Forest beetles, fires called climate fingerprints

Beetles and fire are consuming northern forests in what scientists say is a preview of the future: as the land grows drier, trees grow weaker and pests, abetted by milder winters, grow stronger.

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Some buildings not living up to green label. Builders covet the green LEED certification as a way to gain tax credits, attract tenants, charge premium rents and project an image of environmental responsibility. But many LEED-certified buildings do not perform as their designs predict. [News Source]

Climate trouble may be bubbling up in far north. Pure methane escaping in the massive amounts known to be locked in the Arctic permafrost and seabed would spell a climate catastrophe. Is such an unlocking under way? [News Source]

Environmentalists slow to adjust in climate debate. The oil lobby was sponsoring rallies with free lunches, free concerts and speeches warning that a climate-change bill could ravage the U.S. economy. But when environmentalists showed up they provided ... a sedate panel discussion. It seems environmentalists are struggling in a fight they have spent years setting up. [News Source]

Arduous life in Nepal’s parched hills. As South Asian leaders meet in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, to discuss the impact of climate change on the Himalayas, the people of Bhattegaun are living out the scenario likely to be high on the agenda. [News Source]

Some buildings not living up to green label. Builders covet the green LEED certification as a way to gain tax credits, attract tenants, charge premium rents and project an image of environmental responsibility. But many LEED-certified buildings do not perform as their designs predict. [News Source]

Climate trouble may be bubbling up in far north. Pure methane escaping in the massive amounts known to be locked in the Arctic permafrost and seabed would spell a climate catastrophe. Is such an unlocking under way? [News Source]

Environmentalists slow to adjust in climate debate. The oil lobby was sponsoring rallies with free lunches, free concerts and speeches warning that a climate-change bill could ravage the U.S. economy. But when environmentalists showed up they provided ... a sedate panel discussion. It seems environmentalists are struggling in a fight they have spent years setting up. [News Source]

Arduous life in Nepal’s parched hills. As South Asian leaders meet in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, to discuss the impact of climate change on the Himalayas, the people of Bhattegaun are living out the scenario likely to be high on the agenda. [News Source]

Green-energy plan is tall task for state. Still haunted by rolling blackouts and budget-busting energy contracts, California plans to broaden its already aggressive directive requiring utilities to deliver more power from renewable sources. [News Source]

Carbon trading scheme pushing people off their land. With the world’s attention focused on climate change, one of the methods suggested to reduce global carbon emissions is causing the displacement of indigenous persons as western companies rush to invest in tree-planting projects in developing countries. [News Source]