Today’s Climate: April 20, 2010

Bolivia Hosts ‘People’s’ Climate Change Event (AFP)

Environmental activists, indigenous leaders and Hollywood celebrities were gathering in Bolivia Tuesday ahead of the first self-styled "people’s conference" on climate change.

Polluting Nations Downplay Goals for Cancun Climate Conference (Bloomberg)

The biggest polluting nations are downplaying goals for climate talks in December after failing last year to agree on a global treaty, the top U.S. climate negotiator said following the two-day Major Economies Forum.

U.S. Unveils Climate Report in Run Up to Senate Bill (Reuters)

The U.S. released a new draft report on climate change Monday, one week before the expected unveiling of a compromise Senate bill that aims to curb greenhouse emissions.

Sen. Landrieu: No Drilling ‘Unless There is Revenue Sharing’ (The Hill)

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on Monday returned political fire at a trio of senior Democrats who don’t want coastal states to receive a guaranteed share of the revenues from oil-and-gas production in federal waters off their shores.

Volcano Emitting 150,000-300,000 Tons of CO2 Daily: Experts (AFP)

Iceland’s Eyjafjoell volcano is emitting between 150,000 and 300,000 tons of CO2 per day, a figure placing it in the same emissions league as a small-to-medium European economy, experts said.

Chicago: First U.S. City to Regulate Coal Plant Air Pollution? (Christian Science Monitor)

A group of Chicago alderman is proposing to make Chicago the first U.S. city to regulate nitrogen oxide emissions from the city’s two coal plants.

Massey Energy Director Resigns Ahead of Annual Meeting (Reuters)

U.S. coal miner Massey Energy said director Lady Barbara Thomas Judge has resigned from the company’s board, without citing a reason.

Saudis Tighten China Energy Ties to Reduce U.S. Dependence (Bloomberg)

China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, and Saudi Arabia, holder of about a fifth of global crude reserves, are forging closer ties as the Persian Gulf kingdom responds to rising Chinese energy needs and a desire to reduce reliance on the U.S.

Seattle to Lead LED Street Light Study (AP)

The DOE said Monday that Seattle was chosen to lead a national consortium of cities that will study the best ways to use energy-efficient, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

Iberdrola Plans World’s Largest Wind Farm in Romania (Bloomberg)

Spanish utility Iberdrola won approval to build the world’s largest onshore wind energy project in Romania, requiring at least $2 billion in investment through 2017.

Tweeting Uses Less Juice than Googling, Says Twitter (CNET News)

Tweeting a message consumes significantly less power than doing a Google search, the Twitter team claims. A tweet moving through the system emits about 0.02 grams of CO2, which is about 10 times less than Google.

Study Starts on S. Utah Sage Grouse, Wind Farms (AP)

Before wind energy developers come calling on southern Utah, biologists there hope to learn about how it might affect the greater sage grouse.