Several theories were emerging this week over the environmental effects of oil at a barrel or more. In the green corner were the optimists, who believe that the shock will force people to cut their energy use, invest in renewables and energy conservation, downsize their cars, take fewer foreign holidays and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Seven African governments and the world's largest banks and construction firms meet in London on Monday to plan the most powerful dam conceived to date -- an -billion hydro power project on the Congo River which, its supporters say, could double the amount of electricity available on the continent.
Developing countries, including China and India, are unwilling to sign up to a new global climate-change pact to replace the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 because the rich world has failed to set a clear example on cutting carbon emissions, according to the United Nations's top climate official.
Two years ago, the United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organisation expected biofuels to help eradicate hunger and poverty for up to two billion people. Last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon raised doubt over that policy amid signs that the world is facing its worst food crisis in a generation.