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Green News. Post your News Updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week to bring you all the news from around the globe! 18 May: Plastic bag policy 'a diversion' Plans to ban or charge for single-use plastic bags are a diversion from the real environmental issues, one of the government's own advisers has said. 17 May: Rare beetle is found in fenland One of the UK's rarest beetles has been rediscovered in a fen on the border of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk - 50 years after it was last seen at the site. 17 May: Legal battle for airport begins Conservationists have started legal proceedings in a bid to halt proposals for a commercial airport in Snowdonia. 16 May: Concern over small biomass option Small-scale biomass power plants can have a greater environmental impact than other renewables, a study says. 16 May: British Energy receives string of bids Shares in British Energy rose 5% today after the nuclear generator said it had received a series of proposals from its string of suitors, including some pitched above yesterday's 680p closing price. 16 May: Biotech companies rush to patent plant genes Biotech seed companies are behind a wave of patent claims on dozens of 'climate-ready' genes. The patents cover the development of new crops capable of withstanding drought or other environmental changes wrought by global warming, according to a report released this week by a Canada-based activist group. 16 May: Climate change threatens French truffle The black truffle, one of the most exclusive and expensive delicacies on the planet, is under threat from climate change. 16 May: Conservationists lament departure of Brazilian minister The sudden resignation of Brazilian Environment Minister on 13 May has been greeted with shock and regret by the conservationist community. 16 May: Wildlife is down by one-third, says WWF Wildlife is disappearing from the planet at a catastrophic rate, a new survey has revealed. 15 May: Eco-boat on target to beat world record A team of sailors are attempting to break the powerboat round-the-world record in an environmentally friendly boat powered by biofuels. 15 May: Green builders spell out zero carbon The Construction industry is calling on government to re-write the rules after concluding that three quarters of new homes are unlikely to meet voluntary targets which would see them having no carbon emissions. 14 May: £20m recycling facility opens Waste management company Greenstar has opened a new Euro 20m recycling facility in Bray, County Wicklow. 13 May: Biodiversity worth Euro 2.6bn to Ireland A new study investigating the social and economic aspects of biodiversity in Ireland has estimated it brings in billions of Euros every year. 12 May: $12.9bn pledged to protect water supplies Nearly $13bn will be invested over the next ten years in securing water supplies in the face of climate change, the Australian government has announced. 9 May: Environmentalists attack oil plans Plans to search for oil beneath the protected landscape of the South Downs were highlighted as another symptom of society's dependence on dwindling oil resources. 9 May: 'Good progress' on environmental stewardship Over 5 million hectares of land in England, an area roughly twice the size of Wales, are now covered by schemes which aim to conserve our valuable landscape and its wildlife, according to a report published by Defra and Natural England today. 9 May: The great organic myths rebutted Fact one: Organic farming is good for the environment 8 May: Conservation success as rare plant makes a comeback after 100 years The purple-flowered Chiltern Gentian (Gentianella germanica) may be the county flower of Buckinghamshire, but right now it is being feted in a corner of Wiltshire, where it has been rediscovered after more than 100 years of absence. 8 May: UK honeybee population in crisis as winter weather devastates colonies British honeybees have been devastated by bad weather, stress and disease with more than one in five colonies thought to have been killed off over the winter, according to the government and the British Beekeepers' Association (BBA). 7 May: A world apart Set-aside, the scheme to take a proportion of farmland out of production and rid Europe of the grain mountains of the 1980s, has itself been set aside. Good for tackling overproduction and, by accident, good for wildlife affected by agricultural intensification, set-aside has been officially reduced to 0% this year by the EC. 7 May: Airport 'will ruin' national park The three national park societies of Wales are teaming up to try to stop an airport opening in Snowdonia. 7 May: Bad reactions With French and German companies lining up to build new nuclear power stations in Britain, the die now seems cast for nuclear. Or is it? 7 May: EU ambassadors mull raising the bar on biofuels European Union member states will discuss ways to prevent harmful consequences from biofuel production later on Wednesday, including a two-phase approach to carbon dioxide savings. 7 May: Government's green targets 'will be missed' Most of the green targets set since 1997 will be missed, a report said on Wednesday. 5 May: High potential to cut air pollution from Europe's power plants Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) from large combustion plants (LCP) could have been considerably lower in 2004, a report presented today by the European Environment Agency says. 1 May: Global warming may 'stop', scientists predict Global warming will stop until at least 2015 because of natural variations in the climate, scientists have said. 1 May: Russian climate plans show tough path to U.N. treaty Russia's opposition to new cuts in greenhouse gases means all of the world's top four emitters are against making quick reductions, complicating plans for a new U.N. climate treaty by the end of 2009. 1 May: Experts call for 'feed-in tariffs' to encourage renewable energy use Engineers, trade unions, farmers and house builders today backed a campaign by Friends of the Earth and the Renewable Energy Association to introduce a "feed-in tariff" system that would improve Britain's take-up of renewable energy. 30 Apr: Livingstone is 'greenest' of three main candidates, says FoE Ken Livingstone is the "greenest" of the three main candidates battling to become the next mayor of London, according to Friends of the Earth. 30 Apr: Off-roaders banned on ancient lanes Many parts of the countryside are to be protected from the noisy invasion of motorcycles, 4x4s and quad bikes after a victory by green campaigners in the Court of Appeal. 30 Apr: Wave power firm eyes £10m prize A company developing a wave power system has set its sights on winning the world's largest prize for marine energy innovation. 29 Apr: Rockefellers urge action on climate change One of America's most powerful families will call tomorrow for a sweeping shake-up at the top of ExxonMobil, the world's largest company. 29 Apr: Keeping the crop in hand The issue is not biofuels or no biofuels, but the right biofuels. Europe's governments have signed a commitment ensuring that 10% of the petrol in Europe's vehicles in 2020 is made from renewable transport fuels, including biofuels. This will make an important contribution to the EU's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote security of energy supply. But there is an obvious caveat: biofuels must be an environmental policy in pursuit of an environmental outcome - the most sustainable policy is the only right policy. That is the basis of the European commission's January proposals. 29 Apr: Sweden's carbon-tax solution to climate change puts it top of the green list If there's a paradise for environmentalists, this Nordic nation of 9.2 million people must be it. In 2007 Sweden topped the list of countries that did the most to save the planet - for the second year running - according to German environmental group, Germanwatch. Between 1990 and 2006 Sweden cut its carbon emissions by 9%, largely exceeding the target set by the Kyoto Protocol, while enjoying economic growth of 44% in fixed prices. 