Fight between US cities, oil giants intensifies

US COASTAL cities like New York and San Francisco suing powerful oil companies over rising sea levels have found an unexpected ally in Boulder, about 1,600 km from the coastline. "We're sending a really important message today that the interior west, the interior of the United States, is also on the front lines of climate change, and we need climate accountability as well," says Suzanne Jones, Boulder Mayor. The battle seems to be growing stronger even as uncertainty looms on US Environmental Protection Agency's public debate on climate change that could have triggered a major shift in strategy. Meanwhile, New Zealand in a landmark move, has ceased granting new offshore oil and gas exploration permits to create a "green and sustainable future".