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Reports that a White House official who once led the oil industry's fight against limits on greenhouse gases has repeatedly edited government climate reports to play down links between such emissions and global warming, according to internal documents. Role of Philip A. Cooney in removing or adjusting descriptions of climate research that government scientists and their supervisors had already approved; Examples of the dozens of revisions, which tend to produce an air of doubt about findings that most climate experts say are robust; Background on Cooney, who is chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Method by which the documents were obtained by "The New York Times"; Response of White House officials to the changes made by Cooney; Views of climate experts and representatives of environmental groups; Influence of Cooney and other White House officials with ties to energy industries. INSET: An Editor in the White House.

Reports that surging oil prices and growing concerns about meeting targets to cut greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels have revived efforts around the world to improve energy efficiency, particularly in Japan. Effort by the Japanese government to convince its citizens to save energy and fight global warming by purchasing hybrid vehicles and replacing old appliances; Comments regarding Japan's energy conservation efforts from Katsumi Tomita, an environmental planner for the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company; Review of energy saving efforts in Germany and Singapore.

The article focuses on New Zealand's green tourism and environmental problems. It mentions that while films such as "The Hobbit" present a worldwide image of the country's clean, green living, critics such as Mike Joy, a senior lecturer in environmental science at Massey University in Palmerston North, says that New Zealand seems to fail many international environmental benchmarks. It mentions the role of the country's agricultural industry in greenhouse gas emissions.

Phoenix THE struggle to slow global warming will be won or lost in cities, which emit 80 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. So ''greening'' the city is all the rage now. But if policy makers end up focusing only on those who can afford the low-carbon technologies associated with the new environmental conscientiousness, the movement for sustainability may end up exacerbating climate change rather than ameliorating it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

''The new standards are aggressive and achievable, and ensure that consumers have a full range of vehicle choices.'' Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on proposed White House rules that would impose the first nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Every two years, like clockwork, Congress seems to pass an energy bill, each one marginally better than the one before. What this country does not need in 2009 is another energy bill, even a better one. What it needs is a climate bill, one committed to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in a way that engages the whole economy and forces major technological change. Without such a bill, America will lose the race against time on climate, lose the race for markets for new and cleaner energy systems, and forfeit any claim to world leadership in advance of the next round of global climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

WHILE President Obama's cap-and-trade proposal to reduce greenhouse gases has been the big topic of recent environmental debate, the White House has also been pushing a futuristic federal project to build a power plant that burns coal without any greenhouse gases. Sounds great, right? Except the idea is a rehash of a proposal that went bust the first time around. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The nationwide automobile mileage and emissions standards announced by President Obama on Tuesday represent a huge step forward in the effort to limit greenhouse gases and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. They also represent a departure from the Bush administration's indifference on these issues and an important down payment on Mr. Obama's pledge to fashion an aggressive and imaginative energy policy. The standards, forged after weeks of negotiations orchestrated by Carol Browner, the White House coordinator on energy and environmental matters, may also mark the end of decades of wearying, unproductive legal and political combat between the automobile industry and environmentalists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It seemed that every chance he got, President Bush ignored or flat out refused to address the problem of climate change. So we were greatly encouraged by President Obama's swift announcement that he is likely to approve California's request to regulate greenhouse gases from vehicles -- a request the Bush administration denied. The logical next step would be for Mr. Obama to quickly address the Supreme Court's 2007 decision ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to examine the effects of greenhouse gases and to regulate them if necessary. Mr. Bush dodged that one, too. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

President Obama directed federal regulators on Monday to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states to set strict limits on greenhouse gases from cars and trucks. He also ordered the Transportation Department to begin drawing up rules imposing higher fuel-economy standards on cars and light trucks. The directives make good on an Obama campaign pledge and signal a sharp reversal of Bush administration policy. Moving quickly on tailpipe emissions and on mileage rules are emphatic actions Mr. Obama could take to quickly put his stamp on environmental policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Bush administration has now provided the rationale for its lamentable decision to deny California permission to develop its own stricter rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. The explanation was full of holes, but it was not a total setback for those who want urgent action on global warming. The essence of the administration's reasoning was that California had failed to demonstrate ''extraordinary and compelling'' circumstances justifying stricter rules. To make that case, Stephen Johnson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, was forced to argue that climate change gravely endangered not only California but the entire country. As hard as it is to believe, this was the first time that any senior administration official had explicitly conceded that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses U.S. President George W. Bush's plans regarding greenhouse gas emissions. It states that the president's plans calls for rounding the world's biggest emitters and settling on nation by nation programs for reducing emissions. Information is provided on the proposal starting with a summit meeting in the U.S. with 15 countries responsible for 85% of the world's emissions, and the plan being received with approval as well as skepticism from various people around the world.

