Judge approves Volkswagen emissions settlement
A federal judge in San Francisco has approved a $15 billion court settlement of most claims against Volkswagen for its emissions-cheating scandal. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer signed the order…
Air pollution
China ratifies Paris climate deal ahead of G-20 summit
By LOUISE WATT China (AP) — China announced on Saturday that it has ratified the emissions-cutting agreement reached last year in Paris, giving a big boost to efforts to bring…
Paris climate goals mean emissions need to drop below zero
If governments are serious about the global warming targets they adopted in Paris, scientists say they have two options: eliminating fossil fuels immediately or finding ways to undo their damage…
Choking on smog, Rome and Milan issue no-car day edicts
Rome and Milan have ordered no-car days next week to combat pollution, which has hit unhealthy levels for weeks mainly because no rain has fallen to wash away the smog.…
For Congress in 2015, GOP upheaval overshadows legislating
By ALAN FRAM It was the first year of Barack Obama’s two presidential terms when the GOP ran both the House and Senate. That meant a blend of compromise and…
Hamstrung by Congress, Obama tries to clinch climate pact
By JOSH LEDERMAN and SETH BORENSTEIN President Barack Obama is trying to negotiate a legacy-making climate change pact this coming week in Paris with one hand tied behind his back.…
Killing Keystone XL, Obama says pipeline not in US interests
By JOSH LEDERMAN President Barack Obama killed a Canadian energy giant’s application to build the Keystone XL pipeline on Friday, declaring the proposed project wouldn’t serve U.S. national interests and…
VW CEO: ‘I am endlessly sorry’ brand is tarnished
By GEIR MOULSON and PAN PYLAS Volkswagen AG’s smog-test scandal escalated Tuesday as the company issued a profit warning, set aside billions to cover the fallout and lost billions more…