"Republicans running for governor in a handful of states could block, or significantly delay, one of President Obama’s signature initiatives: his plan to expand the passenger rail system and to develop the nation’s first bullet-train service."

"The Obama administration served notice [Friday] that it is developing tougher greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for passenger cars and trucks built in model years 2017 through 2025. A national program finalized in April covers cars from model years 2012-2016."

"Tianjin, China -- The UN climate change chief on Monday warned feuding countries they must immediately begin working towards a deal to combat global warming, as gridlocked talks resumed in China."

"More than 2 million cases of malaria are expected in Pakistan in the coming months in the wake of the country's devastating floods, aid workers have warned."

"How the Senate and the White House missed their best chance to deal with climate change."

"Thousands of environment experts were set to gather in China on Monday in a bid to kick-start stalled UN talks on climate change, amid warnings that time was running out to broker a deal."

The Inughuit people, who hunt marine mammals with kayaks and harpoons from the world's northernmost permanently inhabited settlements, are seeing their way of life vanish as the ice melts beneath them.

In Pakistan, "Floodwaters have receded but left small children, women and the elderly battling to survive on food handouts in refugee camps on roadsides, increasingly angry at a government they say has failed them." The inadequacy of flood relief is weakening the incumbent Pakistani government and strengthening Taliban for a takeover of that nuclear-armed country. This has sparked speculation about a possible coup by Pakistan's army against the current civilian government. It has also raised concerns about the viability of the U.S. military strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some analysts view the situation as an example of how climate change may threaten U.S. security in the future.

"Senior financiers and the leaders of powerful energy companies on Thursday blamed subsidies to oil and natural gas  companies for damaging the ability of the clean-energy industry to recover from the economic slowdown and take advantage of growing power markets worldwide."