Africa: Increasing African participation in the Climate Change dialog
DFID – Department for International Development
The DFID-funded Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) program is looking to provide financial assistance to institutions that facilitate African attendance at given conferences or meetings to strengthen their capacity to contribute to climate change adaptation in Africa.

Eco-groups attack White House over ozone levels
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
The tightening of air pollution rules in the US has sparked a row between environmental groups and the White House.

Cycling: Pollution puts Cooke gold medal bid at risk
I C Wales
WELSH cycling star Nicole Cookes bid for Olympic gold in Beijing this summer could be destroyed by serious pollution problems in the Chinese capital.

IOC finds no reason to hide pollution risks
The Times
Anti-pollution face masks for athletes competing in Beijing are unnecessary, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after an analysis of the air quality around the Chinese capital.

Beijing shrouded in dust as sandstorm besieges capital
Yahoo! News
Air pollution in Beijing reached its highest level on Tuesday as a sandstorm from the north shrouded the capital in dust, choking pedestrians and delaying flights, the government and reports said.

Rush for diesel as drivers steer away from tax and pollution
The Times
Diesel engines used to be dismissed by most drivers as too dirty, noisy and slow even to consider as their next car purchase. But their greater efficiency is attracting a record number of motor-ists, according to figures published to-day by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Smog may stop Beijing Olympics marathon
Telegraph
Athletes whose events last longer than one hour could be at risk from the combined effects of pollution, heat and humidity at the Beijing Olympics, according to an IOC investigation, writes David Bond.

Oil slick destroys underwater plants
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Marine life on Korea’s west coast has been devastated by the oil spill that hit the region in December, according to a government report.

Chinese biofuel ‘could endanger biodiversity’
SCIDEV.NET
[BEIJING] Using China’s forests and ‘idle land’ to produce biofuels could pose a threat to biodiversity, warned experts at an international meeting.

Council’s green advice to staff: Go vegetarian
This is London
A London council wants to encourage its staff to help the environment by going vegetarian. Cutting meat and dairy products from canteen menus will reduce carbon emissions, according to Camden’s climate change group.

Interview: Norway’s EU membership ‘not on political agenda’ – EurActiv.com | EU – European Informati…
EurActiv
Norway is unlikely to join the EU in the near future, but will seek increased cooperation on energy and climate goals and closer alignment of its currency with the euro in the years to come, Norwegian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas told EurActiv.cz in an interview.

Minister: Norway’s EU membership ‘not on political agenda’ – EurActiv.com | EU – European Informatio…
EurActiv
Norway is unlikely to join the EU in the near future, but will seek increased cooperation on energy and climate goals and closer alignment of its currency with the euro in the years to come, Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas told EurActiv.cz in an interview.

Carbon capture is turning out to be just another great green scam
Guardian Unlimited
George Monbiot: Cleaner technology is possible, but Labour plans to introduce it so slowly that any benefits will be lost in higher coal output

Summer floods ‘not linked to climate change’
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
A report suggesting that last summer’s extreme flooding in the UK was a freak event that cannot be directly linked to climate change has caused a media storm.

Poor are sidelined on climate change solutions
International Herald Tribune
Remedies in the developed world ignore how to best help people elsewhere who are already feeling the effects of global warming.

Pipeline to cleaner otter habitat
BBC
Scottish Water claims a new storm pipe in North Lanarkshire will provide a better environment for otters.

Arctic losing long-term ice cover
BBC
Despite colder conditions, the Arctic is losing a lot of its old, stable ice, according to satellite data.

In most species, faithfulness is a fantasy
International Herald Tribune
You can accuse the disgraced ex-governor Eliot Spitzer of many things in his decision to flout the law by soliciting the services of a pricey prostitute, but originality was decidedly not on display.

‘Motorists unfairly hit by £45bn green tax despite more eco-friendly cars’
Daily Mail
Motorists are being hit unfairly hard by the Government’s campaign to cut pollution, car makers claim today. They say new cars are now 13 per cent cleaner than in 1997, with fuel consumption down by five per cent. Yet motoring taxes have soared from £33billion to more than £45billion

Private waste collectors ruled out
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Dublin’s local authorities have changed waste collection rules so that only the councils or a contractor appointed by the councils will be able to collect rubbish from homes.

British Energy shares rise 20% after confirmation of tie-up talks with rivals
Guardian Unlimited
Rival groups in chase for nuclear operator, British Energy, in tie-up or takeover offer that could value company at more than £7bn

Prince Charles Opens Organic Shop
Daily Record
PRINCE Charles and wife Camilla welcomed customers at the opening of his new organic food shop yesterday.

