News from 16 March 2009 on edie

DECC offices among least energy efficient in London

A team of energy surveyors tracking heat escaping through poor insulation has named a string of Government offices as some of the worst-performing buildings in London when it comes to energy efficiency.

US plans for mountain nuclear waste dump shelved

Long running plans to turn a Nevada mountain into America's nuclear waste dump are set to be controversially scrapped by President Barack Obama.

Plan to tackle Scottish beach World War II radiation welcomed

Environment officials have welcomed a Ministry of Defence (MoD) plan to survey radiation levels on a popular Scottish beach contaminated by dumped World War II aircraft equipment.

London music business tries to go green

The music industry has become the latest sector in London's show biz scene to team up with City Hall to reduce its environmental impact.

Green energy could provide half world’s energy by 2050

Renewable energy technology could supply almost half the world's electricity by 2050, according to new research unveiled this month.

EU triples green investment

The European Commission is to invest EURO 105 billion (£97 billion) in green projects in its latest budget - almost triple the amount earmarked in the last round.

British Waterways announces £120m hydro-electric scheme

A multi-million project to create 25 hydro-electric schemes along British waterways to power some 40,000 homes, has been announced this month.

Rising sea levels threaten one in ten people by 2100

Sea levels could rise more than a metre by 2100 threatening ten percent of the world's population unless greenhouse gas emissions are curbed, scientists have warned.

Protect water to save money

Protecting the world's watersheds secures freshwater for some of its biggest cities and saves billions of dollars, say conservationists gathered for a major summit this week.

Anger as sun sets on government solar energy funding

Renewable energy companies have described a government decision to freeze subsidies for solar energy as a "disaster".

Irish haulage firms to be hit by European environmental taxes

A recent European Parliament decision that has gone against the wishes of Ireland's Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) could prove costly for Irish firms who regularly transport goods across the continent via road, it has been reported.

Ireland’s carbon emissions reduced as result of downturn

Ireland is being encouraged to take advantage of the economic downturn and press ahead with efforts to cut carbon emissions in order to meet the criteria set out in the Kyoto Treaty for 2012.

Day: 16 March 2009