Many scientists and more than 100 governments argue that even a 2° rise in temperature is highly dangerous. Todd Stern, the U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change, suggests that we abandon the 2° goal in favor of actions which are politically possible, whatever that means in the polarized context of the climate wars.

As the sun had risen in Durban, the Durban Platform was passed at the COP 17. Yet in a replay of Copenhagen two years ago, backroom texts emerged at the 11th hour and the process was thrown into disarray.

The somewhat deflating reality surrounding the global climate talks in Durban, South Africa -- now hurtling toward another arguably empty conclusion -- is that success or failure is heavily contingent on the whims of just two countries: China and the United States. The two nations, after all, produce far more climate-warming gases than their nearest competitors, and their mutual, steely-eyed refusal to budge from their bedrock negotiating positions tends to render even the most conciliatory gestures among lesser polluters both quaint and meaningless.

Those of us in the environmental movement aren't high school sophomores feeling jilted by their first crush. Most of us liked Obama a lot. But when the political going got a little tough, Obama didn't.

Crossposted with TheGreenGrok.com.In the words of Alice, "It would be so nice if something made sense." Alice, of course, was talking about the strang...

JOHANNESBURG — The U.S. does not expect this year's climate change conference in South Africa to yield a binding international agreement to stop glo...

It remains to be seen what emerges from the negotiations in the days to come.

Just 10 days ahead of international leaders convening in Cancun, Mexico for the UN climate change conference, British economist Nicholas Stern warned ...

The climate talks in Tianjin last week did very little to improve the prospects for a binding international treaty, which would reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are warming the globe.

TWITTER: @GreenNewsReport. The 'GNR' is also now available on your cell phone via Stitcher Radio's mobile app! IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: Look out 19...

NEW YORK — In two days of talks, major economic powers discussed ways to move ahead in slowing and coping with climate change, but no one sees a...

By Sarah Laskow, Media Consortium blogger Seven months out from the midterms, electoral anxieties are hampering potential climate change legislation. ...

Harry Reid's statement that he expects the Senate to address clean energy legislation "in the spring" makes it clear the bill has a firm place on the Senate's schedule--despite the pervasive predictions to the contrary.

Wednesday, Todd Stern, Climate Envoy to the United States, dismissed the notion of developed countries owing financial reparations - otherwise known as climate debt - from CO2 emissions.

There is no reason to think that this bill is going to be Obama's only legacy on energy. Already there's been the stimulus bill, the new mileage standards and the big climate impacts report.

Holly Kaufman: "Obama has ushered in a refreshing reliance on science, and a commitment to letting scientific fact, and even scientific hunch, see the light of day."