ecohub :: news archive

"Time For Change" Provides Opportunity To Make Change To Save Our Living Planet. In the run up to this year’s Earth Day (April 22), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is encouraging people of all ages to make a pledge for change in the fight to save endangered species, protect endangered habitats and address global threats such as deforestation, overfishing and climate change.

G20: Chance for a real new world order. The current economic failure offers us a unique opportunity to put the world on a new and sustainable track... Spend too much money now, on top of the trillions already committed to rescuing banks and buying toxic debt, and we know what we will be told come the Copenhagen climate conference in December – that the cupboard is bare.

US market welcomes Waxman-Markey climate bill. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, put forward on Tuesday, aims to establish a cap-and-trade programme for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as promote renewable energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), energy efficiency and low-carbon fuels, among other things.

Tree planting season is upon us: EcoHub and Sustainability Solutions Ltd are planting 2,000 trees in Carmarthenshire, Wales this weekend. The Biosphere 2.0 agroforestry project has multiple benefits for climate and wildlife as well as diversification of farmer’s income. With the support of our clients we are planting a further 6,500 trees later in the month.

GM drops Hummer for an electric scooter. General Motors and Segway unveiled a prototype two-seat electric scooter today, intended to ease urban congestion and pollution and help GM recast itself as environmentally progressive and technologically innovative.

Obama's 7 Greenest Ideas So Far. Okay, sure—Obama's only been in office for a couple months now, and we're getting all congratulatory. But there's a reason for that: many of the ideas he and his administration have come out with so far are pretty damn good ones. And there have been plenty of them, too. These 7 are the best he's come up with so far.

Join the Great British Butterfly Hunt. As the coming Easter break offers a chance for everyone to get out into the countryside for the first time this spring, The Independent launches an innovative wildlife project: the Great British Butterfly Hunt.

How to make a chicken doorstop. Don't give chocolate eggs this Easter. Sally Cameron Griffiths shows you how to make a fun and functional chicken doorstop from old clothing.

Electric cars to be mass introduced to the UK, says Gordon Brown. Electric cars are to be introduce en masse across Britain, as Gordon Brown plans an environmentally friendly Budget. The Prime Minister hopes to make Britain "a world leader" in producing and exporting electric cars and hybrid petrol-electric vehicles.

Lightpot is Part Pretty, Part Practical. The Lightpot is a new design by Kfir Schwalb and Orit Magia that uses LED lighting to grow herbs and small plants anywhere, and grows along with the plants.

Festival Estrella Levante SOS 4.8. The second Edition of the SOS 4.8 festival will open the concert summer season in Spain the days 1&2 of May. Under the theme of SOStenibilidad (sustainability) the International Festival of Artistic Action are 48h nonstop of Music, Contemporary Art and Reflection. Check out the huge line-up and book tickets!

Mayor unveils plan to turn London into 'electric car capital of Europe'. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, also said yesterday that he planned to create 25,000 electric car charging spaces in the city over the next six years. The proposed government grant of £2,000 would reduce the cost of a small electric car to about £7,000.

Cardboard cooker wins global climate change competition. A cardboard cooker which uses the sun’s energy to boil water has won a global competition for the best innovation to tackle climate change. The design, which costs five euros to make, also hopes to cut the number of people suffering from respiratory problems associated with smoke inhalation.

Easter egg packaging goes on a diet. Traditional buying of Easter eggs to lead to 25% less waste than last year after chocolatiers ditch unnecessary packaging. Last year M&S's best-selling chocolate animal inhabited a 2ft-high plastic circular drum made up of three pieces of rigid polymer and cardboard. This year the Easter rabbit with the ghastly rictus grin comes in a simple lightweight vacuum bag made of thin film that can be recycled.

Galaxy chocolate bars to be made with sustainably sourced cocoa by 2010. All Galaxy chocolate bars in the UK and Ireland will be made with sustainably sourced cocoa by 2010, its maker Mars have announced. The move is part of a larger commitment by Mars to certify its entire cocoa supply as sustainably sourced by 2020.

