Free Republic

Today’s Climate Finance Meeting at the United Nations village in Copenhagen will be seeking to build a $100-billion-per-year framework for climate initiatives in the developing world from 2020 onwards. … “The main part of the funding will come from the private sector, so it’s important that they are given the right conditions. The framework will be developed further at the next COP meeting in Warsaw,” says the meeting’s host, Climate Minister Martin Lidegaard. …

Now you can follow advocacy group spending in the 2004 elections! An innovative Web-based tool unveiled today by the Center for Responsive Politics allows voters to research advocacy groups spending millions of dollars to influence the 2004 elections and to report the activities of these groups in their communities. With the 2004 presidential and congressional races in full swing, special interest groups across the political spectrum will be airing ads, mailing flyers and operating phone banks designed to support or oppose the election of a candidate. Inconsistent reporting requirements will make identifying and tracking these groups difficult. To assist voters...

Conservation via capitalism: Two men's novel idea could forever alter land protectionBy Craig WelchSeattle Times staff reporter STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Conservationists, politicians, Weyerhaeuser representatives and the media view the 104,000 acres in East King County that a provocative plan would save from development. The method is serving as a model elsewhere in the country. E-mail this article Print this article Search web archive SNOQUALMIE — One is a money man, an optimist and investment banker who had a brainstorm while toiling in bond markets. The other is a forestry wonk, a worrier and behind-the-scenes operator who refereed...