25 Apr: Biodiversity seen to be in deep trouble Biodiversity is under dire threat from global warming, habitat loss, pollution and over-exploitation, all largely the fault of humans, the head of world-renowned Kew Gardens said on Thursday. 25 Apr: Green v green Environmentalists are used to fighting battles. But with environmentalism going mainstream - wind farms, biofuels and nuclear power stations, for example, are fast becoming some of the most controversial issues in British politics today - environmentalists increasingly find themselves skirmishing with one another as they see-saw between pragmatism and idealism. 24 Apr: German utility prepares to build two nuclear power stations in UK E.ON, the German-owned utility which supplies gas and electricity to millions of customers in Britain, said yesterday that it planned to build two nuclear power stations in the UK. 24 Apr: Eco-home in Cotswolds fetches record £7.2m The house, whose design is based on the bee orchid found on the reserve, was sold off-plan last week to an anonymous buyer. 23 Apr: Waste energy plant plans revealed Plans to build a £120m electricity plant on Teesside that turns waste into energy have been unveiled. 23 Apr: Wildlife Highway The first wildlife highway to enable animals and plants to escape the worst effects of climate change will be announced today. A corridor 30 miles (50km) long and up to 10 miles wide is to be created in the Severn Vale in Gloucestershire to provide an escape route for wildlife. 23 Apr: Can seashells save the world? For hundreds of millions of years, marine creatures of all shapes, sizes and descriptions have gone about the daily business of converting calcium ions dissolved in seawater into the hard shells and skeletons that are so reminiscent of a trip to the seaside. Many of these shell-makers are tiny life forms that die in their billions each day, falling to the seabed to form what will eventually become another geological layer of rock. Without them we wouldn't have the White Cliffs of Dover, Chartres Cathedral or any of the other limestone wonders of the world. 21 Apr: Rügen: German island's 'white cliffs' collapsing into the sea The towering chalk cliffs that form the spectacular coastline of the Baltic holiday island of Rügen have been immortalised by 19th- century Romantic painters and are Germany's equivalent of the white cliffs of Dover - but now they are collapsing into the sea. 21 Apr: Exposed: the great GM crops myth Genetic modification actually cuts the productivity of crops, an authoritative new study shows, undermining repeated claims that a switch to the controversial technology is needed to solve the growing world food crisis. 21 Apr: EU set to scrap biofuels target amid fears of food crisis The European commission is backing away from its insistence on imposing a compulsory 10% quota of biofuels in all petrol and diesel by 2020, a central plank of its programme to lead the world in combating climate change. 18 Apr: Ozone is killing off the sweet smells of summer The heady smell of wild flowers is not what it used to be. A recent study has found that ozone pollution is killing off the fragrance of flowers. Traffic and industrial fumes 'cook' in bright sunshine to produce ozone, a nasty substance that irritates lungs and eyes. Ozone smog is now a big problem. The ozone also reacts with perfumes produced by flowers. These scents waft in the breeze to attract bees and other pollinators, but ozone kills off the sweet smells. As a result, flowers have trouble advertising themselves to insects. 17 Apr: Bush wants to stop growth of greenhouse emissions by 2025 President George Bush today announced a new national goal to help tackle climate change: to stop the growth of US greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. 17 Apr: Oceans absorbing less CO2 may have 1,500 year impact Global oceans are soaking up less carbon dioxide, a development that could speed up the greenhouse effect and have an impact for the next 1,500 years, scientists said on Wednesday. 17 Apr: World sea levels seen rising 1.5m by 2100 Melting glaciers, disappearing ice sheets and warming water could lift sea levels by as much as 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) by the end of this century, displacing tens of millions of people, new research showed on Tuesday. 16 Apr: Biofuel rules 'could make millions homeless' Millions of people face eviction from their land to satisfy demand unleashed by new rules requiring petrol and diesel from today to include a proportion of plant-based "bio-fuels" according to protesters. 16 Apr: Biofuel: the burning question From 15th April, all petrol and diesel sold on forecourts must contain at least 2.5 per cent biofuel. The Government insists its flagship environmental policy will make Britain's 33 million vehicles greener. But a formidable coalition of campaigners is warning that, far from helping to reverse climate change, the UK's biofuel revolution will speed up global warming and the loss of vital habitat worldwide. 16 Apr: Tesco labels will show products' carbon footprints Tesco is to test putting "carbon labels" on its own-brand products next month in a move to enable consumers to choose products which are less damaging to the environment. 15 Apr: Misguided case against climate change action Sir, Nigel Lawson's perspective that the UK and Europe are over-reacting to the threat of human-induced climate change is substantively wrong and ignores a significant body of scientific, technological and economic evidenc. While global action is needed to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, UK and European leadership is essential. 15 Apr: Bush to announce intermediate goal for CO2 emissions President George W. Bush plans to announce on Wednesday an intermediate goal to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, but will not make specific proposals, the White House said on Tuesday. 15 Apr: Forests' long-term potential for carbon offsetting As well as cutting our fossil fuel emissions, planting new forests, or managing existing forests or agricultural land more effectively can capitalise on nature's ability to act as a carbon sink. Research published online in the open access journal Carbon Balance and Management shows that although planting trees alone is unlikely to solve our climate problems, large-scale plantations could have a significant effect in the longer term. 14 Apr: Defects found in nuclear reactor the French want to build in Britain The French nuclear safety agency has uncovered a series of defects in the construction of a reactor in Normandy considered to be the template for the next generation of stations due to be built in Britain. 11 Apr: Wind farms could be moored off Scotland Britain's first mobile wind farm could be built off the Scottish coast under an ambitious plan to stop turbines blighting the countryside by mooring them miles out to sea. 11 Apr: Climate experts predict temperature drop Climate experts are forecasting a drop in global temperatures this year. 11 Apr: PM writes to G8 urging action on food scarcity Gordon Brown raised fresh concerns about the impact of biofuels yesterday, as he put rising food prices on the world agenda by writing to fellow G8 leaders to prepare an international package on food scarcity. 10 Apr: Amazon alliance to help forest communities A new global alliance of indigenous and traditional forest communities has been set up, aimed at ensuring they are included in financial incentives to slow deforestation and fight climate change. 10 Apr: Canada to create giant new northern national park Canada will create a giant new national park covering some 1.9 million acres along one of the country's most spectacular northern rivers, Environment Minister John Baird said on Monday. 