Global warming to trim China grain output

China's grain production has recently reached record levels, despite damage from droughts, floods and frost.

In 2008, China enjoyed a fifth straight year of bumper harvests, with grain output at a record 525 million tonnes. US output over the 2007-08 growing year was 412 million tonnes.

Fickle spring knocks back apricot crop | Stuff.co.nz

Marlborough's apricot growers are licking their wounds after chilly spring conditions put a damper on their golden crops.

Primac Horticulture owner Murray Neal began picking his first variety, wairau, on Monday.

Early season prospects were good, with one of the best flowerings Mr Neal had seen in years, but cold spring conditions, which included a string of harsh frosts and a hailstorm, had damaged a lot of fruit, he said.

Copenhagen climate summit collapses

The climate summit in this Danish capital collapsed on Thursday as host Denmark insisted on pushing its own ''political declaration'', ignoring the pleas of the poor nations.

India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said: "The blame game will now start, but the developing countries are not to be blamed."

Readers offer more fuel for climate-change debate - washingtonpost.com

As governor of Alaska, I sought common-sense solutions that took real-world costs and benefits into account. That's what I'm looking for now. But that's not what's on the table in Washington or in Copenhagen.

Sarah Palin, Wasilla, Alaska

No Impact Man [global warming is "beside the point"]

I make these points because some who read this blog don't believe in global warming. I do. But that's beside the point.

A worldwide transition to a renewable energy economy has other huge benefits too. Ask the people who are getting cancer from drinking tainted water downstream from coal mines. Ask the kids who get asthma from living near coal-burning power stations.

Whether American citizens believe in global warming or not, the rest of the world does. That means the rest of the world wants technological and industrial leaders in the race to renewable energy. You don't have to believe in global warming to know that you give the customers--the world energy market--what they want.

AFP: Nation braces for cold snap

LONDON — Railway and road agencies are Thursday bracing for up to 20cm of snow-fall in the south-east of England as the Met Office issued its first warning of severe snow this winter.

The cold snap is expected to arrive in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London during Friday morning's rush-hour, causing challenges for commuters.

BBC weather forecaster Philip Avery predicted similar conditions to 2003 when thousands of drivers were trapped on the M11 and M25 motorways.