FT.com / Global Economy - US-EU rift clouds climate [hoax] summit

A growing rift between the US and Europe is overshadowing Tuesday’s United Nations climate change summit in New York, further damping hopes for a breakthrough at the Copenhagen talks in December.

Connie Hedegaard, the Danish environment minister, lowered expectations, saying: “Things are looking difficult and too slow, that is the fact.”
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The row has prompted fears that governments will try to save face at Copenhagen by agreeing to a watered down deal or a “political declaration” rather than an outright agreement.

“This is dangerous ground,” said Tom Burke, founding director of E3G, an environmental think-tank. “It’s not a good sign – it means the gaps are too big to be settled in the 80 days to Copenhagen. The danger is that if [an agreement] does not have a date, it means you may not get a ratifiable treaty.”

US appeals court reinstates global warming lawsuits | The Australian

US appeals court has reinstated global warming lawsuits brought by eight states, New York City and three land trusts against several large utility companies, seeking to limit their carbon-dioxide emissions.