10 Apr: Brazil builds £10m condom factory to help save rainforest Making love might not seem like the most obvious way to save the world's largest tropical rainforest - and combat the threat of Aids. 9 Apr: Spain's worst drought for a generation leaves water and comradeship in short supply Spain is suffering its worst drought in more than four decades, pitting the country's regions against each other in a fierce battle over water resources. 9 Apr: Wind project 'another milestone' A wind farm in Sutherland capable of providing power for 37,000 homes has been approved by Scottish ministers. 9 Apr: Big boost for youth volunteering Dorset Wildlife Trust has been awarded £176,000 funding by v, the youth volunteering charity, to get young people positively involved in their communities. The 3 year project will get young people aged 16-25 actively involved in environmental volunteering across the county. 8 Apr: CO2 map zooms in on emissions US scientists have unveiled a new, high-resolution interactive map which tracks patterns of CO2 emissions coming from fossil fuels burned daily across the country. 8 Apr: The Thames it is a-changin': wildlife returns to the river Times have changed since stretches of the River Thames were declared "biologically dead" in the 1950s. A colony of seahorses was revealed to have made the London waterway its home this week, joining more than 100 species of fish, dolphins, seals, porpoises and the occasional whale spotted in the murky waters in recent years. 8 Apr: Move to save rare native bluebell Conservationists are planting thousands of native bluebells to try to halt a dramatic fall in their numbers. 7 Apr: New Conservation Action Plans for Bats and rare Fern Mr John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government has announced that two new species action plans (SAPs) have been published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of his Department. 4 Apr: Conservation areas to save British marine life Rare and valuable marine animals and plants will be offered special protection from disturbance within five years, under plans outlined today. 4 Apr: Australia trials underground carbon storage Australia on Wednesday began pumping 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide underground in a test of carbon storage that environmentalists said would do little to tackle climate change. 4 Apr: Venice flood barrier blossoms into coral reef A coral reef has bloomed in the Adriatic Sea on the site where a tidal barrier is being constructed to protect Venice. 3 Apr: 'Eco-town' shortlist draws green and local anger The Government came under fire from conservationists, country-dwellers and the Conservatives today after unveiling the shortlist for a series of "eco-towns" to be built across England. 3 Apr: Moth that can travel at 55mph Moths that fly high above our heads throughout the night are not at the mercy of the wind but use a sophisticated internal compass which can help them travel up to 400 miles in a single flight, according to a study. 3 Apr: New Environmental Permits will cut red tape, save money, and put a spotlight on high risk businesses New Environmental Permitting Regulations come into force this weekend in England and Wales, reducing red tape whilst protecting the environment and human health. 3 Apr: Coal power policy under attack from top scientists Britain's leading scientists have told ministers that plans for a new generation of coal power stations pose an unacceptable climate risk, unless greater efforts are made to trap and store the carbon pollution they produce. 2 Apr: Disease may hit half of UK horse chestnut trees Almost half Britain's horse chestnut trees could be infected with deadly bacteria, according to a new study that warns the disease has spread much further than experts realised. 2 Apr: £10m marine energy prize unveiled The world's largest prize for marine renewable energy innovation has been announced by the Scottish Government. 2 Apr: Huge dump to be new country park The largest landfill site in Essex is to be restored as a country park. 1 Apr: Public says Britain not yet prepared for climate change impacts Nearly 70% of people think the UK is not prepared to deal with the potential impacts of climate change, a survey by the Environment Agency revealed today. 1 Apr: Norfolk Broads 'could be lost to sea in a year' The Norfolk Broads will be lost to the sea, the head of the Environment Agency has said. 1 Apr: Eco-tourism 'major threat' to Antarctic The rising popularity of "eco-tourist" trips to the Antarctic, fuelled by the so-called "Saga Generation", could create an environmental disaster, it is claimed. 31 Mar: Fuel for a new agricultural revolution The claim that EU biofuels policy is reducing greenhouse gas emissions (A biofuel policy can be sustainable, March 28) flies in the face of recent scientific papers on nitrous oxide emissions and land-use change. Ferran Tarradellas, the European commission's energy spokesman, also conveniently ignores the concerns that the commission's own Joint Research Centre raised in a recent report. 31 Mar: Fears that 'eco-towns' will recycle bad planning Developers are threatening to concrete over acres of British countryside under the guise of building environmentally friendly eco-towns, it is being claimed. 31 Mar: Climate negotiators start work on "Kyoto II" Scientists and officials from across the world meet in Thailand this week for the first formal talks in the long process of drawing up a replacement for the Kyoto climate change pact by the end of 2009. 28 Mar: Satellite maps carbon density German scientists have mapped regional differences in manmade carbon emissions across Europe using a satellite designed to collect environmental data. 28 Mar: Satellite maps carbon density German scientists have mapped regional differences in manmade carbon emissions across Europe using a satellite designed to collect environmental data. 28 Mar: Biofuel demand 'will increase GHGs' Growing demand for biofuels could actually increase greenhouse gas emissions as farmers clear forests and grassland to create more cropland, according to a new US study. 27 Mar: Chinese dams threaten Cambodia's forests, farmers Along the Chay Areng valley in Cambodia's remote Cardamom mountains, children still scamper barefoot through one of mainland southeast Asia's last remaining tracts of virgin jungle. 27 Mar: New 'battle of Midway' over plastic On the coral atoll of Midway in the central Pacific - famous for America's first victory over the Japanese fleet in World War Two - wildlife experts are facing a new battle against a rising tide of plastic waste. 27 Mar: U.N.'s Pachauri urges caution in biofuel use The world must take care when developing biofuels to avoid perverse environmental effects and higher food prices, Nobel Peace Prize winner and climate change scientist Rajendra Pachauri said on Wednesday. 26 Mar: 'Climate change: adapt to it, don't fight it' The world would be better off adapting to the consequences of climate change rather than trying to fight the causes, according to scientists. 26 Mar: Sharks could warn of storms, claims research Their reputation is more fearsome predator than kindly weatherman. But sharks could be used to save lives by giving advance warning of storms, pioneering British research has discovered. 25 Mar: Australia facing threat of wildlife catastrophe From the tiny tree kangaroo via the greater bilby to the quoll, some of Australia's unique and rare wildlife could disappear in the coming decades as a result of climate change, according to a report by the WWF published today. 25 Mar: Antarctic ice shelf 'hangs by a thread' British Antarctic Survey has captured dramatic satellite and video images of an Antarctic ice shelf that looks set to be the latest to break out from the Antarctic Peninsula. A large part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula is now supported only by a thin strip of ice hanging between two islands. It is another identifiable impact of climate change on the Antarctic environment. 