Reuters: Sugar cane genetically modified for greater ethanol and sugar production could be developed in three to five years but strict Brazil biotechnology regulation could keep it off the market for as much as seven years, companies said on Tuesday. Scientists are field-testing GMO cane varieties with higher sucrose yields than conventional ones, said Brazilian leading biotech companies Alellyx Applied Genomics and Sugarcane Technology Center (CTC). "At this point, (the GMO …

New Scientist: Arctic tundra fires may increase significantly as a result of continued global warming, warns a new study examining the relationship between historic changes in climate, vegetation, and wildfires in Alaska. And as about a third of the world’s soil-based carbon is locked in high-latitude tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, the release of carbon dioxide from an increase in burning tundra could also play a significant role in fuelling further warming, the study’s authors …

Science Daily: Research from ancient sediment cores indicates that a warming climate could make the world’s arctic tundra far more susceptible to fires than previously thought. The findings are important given the potential for tundra fires to release organic carbon — which could add significantly to the amount of greenhouse gases already blamed for global warming. Montana State University post-doctoral researcher Philip Higuera is the lead author on the paper, which summarizes a portion of a …

Hartford Courant: Obviously, Connecticut isn’t going to solve climate change on its own. But by committing now to meaningful cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions – standards that will change the way state agencies, municipalities, utilities, businesses and Connecticut residents use energy every day – Connecticut will reap the rewards in better energy efficiency, lower costs, cleaner air and a healthier environment. There will be another benefit, too. By adopting rigorous standards sooner rather than later, …

Inter Press Service: Soaring global rice prices are hitting the stomachs of Asia’s poorest citizens. The people of East Timor, where nearly 40 percent live on less than 0.55 US cents a day, have just been told they may not receive their annual quota of food aid. ”We have been forced to provide less food to East Timor; provide less rice than we intended to,” Paul Risely, Asia spokesperson for the United Nations food agency, told IPS. ”We have requested the people of East Timor to look for local …

AAP: A slowing in the growth of an important reef-building coral in the Great Barrier Reef may point to a disastrous phenomenon that will one day affect all sea creatures, a new report says. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) study examined two regions at the northern end of the reef and found a 21 per cent decline in the rate at which Porites corals, also known as finger corals, had grown in the past 16 years. "A decline in coral calcification of this magnitude with …

New Zealand Herald: Most New Zealanders seem to think we should come down hard on countries who aren’t as committed to climate change action as we are. A new nationwide poll released today shows New Zealanders support imposing a carbon tax on imports from countries which don’t impose carbon charges on their own emitters. The survey also shows people support giving this country’s large greenhouse gas emitters special emission credits until 2020, or until their competitors overseas also pay a price …

CBC:  top Canadian climate-change expert says a carbon tax would do more to encourage Manitobans to ditch gas-guzzling cars than an incentive program, but Manitoba officials say they have no plans to introduce one. Manitoba is currently finalizing its climate change legislation, which will put into law reduction targets outlined in the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The new law will require Manitoba to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below what they were in 1990 …

United Press International: India said it is encouraging private participation in all forms of renewable energy, including geothermal energy. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is backing private-sector participation in the sphere, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Resources Vilas Muttemwar told Parliament Wednesday. He said the ministry encouraged private participation in geothermal energy by allowing access to the data collected on geothermal resources in India by National Geophysical Research …

Finance Asia: With the name of its former capital attached to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol – the most significant international agreement on global warming yet devised – Japan is facing pressure to take a leading role in the fight against climate change, and carbon trading is the topic currently getting most attention. In July this year, the G8 group meets in Japan, and during a parallel climate change summit, the Japanese host government will be keen to announce some breakthrough. It’s perceived as …