Mulch with Newspapers- One man's trash is one plant's treasure. The good news about newspapers is that it is an organic material (wood) and not toxic. Old newspapers had some crazy chemicals in their inks, but today’s black-and-white gazettes are usually made from soy-based inks. That means you can mulch the old news.

Climate change is altering the distribution, abundance and diversity of marine life in the polar seas with "profound" implications for creatures further up the food chain, according to a comprehensive study.

Norway hosts discussion between environmental scientists and environment ministers at polar base: melting continental ice sheets may endanger the planet.

£50bn of European investment needed to kick-start Saharan solar plan: would convince private companies that power from the Sahara solar scheme is feasible and attractive option, expert says

TH!NK Electric Car Maker Wants to move to Sweden (or the U.K.)Norway's electric vehicle manufacturer TH!NK has a long and troubled history and stopped its production line late last year. But The company's leaders are to try a novel idea: to move the company to a nation willing to prop it up until prosperity re-appears.

With Global Warming, It's Water, Water Everywhere... Except There, There and There. The U.S. experiences its driest ever start to a year, scientists warn that sea level will rise much faster than predicted, and the oceans are growing so acidic, marine life is threatened.

Italy's solar power flourishes with state help: While economic gloom engulfs much of the world's solar energy industry, government incentives in sunny Italy are encouraging start-ups such as February's launch of photovoltaic panel maker V-energy.

Winners of an honourable mention at this year's Green Dot awards, 60 Bag is a line of biodegradable bags that can last as long as you like, or decompose in approximately 2 months. Made of a flax-viscose non-woven fabric, the material is scientifically developed and manufactured in Poland.

Australian oil spill blackens beaches: a toxic cocktail of oil and fertiliser spilled from a cargo ship in cyclonic weather today, 12.03.09. Large slicks of oil have washed up on the shores of Moreton Island and on beaches along the Sunshine Coast.

China has announced its latest solar project: the construction of the world’s largest power plant. Planned by China Technology Development Group Corp and privately-held Qinghai New Energy Group, the project will begin with a 30 MW plant in the Qaidam Basin.

Oil-hit Australian beaches named disaster zones: Authorities declared a disaster zone today along a stretch of some of Australia's most pristine and popular beaches after tons of fuel oil that leaked from a stricken cargo ship rolled ashore as black sludge.

Global warming 'will be worse than expected' warns Stern: Economist says his 2006 groundbreaking report underestimated risk and accuses governments of not being ready for consequences of 6C temperature rise

The Age of Stupid is the new four-year epic from McLibel director Franny Armstrong. Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Britian's first electric supercar is ready to hit the roads with a top speed of more than 140mph. It can do 0-60mph in four seconds and is faster from a standing start than a V12 Ferrari. The supercar was built in a Norfolk garage from off-the-shelf parts mostly available on the internet.

The Days of Oil are Far From Over, Says Saudi Arabia: Minister gave a speech at the Energy Pact Conference saying that oil, natural gas, and coal must remain the energy "workhorses" for many decades to come.

UK government carbon targets 'too weak' to prevent dangerous climate change: Official advice being used to set Britain's first carbon budget is "naïvely optimistic" and will not stop dangerous climate change, experts from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research say.

Anger after government halts solar energy grant programme: The British government ran into a storm of criticism yesterday after quietly closing its grant programme for solar energy last week, which campaigners said made a mockery of its commitment to build a low-carbon economy.

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White House Veggie Garden to be Planted by Obamas: in the April issue of Oprah's Magazine a cover-story interview featuring Michelle Obama reveals exciting plans for a White House vegetable garden!

World's largest parrot pulled back from the brink: Scientists in New Zealand have rescued the world’s largest parrot from the brink of extinction. The population of the flightless kakapo has surpassed 100 birds for the first time in decades.

