Daily Roundup: December 7, 2009

Delayed Arrival: The 192-nation climate-change conference in Copenhagen started today, but Barack Obama won’t get there until Dec. 18. The U.S. plans to pledge to cut its greenhouse-gas emissions to about 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. About.com and Reuters

In the “Duh” Category: The EPA announced today that greenhouse gases are a threat to human health. The official “discovery” should make it easier to regulate the substances under the Clean Air Act. NPR

World Domination Continues: It appears that Google will be getting directly involved in renewable-energy technologies, possibly including financing power plants. Wired

Tit for Tat: South Africa offered to cut its greenhouse-gas emissions by 42 percent by 2025, but only if rich countries promise to help poor nations deal with climate change. AFP

Too Hot To Trot: Ethiopian athletes, famous especially for their marathon skills, have lately been finding their homeland too hot to train in; climate change is regarded as the culprit. Treehugger

--Avital Binshtock