Rise and fall of Chinese dynasties tied to changes in rainfall. The record in a stalagmite tells a tale of how previous changes in climate affected human civilization. [News Source]

Malta failing in climate change preparation. Malta has failed to prepare a plan on its climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation - unlike other Mediterranean countries that "have prepared quite extensive climate change assessments", according to the European Environmental Agency. [News Source]

Scientists predict future impacts of climate change using oceanographic data. Ecologists and oceanographers have predicted the future impacts of climate change by reconstructing the past behavior of Arctic climate and ocean circulation. [News Source]

Carbon credit plan takes step forward. After years of scepticism and doubts over the benefits of the carbon sink project, Thailand is now ready to certify forest conservation projects which will allow investors to claim carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol pact. [News Source]

Going Greener: All the little bits add up. More and more, individuals and families are taking the environment into consideration when they do their grocery shopping, build or renovate their homes, buy a car, plant a garden and do a hundred other everyday things. [News Source]

Election 2008: the challenge of change. Two of the most urgent challenges facing the U.S. —- climate change and our dependence on foreign oil —- intersect in Barack Obama’s energy plan. [News Source]

Climate emergency back-up plan. Steep cuts in carbon emissions are a must for stabilizing global climate, but a backup plan is also urgently required. [News Source]

Coal waits for Obama. Reaction in Illinois to the election of Obama as next president of the United States — and what it might mean to the future of Illinois coal and the global-warming debate — ranges from cautious at best to outright optimism. [News Source]

China says not enough cash, expertise to cut greenhouse gases alone. The Chinese government rejected suggestions it could use some of its $1.9 trillion in foreign exchange reserves to pay for cleaner forms of energy to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions rather than asking developed countries to pay for much of it. [News Source]

Obama team weighs what to take on in first months. Aides said the question was whether they could tackle health care, climate change and energy independence at once or needed to stagger these initiatives over time. [News Source]

What will Obama do about New Orleans recovery? The president-elect is getting conflicting advice on how best to coordinate continued federal assistance for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery efforts beginning next year. [News Source]