For the first time in two generations, world population is growing faster than agricultural production

The good news in the International Energy Agency's report on the future of energy technologies is that there is enough oil left on the planet to allow a huge increase in consumption over the next few decades. The bad news is that the consequences for the climate of burning that much oil would be alarming. The IEA, the rich countries' energy watchdog, is urging the world to start weaning itself off oil, not because supplies are running out but to avoid "significant change in all aspects of life and irreversible change in the natural environment" as a result of global warming.

The cost of carbon dioxide emissions would need to be at least $200 per tonne - many times today's levels - to deliver the cuts scientists propose will be needed to avert the threat of global warming, the International Energy Agency said yesterday. The rich countries' energy watchdog warned that the cost of emissions, set by trading schemes or carbon taxes, would need to be that high to make investment in technologies such as hydrogen-fuelled vehicles commercially viable.

Q-Cells, the world's largest independent solar cell manufacturer, yesterday confirmed that it would invest $3.5bn in Mexico to supply US and Latin America markets with a new generation of solar panels. The investment, which will be the German group's first in the Americas and is thought to be the biggest private investment in Mexico this year, highlights the extent to which companies see the country as an increasingly integral part of the North American manufacturing platform.

The struggle for control of TNK-BP is the first big test for Tony Hayward's leadership of BP. Since taking over as chief executive from Lord Browne a year ago, he has focused on reforming the company's structure and operations, to cut costs and raise performance. The threat to BP's future in Russia is forcing Mr Hayward to take on a huge strategic challenge as well. There are good reasons for him to hope that he can achieve at least a qualified success. BP needs Russia but Russia also needs companies such as BP. If Mr Hayward fails, however, BP will face a much darker future.

Next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the US's first oil well, in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Today, we are working to build a new economic future based on clean, renewable energy. The innovators of Titusville have modern-day counterparts in the entrepreneurs, scientists, investors and working people who are part of a growing movement to build a "green economy".

Sir, Your editorial "Time for a second green revolution' (June 3) calls for a range of strategies to boost crop yields obtained under diverse conditions. Crucial are the implications for sub-Saharan Africa. The continent's highly varied eco-agricultural zones imply that Africa cannot just replicate Asia's transformation of the 1960s and 70s.

The Russian government is proposing to abolish the mineral extraction tax for depleted oilfields to revive oil output growth, which has flagged because of the levy, Igor Sechin, the deputy prime minister, said yesterday. "The government is considering a zero tax regime for depleted oilfields, and tax breaks for young fields," Mr Sechin told a shareholders' meeting of the state-controlled oil group Rosneft. Mr Sechin was voted in for another term as Rosneft chairman yesterday. Reuters, Moscow

UK registrations of 4x4 vehicles tumbled by more than 18 per cent last month in a powerful sign that Europeans are joining the headlong scramble out of large gas-guzzlers seen in the US. The data from Europe's second largest car market mirrors collapses in largevehicle sales under way in other European countries, and comes as petrol prices touch new highs and consumers delay big purchases.

The world will face high food prices "in the years to come", the UN food summit said yesterday, but failed to agree how the crisis could be eased. The summit, hosted by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, was called to tackle food price rises that have triggered riots in 30 countries, but became embroiled in a bitter dispute over biofuels and export restrictions. Agricultural commodities rose on the news as traders saw no prospect of change in biofuels policies or in the use of trade restrictions by key exporters. Bad weather has also contributed to the recent price rises.