"Since summer, signs of severe food insecurity — droughts, food riots, five- to tenfold increases in produce costs — have erupted around the globe. Several new reports now argue that regionally catastrophic crop failures — largely due to heat stress — are signals that global warming may have begun outpacing the ability of farmers to adapt."

"In what promises to be one of the most impressive innovations to come out of the Cancun climate talks, the philanthropic arm of Google is launching a new technology platform Thursday that will allow worldwide monitoring and measurement of changes in the earth's environment."

"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's announcement about a 'cautious' approach to offshore oil development opens the door to leasing new waters in the Arctic after 2012 and clears the way for full review of a proposed new exploratory well in the Beaufort Sea as early as next summer."

Mangroves forests are among the most important ecosystems in the world, and now scientists have used satellite images to compile a comprehensive worldwide map of them.

"Old splits between rich and poor nations re-emerged on Tuesday over a plan to slow global warming, but both sides maintained a 'balanced package' is the goal of U.N. talks in Mexico."

"The Obama administration leaned heavily on Saudi Arabia to associate itself with the Copenhagen Accord climate change agreement, confidential State Department memos show."

"MEXICO CITY — President Felipe Calderon warned Monday that the globe is on the precipice of a tragedy if delegates at a U.N. climate change summit do not set differences aside and think of future generations."

"The U.S. is losing its edge in energy innovation to China, and it's time to reclaim it for the sake of future economic prosperity, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a speech on Monday."

"Almost 200 nations meet in Mexico beginning Monday to try to agree on modest steps to slow climate change, a U.N. gathering overshadowed by strains between the top two emitters, the United States and China."

"The global average temperature has increased over the past 160 years, but short-term trends in temperature and sea ice seem to be at odds with each other and need more research, the UK Met Office's Hadley Center said. In a report on long and short-term climate trends, the Hadley Center found several factors that indicate a warming world and said 2010 has been one of the warmest years on record."