEN — Police officers fired tear gas and wielded batons on Wednesday to beat back hundreds of demonstrators outside the global climate meeting here, as a police spokesman said 250 people had been arrested."
"Climate Talks Near Deal to Save Forests"
NYTimes, 12/16/2009"Negotiators have all but completed a sweeping deal that would compensate countries for preserving forests, and in some cases, other natural landscapes like peat soils, swamps and fields that play a crucial role in curbing climate change."
"China and U.S. Hit Strident Impasse at Climate Talks"
NYTimes, 12/15/2009"China and the United States were at an impasse on Monday at the United Nations climate change conference here over how compliance with any treaty could be monitored and verified."
"Pentagon, CIA Eye New Threat: Climate Change"
NPR, 12/14/2009"Global warming is now officially considered a threat to U.S. national security. For the first time, Pentagon planners in 2010 will include climate change among the security threats identified in the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Congress-mandated report that updates Pentagon priorities every four years."
Developing Nations Walk Out; Climate Talks Suspended
BBC News, 12/14/2009"Negotiations at the UN climate summit have been suspended after developing countries withdrew their co-operation."

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