Extreme weather costs China billions each year. Droughts, floods and other weather disasters stunt China's economy by up to 6 percent every year, the country's chief meteorologist said on Thursday, warning of the potential costs of global warming for the Asian boom economy. [News Source]

Selectmen support sustainability action plan. The Board of Selectmen last week unanimously endorsed a plan to make Arlington, MA more "green" by reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. [News Source]

Geothermal power plants could also consume CO2. Pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks could simultaneously generate power and mop up the greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel power stations. [News Source]

Australia, Saudi take early lead for gaffes at UN climate parley. Australia and Saudi Arabia have taken the early lead in an unofficial contest for the dubious distinction of committing the worst gaffes at a UN climate conference here. [News Source]

Reef insight on global meltdown. The discovery of a fossilised coral reef sitting high and dry at the southern tip of Western Australia has provided a warning that climate change is likely to cause a catastrophic melting of ice and rapid rise in sea level, scientists say. [News Source]

Labor poised to set long-term greenhouse goals. Victoria would have laws to slash greenhouse gas emissions under a re-elected Labor Government, with plans to be announced as early as next week. [News Source]

Kenyan urges planting of trees globally. A Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner called on people around the world Wednesday to plant 1 billion trees in the next year, saying the effort is a way ordinary citizens can fight global warming. [News Source]

Whitehall offices in global warming row. The luxurious new Whitehall offices of Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor, are to use an air conditioning system that contains powerful global warming gases — against the Government's own procurement guidelines. [News Source]

Shrinking Swedish glaciers suggest global warming: study. Sweden's glaciers are melting at a rate that conforms to global warming climate models, Swedish researchers said on Wednesday. [News Source]

Impoverished Africa shudders under global warming threat. Already faced with recurring cycles of flood, drought and crop failures, Africa and its 800 million people are on collision course with devastation from unchecked global warming, experts say. [News Source]

NSW announces renewable energy targets. The New South Wales, Australia Government today tried to put itself ahead of the pack on global warming, by announcing mandatory renewable energy targets. [News Source]