Barcelona’s Bike Sharing Program Celebrates its 2-Year Anniversary with its 186,000 Users: Bicing started with a bang: 30,000 subscribers in the first 2 months; 15 stations and 200 bicycles to start with. Since then, it has been forced to expand and grow rapidly and now counts 400 stations and 6,000 bikes for 186,000 subscribers.

Schools of robofish to sniff out pollution in the Thames: Researchers at the University of Essex in Colchester are working on the robofish as part of a £2.5million EU-funded project to find new ways of monitoring water waste. They will be packed with pollution sensors that can electronically 'sniff' harmful chemicals in the water.

Alternative energy cars to race across Australian outback: The Global Green Challenge has evolved from the success of the World Solar Challenge. It will be run from Darwin to Adelaide in October and include hybrid, electric and low-emission vehicles, as well as solar-powered.

EcoHub to plant 8,500 trees next month! Last year we planted over 2,350 trees in our Biosphere 2.0 programme, designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and conserve biodiversity through creating new habitat. This year, in partnership with Sustainability Solutions Ltd we’re going to plant thousands more trees for wildlife conservation and to help prevent climate change. Click for more..

Does an impending shortage of vital resources threaten catastrophe? The Government's appointed Chief Scientist and latter-day Nostradamus, Professor John Beddington, has predicted that within 20 years the world could face "a perfect storm" of food, energy and water shortages that will create a crisis of unprecedented proportions.

One in 3 U.S. Birds Is Imperiled: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar released the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States, showing that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats.

Worlds of business and activism collide at carbon trading conference: This week's Carbon Market Insights Conference in Copenhagen has proved emissions trading is not as dull as it sounds. Just look at the debate of the dramatic price falls in the price of carbon, or the ideological splits emerging between the EU and UN's climate negotiators.

Yesterday at the Edison Electric Vehicle Technical Center President Obama announced the availability of $2.4 billion in funding for development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and batteries. “We can let the jobs of tomorrow be created abroad or we can create them here in America and lay the foundation for lasting prosperity.”

Internet Can Be Used to Detect Early Warnings of Eco Changes: Researchers from Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and the University of East Anglia have determined that the Internet can be used for a whole lot of untapped information mining - including detecting possible environmental disasters.

Maldives first to go carbon neutral:

The pioneering new president of the Indian Ocean nation announces plans for his country - under grave threat from climate change - to go carbon-neutral in a decade

Cultivate greener cities, government told: Switching public spending from "grey" projects building roads and expanding airports , to "green" schemes creating parks and allotments, would save billions of pounds, improve health, cut climate emissions and create jobs, say official advisers to the government.

Carbon footprint labels should be displayed on new products say MPs: Labels showing a product's carbon footprint should be displayed on goods and services to help consumers tackle climate change, according to an influential committee of MPs.

Climate Change Debate taken to Zimbabwe’s Villagers: climate change issues are difficult for most people to understand, smallholder farmers in Seke rural district about 40km south-east of Harare say the most persuasive evidence that global warming is happening is the change in the rainfall pattern as well as the frequency of droughts.

National Grid chief calls for more renewables subsidies: The government must draw up a masterplan to meet the UK's ambitious targets of providing 15% of the country's power from renewables by 2020, National Grid's chief executive, Steve Holliday, has warned. As investment in alternative sources of energy dries up because of the credit crunch, Holliday called for more subsidies to make sure enough wind farms and other sources of renewable energy are built in time.

Opposing wind farms should be socially taboo, says Ed Miliband: Opposition to wind farms should become as socially unacceptable as failing to wear a seatbelt, Ed Miliband, the climate change secretary, has said. Speaking at a screening in London of the climate change documentary The Age of Stupid, Miliband said the government needed to be stronger in facing down local opposition to wind farms.

Unfashionable flowers in danger of dying out: Favourite varieties of chrysanthemums, marigolds and dahlias are in danger of dying out in the next few years, conservationists have warned, as traditional flowers come under threat from foreign pests, climate change and the recession.

