Obama and Gore consult on climate change President Obama will huddle with former Vice President Al Gore to talk climate change, the White House announced late this morning. Obama last week changed his schedule to attend the Copenhagen global warming summit on its final day, instead of... [News Source]

Carbon trade or carbon con? In the carbon market, a good deal for the environment needs to also be a good deal for the bottom line. Vouching for environmental credibility isn't easy: Who verifies the verifiers? [News Source]

Mining the truth on coal supplies. A new study seeks to shake up the assumption that use of coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, is bound to continue its inexorable rise. In fact, the authors predict that world coal production may reach its peak as early as next year, and then begin a permanent decline. [News Source]

Global mining companies are forceful about exporting coal through Northwest ports to China. While Oregon works to shut its only coal-fired electricity plant and reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions, global mining companies are increasingly bullish about exporting that very same coal through Northwest ports to China. [News Source]

China takes lead in clean energy, with aggressive state aid. Until very recently, Hunan Province was known mainly for lip-searing spicy food, smoggy cities and destitute pig farmers. Now, Changsha and two adjacent cities are emerging as a center of clean energy manufacturing. [News Source]

Offshore drilling agency overwhelmed, says report. The federal agency that regulates offshore drilling rarely conducted unannounced inspections, allowed oil-rig operators to shop around for favorable decisions and gave its inspectors financial incentives for speeding up application approvals, according to an Interior Department report. [News Source]

Fires flare up as Russia pledges better forest protection. Fresh fires destroyed more than 400 houses in the Siberian region of Altai, officials said, as flames spread across the region's border with the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan. [News Source]

Fighting dirty water is world’s new ecological battle. A primary topic of discussion at a weeklong international water conference here can best be summed up in two words: "dirty water". [News Source]

Mexico, Central America struggle through deadly rainy season. Heavy seasonal rainfall has set off deadly mudslides and widespread flooding across Central America and Mexico's southeast, killing more than 50 people and displacing more than half a million. [News Source]

Canada on the defensive over oilsands. Officials from the federal and Alberta governments found themselves on the defensive Wednesday as they headed into a dinner with a senior U.S. official who arrived for a series of meetings with key stakeholders on the climate and energy files. [News Source]

Environmental groups target Canadian oil sands ahead of Pelosi meeting. U.S. environmental groups are highlighting their objections to importing Canadian tar sands-based oil as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) meets Wednesday evening with Canadian officials on the topic. [News Source]