Australian PM: Pacific islands least responsible for climate change are most vulnerable to it

CAIRNS, Australia — A group of tiny Pacific Island countries appealed to the world Wednesday to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent to help save them from rising seas.

Report says early costs of climate bill will be modest, with prices rising 20 percent by 2030

WASHINGTON — Climate change legislation before Congress would boost electricity prices by about 20 percent by 2030, although most of the increases wouldn’t begin until after 2020, a government analysis concluded Tuesday.

Climate experts: ‘Cash for clunkers’ won’t do much to reduce greenhouse gas pollution

WASHINGTON — “Cash for clunkers” could have the same effect on global warming pollution as shutting down the entire country — every automobile, every factory, every power plant — for an hour per year. That could rise to three hours if the program is extended by Congress and remains as popular as it is now.

Report concludes only broad action on climate will achieve required pollution cuts

WASHINGTON — If global warming is to be addressed without breaking people’s pocketbooks, no single answer will do the job, a research group tied to the electric utility industry says in a new study that concludes the problem must be attacked from many directions.

Report: CA must adapt to changing climate, rethink coastal development, wildlife protection

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Even if the world is successful in cutting carbon emissions in the future, California needs to start preparing for rising sea levels, hotter weather and other effects of climate change, a new state report recommends.

Nissan rolls out zero-emission electric car at new environmentally friendly headquarters

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn made a quiet entrance Sunday at the Japanese automaker’s new headquarters building — driving the company’s zero-emission vehicle on stage for its inaugural public viewing.

Evacuation order lifted for thousands in Texas after chemical plant fire brought under control

HOUSTON — An evacuation order was issued for thousands of central Texas residents and Texas A&M University campus was closed Thursday as a fire burned at a chemical plant and warehouse that processes explosive ammonium nitrate.

Rush on Midwestern coal, once deemed too dirty to burn, brings jobs back to Ill., Ky., Ind.

CENTERTOWN, Ky. — A five-minute drive from this community’s lone gas station leads to a gateway to untapped riches: A bed of coal twice the size of Lake Michigan.

Farooq Abdullah inaugurates world’s largest solar steam system in Shirdi

SHIRDI - Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated the world’s largest solar steam system installed at Sri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi.

Britain remembers World War I at funeral of veteran Henry Allingham, world’s oldest man

BRIGHTON, England — Henry Allingham understood the cost of war in his heart, his guts and his bones — and made it his mission to share that knowledge.

Obama’s ‘teachable moment’: What can we really learn from the Henry Louis Gates Jr. arrest?

You can’t solve a problem if you don’t discuss it.

Greenpeace: China’s top 3 energy suppliers emit more greenhouse gases than Britain

BEIJING — China’s three largest energy suppliers emitted more greenhouse gases than all of Britain last year, environmental watchdog Greenpeace China said in a report issued Tuesday.

FAA says it will take years to consider proposal for Crater Lake helicopters

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A company wants to fly helicopter tours over Crater Lake National Park, but the Federal Aviation Administration says it will take “several years” to consider the proposal.

Nissan gives preview of electric car for mass-production next year in green strategy

YOKOSUKA, Japan — Nissan Motor Co. showed off its super-quiet, zero-emission electric car Monday — a key green offering for Japan’s No. 3 automaker, which has fallen behind in hybrid technology.

Raul Castro delivers sobering speech as Cuban economy falters, US relations change little

HOLGUIN, Cuba — Raul Castro said Sunday that the global economic crisis means tougher times ahead for Cuba, but the country has no one to blame but itself for poor farm production that leads to frequent shortages of fruits, vegetables and other basics.

Cool weather across parts of eastern US disappoints many beach-going tourists, delays harvests

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Towels draped over their heads, Lisa Hendrix and Jennifer Webster lounged on a sparsely populated Lake Michigan beach Friday as raindrops trickled from a gloomy sky.

Government considers 7 states for mercury storage site, but most say they don’t want it

RICHLAND, Wash. — The federal government is trying to find a location to store the nation’s excess mercury deposits, with seven states being considered. But the government is quickly finding out that very few people want the stuff.

NY Post: ESPN outed own reporter in Peeping Tom video showing Erin Andrews nude in hotel room

HARTFORD, Conn. — The New York Post on Thursday defended its publication of photos from an illicitly filmed Internet video showing ESPN reporter Erin Andrews naked in a hotel room by accusing the sports network of having outed her.

Three Democratic governors say climate bill will create jobs; Republican governor disagrees

WASHINGTON — Three Democratic governors told a Senate panel Tuesday that efforts to curb global warming and spur the development of cleaner sources of energy have created jobs and new businesses in their states, a trend that could expand nationwide if Congress passes federal legislation.

Polluted rain, snow raises concerns for sensitive landscapes in 16 national parks

SALT LAKE CITY — A pollutant that can slowly trigger changes in the lives of plants and animals is increasingly being found in 16 National Park Service sites, mostly in the Western United States.

Climate campaigners say EU carbon trading program may allow polluters avoid emissions cuts

BRUSSELS — Climate change campaigners claimed Monday that flaws in the European Union’s carbon trading program could allow major polluters avoid any real reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during the economic downturn.

Tiny island nation of Tuvalu vows to get its energy from renewable sources by 2020

BANGKOK — The tiny island nation of Tuvalu, already under threat from rising seas caused by global warming, vowed Sunday to do its part for climate change by fueling its economy entirely from renewable sources by 2020.

Actor Jimmy Stewart, astronaut Ed White inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame

DAYTON, Ohio — Late Hollywood actor Jimmy Stewart has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Ohio along with astronaut Edward White, who gave his life as part of man’s race to the moon.

Stillwater Mining asks court to enforce GM precious metals contract

BILLINGS, Mont. — Stillwater Mining Co. is asking a federal bankruptcy judge to reverse a move by General Motors to cancel its precious metals contracts with the Montana company.

Countries talk phase-down of HFC greenhouse gases for first time, but far from agreement

GENEVA — The first talks among governments about how to limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons, a class of powerful greenhouse gases commonly used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, have been promising, officials said Friday.

Buzz Aldrin: To the moon and beyond

WASHINGTON - Even after his trip to the moon, Buzz Aldrin has led a pretty exciting life.

A scientist, engineer, space exploration historian and science-fiction writer, Aldrin guest-starred as himself on “The Simpsons” in 1994, and recorded a rap song with Snoop Dogg and Quincy Jones earlier this year.

India cannot afford to be climate sceptic: official

NEW DELHI - India’s poor will have enormous problem in arranging their livelihood due to climate change, and it will be better the country stops being a climate sceptic, a government official said Thursday.

Bowl-shaped molecule can capture CO2 from thin air

WASHINGTON - In a new study, a scientist has said that the accidental discovery of a bowl-shaped molecule that pulls carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air suggests exciting new possibilities for dealing with global warming, including genetically engineering microbes to manufacture those CO2 “catchers”.

NM company plans to build utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen plant

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico-based energy technology company announced plans Wednesday to develop in southern New Mexico what it calls the world’s first utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen power plant.

New Mexico company plans to build utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen plant

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico-based energy technology company says it plans to develop what it calls the world’s first utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen power plant.