What house-builders can learn from igloos
BBC
The igloo’s apparently simple design masks a miniature engineering marvel, says Dan Cruickshank.

Eight Climate Protesters Arrested At US Coal Plant
Planet Ark
NEW YORK – Eight protesters who locked themselves to bulldozers at a Duke Energy Corp coal-fired power plant in North Carolina as part of a day of international actions on climate change were arrested on Tuesday, police said.

Beijing pollution risky for endurance athletes
Yahoo! News
Endurance events at the Beijing Olympics could pose a health risk if they are staged on heavily polluted days, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday, although it was prepared to reschedule such events.

Australia to begin carbon capture
BBC
Australia opens its first underground carbon storage facility in an effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

What house-builders can learn from igloos
BBC
The igloo’s apparently simple design masks a miniature engineering marvel and could teach modern developers a thing or two, says Dan Cruickshank, who helped build one for his new TV series.

Green roof benefits explored
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Installing a green roof can dramatically reduce energy use and costs – as well as supporting biodiversity, reducing flooding and combating climate change.

Earth Science advice tips balance for school
I C Wales
A COMMUNITY project which will see a school, houses, shops and park areas developed, has been given the go-ahead.

French Parliament Kicks Off Debate On New GMO Law
Planet Ark
PARIS – France’s parliament began a long-awaited debate on Tuesday on a proposed new law governing genetically modified crops that is contested fiercely by green groups and ecologists.

Are the IPCC scenarios ‘unachievable’?
Nature
Claim that the challenge of cutting emissions has been underestimated is debated.

Gas prices surge on tight system
Yahoo! News
Gas prices rose again on Wednesday as tight supplies supported spot prices and cold weather forecasts for the weekend and beyond pushed up near term gas and power contracts, traders said.

Carbon-trading market has uncertain future
Nature
Clean development mechanism may be capped.

EU industry sees emissions rise
BBC
Carbon dioxide emissions from Europe’s heavy industry sectors rose by 1.1% in 2007, say carbon market analysts.

EU industry sees emissions rise
BBC
Carbon dioxide emissions from Europe’s heavy industry sectors rose by 1.1% in 2007, say carbon market analysts.

Energising a hi-tech future for Welsh businesses
I C Wales
Chairman of the Welsh Electronics Forum Dr Drew Nelson believes the technology sector in Wales is in good shape, but that to maintain a competitive edge it needs to take advantage of opportunities and form alliances

MEPs vote on scientific data on climate change
EU Business
The European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on Climate Change (CLIM) on 1 April adopted its interim report examining the scientific data on climate change.

Public must be persuaded to embrace water efficiency
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Water users will not be persuaded to cut their consumption until they can be convinced that there really is a shortage and it is in their best interests to do something about this.

Drought Hits Northern China, Worst In Decades
Planet Ark
BEIJING – Drought parching parts of northern China will continue this month and water should be set aside for drinking and farming, China’s weather administration said on Tuesday as it forecast little rain in coming days.

Hungry Crowds Spell Trouble For World Leaders
Planet Ark
YAOUNDE – “Is it not said ‘A hungry man is an angry man’?” commented Simon Nkwenti, head of a teachers’ union in Cameroon, after riots that killed dozens of people in the central African country.

Malaysia scraps controversial coal power plant on Borneo island
Yahoo! News
Malaysia on Wednesday said it will scrap a 1.3 billion ringgit (408 million dollars) coal power plant in an environmentally sensitive area in eastern Sabah state on Borneo island.

Europe to fund renewables in developing world
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Europe has announced plans to back investment in renewable energy in Africa and other parts of the developing world in an effort to provide reliable electricity in an environmentally sustainable way.

Buyers not interested in ecohomes, research shows
Guardian Unlimited
People are not ready for zero-carbon houses and are not that interested in energy saving when they buy a house, according to research

EU bans GM-contaminated rice from China
New Scientist
Random checks are introduced after the discovery of Chinese rice contaminated with a genetically modified strain

Canada Must Adapt To Climate Impact On Forests
Planet Ark
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Canada must prepare for the impact of global warming on its forests, such as increased fires in the west and ice storms in the east, the country’s forest ministers said Tuesday.

Green buildings ‘could cut GHGs more effectively’
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Greener building practices could cut North America’s greenhouse gas emissions more effectively than any other available measure.

Climate challenge underestimated?
Nature
Technology will not automatically come to our aid, experts warn.

Norway To Use Forests To Double Bioenergy Output
Planet Ark
OSLO – Norway will double production of bioenergy by 2020 by tapping its vast pine forests and seek to become an exporter of renewable energies to diversify from oil and gas, the government said on Tuesday.

Strategy aims to stop carbon loss from soil
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Soil experts are being asked for their views on a new strategy to protect England’s soils for the future.

New cash fuels road charge plans
BBC
The West of England Partnership is awarded £500,000 to investigate how best to deal with congestion and public transport.

Defra study backs weekly food waste collections
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Two thirds of households recycle their food waste when councils provide a dedicated weekly food waste collection alongside a fortnightly collection of other waste.

Householders fear cost of recycling
I C Wales
HOUSEHOLDERS were yesterday warned they could face draconian bills in the Governments efforts to increase recycling.

Marine energy prize launched
BBC
The world’s largest prize for marine renewable energy is announced by the Scottish Government.

US oil firms come under pressure
BBC
US lawmakers take the oil industry to task over huge profits as ordinary Americans struggle with high fuel prices.

Irish energy report reaps international acclaim
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
A group of Irish businessmen and scientists have won international praise for the work they have done investigating renewable energy in the country.

NI pioneers tidal power generator
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
A £12m turbine capable of generating commercial amounts of energy from tidal power has been laid down in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Suzuki fuel cell bikes in the pipeline
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Hydrogen fuel cell-powered Suzuki motorbikes could be on the streets soon following a deal with Loughborough-based firm Intelligent Energy.

Waste concrete could help to lock up carbon
Nature
2 from the atmosphere.

European supply ship is cleared for space station mission
International Herald Tribune
Managers of the International Space Station on Wednesday cleared Europe’s new Jules Verne cargo ship for its first docking with the orbiting research outpost.

Tube Lines drives down power use
Yahoo! News
Tube Lines is undertaking a green IT project to help reduce its CO2 emissions by 5,000 tonnes by the end of 2008.

Dozens of Philippine rivers destroyed by pollution: official
Yahoo! News
Fifty rivers in the Philippines have been destroyed because people are using them to dump their rubbish, leaving some ecologically dead, an official said Wednesday.

Arrests after coal mine protests
BBC
Police arrest two people after opencast mine protesters chain themselves to machinery and stop work.

Panda genome project begins
BBC
Cardiff researchers join an international project on the first genome sequence of the giant panda.

Students monitor endangered bird
BBC
Dundee University students and staff will head to Trinidad to help in the reintroduction of the blue and gold macaw.

GM seeds can ‘last for 10 years’
BBC
Seeds of genetically modified oilseed rape can endure in soil for at least 10 years, researchers discover.

Eco Soundings: Up in coal-fired smoke | It doesn’t add up | Eco flights of fancy | Boris’s inaction …
Guardian Unlimited
Up in coal-fired smoke | It doesn’t add up | Eco flights of fancy | Boris’s inaction plan | Switched off Londoners

Minister targets food recycling
BBC
Councils in Wales are being asked to collect more food waste from homes as £50m grants are unveiled.