Balsam firs in shorter supply for Christmas | Minnesota Public Radio News

Natascha Smrekar, who operates a tree farm near Guthrie in north central Minnesota, says the late frost last spring damaged many balsam fir trees on their farm. The frost caused the trees to grow unevenly through the summer, and growers had to do much more extensive trimming to make them suitable to sell.

Swan song for House climate panel - Robin Bravender - POLITICO.com

Markey’s invited a star-studded cast of witnesses to attest to the perils of climate change and, he hopes, leave a lasting impression before House Republicans launch their efforts to roll back the Obama administration’s efforts to clamp down on greenhouse gas emissions.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark and outspoken environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., are among those invited to testify.

Kennedy recently told POLITICO he blames the right-wing media and the “narcissistic hacks” in Congress for the death of climate legislation. He did, however, proclaim Markey to be an environmental hero.

Oil surges on cold weather, geopolitical concerns | Reuters

Cold temperatures in Northeast and Northwest Europe [ID:nDTN856], provided a boost to London gas oil and U.S. heating oil distillate futures as the U.S. December refined products contracts neared their Tuesday expiration.

Climate change threatening survival of human beings: delegates

CANCUN, Mexico, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Participants of the United Nations Climate Change Conference agreed on Monday that climate change is threatening the survival of human beings and actions are needed to tackle the problem.