Building

Fixing old buildings will break the bank, says industry
Landlords claim energy efficiency measures do not make business sense without Government help

Benn to offer low-cost home energy loans
Hilary Benn reveals strategy to tackle existing domestic stock at Think and hints at feed-in tariffs to boost renewables sector

Guardian Environment

British Energy receives string of bids
Prospect of bid battle for nuclear generator sparks rally in shares

The week in wildlife
The pick of this week's flora and fauna images from around the world

WWF

Once upon a time in Hunza Valley
By Shafiullah Khan.

I am a resident of Hunza Valley, situated in the north of Pakistan. A few days ago, I was thinking about the changes that had occurred in my valley since I was a child. I was quite shocked to know that while we enjoy modern facilities today, we have lost many things which were part of the natural environment of these areas and are now irreversibly lost. I would like to share the changes I have observed in three decades in Hunza Valley and the Karakoram areas where I was raised.


Saving lives and incomes of the rural poor
Governments could save human lives and millions of dollars in crop and income losses for the rural poor through better consideration of the needs of wildlife, according to a new WWF study of conflict between humans and wild elephants in Africa and Asia.

Edie

Ofwat backs water industry competition

Households and businesses should be able to choose their water and sewerage supplier in the same way they do their gas, electricity or telephone provider, the water industry's watchdog has recommended.

Councils 'putting cost above environment'
Only half of local government bodies employ someone who has specific responsibility for environmental performance.

ActionAid

Set back for mining company
Niyamgiri tribals wait and hope as Supreme Court hearing delayed ...

Cyclone Nargis: Medical centre provides vital emergency treatment
...

Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Reports

Youth homelessness in the UK: A decade of progress?
An evaluation of the progress being made to address youth homelessness in the UK.

Supporting older people in care homes at night
The night-time care experiences of residents, relatives and staff in three care homes in Scotland.

BBC science and technology

EU set to agree emission cut plan
EU leaders meeting in Brussels are poised to agree on an ambitious plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate 'could devastate crops'
South Asia and southern Africa may be hardest hit by climate change-related food shortages by 2030.

International Energy Agency
The RICS Rural Faculty were pleased to lend their support to a seminar held in Ludlow on 17th April 2008 organised by the International Energy Agency - Bioenergy Task 37. The presentation made by Clare Lukehurst on the subject of Digestate/Biofertiliser is now available to download. Please see the link to the right of this page.

Graeme Hartley, Director RICS Scotland, comments on climate change and energy reports
“Climate change is a phrase that as both individuals and professionals we can’t ignore. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in Scotland has worked with members and Scottish Government throughout 2007 to ensure the industry is doing all it can.

SustainAbility

Make Change From Where You Are
The SustainAbility report – The Social Intrapreneurs: A Field Guide for Corporate Changemakers – launched today identifies a new breed of corporate leader who is determined to channel business strengths and market skills to tackle global sustainability challenges.

Itaú, supported by Ethos and SustainAbility, launches award for journalists and academics for stimulating debate on sustainable finance
The debate on good sustainability practice takes on a higher profile in 2008: Banco Itaú has just begun receiving entries for the first edition of the Itaú Award for Sustainable Finance. This initiative aims to encourage the production of news stories and academic papers on the theme, encouraging focused debate among journalists and academics. The Award, for which enrollment can already be made, is supported by the British consultancy, SustainAbility, internationally recognized as the creators of the “triple bottom line” concept and for work involving sustainability, and the Instituto Ethos, a national bellwether in promoting corporate social responsibility.

The Climate Group

Together Celebrates its First Anniversary
A unique coalition of CEOs and senior representatives from business, government and civil society attended an unprecedented climate change summit at Lambeth Palace today to mark the first anniversary of the Together campaign…

Midwest Climate and Energy Summit
On 25 June 2008, The °Climate Group and The British Consulate General, Chicago are holding an important meeting…

BRE

Sustainable Schools Do Not Cost The Earth
A  BREEAM Schools rating can be achieved at little or no additional capital cost, that is the conclusion of a report published today by the BRE Trust and Faithful & Gould.

'The House that Kevin Built' comes to BRE Innovation Park
'The House That Kevin Built', which is being constructed by Kevin McCloud and team at the Grand Designs Live London exhibition this week will be re-constructed on the BRE Innovation Park after the exhibition closes.

Info 4 local

Detailed noise maps available at the click of a mouse


Bluetongue update: Extension of protection zone to allow further vaccination

Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment

Malcolm Wicks : Renewable Energy - its role in the UK
The Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks MP, discusses the role of renewable energy in the overall energy mix strategy of the Government and highlights the economic opportunities that renewable energy brings to the UK. He confirms renewable energy as a key priority for the UK.

To fight climate change, 'we need to put a price on carbon'
Now, more than ever, we must build bridges. We must build bridges between environmental sustainability, social justice and economic growth because only a solution that addresses all of these concerns will ensure success. And we must build bridges among the countries of the world because climate change is a global crisis requiring global action.

International Fair Trade Association

WFTD 2008: Fair Trade for Our World


Welcome to IFAT
Welcome to IFAT - the global network of Fair Trade Organizations. Our mission is to improve the livelihoods and...

Envirowise

Company's Must Maximise Packaging Minimisation
Even though UK legislation is driving businesses to recognise their recycling commitments many of them are still failing to seize new opportunities for resource efficiency whilst they do so.

Printers Must Treat Non-Hazardous Waste
Non-hazardous waste will have to be treated before it is disposed in landfill sites in the UK after the end of October, according to the UK government's sustainable business organisation Envirowise.