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An interview with Jim Hunt, Chief of Environmental and Energy Services of Boston City, Massachusetts, is presented. Hunt states that as part of the cabinet of Mayor Thomas Menino, his priority is to make sustainability be institutionalized in the city. He says that climate change is very real in the city because they are much vulnerable to extreme weather and increase sea level. He argues that Boston focuses on mitigation such as reduction of greenhouse gases.

The article reports on the United States' climate-change policies. According to the article, about 13 bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress that take varied approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as tax on fossil fuels and a mandatory system in which carbon dioxide emissions are capped. A group of senators has introduced the America's Climate Security Act that combines elements of 12 previous climate-change proposals.

The article focuses on the United Nations (UN) climate summit in Lima, Peru in December 2014 which opened opportunities for a global climate change agreement in Paris, France in Decembe 2015. Topics include statement of Barbara Hendricks, federal German minister for the environment, regarding the creation of the global climate protection agreement, reduction of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and need for the European Union to implement a unified system for emissions trading.

The article reports on the attempt of the Australian government to establish environmental schemes to support for clean energy and low-emission technologies. These schemes include the Clean Energy Initiative that encourage the development of low-emission technologies and Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which aims to lessen greenhouse gas emissions. It questions the passage of the schemes through the federal parliament and how much money will reach business and local councils.

The article reports on the delay to the implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) that will make it difficult to encourage companies to take action in 2009 in Australia. It is noted that the delay to the start date of CPRS until July 1, 2011 will eradicate a sense of urgency. Companies are behind schedule in complying with new rules that they will need help to catch up.

The article discusses the author's insights on the measures outlined by the European Commission (EC) that would commit the European Union to reducing emission across the bloc by 40% by 2030. He suggests that the Commission should have aimed much higher. The author also relates that the Commission is proposing to establish a market stability reserve that would allow for the automatic adjustment of the number of allowances traded to alleviate problems of emission policy.

The article reports on the initiative of the Committee on Climate Change to deal the climate changes issue in Great Britain. It states that the committee has launched its report that contains reduce greenhouse gas emissions policy including a 30% emission reduction by 2020, using 1.7 million electric cars and three new nuclear power stations. However, the most disturbing policy for industrial sector is the added carbon leakage that is an unintentional consequence of trading schemes and policies.

The article reports on the call for investment in biofuels in Great Britain. The call has been made as the legislation to increase biofuel use in vehicles did not result in a significant boost for the home industry. Claire Wenner of the Renewable Energy Agency (REA), said that the country's biofuels industry can make an even greater contribution to battling climate change if given the right investment.

Presents news items related to government policies affecting the chemical industry in the United States, compiled as of May 2001. Bush Administration's policy on climate change; National Academy of Sciences president's plan to expand the knowledge of science.