Senate Votes on Blocking EPA Greenhouse Gas Regs (AP)

In the absence of congressional action on climate change, the Senate is heading toward a much-watched vote on whether the Obama administration should be allowed to go ahead with regulations curtailing greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Secretary Welcomes Republican Climate Bill (Reuters)

Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Wednesday gave limited support to a Republican senator for introducing an alternative climate bill that would limit emissions by less than Pres. Obama wants to, but would also take steps to reduce U.S. dependence on oil.

A Call to Triple U.S. Spending on Energy Research (New York Times)

In a study released today, a diverse group of business executives urged the government to more than triple spending on energy research and development, to $16 billion a year.

Lawmakers Press Interior on Drilling Ban Length (Reuters)

Lawmakers grilled Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday about his department’s six-month ban on deepwater drilling, a decision they said may cost the already battered Gulf of Mexico region thousands of jobs.

Lead U.S. Spill Agency Running Short of Cash, Rep. Oberstar Says (Greenwire)

The Coast Guard could run out of money for its emergency response to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill as soon as next week, the House chairman with jurisdiction over the agency said today.

Tenn. Senate Nixes Push to Revive Coal Mining Bill (AP)

The state Senate on Wednesday defeated an effort to resurrect a bill to curb mountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee.

UN’s New Climate Chief Says Final Deal Unlikely in Her Lifetime (Bloomberg)

Christiana Figueres, a Costa Rican who on July 8 will take the helm of the UNFCCC, said an all-encompassing deal is unlikely to happen in her lifetime.

Rich Nations Could Increase Emissions Under Pledge Loopholes, UN Data Shows (Guardian)

Developing countries said they were shocked by new UN data showing that rich nations will be able to increase their carbon emissions by up to 8% if they take advantage of a series of major loopholes in their pledges.

Cutting Fuel Subsidies Will Cut CO2 Emissions: OECD (AFP)

Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10% from levels they would otherwise reach in 2050, the OECD said Wednesday.

Biofuels from Deforested Land to Fail EU Standards (Reuters)

Palm oil grown on recently deforested land is unlikely to be acceptable for use in European biodiesel, a draft report from the European Commission shows.

Stanford Survey Finds More Doubt Global Warming (San Francisco Chronicle)

A new Stanford University survey has found that 74% of those polled believe the world’s temperature has been gradually rising over the past century, compared with 85% who believed it in 2006.

Fate of Climate Bill Uncertain as Japan Poll Nears (Reuters)

Japan’s government could run out of time to enact a climate bill before upper-house elections expected next month, fueling worries it might drop a plan to trade carbon emissions by setting obligatory caps on firms.

Wyoming Now Requires Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals (Houston Chronicle)

Wyoming regulators have approved rules requiring oil and gas drillers to disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing — making it the first state to order companies to do so.

Global Warming Spells Doom for Asia’s Rivers (AFP)

The livelihood of thousands of Tibetans living on China’s highest plateau is under threat as global warming and environmental degradation dry up water sources for three mighty Asian rivers, experts say.