"VATICAN CITY — Roman Catholic cardinals, patriarchs and bishops from around the world on Monday appealed to climate-change negotiators to approve a 'fair, legally binding and truly transformational climate agreement' when they meet at a widely anticipated United Nations conference in Paris next month."

"The head of a congressional committee on science has issued subpoenas to the Obama administration over a recent scientific study refuting claims that global warming had 'paused' or slowed over the last decade."

"The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened an investigation into the American Egg Board (AEB) after revelations by the Guardian that the USDA-appointed group conducted a months-long campaign against a San Francisco food startup called Hampton Creek."

"Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), now officially running for speaker of the House, is awash in energy industry donations, an indication of his policy views and allegiances."

In the run-up to December's climate talks in Paris, the battle over hard targets for financial aid to poor countries has emerged as a potential obstacle to a final treaty.

"The legal onslaught against the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan kicked off [Friday] as 25 states, industry and labor groups challenged the rule in court."

"After an investigation found that ExxonMobil has been funding climate-denying organizations — despite the findings of its own scientists on climate change—the world’s fourth-largest oil company is now going after the journalists who revealed it."

"Collaborating with the Bush-Cheney White House, Exxon turned ordinary scientific uncertainties into weapons of mass confusion."

"Environmentalists and energy companies are trying to influence the Obama administration’s plan for thwarting an oil industry practice of venting and burning natural gas at some wells."

"As the Obama administration's carbon rules become final, states weigh fighting vs complying. ‘We can’t count on winning the lawsuit,’ one official says."