25 Mar: Biofuels 'could increase carbon emissions' Plans to force motorists to run their cars on "green" petrol could lead to higher levels of greenhouse gases, the Government's leading environment scientist warned yesterday. 20 Mar: Government 'missing its own carbon targets' The government is in danger of losing credibility on climate change because more than half of all its departments are failing to reduce their carbon emissions enough to reach levels that the nation as a whole is expected to meet. 20 Mar: HSBC commits £100m to renewable energy Renewable energy projects in the public sector received a significant boost today with more than £100m of new funding from HSBC. 20 Mar: Largest wood-fired power station in UK opened The UK's biggest wood-fired power station was today formally opened by the First Minister who hailed it as a green energy milestone. 19 Mar: Barclays launches national search for the best green leaders in business Barclays Commercial Bank is this week launching the Green Leaders in Business Awards, a search for UK and Ireland's top businesses who are developing and implementing innovative new solutions to help protect the environment. 19 Mar: Friends of the Earth appoints new head Friends of the Earth has appointed Andy Atkins as its executive director to follow Tony Juniper, who is leaving after six years in the job. 19 Mar: Shell wants to produce five times more oil from tar sands Shell is gearing up for a huge expansion of its carbon-intensive tar sands operation in Canada at a time when it has been struggling to replace conventional reserves. 18 Mar: Government figures hide scale of CO2 emissions, says report Britain's climate change emissions may be 12% higher than officially stated, according to a National Audit Office investigation which has strongly criticised the government for using two different carbon accounting systems. There is "insufficient consistency and coordination" in the government's approach, the NAO said. 18 Mar: Study on benefits of green power A study into how the Western Isles can benefit economically from wind and wave power scheme while protecting the environment has been announced. 18 Mar: Glaciers melt 'at fastest rate in past 5,000 years' The world's glaciers are melting faster than at any time since records began, threatening catastrophe for hundreds of millions of people and their eco-systems. 17 Mar: Blair wants 'climate revolution' Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for a "global environment revolution" to tackle climate change. 17 Mar: Concessions to Merkel threaten climate change plan Europe's chances of spearheading a global post-Kyoto climate change accord were jeopardised yesterday when Germany secured pledges that several of its heavy industries could be protected from international competition and exempted from the EU's plan to combat global warming. 17 Mar: Climate change confuses migrating birds The swallows' return to British shores each year symbolises the passing of winter and the approach of summer. 14 Mar: Reservoirs keep sea levels down The water stored worldwide in reservoirs has stopped global sea levels by rising by more than an inch in the past half century alone, cutting the effects of global warming on ocean levels significantly. 14 Mar: Why queen bees are made and not born The ability to create bee "super queens" that can shrug off disease has arisen from the discovery of how royal jelly works. 14 Mar: Seagull 'menace' solutions sought A national summit on the issue of urban seagulls is to be held later this year. 13 Mar: Britain is stealing the US crown of No 1 climate villain This is a truly shaming moment for Gordon Brown's government. On Monday ministers were once more accused of failing to fully assess the environmental impact of a third runway at Heathrow. The Conservative MP for Putney, Justine Greening, argued that the airport operator, BAA, had been too closely involved with the expansion plans, alleging that government collusion had resulted in environmental concerns being ignored. With Ruth Kelly and the Department for Transport seemingly determined to bust the UK's climate-change targets, it now falls to the likes of Greenpeace and Plane Stupid to try to defend them. 13 Mar: A load of hot air A "green budget" should have at its heart the green-ness of buildings. More than half our national greenhouse emissions come directly and indirectly from buildings. Most of the gas we will have to import will be used to heat and light buildings. The thousands of fuel-impoverished people who die each year of hypothermia shiver to death in un-insulated and under-heated buildings. 12 Mar: New measures for moth harmful to humans Emergency measures to stop imports of a moth that affects oak trees and can cause severe allergic reactions in humans will be imposed at the end of this month, the Forestry Commission has said. 12 Mar: £4 million to help local authorities fight climate change A new £4 million programme to help local authorities tackle climate change was announced by Environment Minister Phil Woolas and Local Government Minister John Healey today. 12 Mar: Plastic? No thanks Appalled by reports of environmental pollution, Catherine Eade and her family decided to try to live without buying anything packaged in plastic. One month on, they are finding the experiment both life-changing and soberingly difficult. 12 Mar: BAA plans to double Stansted unveiled Controversial plans to build a second runway at Stansted Airport in Essex were unveiled yesterday. 11 Mar: Darling plans Labour's greenest budget yet Alistair Darling will unveil a host of new measures in his first budget on Wednesday aimed at cutting carbon emissions from cars and including a fresh drive to boost biofuel use. The chancellor, under pressure from business leaders to cut corporation tax and scale back his controversial plans to tax non-domiciles, will instead present the budget as Labour's greenest to date. 11 Mar: Back to black: return to coal power The Government will today anger environmentalists by signalling its support for a controversial new generation of coal-fired power stations and warning that Britain needs to burn more fossil fuels to prevent power cuts. 11 Mar: Climate change 'will spark global conflict' Climate change poses a global security threat as competition over energy and other resources heralds "significant potential conflicts" in Africa, the Middle East and between the European Union and Russia. 10 Mar: Climate tsar: Put wind farms along motorways A new generation of wind farms should be built along motorways and outside every school to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, Gordon Brown's new climate change "tsar" has told the Telegraph. 10 Mar: Rush for biofuels threatens starvation on a global scale The rush towards biofuels is theatening world food production and the lives of billions of people, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser said yesterday. 10 Mar: Early bluebells kickstart survey to save the woodland flower Bluebells have astonished botanists by blooming in at least two parts of Britain more than a month early. 6 Mar: Energy firms tell Treasury: don't bring in windfall tax Energy companies last night launched a pre-emptive strike on the government ahead of next week's budget, warning that any windfall tax on the industry would undermine investment in green power projects and other measures to combat climate change. 6 Mar: The green betrayal It is the Great Green Betrayal. With environmental issues becoming ever more critical, the green policies of Gordon Brown's government are standing still or even going backwards, it became clear last night. On the day of a major warning that time is running out to solve the problems caused by climate change, it emerged that Britain's own green policies are stalled or backsliding in three crucial areas. 