Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that she’s forming a “climate change caucus,” and argues that Hurricane Sandy “changed a lot of minds” on the topic. [The Hill]
Climate change has the potential to stoke regional instabilities and fuel international tensions, according to a major new report from the US National Intelligence Council. [Guardian]
ExxonMobil said Tuesday that it does not support imposing a carbon tax as a way to raise revenue and help avoid the fiscal cliff — further deflating hopes that the long-shot proposal could find its way into the final deal. [Politico]
Federal officials have given energy and mining companies permission to pollute aquifers in more than 1,500 places across the country, releasing toxic material into underground reservoirs that help supply more than half of the nation’s drinking water. [ProPublica]
The Koch brothers will postpone their semi-annual meeting, which was originally scheduled to be held next month. It will now be held in April. In an e-mail to friends, Charles Koch says he wants to reflect on the results, and on election data, before he huddles with fellow business leaders. [National Review]
Seven Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states announced plans Tuesday to sue the Environmental Protection Agency, saying it is violating the Clean Air Act by failing to address methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. [Associated Press]
A London Assembly report on air pollution has flagged up a statistic that up to 9% of deaths in London can be attributed to man-made airborne particles. [Londonist]
China allocated a total of 13 billion yuan ($2 billion) this year from central government funds for domestic solar installations, Xinhua News Agency reported. [Bloomberg]
The small kerosene lamps that light millions of homes in developing countries also contribute to global warming, say researchers. [Zee News]
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) forecasts global energy consumption will rise 35 percent by 2040, driven by China and India, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing the company’s latest long-term energy outlook. [Fuel Fix]