The 20th century's biggest carbon emitter is also one of the few advanced democracies where climate change is not accepted as fact. This makes it hard for some to trust U.S. efforts on the issue.
The islands have more to lose than most any country at the Paris climate summit. Some territory is already disappearing under rising seas. The foreign minister explains the predicament.
The National Park Service is weighing a Texas company's proposal to do seismic oil testing in the Big Cypress National Preserve. But some worry it will open the door for fracking in the Everglades.
The Paris climate talks are said to be the best chance in 20 years to reach a global treaty. But India argues little will change unless fossil-fuel-reliant rich countries change their habits.
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Rachel Kyte, special envoy for climate change for the World Bank, who explains the push-pull between rich and poor countries over financing measures to stop climate change.
Climate scientists say global emissions of carbon dioxide seem to have dipped a bit in 2015, though the world economy is still growing. China's reduced use of coal may be the main reason.