5 Mar: Shark numbers increase ten-fold off Spain Spanish scientists have reported a ten-fold increase in the number of sharks spotted off popular tourist beaches in north eastern Spain. 5 Mar: Six legged octopus discovered off Anglesey The world's first hexapus - a six-legged octopus was discovered off the Anglesey coast marine experts have revealed. 5 Mar: A natural phenomenon When David Attenborough started out in TV 54 years ago, he came up with an idea for a series that today would get him thrown out of the BBC and lynched by animal activists. "We decided," he recalled recently, "we would go out into the wild to capture animals and bring them back to London Zoo." 4 Mar: Government backflip on solar panel policy Householders will be able to make money by fitting solar panels or mini wind turbines to their roofs, under proposals to be announced in the Budget next week. 4 Mar: Public urged to register green areas People should take steps to protect areas of green space that they have used informally for years - before developers try to exploit them, conservationists urged. 4 Mar: King of soya: environmental vandal or saviour of the world's poor? Erai Maggi does not look like a villain who is destroying the planet; nor does he look like a hero who is saving the world's poor. Wearing jeans and work boots, he can be found on a typical day driving a battered Fiat car on one of his farms south of the Amazon rainforest. 3 Mar: Japan may invest $1.93 bln in climate fund: report Japan is planning to invest up to $1.93 billion in an international fund aimed at encouraging the use of renewable energy technology in developing countries, the Nikkei financial daily said on Sunday. 3 Mar: The Prime Minister's green credentials are not in the bag So here was the green dilemma for Mr Brown. His good friend Paul Dacre, the editor of the Daily Mail and not a man who would be most accurately described as a tree-hugger, is suddenly seized by a passionate hatred of plastic bags. The powerful editor launches a typically energetic campaign clamouring for the bags to be banished, a campaign illustrated by eye-moistening images of majestic turtles and other telegenic wildlife being murdered by the killer bags. Marks and Sparks, another outfit that is supposed to be adept at catching the mood of Middle England, then hops on the bandwagon - or perhaps that should be bagwagon. 3 Mar: Call for 'serious debate' on wolf A "serious debate" has to be held on the potential impact of reintroducing wild wolves to the Scottish Highlands, a UK conservation charity has said. 29 Feb: Wind farm for moor saved from peat diggers A wind farm of 328 ft high turbines has been approved next to Thorne Moor in Yorkshire, a reserve protected under EU law which conservationists campaigned for 20 years to save from peat diggers. 29 Feb: Developer tries to sell eco-town A property company is to unveil its ambitious plans to create Scotland's first sustainable "eco-town" in Fife. 29 Feb: Eskimos file lawsuit against oil companies An Eskimo village that is melting into the sea off Alaska has launched a legal challenge against BP, Shell and more than 20 other oil and power companies, alleging that their contribution to global warming is threatening to destroy the tiny community. 28 Feb: Sumatran deforestation driving climate change and species extinction, report warns The destruction of Sumatra's natural forests is accelerating global climate change and pushing endangered species closer to extinction, a new report warned today. 28 Feb: On the market: the zero-carbon home with an affordable price Once it was a dream; then it was an experiment; and now, the zero-carbon house is a reality. 28 Feb: The story of the blues: Tracking the journey of the £9 pair of jeans Fred Pearce wanted to know where his £9 jeans really came from. So he travelled to Bangladesh, where he found the disturbing (and surprisingly complex) answer. 27 Feb: Runway protesters take to roof of parliament Protesters demonstrating against plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport today staged a demonstration on the roof of the Houses of Parliament. 27 Feb: Eco-towns 'face strict controls' Only eco-towns with the highest ecological standards will be chosen for construction, Housing Minister Caroline Flint has announced. 27 Feb: £10,000 loan to install renewables in your home The government should adopt a radical new system of assistance for people wanting to install renewable energies on their houses, the Renewable Energy Association says today. 26 Feb: Anger over plan to allow elephant cull South Africa has announced it will reverse its 1995 decision to ban the killing of elephants. 26 Feb: Svalbard's giant cold store Hardly anything grows on Svalbard. In this Arctic archipelago, the permafrost is 1,000ft deep, the nearest tree grows 600 miles to the south, and the sun does not rise for four months of the year. But it is on this frozen, barren outpost that the future of mankind's food supply depends. 26 Feb: Climate secrets of marine snail It is one of the world's strangest and smallest sea creatures, growing to no bigger than the size of a lentil. 25 Feb: £5m project to clean up sea loch Waste water discharges into an important loch for shellfish catches are to end with a £5m clean-up project. 25 Feb: Hunting ban sparks a rural boom Rural businesses have reported a remarkable increase in trade, some by up to 40 per cent, since the introduction of the hunting ban three years ago. Far from sounding the death knell for the countryside economy, the Hunting Act has galvanised trades such as farriers and saddlers. Some hunting stockists have had their best sales in 50 years. 25 Feb: Virgin completes first biofuels flight Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic has completed the world's first commercial flight powered by biofuel. 22 Feb: Disappearing tortoises: Playing God in the Galapagos In a concrete pen, basking in the warm equatorial sunshine, dozens of baby giant tortoises are about to make history. Later this year, these animals will be the stars in one of the boldest conservation initiatives ever attempted in the Galapagos, the best-preserved tropical archipelago left on earth. 22 Feb: Boost for micro power studied Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said yesterday the government would look at ways of boosting the share of Britain's electricity from microgeneration. 22 Feb: Insects' right to life will be decided in court Many people do not think twice about trampling over a spider or beetle while walking on grass. But insects have rights, too, and today in the High Court a charity is to defend the right for the creepy-crawlies to live undisturbed on the West Thurrock marshes along the Thames in Essex. 21 Feb: Soot dims China, India climate prospects Air pollution is blotting out a tenth of China's sunlight and a similar amount in India, a leading US climate scientist said on Wednesday. 21 Feb: World's first Nappy Recycling Solution Launches in the UK A unique solution to solve the global nappy waste challenge 21 Feb: Cadbury thinks out of the box with 'eco-egg' Cadbury Schweppes, which makes half of Britain's Easter eggs, is trialling an unboxed "eco-egg" as part of its efforts to reduce 30% of its carbon emissions by 2020. 20 Feb: How to handle a wild boar The government is offering advice on how to deal with feral wild boars - 300 years after they disappeared from the countryside. 20 Feb: Grazing regime helps rare butterflies thrive A rare butterfly has had its most successful year since being brought back from extinction. 20 Feb: 'Clean, green' energy plans out Plans for a "lean, clean and green" Wales, making it self-sufficient in renewable energy within 20 years, have been launched. 19 Feb: Storm brews over the content of ethical funds Ethical and climate change funds that claim to be socially responsible are failing to invest in companies which support the environment, a new study claims. 