Daily Roundup: December 18, 2009

Black Carbon: A NASA study found that soot from Indian cities is accelerating the melting of Himalayan glaciers. The soot stagnates in the air above the Himalayan foothills, and its dark color absorbs sunlight, which heats the air. Science Daily.

Pardoned: Biff and Otis, two sea lions sentenced to death after repeatedly preying on endangered salmon, have been granted a reprieve. Chicago's Shedd Aquarium will be their new home. Mother Nature Network.

Standoff: World leaders are locked in debate as the UN climate change conference winds down. President Obama pushed delegates to reach an agreement and met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in private. Neither China nor the U.S. made any new public offers, however. BBC News.

Who Owns Our Food? Monsanto said they will allow farmers to use continue to use their Roundup Ready genetically-modified seeds even after its patent expires in 2014. Prior to the announcement there were fears the company would force farmers to use a new patented seed that would cost more. New York Times.

A Place For Power: After abandoning a plan to build a solar plant near the Salton Sea, Los Angeles pitched a plan to build a solar farm and state park at Owens Lake. Los Angeles Times.

-- Année Tousseau