Refiners would get a break in climate change bill. Climate change legislation moving through Congress would give refiners free permits to emit greenhouse gases under a compromise engineered by a Texas Democrat whose Houston district includes many petrochemical plants. [News Source]

Climate rally blocks Sydney CBD traffic. Some 200 climate change activists have rallied in central Sydney to protest against the government's emissions trading scheme, blocking traffic as they marched through central business district streets calling for tougher action. [News Source]

Public divided over choices for 2020 emissions target. Government efforts to canvas public opinion on the appropriate midterm target for the nation's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 have revealed deep divisions on how to tackle the problem, it has been learned. [News Source]

British explorers cut short trek to North Pole. Information the team gathers could contribute to a better understanding of global warming, which is believed to be the main culprit in the rapidly melting polar ice cap that is freeing up new sea routes and untapped mineral resources on the ocean bottom. [News Source]

Meet the new guardian of the North East Uplands. The hills and moors of the North East uplands make a crucial contribution to the special character of the region. The uplands face a range of issues, not least the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring that hill farming has a future. [News Source]

Illegal fishing, climate change real threats. Heads of states of the six coral triangle countries expressed concern Friday over depleting marine and coastal resources caused by overfishing and illegal fishing, coupled with pollution and human-induced climate change. [News Source]

New study halves the rise in sea level due to global warming. A new study has halved longstanding projections that estimated a raise of 20 feet in sea levels if Antarctica's massive western ice sheets fully disintegrates as a result of global warming. [News Source]

San Francisco mayor signs deal for huge municipal solar project. Amid a fog-shrouded Sunset District this morning, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed an ordinance for the state's largest municipal solar project atop the city's largest reservoir. [News Source]

Carbon trade lends charity greater vision. Australian aid agencies are getting on board the global climate change wagon as governments and private companies line up to pour money into environmental projects that will earn them carbon credits. [News Source]

Department of Energy narrows list of projects for nuclear loan help. The Energy Department has narrowed its list of the most likely recipients of $18.5 billion in government loan guarantees for building the first new nuclear power plants. [News Source]

Renewables push a gold mine for demand-response middlemen. Demand response -- the management of consumers' electric consumption in response to critical supply constraints -- is still a mystery to household electricity users, but they are likely to learn about it soon. [News Source]