1. FINANCE:
Tide of economic woes could erode support for new Kyoto pact

UNITED NATIONS -- The global financial crisis will have profound implications for next year's negotiations toward a replacement to the Kyoto protocol that experts are only beginning to appreciate. Climate activists' feelings of optimism have been thwarted by worries that the fiscal deficits rich nation governments are incurring in trying to shore up international credit and banking systems will diminish their appetite for a climate change treaty that would reallocate wealth to poor countries to help them control their carbon dioxide emissions and adapt to the expected ravages of global warming. Go to story #1