Poor national enforcement of energy labelling and other product rules facilitates “free-riders” and undermines the voluntary approach.

• Positive incentives needed to promote consumer uptake of state-of-the-art products to realise huge energy-efficiency potential and help cut CO2 emissions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the China Standard Certification Center have agreed to work toward harmonizing information on their respective energy-efficiency labels for consumer electronics and office equipment.

The European Commission slashed Poland’s proposed limit on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission permits for 2008-2012 by more than a quarter on Monday, setting up a battle with Warsaw over its plan to fight climate change.

The European Union executive also cut the Czech Republic’s proposed cap by 14.8 percent, while it accepted the emissions limits proposed by France.

On a large tract of land in Thailand’s dusty northeast, Suwit Yotongyot hopes to make a fortune on jatropha, a plant with a poisonous nut that might hold the key to the nation’s energy troubles.

George Monbiot argues that “we need a five-year freeze on biofuels” in order to save the planet and to prevent a food battle between people and cars, while others think differently.

Buildings in Toronto may soon be rated for their bird-friendliness. Lights from buildings are a dangerous attraction to birds at night. Such a rating system will help alleviate bird injuries and energy demands.

President Bush said Tuesday he planned no new action to impose caps on greenhouse gases blamed for global warming despite the Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate US emissions.