19 Feb: Consequences of GM crop contamination 'are set to worsen' The consequences of contamination between GM crops and non-GM varieties will be much more serious with the next generation of GM crops, an influential group of US scientists has warned. 19 Feb: National park expansion on hold A public consultation exercise on the proposals has been deferred because of an ongoing wide-ranging inquiry into similar plans for the South Downs. 18 Feb: Southern Ocean rise due to warming, not ice melts Rises in the sea level around Antarctica in the past decade are almost entirely due a warming ocean, not ice melting, an Australian scientist leading a major international research program said. 18 Feb: Carbon offset projects to get code of conduct The government will announce details this week of a code aimed at ensuring the carbon offset industry is properly managed. Those running offset projects will have to agree to a voluntary code of conduct. The move follows recent reports of carbon offset projects that have failed because of poor financing and staffing. One forest plantation, for example, failed because no money was committed to its upkeep - as a result, its trees died. Individuals who had spent hundreds of pounds to pay for offsets wasted their money. 18 Feb: Dublin wants right to inspect UK nuclear power stations Ireland will demand greater access to inspect Britain's nuclear facilities if Gordon Brown goes ahead with building more nuclear power stations, an Irish cabinet minister vowed yesterday. 18 Feb: Threatened butterfly flutters back A butterfly that had died out in Britain in 1979 has flourished in record numbers at one of the four National Trust sites at which it has been reintroduced. 15 Feb: GM crops fail to deter pests The first documented cases of pest resistance to genetically modified crops have been discovered in insecticidal cotton, reported The Financial Times.. 13 Feb: New attempt to halt spread of grey squirrels A new attempt is being made to save Britain's native red squirrel from the relentless advance of the introduced grey squirrel. 13 Feb: Rare white stag filmed in Scotland The "ghost-like" red deer was spotted on the west coast of Scotland, but its location is being kept secret to prevent it becoming a target for poachers. 13 Feb: Biofuel demand leading to human rights abuses, report claims EU politicians should reject targets for expanding the use of biofuels because the demand for palm oil is leading to human rights abuses in Indonesia, a coalition of international environmental groups claimed recently. 12 Feb: Sea research for climate change Oceanographers are to measure how seas absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in order to understand and predict climate change. 12 Feb: GM crops 'lead to surge in weedkiller use' Green campaigners have launched a new attack on GM crops, claiming they have led to an explosion in the use of environmentally-damaging weedkillers. 12 Feb: Tidal power possibility increases The prospect of tidal power to provide some of Guernsey's future energy needs has moved a step closer following plans for a major project in Wales. 11 Feb: New rules for front gardens to fight floods The government yesterday declared war on the traditional right of homeowners to cover their front gardens with asphalt, as part of a drive to save water and reduce the risk of flooding. New legislation will mean that only areas made of gravel or porous bricks or paving, which provide better drainage than hard surfaces, will not need planning permission. 11 Feb: Storms destroy one tenth of China's forests China has lost about one tenth of its forest resources to recent snow storms regarded as the most severe in half a century, state media reported Sunday. 11 Feb: France Halts Genetically Modified Corn The French government on Saturday suspended the use of genetically modified corn crops in France while it awaits EU approval for a full ban. 8 Feb: Arran community imposes no-fishing zone It has taken more than a decade of conflict, consultation and compromise, but the UK's first community marine conservation area has been given the go-ahead. 8 Feb: Ladybird knocks spots off squirrel's migration An insect that once held promise as a natural pest controller was branded the most invasive species in Britain yesterday by researchers. 7 Feb: Climate set for 'sudden shifts' Many of Earth's climate systems will undergo a series of sudden shifts this century as a result of human-induced climate change, a study suggests. 7 Feb: Garden's £1.9m debt is wiped out The National Botanic Garden of Wales is to receive up to £1.9m extra public money to pay off its debt. 7 Feb: A black-and-white issue - polar bears v oil A confrontation between big oil and environmentalists opens today in Alaska when America invites bids for millions of acres of polar bear habitat in the Chukchi Sea, where 15 billion barrels of crude oil lie waiting to be tapped. Bidding will get under way days before a ruling on whether the animal, the poster child for the ravages of global warming, should be added to the list of endangered species. 6 Feb: Rats probe under way on St Kilda Wildlife experts have arrived on St Kilda in a bid to safeguard the area's huge bird population. 6 Feb: Mild winter convinces wildlife that spring has sprung Nature is so confused by the mild winter conditions that many species of animal and plant are convinced that spring has arrived. 5 Feb: Ban gas-guzzling cars, says ex-Shell boss Sir Mark Moody-Stuart said the sale of new cars which do less than 35 miles per gallon (mpg) should be outlawed for environmental reasons. 5 Feb: £500m project offers jobs and income, but will it devastate the environment? The moors of north Lewis are desolate in midwinter, a treeless expanse of ochre grasses and rich black peat, pummelled by Arctic winds driving in from the north Atlantic. 5 Feb: Wind farms 'a threat to national security' Ambitious plans to meet up to a third of Britain's energy needs from offshore wind farms are in jeopardy because the Ministry of Defence objects that the turbines interfere with its radar. 4 Feb: Biofuels: the future? Biofuels are being championed as the eco-friendly alternative to oil, gas and coal, which could revive Britain's farming industry. But how green are they? And is it right to grow crops for fuel instead of food? Fred Pearce investigates 4 Feb: Calls for new environment agency A call for an environmental protection agency to be set up is being supported by NI politicians and members of the business community. 1 Feb: Wildlife disaster as uncropped land is ploughed Half the uncropped land in the country has been ploughed up this year, in what conservationists have warned could be one of the worst disasters for wildlife for 40 years. 1 Feb: Mob rules - warning in Trump A planning expert claimed yesterday that it was "unacceptable" to make public opinion the deciding factor while deliberating controversial applications like Donald Trump's £1billion golf resort proposals for Aberdeenshire. 1 Feb: EU takes Malta to Court over spring hunting BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta welcomed the decision by the European Commission to take Malta to the European Court of Justice, regarding the practice of spring hunting and trapping of wild birds, which is illegal under EU law. Every spring since its accession to the EU in 2004, Malta has permitted hunting and trapping of European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) and Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), in direct contravention of the EU Birds Directive. 31 Jan: Carbon emissions show slight fall The UK's carbon emissions fell by just 0.1% last year, and the government has admitted it must do more to tackle climate change. 30 Jan: Britain negotiating on EU renewable targets Britain is seeking a relaxation of its renewable energy targets set by the European Commission, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said on Thursday. 