China's report that it has used 17% more coal than earlier reported adds to the concern about reaching a climate deal in Paris next December and puts more pressure on Barak Obama to succeed where Woodrow wilson failed almost 100 years ago.

At the Paris climate talks, the only way the world will avoid going over the 2 degree warming target is for the industrialized west to agree to massively fund solar power development for the developing world

In a second post on the unfolding VW scandal the troubled history and doubtful future of diesel technology is explored.