New species found in Papua-New Guinea: Jumping spiders, a striped gecko and a chirping frog are among more than 50 new species discovered in Papua-New Guinea, the environmental group Conservation International reported on Tuesday. The creatures were found during an expedition in July and August in Papua-New Guinea's highlands wilderness, the group said in a statement.

Carbon offsetting: this video uses the cheatneutral example to highlight the negative aspects that pervade the issue. Many of you may have seen it before - for those who haven’t, it’s funny and seriously thought-provoking at the same time.

Energy efficient datacentre specialist to open European offices in response to growing interest in green IT. One of the leading providers of green datacentre technologies in the US, Rackable Systems, has revealed plans to launch operations in Europe as it seeks to tap into expanding demand for energy efficient server systems.

Climate speeds Japan's cherry blossom season: Japan's celebrated cherry blossom, which for millions heralds the start of spring, is under threat from climate change, according to experts, who say warmer weather is causing early flowering. Cherry blossom season officially began in Tokyo this year on March 21 -- five days ahead of schedule and a full week earlier than the average for the last 30 years of the 20th century.

Youth driving the environmentalist movement: 'We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and it's up to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left.' Much more than just an off-the-cuff soundbite, this reported comment to the BBC from 21-year-old Plane Stupid activist Lily Kember after the occupation of the runway at Stansted was really profound and really resonated.

Tesla model S - A car that’s fast, sexy and electric? It wasn’t possible... but now...

Seven Ply Turns Thrashin Into Fashion: Seven Ply is the latest company to turn the skate world into an eco-friendly venture. Owner Lynn Weiler turns broken skateboard decks (the name comes from the 7 layers in a skateboard deck) into cuffs, necklaces and other stylin' gear - the perfect accessory to pair with your new skateboard.

Micro-generation grants in the UK: clearing up the confusion. It’s true that money for solar-electric (photo-voltaic) systems has run out in the Low Carbon Buildings Program Phase 2, for schools, hospitals and other public buildings, funding for wind and solar thermal systems is not affected yet. Funding for solar-electric systems for homes has been extended until June 2010. More information is available from the website of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1.

Fashion-conscious.com voted website of the week:

“Who is it for? Style-conscious women who want vegan, sustainable, fair-trade, recyclable or organic pieces.”

Organic Beer: Aside from the potential of swigging a chemical or two, mass-produced beer just doesn’t taste as good as the traditional and organic beers now being brewed in the UK. Less than a decade ago, however, the independent brewing industry in the UK was seriously under threat from mass-producing beer giants.

Number 10 has responded to the e-petition calling for greater spending on climate change, but fails to address the issue adequately. The Prime Minister’s office points out that the UK has the toughest legally enforceable policy on greenhouse gas emissions in the World, but the financial resources required to stimulate rapid growth of the low-carbon economy may simply not being mobilised fast enough.

“Earth Hour is not so much about saving energy. It is more a massive, global and overwhelming signal to our nations' leaders to say that climate change is important. That it matters a great deal. That we care. Now do something about it!”

A special thanks from EcoHub to everybody around the globe who participated in Earth Hour this year, and a salute to Sydney, Australia for staring the Earth Hour campaign in 2007.

Italians plan luxury yacht ban to protect marine life from anchors. Liguria's environment councillor, Franco Zunino, says that boats anchoring in secluded coves are destroying the riviera's Posidonia seagrass meadows, home to a wide variety of marine fauna including seahorses, starfish and wrasse, and identified in an EU habitats directive.

Cows fed fish oil release less greenhouse gas: Feeding fish oil to flatulent cows can help fight climate change, say scientists. More than a third of all the world's methane emissions, around 900 billion tonnes every year, is generated by gut bacteria in farm animals such as cows, sheep and goats.

