More cash needed for green homes
by Alan Harten
WWF Scotland says the Government funding program for increasing home energy efficiency in Scotland is a step in the right direction but needs to expand rapidly in order to see the best results. Director of the Scotland branch of the WWF, Dr. Richard Dixon, said that they see the measures towards becoming more energy efficient as positive and welcomed, but stated the Government will need to seek out an additional ...
Record year for Green Flag Awards
by David Masters
A record number of green spaces have been awarded Green Flag status this year. Over 1,000 green spaces in England and Wales bagged the prestigious award for 2009, including more than 200 brand new winners. Free, open, green spaces have acquired a "particular importance" as people look for a low-cost escape from the gloom of the recession, Green Flag said. "One of the most significant aspects of the Green Flag Award is that ...
Petrol: £6 per litre by 2040
by David Masters
Petrol prices are set to hit $20 per gallon (£3.13 per litre) within a generation, American journalist Chris Steiner has predicted in groundbreaking a new book. Taking into account that we pay higher fuel tax in the UK compared to the US, this is equivalent to £6.21 per litre at current tax rates. In '$20 per gallon', Steiner predicts that as petrol prices soar, people's lifestyles will be forced to change drastically. Within ...
HP shamed by Captain Kirk stunt
by David Masters
Employees at Hewlett-Packard arrived at work this week to find a voicemail from Captain Kirk of Star Trek fame on their answer machine. The stunt, organised by Greenpeace, was set up to highlight HP's broken promises on removing toxic plastics from its computers. A computerised dialling system ensured that every member of HP staff got the message. "This is William Shatner speaking," it said. "You, HP, promised me a toxic-free computer by 2009. ...
Red Bull’s wings clipped over recycling fraud
by David Masters
Energy drinks maker Red Bull has been hit with a record fine for breaching waste recovery and recycling laws. The firm was fined £261,000 by Southwark Crown Court after it admitted not registering with the Environment Agency as a producer of packaging waste. The company also confessed to not recovering or recycling packaging waste for eight years between 1999 and 2006. In addition to the fine, Red Bull was ordered to pay court ...
Low-cost rail travel ‘complicated’
by David Masters
Britain's complicated network of rail companies are fares makes it difficult to get hold of low-cost train tickets, an industry watchdog said this week. London TravelWatch, which represents the interests of public transport users in the capital, said many long-distance travelers miss out on the best deals because they have to be booked weeks in advance. "With long-distance fares, it is more of a problem in that you have to book ahead ...
More trees to combat London climate change
by Alan Harten
Planting two million trees across the city of London may help reduce the effects of climate change caused temperatures in the coming years according to a new environmental plan. Studies predict that summer temperatures may rise by 3.9C by the year 2080 in London, but an increase in planted trees by 2025 and the addition of green space throughout London may help reduce the increase according to a recent mayor’s environment ...
Eco-festival choked into closing by police stranglehold
by David Masters
One of the UK's longest running eco-festivals is set to lose thousands of pounds after police forced organisers to cancel this year's festival at the last minute. Over 20,000 revellers were expected to turn up this week for the Big Green Gathering in Medip, Somerset. Organisers were forced to cancel the five day festival of arts, culture and music at the weekend after Mendip council and the police sought an injunction to ...
Vestas protest enters second week
by David Masters
Ongoing protests against the closure of a wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have entered their second week. Around 25 workers are continuing their occupation of the Vestas Wind Systems factory in a bid to stop the factory closing with the loss of 625 jobs. Danish firm Vestas plans to close the factory at the end of this month despite rising profits. The company blamed the small size of the UK's ...
Beautiful countryside vital for environment and economy
by David Masters
Northern Ireland's beautiful countryside is as vital for the country's economy as it is for its environment. Edwin Poots, Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, said the tourism attracted to the country by its Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) makes them a crucial resource. Poots made the claim as he opened the 11th Conference of the National Association of AONB. “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty not only bring enjoyment and enhance ...
Freshwater crab numbers fall dramatically
by Alan Harten
Crabs play an important role in the aquatic ecosystem by aiding the recycling of plant and animal remains, but this may shift some due to the fact that about a sixth of the global crab population is on the threatened with extinction list. The loss of the crabs would lead to a breakdown in the water nutrient cycle leading to knock-down effects on animal populations, water quality, and human environments. This is ...