AFP Technology

Thawing permafrost caused by global warming is costing Russian energy firms billions of dollars annually in damage control and shrinking Russia's territory, Greenpeace warned in a new study Friday. According to the report by the environmental watchdog, up to 55 billion roubles (1.9 billion dollars) a year is spent on repairs to infrastructure and pipelines damaged by changes in the permafrost in western Siberia. "For Russia, the biggest threat of the permafrost melt is to oil and gas company infrastructure," said Vladimir Chuprov, who heads Greenpeace's energy programme in Russia. He said that the group had consulted with experts at gas giant Gazprom in ... Read Full Story

Efforts to craft a comprehensive climate treaty in Copenhagen next month will certainly "yield a success," the UN's top climate official has pledged. "There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that it will yield a success," said Yvo de Boer, executive director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "I've seen some recent reports that said that Copenhagen has failed even before it starts and I must say that those reports are simply wrong," he insisted ahead of the December 7-18 meeting in the Danish capital of negotiators from 192 countries. "Almost every day now we see new commitments and pledges ... Read Full Story

The European Commission announced Friday that it is taking France to court over failure to properly treat waste water in over 60 large towns and cities including Avignon, Bordeaux and Lyon. "Untreated urban waste water can endanger the health of European citizens and the environment," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas warned. "The European Commission is taking France to the European Court of Justice for not complying with EU legislation on urban waste water treatment," the EU executive said. The action over 64 places -- also including Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage List town in Provence -- came after several years of EU concern at ... Read Full Story

Energy industry leaders on Thursday called for an international deal on climate change to tackle financial uncertainty and prevent potentially catastrophic global warming. "The climate framework is the top long term issue," World Energy Council (WEC) Secretary General Christoph Frei told a UN conference on energy security. "It's the most important driver for change," Frei added. The WEC said executives and officials in 93 countries now regard future climate change policies as a "critical uncertainty" on a par with the more immediate economic and financial crises. "Long term visibility is absolutely critical, without that energy industry is going to face high uncertainty. That adds ... Read Full Story

Efforts to craft a comprehensive climate treaty in Copenhagen next month will certainly "yield a success," the UN's top climate official pledged on Thursday. "There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that it will yield a success," said Yvo de Boer, executive director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "I've seen some recent reports that said that Copenhagen has failed even before it starts and I must say that those reports are simply wrong," he insisted ahead of the December 7-18 meeting in the Danish capital of negotiators from 192 countries. "Almost every day now we see new commitments and ... Read Full Story