Japan's prime minister says G8 not place to decide carbon targets
>>Source: International Herald Tribune
Japan's prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, has warned that rules on global carbon emissions must not be adopted casually and said no midterm targets are likely to be announced at next month's G8 summit on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, as the issue is being tackled by the UN.
New Zealand phases out old light bulbs to save energy, greenhouse gas output
>>Source: International Herald Tribune
New Zealand will ban traditional light bulb sales from October 2009 to cut greenhouse gas emissions and save up to half a billion dollars in energy costs over 12 years.
Heavy-rain forecasts 'to improve' >>Source: BBC News
The UK meteorological office says it has improved its ability to pinpoint where and when heavy rain will occur. Forecasts of severe downpours will now be issued up to 24 hours earlier, it says, giving local authorities more time to prepare flood control measures.
US floods wipe out ethanol profits >>Source: International Herald Tribune
Floods in the Midwest that have pushed corn prices to record levels also have wiped out profits for making US ethanol and threaten to sink production of the fuel below government mandates.