Discusses the economic aspects of the worldwide campaign against global warming. Opposition of U.S. government to mandatory caps on emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases; Kyoto Protocol agreement that developed countries should cut greenhouse gas emissions; Undermined development of pollution allowance trades. INSET: The CO2 Trade..

Discusses the possibility that more American states will follow California's plan for sharp cuts in automotive emissions of global warming gases. Likely adoption of vehicles that are substantially cleaner and more fuel efficient; Intention of New Jersey, Rhode Island and Connecticut to start following California's car rules instead of Washington's; States that have adopted California's rules; Challenges facing automobile makers if some large markets insist on big cuts in global-warming gases.

Reports that the state of California plans to sue the Environmental Protection Agency over the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Decision by the administration of U.S. president George W. Bush that the E.P.A. lacks the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions; Participation in the suit by other states, and by environmental groups like the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council; Controversy over the limits of the Clear Air Act; California's leadership status regarding environmental protection measures.

Discusses the plans of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and criticism of the plan by the petroleum industry. Indication the Kyoto pact has public support; Discussion of how Kyoto is viewed as a threat to competition and investment, especially in Alberta, the main oil- and gas-producing province; Details of the 1997 Kyoto treaty that calls for developed nations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are thought to cause global warming; How the prospect of ratification has caused some companies such as Canadian Natural Resources to scale back some operations in Canada; Idea that energy executives are promoting an alternative solution to the problem of global warming, according to Pierre R. Alvarez, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers; Estimate of Petro-Canada on the amount of greenhouse-gas pollutants they have eliminated since 1990; Support for the treaty from Gordon Lambert, vice president for sustainable development at Suncor Energy, which owns oil-sands operations.

Focuses on the U.S. President George W. Bush's administration's initiative to reduce pollution from power plants. Plans to replace air quality controls and apply emissions trading to other pollutants; Warnings of environmentalists and economists that the plan threatens to intensify pollution in certain so-called hot spots; Bush's failure to focus on greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide; History of emissions trading, which was set up by Congress; Implications of the plan; Views of experts.

Discusses the climate policy of United States President George W. Bush. Reference to a U.S. statement on climate change issued in 1989, which asserted the urgency of reducing carbon dioxide emissions; Refusal of Bush to accept the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty on climate change; View of Bush that there is no conclusive scientific proof to support mandatory emissions reductions; Details of Bush's climate plan, which many scientists view as risky in light of the threat of global warming.

Reports that United States President George W. Bush is expected to announce a plan calling for voluntary measures to slow the growth in emissions of heat-trapping gases linked to global warming. Idea that the proposal is Bush's response to the Kyoto Protocol, an international climate treaty which he rejected as too costly; How his program would slow the rate of emissions growth in relation to overall economic growth, using tax credits as an incentive; Criticism of the plan by environmentalists.

Reports on statements made by United States President George W. Bush on his rejection of the Kyoto Protocol. His continued opposition to the global warming accord; Reasons behind the administration's objections including standards for the United States that do not apply to China or India; Economic damage that could result from compliance with the treaty; Bush's desire for better solutions for greenhouse gas emissions control.

Reports on government ministers' call for industrialized nations to make legally binding commitments to reduce so-called greenhouse gases. United States government's reversal of its policy of voluntary reductions; Joint statement issued at a 1996 conference on climate changes; Endorsement of a scientific report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Reports on the decision of the federal government of the United States to seek a binding international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases in a scheduled meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Reaction of environmentalists and energy industry officials to the approach; Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Timothy E. Wirth as the representative during the meeting.