Experts dispute glacier fear in Himalayas. Glaciers in the Himalayas are shrinking, but there is no evidence to suggest that global warming has enhanced the loss of glacial ice in this region, a review paper to be released by the government tomorrow has said. [News Source]

Surface permafrost likely to vanish in Alaska. Alaska probably will see most of its surface permafrost vanish by the end of this century, but researchers believe vast areas of frozen soil will remain deeper underground even as air temperatures increase. [News Source]

As seas rise, planning starts. Sea level rise could put as much as 50-100 square miles of currently dry land - an area about 20-40 times the size of Tybee Island - under water in Georgia this century, a new report points out. [News Source]

UK environment chief seeks green skills base. The Copenhagen international climate-change conference will be “the start to a process – not the end”, and should be followed by investment in building a low-carbon skills base in industry, the UK Environment Agency chairman said on Monday. [News Source]

Big Oil makes case for carbon-capture subsidies. Canada's oil sands companies say they must adopt expensive carbon-capture-and-storage technology to meet environmental challenges, but will require major government subsidies to do so for at least the next decade. [News Source]

Nigeria to press First World on climate change. Eziuche Chinwe Ubani, a top Nigerian climate change official, has joined a growing chorus of African delegates who believe that developed countries must pledge cash to the continent to help it deal with the effects of global warming. [News Source]

Copenhagen climate change deal could be two separate treaties. A climate change deal at the end of the year could end up being two treaties because the Americans refuse to sign up to existing global agreements. [News Source]

Cap and trade legislation may benefit cities with vacant land. Farmers, landowners and even cities could sell pollution credits to ease the costs of legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under a bill introduced in Congress. Cities like Detroit could reforest vacant lots and sell credits to businesses. [News Source]

Marin at forefront of growing trend in architecture - ‘passive’ houses. A growing contingent of architects and builders are promoting the concept of "passive house" design, which is founded on the idea that conventional heating and cooling systems are unnecessary, wasteful and damaging to the environment. [News Source]

Enterprise helps others with energy efficiency. The green movement is picking up a lot of energy, and a borough couple is looking to harness that energy and turn it into dollars and cents. And, their business could be in your home soon to help save you some money and achieve sustainability. [News Source]

Home footprint on carbon map. Residential houses and commercial establishments in Calcutta are responsible for more than one-fourth of its carbon dioxide emission, an international study has found out. [News Source]