Prince Charles’ organic shop opens for business in Tetbury
Yahoo! News
At 9am sharp Monday morning the doors of possibly the most exclusive grocers in Britain opened for business. Highgrove, the Prince of Wales’ new store in the Gloucester town of Tetbury, began what is expected to be a brisk trade in organic goods and gifts.

Red Card On Whitehall’s Green Goals
Yahoo! News
If saving energy starts at home then the Government needs to put its own house in order – according to its environment watchdog on CO2 emissions, recycling and renewable energy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA – Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
A new centre of excellence is to be set up to help Whitehall departments achieve their targets for reducing carbon emissions and waste across the government estate.

Government ‘to miss green targets’
Yahoo! News
The Government is set to miss targets to reduce carbon emissions from its own departments’ offices and transport, a report has warned.

Wind power urged for computers
Guardian Unlimited
World’s computing power should be moved to remote outposts where renewable energy is abundant, says Cambridge expert

Mather launches study on benefit of renewables
The Herald
The vast renewable energy resource in the Western lsles has to be properly harnessed with minimum environmental impact, according to Energy Minister Jim Mather.

Climate czar praises Scotland’s progress
The Herald
The Scottish Government has shown “fleetness of foot”in tackling global warning, the UK climate czar said yesterday.

Councillor calls for large fine for river polluters
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
A large fine should be imposed on those responsible for a major spillage that killed fish stocks in the Ballymartin and Six Mile Water rivers, an Antrim councillor has said.

Is Beijing Manipulating Air Pollution Statistics?
Time Magazine
While Steven Spielberg’s withdrawal from his role as an artistic adviser was a public relations blow to the Beijing Olympics, the announcement this week that Haile Gebrselassie would not run in the marathon at this summer’s Games hints at a more serious challenge facing the organizers.

US Requires Trains, Ships To Cut Engine Pollution
Planet Ark
WASHINGTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued tough standards to significantly cut polluting emissions spewed from new diesel engines that will power trains and ships.

Study on benefits of green power
BBC
MSPs are to look at how the isles can cash in on wind and wave power without impacting on the environment.

Analysis of Beijing air quality finds some risk to athletes
International Herald Tribune
The IOC’s top medical officer says Beijing’s air quality is better than expected, although a study shows there are risks to athletes in outdoor endurance events and conditions may be less than ideal during this summer’s Olympic Games.

Is Beijing Manipulating Air Pollution Statistics?
Time Magazine
The withdrawal of the world’s leading marathon runner from this summer’s event over concerns about air quality highlights the stakes in a spat between Chinese authorities and an American researcher

Beijing events could be postponed in case of heavy pollution: IOC
Yahoo! News
The International Olympic Committee said Monday that it would set up a special panel to recommend the postponement of events at the Beijing Olympics in case of heavy pollution.

Olympics-Beijing Pollution No Threat To Athletes-IOC
Planet Ark
ATHENS – Pollution at the Beijing Olympics poses no immediate threat to athletes’ health but could affect world-class performances, the International Olympic Committee’s top medical official Arne Ljungqvist said on Monday.

Pollution threat to Olympic endurance events
Telegraph
The IOC have said they will be forced to postpone high profile events such as the marathon, road cycling and the triathlon at this year’s Olympics if pollution in Beijing does not improve.

Ozone Case Shows Bush Meddling In Science-Watchdogs
Planet Ark
WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush’s decision to intervene in setting air pollution standards is part of a longstanding administration pattern of meddling in environmental science, watchdog groups said on Friday.

India Tribe Sacrifices Animals To Stop Mine
Planet Ark
BHUBANESWAR, India – An ancient Indian tribe opposed to an alumina refinery by Britain’s Vedanta Resources has sacrificed dozens of chickens and goats in the hope their gods will prevent the firm’s mining plans.

Arctic winds deliver prospect of a white Easter and a yellow warning
The Times
Dreams of a white Christmas fell flat but a sprinkling of snow can be expected over much of the country during Easter.

Landslide victory for Iran’s conservatives
The Times
Conservatives in Iran celebrated winning a near-landslide victory in parliamentary elections, gaining an expected 70 per cent majority in the 290-seat assembly and retaining the control that they have held over parliament since 2004.

Prince of Wales takes Highgrove to the high street
The Times
These are not just any chocolate, cherry and almond biscuits, these are the Prince of Waless own Highgrove Organic Chocolate, Cherry and Almond Biscuits.

Ship Pilot Charged In San Francisco Oil Spill
Planet Ark
WASHINGTON – The pilot of a container ship that hit the San Francisco Bay Bridge last year and spilled 58,000 gallons of oil was charged on Monday with violating federal pollution laws.