DiCaprio wins Green Kids’ Choice award: “Right now, our mother — our mother — all of our mothers, Mother Earth is hurting,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “And she needs a generation of thoughtful, caring and active kids like all of you to protect her for the future. You can help us win the battle to clean up our air, our water, our land, to protect our forests, our oceans and our wildlife.”

Pepsi Co. is testing greener vending machines, a move that helps the soft drink maker reduce its environmental footprint and gives businesses a little relief on their electric bills. The test involving 30 machines in the Washington, D.C., area has just begun. Pepsi hopes to begin rolling them out worldwide over the next several years, said Robert Lewis, vice president of packaging and equipment development.

SILVER LINING: How the recession is helping the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions from industry, homes and vehicles will shrink, according to Harvard University economist Robert Stavins. In fact, the Energy Department's most recent forecast said U.S. carbon dioxide emissions could drop to 6.98 billion metric tons this year. That's down from 7.3 billion tons in 2007 -- the last year the economy saw growth.

Living walls and green roofs pave way for biodiversity in new building. Otters could return to urban rivers, bats could roost under bridges, swifts could flock to office blocks and peregrine falcons soar above cathedrals under recommendations from the UK Green Building Council.

European citizens overwhelmingly want stricter controls on illegally sourced timber, according to a poll commissioned by WWF and Friends of the Earth (FoE) Europe. With an overwhelming 92% of respondents believing it is important that a new EU wide law is introduced to halt the trade in illegal timber and timber products on the European market.

The Prince of Wales is to meet G20 leaders in London for an "emergency meeting" on the future of rainforests. Leaders of rainforest nations like Indonesia and Guyana are due to join President Sarkozy of France, President Berlusconi of Italy and President of the European Union Jose Manuel Barroso. The President of the World Bank and President of Norway are also expected to be there as well as UK ministers.

Green new deal could ease triple crunch in finance, environment and resources. As the G20 summit approaches, government must understand that leadership means putting the UK on course to climate safety. Whatever the mistakes that allowed this [recession] to arise, there is growing international consensus that the best way out is via a green new deal policy package.

Remote island gets wave, wind and solar power plant. A remote Chinese island is installing a power station that will harness the wind, sun and waves to produce energy and fresh water. Situated on Dangan Island in the South China Sea, the station should provide 80 per cent of the energy requirements of its 300 inhabitants. A desalination facility will provide 10,000 tons of water per year.

Tesco tells shoppers: too much packaging? Leave it with us. Tesco is to encourage customers to discard unwanted and excessive packaging near the tills, in an experiment along the lines of a similar "take-back" scheme in Germany. The supermarket chain has already cut back on what it regards as "wasteful" packaging, such as bulky dog food bags and unnecessary plastic wrapping on food.

The “Cato Institute” thinks we’re April fools.
An advert appearing in U.S. newspapers this week disputes climate science.

via George Monbiot / Guardian

What Jamie Oliver Cooked for the Leaders of the World: Jamie Oliver, aka the Naked Chef, cooked dinner for the G-20 summit last night. And what did the leaders of the world eat? Since it's Jamie, we know that it was local, fresh, seasonal and sustainable. And yummy.

What are national parks, and why do we have so many of them? Some 60 years after its 627 square miles of chalk upland and river valleys spreading from Sussex to Hampshire were first recommended for preservation, the South Downs this week became Britain's newest national park.

Cut your child's carbon footprint with a toy library: Why fill your home with brightly coloured plastic when toy libraries offer a cheaper and more sustainable option.

114 people have been arrested at a school in the Sneinton Dale area in Nottingham over a suspected protest against Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station nearby.

World Premiere Screening of One Peace at A Time. An inspiring new feature documentary will have a World Premiere Screening on April 14. The film follows director Turk Pipkin's two-year search for a better way ahead. Pipkin sought the answer to one basic question: Can we provide basic rights - water, nutrition, education, healthcare and a sustainable and peaceful environment - to every child on earth?

