Alert: New Orleans Evacuating

Governors Pledge to Fight Global Warming Together (AP)

Gov. Schwarzenegger, his counterparts in 12 states and regional leaders from 4 other countries have signed a declaration to work together to combat global warming -- a move Schwarzenegger has said will help push heads of state to curb their nations' CO2 emissions.

Canada Wants North America Cap-and-Trade System (Reuters)

Canada's Conservative government, shifting positions in the wake of Obama's election, has said that it would work to develop a North America-wide cap-and-trade system to limit CO2 emissions.

UN Climate Change Chief Hails Obama Commitments (AP)

The recent commitments on global warming by President-elect Obama mark a new beginning for world negotiations to replace the Kyoto Protocol, the head of the UN's climate change body has said.

Waxman Advances in Struggle to Wrest Committee From Dingell (New York Times)

Rep. Henry A. Waxman of California won a preliminary round yesterday in his bid to unseat Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan from his post as chairman of the influential Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Detroit Automakers Multibillion-Dollar Rescue Plan Stuck in Neutral in Senate (AP)

A plan to give troubled US automakers billions of dollars in government-backed loans is on life support, leaving the fate of hundreds of thousands of workers hanging in the balance.

Nike, Starbucks Calling for New U.S. Climate Policy (Reuters)

Nike, Starbucks and investor coalition Ceres are among the founding members of a new coalition, called Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), that will lobby for strong US climate and energy legislation in early 2009.

Ethanol Maker VeraSun Posts $476 Million Loss (Wall Street Journal)

Ethanol producer VeraSun Energy Corp. has reported a $476 million loss for its third quarter. That's more than four times the loss the company had predicted only weeks ago.

Alaska Sen. Stevens Concedes in Re-Election Race (AP)

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has conceded defeat in a re-election bid shadowed by his federal felony conviction. The loss has moved Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority and gives Obama a stronger hand when he assumes office on Jan. 20.