WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The European Union’s top climate change official said on Thursday that if the Obama administration rejects the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, it would send a strong message that the United States is serious about combating climate change.

“That would be an extremely strong signal for the Obama administration,” Connie Hedegaard, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action, told reporters in a briefing in Washington.

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) – The acting head of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned staff on Tuesday
that it may place an unspecified number of jobs on temporary
furlough if across-the-board federal budget cuts take effect at
the end of this week.

Bob Perciasepe, acting administrator of the EPA, wrote in an
email that despite taking early measures to cut agency spending
on contracts, grants and administration in recent months,
furloughs are inevitable.

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) – Top U.S. executives on Monday
urged federal officials to open more land to oil, gas and coal
interests and approve the Keystone XL oil sands
pipeline, but avoided taking a stand on more divisive issues
like the level of natural gas exports the United States should
pursue.

Tapping new supplies of oil and gas should be at the heart
of a comprehensive plan that would replace an “incoherent
patchwork of subsidies, mandates and regulations” and help grow
the economy, said the Business Roundtable, which speaks for
chief executives at major U.S. companies.

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (Reuters) – A U.S. proposal for
curbing aircraft emissions would exclude time spent flying over
international waters, an approach that some environmental groups
say is too timid in addressing the rise in greenhouse gasses
from the aviation sector.

The proposal, seen by Reuters, would cover just a quarter of
aviation emissions, according to some estimates, and is in sharp
contrast to a European Union law that would require all airlines
to pay a carbon fee for the entire flight if departing or
arriving at EU airports.

WASHINGTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Gina McCarthy, said to be
U.S. President Barack Obama’s choice as the nation’s top
environmental regulator, avoided questions about a potential
promotion on Thursday but said states will play a key role in
shaping federal regulations at an energy and climate policy
forum.

McCarthy, assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation since 2009, was
tightlipped about whether Obama will nominate her as the EPA’s
next administrator.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Thousands of protesters gathered on the Washington’s National Mall on Sunday calling on President Barack Obama to reject the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline proposal and honor his inaugural pledge to act on climate change.

Organizers of the “Forward on Climate” event estimated that 35,000 people from 30 states turned out in cold, blustery conditions for what they said was the biggest climate rally in U.S. history. Police did not verify the crowd size.