Recycled, Rigid Board Material for Furniture, Product Design and Architecture: X-Board. Ever wonder why IKEA furniture is so light? Want to know what’s inside a hollow core door you might find at Lowe’s or Home Depot? In the production process, many manufacturers will add a structural core of paper or fiberboard support.

Government to offer £5,000 to boost green cars: UK motorists are to be offered subsidies of up to £5,000 to purchase hybrid and electric cars under Government plans... The cash incentive will be available to offset the higher upfront costs of hybrid and electric cars, in particular the price of batteries in modern vehicles.

Study: 98% of Products' Green Claims Are Misleading. According to one set of high standards, only 2% of products claiming in some way to be "green" actually measure up. The rest -- a whopping 98% -- are making false claims that mislead consumers into thinking a product is sustainable.

Germany deals blow to GM crops: Agriculture minister Ilse Aigner joins European mutiny over genetically modified crops by banning corn variety MON 810. "I have come to the conclusion that genetically-modified corn from the MON 810 strain constitutes a danger to the environment," Aigner told reporters in Berlin.

Canadian panel touts carbon pricing. the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy urged the Canadian government on Thursday to quickly implement a national carbon pricing policy if it is to meet its targets for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

timesonline.tiff

Climate change sceptics likened to those who denied HIV Aids link by Lord Stern. The respected economist first highlighted the social and economic costs of global warming in his 2006 report for the UK Government the Stern Review. Now in a new book, the World Bank's former chief economist has warned the science he based his predictions on is out of date.

Emissions targets to be part of the Budget. Ed Miliband, the climate change minister, tells Andrew Grice how the Government will make Britain a greener country. The Government will next week announce a groundbreaking, legally-binding target to cut Britain's carbon emissions by at least 34 per cent by 2020 to combat climate change.

Deforestation 'lynchpin' in global climate talks. With international climate negotiations tending to focus mainly on tackling industrial emissions blamed for global warming, NGOs have warned that the issue of deforestation, which is just as serious, could be overlooked.

What are you doing to save the planet? Walking to work instead of driving? Recycling more than usual? Or simply, using less water? Grab a camcorder, camera or just comment. What you do counts. Register on to the online network and be one of the billions of people around the globe who have celebrated earth day since its beginning in 1970.

Meet the “Goode Family” on ABC May 27th, one of the first series driven by eco-humour! It looks like the latest creation by Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill will be a funny and effective approach to promoting sustainable living, through this family’s efforts to be good; Shining a light on what we should be thinking about in our everyday lives.

Is China really going green? The same winds that struck fear into the traders of the ancient Silk Road city of Urumqi, are being used to power plans for a new, green revolution for China's energy-hungry economy. At Dabancheng, a few miles outside the city, forests of windmills stretch to the horizon, their blades beating out a lazy rhythm that belies the sudden urgency with which China's rulers are now investing in renewable energy.

Anaconda wave-power generator snakes into next stage of production. The device is said to be at the forefront of a new generation of wave-power machines that could slash renewables costs. Giant rubber sea snakes could harness the plentiful clean power off Britain's coasts within five years, according to the inventors of a new type of wave-energy generator.

From Milk Jugs to Tea Parties: notNeutral's Recycled Outdoor Kids Furniture. Fair-weather play dates come and go, but notNeutral's outdoor kids furniture will hold steadfast, rain or shine. The BBO2 collection comprises 100 percent recycled post-consumer high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a plastic resin used to make products and packaging such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, and margarine tubs.

Communities Taking Control was the first in a series of conferences held by the Making Local Food Work programme, a £10m partnership that explores ways that enterprising communities can reconnect land and people through food between. Click for more...

Frosted light bulbs to be banned by EU. Frosted light bulbs are to be phased out under new EU plans to force people to use more energy-efficient bulbs. From September, retailers will not be able to buy in new stock of any type of opaque 'incandescent' bulb.

