Economy & Business

"For a variety of reasons -- whether it be mitigating climate change, enhancing security, increasing economic incentives or even improving the health of indoor living -- countries around the world have been investing in ways to boost energy efficiency. Worldwide, that market of cutting back on energy waste is growing and is now worth at least $310 billion, reports the International Energy Agency."

"The share-price boom at U.S. energy firms has gone bust, due to slumping global growth and tumbling crude prices."

"What ties America's second-biggest energy company, ConocoPhillips Co., to a small Houston-based shale driller, Halcón Resources Corp.? They had some of the worst carbon pollution rates among their peers in 2012."

The Chesapeake Bay region would reap an additional $22.5 billion a year from improved hurricane protection, crab and fish production and climate stability if the Obama administration's contested plan to clean up the watershed proceeds, an environmental group says."

"California’s largest utility released an email Monday saying the state’s top regulator privately asked the company to donate more than $1 million to support a state-backed environmental ballot initiative."

"Oil could continue its deep slide, possibly dipping into bear market territory, under new pressure from Saudi Arabia's decision to defend market share, as opposed to cutting production to battle falling prices."

"Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt has given $29,000 over the past six years to politicians who could be lumped in with the 'liars' on climate change that he denounced this week."

"According to oft-cited statistics, climate scientists are 95%-99% certain of climate change – about as certain as they are of the link between smoking and lung cancer. Nonetheless, an estimated 58% of US Republican congressmen claim to be unconvinced of it. This group, the so-called ' climate denier caucus,' is a big part of the reason that meaningful climate activist legislation keeps getting shot down. And according to a recent report, some of America’s most popular companies are helping to fund the effort."