For Hawaii, big push to go green is natural. Tiny Hawaii is gunning for the title of the nation's green energy capital. It's aiming to obtain 70% of its total energy needs from clean sources within 20 years. Hawaiian officials have concluded their state has little choice. [News Source]

‘All kinds of yelling’ expected from Obama’s lobbyist crackdown. The Obama administration's call for a lobbying crackdown created confusion on K Street yesterday even as it spawned cheers among environmental and watchdog groups. [News Source]

Obama urges greater use of biofuels. The Obama administration gave a boost to the corn and coal industries Wednesday, announcing a series of moves to accelerate biofuel use and deploy so-called clean-coal technology on power plants. [News Source]

FTC moves may signal start of ‘greenwashing’ crackdown. The Federal Trade Commission is expected to crack down on "greenwashing" when it updates its environmental marketing guidelines for the first time since 1998. [News Source]

Dash for gas is UK’s best energy strategy, says BP chief. Britain's offshore wind revolution may struggle to get halfway to its ambitious goals and should be scaled down in favour of a new dash for gas to keep the lights on over the next 10 years, BP warned last night. [News Source]

Phishing scam cripples European emissions trading. Sneaky cyber-thieves have made millions by fraudulently obtaining European greenhouse gas emissions allowances and reselling them. The scam has hampered trading of the credits, which are seen as an important tool in curbing climate change, in several European countries. [News Source]

Climate of Davos despair. The ruins of global financial capitalism on display at the World Economic Forum included . . . the dashing of hopes for a deal to save the planet from global warming. [News Source]

Quebec’s rift with Ottawa over climate change grows. Global warming is fracturing national politics as Ottawa and Quebec escalate a war of words over federal reluctance to act against climate change. [News Source]

Government misses climate change target. The Government is "miles away" from meeting a key target on reducing carbon dioxide despite more than ten years of climate change promises. [News Source]

Prime property at risk as sea levels rise. Sixteen prime coast areas, including Milnerton Harbour, Green Point, Sea Point, Camps Bay and the entire Strand beachfront are at "high risk" from rising sea levels, says the City of Cape Town's latest sea-level risk assessment. [News Source]

State continues push toward renewable energy. As Minnesota looks to rebound from the economic downturn, efforts to boost the state's renewable energy production will be a priority this legislative session. [News Source]