29 Jan: Sunscreen wipes out corals Keep the waters clean: divers are recommended not to use sunscreen.R. Danovaro/Polytechnic University of MarcheSunscreen can bleach coral reefs, researchers have confirmed. The chemicals that filter ultraviolet (UV) light can activate latent viral infections in the symbiotic microalgae that the corals rely on for nutrition. 29 Jan: Britain 'facing energy shortfall' Britain is likely to face a shortfall in electricity generation within five to seven years, a report concludes. 29 Jan: Single Payment Scheme '10-month rule' replaced Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming, today welcomed the decision to replace the 10-month rule governing the period for which farmers have to have land at their disposal under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). 29 Jan: Britain's new eco battle A historic decision over a new runway for Heathrow is close. And as airports across the UK unveil new expansion plans the growth of aviation will become a fierce battleground between environmentalists and big business. It is a struggle which will shape Britain's eco future for generations to come. 28 Jan: Is big business still thinking green? In 2007 climate change was the big topic at the World Economic Forum. One year on, is big business acting green? 28 Jan: Only three sustainable homes built in UK so far Gordon Brown's dream of "eco-towns" with tens of thousands of homes powered by wind and solar power has failed to grip the public's imagination. Officials have confirmed that only three low-carbon homes are being built in the UK. 25 Jan: Brazil to act over acceleration in deforestation An emergency package to curb deforestation in the Amazon is being drawn up by the Brazilian government, after satellite images revealed that destruction of the world's largest forest is again accelerating. 25 Jan: EU reveals energy plan of action European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has announced "historic" plans to make Europe "the first economy for the low-carbon age". 25 Jan: Britain will need 12,500 wind farms to satisfy EU targets A rapid and vast expansion of renewable energy is on the way in Britain to help with the fight against climate change, it was revealed recently. 23 Jan: Nuclear power rebirth revives waste debate LONDON (Reuters) - Nuclear power's credentials as a carbon-free energy source have helped to calm fears about its safety, but scientists have yet to solve the problem of the hundreds of thousands of years of toxic waste it generates. 23 Jan: Environment damage of rich countries on poor A study has revealed the extent to which poorer countries are trampled by the huge environmental footprints of the rich. 23 Jan: Half of Giant's Causeway underwater by 2100 Environment experts have warned that up to half of the Giant's Causeway would eventually become submerged under the sea as a result of the melting polar icecaps. 18 Jan: Pledge to make UK landings and take-offs more fuel efficient The way aircraft take off, fly and land in Britain will undergo a significant overhaul as part of plans to cut aviation emissions by 10% over the next decade. 18 Jan: Hopes for nuclear waste 'Pacman' Researchers have designed a molecule which they hope may help develop ways of dealing with nuclear waste. 18 Jan: British Gas chief says EU must make polluters pay Lawmakers must act now to end a scheme that has handed billions of euros in windfall profits to Europe's biggest polluters, the chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica said on Thursday. 17 Jan: France defends GMO crop ban, says temporary French ministers tried on Tuesday to calm tensions following the government's decision to ban cultivation of the sole genetically modified (GMO) crop grown in the country, stressing that the move was temporary. 17 Jan: Green advisers dismiss nuclear plans as 'megafix' solution Two of the UK's chief green advisers yesterday launched a ferocious attack on government saying the national fight against climate change will be hindered by the decision to encourage nuclear power. 16 Jan: HSBC fund seeks firms tackling climate change HSBC Holdings recently launched a climate change fund to give investors a chance to turn a threat into an opportunity by buying into the increasing number of firms trying to tackle global warming. 15 Jan: Thousands of oaks dying from disease For centuries it has been a steadfast symbol of England, but the mighty oak now faces a battle for survival as a devastating disease advances through the nation's forests. 15 Jan: Biofuels 'do more harm than good to environment' says Royal Society Biofuels will cause more harm than good to the environment unless strict controls are imposed on how they are grown, the Royal Society has cautioned. 15 Jan: EU to allow poorest members to raise CO2 emissions The European Commission will propose allowing the poorest new central European member states to increase greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent by 2020 over 2005 levels under a major energy and climate change plan to be unveiled next week, EU sources said on Monday. 14 Jan: Islanders feel the power of green energy The islanders of Foula have never been known for their desire for change. More than 250 years after the rest of the Western world adopted the Gregorian calendar, the remote community still uses the Julian calendar established by Caesar in 45BC - celebrating New Year 12 days late. 14 Jan: Survey shows eco-warriors are worst polluters A survey of travel habits has revealed that the most environmentally conscious people are also the biggest polluters. 14 Jan: UK coasts on alert for return of killer jellyfish Scientists have launched an urgent investigation into the mauve stinger jellyfish which recently wiped out £1m worth of salmon at fish farms in Northern Ireland. They fear that mass invasions of the tiny purple creatures could return to British waters in the next few years with devastating consequences along coasts. 11 Jan: Japan 'preparing climate package' Japan is to set aside $10bn (£5.1bn) over the next five years to help developing countries fight global warming, a newspaper has reported. 11 Jan: Woolly thinking Few would dispute that agricultural subsidies needed overhauling, but the harsh effect on hill farmers could radically change the nature of Britain's uplands as grazing sheep become a thing of the past. 11 Jan: New nuclear plants get go-ahead A new generation of nuclear power stations in the UK has been given formal backing by the government. 10 Jan: Habitat loss forces India's tigers to high ground Habitat destruction is forcing India's endangered tigers to new grounds, including high mountains which have a sufficient prey base but are not known to be the natural home of the big cats reported The Environmental News Network. 10 Jan: Pine martens 'key' to red squirrel defense Pine martens may be the key to defending some of the last strongholds of the native red squirrel against invading American greys, reported. 10 Jan: Italy's woodlands dying due to climate change Italy's woodlands are already dying as climate change starts to bite in southern Europe, experts warn. 9 Jan: Beach plea after rare turtle dies Conservationists are urging people to look out for stranded marine turtles after three endangered reptiles recently washed up on beaches. 8 Jan: Hydro tunnel makes breakthrough A huge boring machine has completed a five mile tunnel for a £140m hydro-electric scheme it started digging 15 months ago. 8 Jan: Dark Days for Low Energy Light Bulbs This month shops in the UK will begin to phase out traditional tungsten bulbs as part of a government plan to replace them completely by 2011 and save 5m tomes of carbon emissions a year. However the current crop of low energy light bulbs are coming under criticism for causing skin complaints and migraines, releasing Mercury into the environment on disposal and not being as energy efficient as new LED equivalents. 7 Jan: EU considers carbon tariff The European Commission is debating whether to push for a carbon tariff on imports from countries that do not tackle their greenhouse gas emissions, as part of climate change proposals due out this month. 