Calls grow for Govt to step up global warming fight
The Australian Government is facing mounting international pressure to do more to prevent global warming. Australia and the United States are the only two industrialised nations that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which is designed to limit global greenhouse gas emissions. Former US vice president Al Gore has criticised Australia's stance, saying it is the driest of the inhabited continents and more at risk from the effects of global warming. Mr Gore is in Sydney to promote his new documentary on climate change, An Inconvenient Truth.

Global warming to wash away beaches
The fight for space on Spain's beaches looks set to grow fiercer over the next four decades as the sand starts to disappear under a rising sea that also threatens to flood beach-side homes, according to a Spanish environment ministry report. Spain's beaches are expected to shrink by an average of 15 metres (50ft) by 2050 as global warming causes sea levels to creep up while stronger waves and currents eat away at the coastline. In some of the worst hit resorts, unprotected beaches could vanish altogether while salt water washes into holiday homes, the authors warn.

South African environment minister issues warning on climate change
Millions of Africans are at risk because of climate change, with rising global temperatures expected to lead to increased disease, drought and hunger, South Africa's environment minister warned Monday. Marthinus van Schalkwyk said that 40 percent of African borders were formed by river channels and so even moderate declines in rainfall risked heightening conflicts over scarce water resources. Van Schalkwyk said that Africa was especially vulnerable to global warming because it had fewer coping mechanisms than wealthier parts of the world.