Earth’s Tropics Belt Expands
WASHINGTON (AP) – Earth’s tropical belt seems to have expanded a couple hundred miles over the past quarter century, which could mean more arid weather for some already dry subtropical regions, new climate research shows.

150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A sizable fraction of the international business community launched an effort to press for mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions yesterday, on the eve of a major round of climate negotiations set to begin Monday in Bali. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, leaders from 150 global companies endorsed the idea of a legally binding framework in a statement published in the Financial Times newspaper.

The United Nations Goes Green–Streams Climate Summit Online (by Kristen Nicole at Mashable)
The United Nations is going green in an appropriate manner for its Climate Summit, which is being nicknamed the Virtual Bali Conference due to its green efforts–the organization will be streaming the Climate Summit live, beginning tomorrow and through December 14th. This is part of the United Nations’ efforts to emphasize the importance of the global plight by encouraging participants to view the conference online instead of flying in for the events.

Australian PM ratifies Kyoto Protocol
SYDNEY (AFP) – Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd became Australia’s 26th prime minister Monday and immediately began dismantling the former government’s policies by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

U.S. says seeks new climate deal, rejects Kyoto
BALI, Indonesia (Reuters) – The United States said on Monday it would seek a new global deal to fight climate change after Australia’s move to ratify the Kyoto Protocol isolated it as the only developed nation outside the current U.N. pact.

Energy plan pushes automakers on mpg
The groundbreaking deal in Congress to raise mile-per-gallon standards will compel the auto industry to churn out more fuel-efficient vehicles on a faster timeline than the companies wanted, though with flexibility to get the job done.

How Africa’s desert sun can bring Europe power
Europe is considering plans to spend more than £5bn on a string of giant solar power stations along the Mediterranean desert shores of northern Africa and the Middle East… Billions of watts of power could be generated this way, enough to provide Europe with a sixth of its electricity needs and to allow it to make significant cuts in its carbon emissions.
Now, we’re talkin’!  And how about our sunlit places—Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada?

Wind power sets sail from crowded Germany
BERLIN (Reuters) – Nearly 19,000 wind turbines cover Germany: dotted across the countryside, nudging to the edge of cities and whirring alongside motorways.

Algae Emerges as a Potential Fuel Source
Driven by renewed investment as oil prices push $100 a barrel, scores of scientists around the world are racing to turn algae into a commercially viable energy source.

Massive deep-water oil find in Brazil challenges technology
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — This country, famed for its development of sugar-cane-produced ethanol, soon could become one of the world’s great oil powers — if its state-controlled energy company, Petrobras, can tap a potentially massive deposit beneath the South Atlantic Ocean.

Study: Lead levels below U.S. limits may harm children’s brain function
Cornell, New York – Even very small amounts of lead in children’s blood — amounts well below the current federal standard — are associated with reduced IQ scores, finds a new, six-year Cornell study.

U.S. Steel Plans $1B Environmental Upgrade
PITTSBURGH, Pa., Dec. 3, 2007 — The capital investment would significantly improve emissions at the country’s largest coke-making facility. New coke batteries would be built, as well as a cogeneration facility that would turn emissions into electricity.