7 Jan: PM's bribe boosts dumping of waste Secret deal will be followed by £1bn move to find long-term disposal facility for the most dangerous radioactive waste, so securing the future of nuclear power plants. 7 Jan: 50 people who could save the planet Last year ended with the incongruous image of 10,000 politicians, businessmen, activists and scientists from 190 countries emitting vast quantities of greenhouse gases as they flew home from Bali clutching the bare bones of a global agreement on climate change. The agreement was to keep on talking to try to reach a deal by 2010. It was a diplomatic triumph, achieved after rows and high dramas, but it leaves all nations a mighty hill to climb. There is no agreement on what emission cuts need to be made by when or by whom, and the US is still deeply reluctant to do anything. It is a roadmap with no signposts. 2 Jan: City pigeons decline as country cousins come to town Grey, waddling and greedy, the country cousin of Britain's best-known city bird has moved into town - and straight to the top of the urban pecking order. 2 Jan: 'Green fatigue' leads to fear of backlash over climate change British people are now convinced about the dangers of global warming but are either baffled about how to stop it or are ignoring the issue. 2 Jan: Climate focus as Japan heads G8 Japan is to propose the fight against global warming as a main discussion topic at a Group of Eight nations summit later this year. 19 Dec: Planning boost for green homes The government will today publish a new planning policy designed to boost the use of renewable energy and community heating schemes in new buildings as it gears up for the introduction of carbon-free homes from 2016. 19 Dec: Wind farm gets planning consent A controversial 23-turbine wind farm is to be built at Achany in Sutherland after Scottish and Southern Energy was granted planning permission. 17 Dec: Washington still prefers to stick its head in the sand Bali was a golden opportunity for the nations of the world to acknowledge that time is running out and to develop an action plan to tackle the crisis we all face. 17 Dec: Dead humpback whale examination A post mortem examination is to take place on a young humpback whale which was found off the coast of south Wales. 17 Dec: Grouse moor has best season since 1872 One of the world's premier grouse moors has bucked the trend and recorded the most successful season since records began in 1872. 15 Dec: Australians do whale count as Japan hunt nears Australian researchers have begun an aerial count of whales in the Antarctic ahead of the yearly Japanese hunt as Australia's government mulls a legal challenge to halt the yearly slaughter. 15 Dec: Kyoto Afloat After Attempted Sabotage Negotiators reached a deal in Bali today (Saturday) on taking forward the Kyoto Protocol but Friends of the Earth International expressed deep disappointment at the weak content following many attempts to derail the talks by the some delegations. 14 Dec: Unique orca hunting technique documented Some Antarctic orcas use the cunning tactic of regularly hunting in packs and making waves to wash seals off floating ice, researchers have confirmed. 13 Dec: Cash boost for toxic river Thames Water has drawn up a £500,000 plan to revitalise a river that was polluted when the company accidentally flooded a stretch of the water with chemicals. 12 Dec: Internet holds key to climate change fight The internet could be the best weapon to fight climate change, a global poll of thousands of teenagers has found. 10 Dec: Ireland faces 17 cases on environment Ireland is facing 17 cases in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over alleged breaches of EU environmental safeguards. 10 Dec: Why the Himalayas might not look like this for much longer For decades climate-change protesters have had an easy target: the gas-guzzling Americans who emit more carbon dioxide per capita, and more as a civilisation, than anybody else. If only the US would change its ways, all would be well. 10 Dec: US plan to cut greenhouse gases by 70 per cent signals change of heart on climate change Key measures to tackle global warming have been approved in the US Congress, signalling the first crack in the granite face that the Bush administration has set against cutting the pollution that causes climate change. 7 Dec: Don't miss the chance to win the City of London Sustainable City Awards Deadline for entry: 12.00 on 10/12/07 6 Dec: Illegal wildlife trade grows in China Criminal cases involving illegal hunting of wildlife and trade in wild animals have risen 11.5 percent so far this year to 10,818, the government said on Tuesday. 6 Dec: Every reason for optimism As ministers from more than 180 countries meet in Bali this week for perhaps the most crucial round of climate change talks, the discussions are pivoting on impacts, adaptation and the urgent need for a post-2012 regime to reduce emissions. The role of forests and carbon markets and the need to finance a transfer of clean and green technology from the north to the south are also high on the agenda. 5 Dec: Bangladesh to seek aid for mangrove forest Bangladesh will seek emergency funds from the World Heritage Center to restore the ecosystem and biodiversity of the Sundarban mangrove forest, badly mauled by last month's killer cyclone, officials said today. 5 Dec: City-scale flooding disasters predicted by 2070 Millions more people across the world are going to be at risk from flooding in the future because of climate change and population increases. 5 Dec: Small company wins largest green IT award The Future is Green 4 Dec: Australia signs Kyoto and gets ovation at Bali Australia stole the show at the first day of the United Nations climate conference in Bali, winning a prolonged ovation for the announcement that the country would finally sign up to Kyoto. 4 Dec: Truffle of the century sets record price at auction First sniffed out by a mongrel dog in the woods of Tuscany, the biggest white truffle unearthed in half a century fetched a record $330,000 (£160,000) yesterday at a charity auction more passionate and raucous than if a Rembrandt or Titian had been at stake. 4 Dec: Carbon trading 'key to stopping deforestation' Carbon trading could be the key to stopping the destruction of the rainforests, a new report claims. 3 Dec: ITVs £50m eco-contest flawed Contenders for a £50m lottery pot for eco-projects, to be handed out after a television poll, have attacked the competition as flawed and crazy. 3 Dec: Airlines to make billions from CO2 trade Airlines stand to make billions of pounds in "windfall profits" from an emissions trading scheme that was supposed to make them pay for the environmental damage they cause, according to a government-commissioned report. 30 Nov: Trump stunned as Scotland rejects golf plan U.S. tycoon Donald Trump was left "surprised and disappointed" after Scottish authorities rejected his plan for a $2-billion (1 billion pound) golfing development on Thursday, the project's director said. 30 Nov: Bali offers a vital chance to take tough decisions Recently, more than 150 businesses from across the globe have joined together to advocate bold action to tackle climate change. Led by my Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change - in itself the result of the past 15 years' advocacy by my Business and the Environment Programme - these companies have signed a communiqué addressed to the world's leaders who will meet in Bali next week to discuss climate change. 30 Nov: Thames Gateway plans unveiled More than £9bn is to be spent on projects along the Thames estuary on Europe's largest regeneration project, the government has announced. 29 Nov: Bird flu cause probe inconclusive The preliminary report into the latest outbreak of bird flu in Suffolk concludes that wild birds "may have been" the main source of infection.