UK homes to have smart energy meters by 2020. Every home in Britain will have a new “smart meter” installed by 2020 under plans unveiled by the Government, which hopes to reduce the country's carbon emissions by more than a third. Aiming to boost energy efficiency by allowing consumers to track exactly how much gas and electricity they are using.

The Big Tent festival 25-26 July, now into its fourth year, Scotland's biggest eco festival was launched as part of the grassroots protests aimed at the G8 summit held at Gleneagles in the summer of 2005. Its central theme is "stewardship", which its organisers say boils down to "co-operation, mutuality, solidarity and ecological long-term thinking". There will be plenty of focus on climate change and bands too!

Thames offshore wind farm gets green light from investors. The world's largest offshore wind farm is to be built in the Thames estuary after the partners behind the scheme said they had agreed an initial €2.2bn (£2bn) investment.The London Array will be built 12 miles off the Kent and Essex coasts, with the first phase using 175 turbines, each the height of the tower housing Big Ben.

The 2009 Anti-Green Awards: The Worst Car, House, Building, Celebrity, Company, Country, and U.S. City...The green movement has always had its share of both winners and losers. Today, we look at a few of the top losers for 2009. Hopefully with such a shameful honor to be bestowed upon them, they will clean-up their act for next year's round of awards. We can always hope anyway. Let the shaming begin!

Eco barons lead the way. The global rich are going green as never before. This first Sunday Times Green Rich List shows that the enthusiasm among the world’s wealthiest for investments in areas as diverse as electric cars, solar power and geothermal energy is unaffected by the recession.

Supplying a greener industry. Disclosure of environmental records all the way down the production chain means multinationals can't turn a blind eye. Evolving policy, alongside the increased capacity of environmental NGOs in China, and corporations' aspiration to achieve sustainability, have set the stage for broad public-private collaboration to tackle its pollution.

Garden Organic helps create allotment on 3rd runway site. Some of the UK's top gardeners are coming together to create an allotment on land earmarked by Gordon Brown for the construction of a new runway at Heathrow airport.

Obama orders car emissions cuts. In a ceremony attended by the leaders of 10 car companies, Barack Obama announces an aggressive proposal for increasing auto fuel economy standards and the first plan for regulating emissions.

Described as the “best video you’ll see all day”, we at EcoHub think this short clip of the Sunseeker II solar plane crossing the Alps should be shared.

This story comes to EcoHub via:

EcoHub is dedicated to sharing green news, reviews, product information and ideas about socially viable sustainable solutions. Our aim is to spread eco and low carbon knowledge from local projects and companies so that it may be used for environmental benefit around the globe. We’re not aiming for world domination, just ecorenovation! Contact us with any green info you’d like to share.

Most polluted or damaged ecosystems worldwide can recover within a lifetime if societies commit to their cleanup or restoration, according to an analysis of 240 independent studies by researchers at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Their findings will appear in the June edition of the journal PLoS ONE.
This story comes to EcoHub via:

The Indian government has granted the final “Environmental” permits required for Vedanta Aluminium Limited to begin mining in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa state, India. These hills are not only sacred to the Dongria Kondh, the indigenous community, but provide the ecological resources essential for their survival. This article comes to EcoHub via Survival International.

Ever wondered about how your country compares to somewhere you’ve visited? breathingearth.net gives a great visual representation of greenhouse gas output for almost every country - click on the image to go to the site. EcoHub thanks Tracey Todhunter of the Low Carbon Community Network for sharing this with us via her tweets.

greener homes and buildings show
5th - 7th June 2009 Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Greenpeace tracks beef and leather to Amazon deforestation: A three-year survey by Greenpeace shows that western demand for beef and leather and an increase in cattle ranching is leading to intensified deforestation in the Amazon.

This story is brought to EcoHub via:

F&C Stewardship fund under fire for poor performance and investing in banks: Britain's first and biggest ethical fund is under fire for poor performance and its decision to invest in banks it had originally excluded for being unethical.

This story is brought to EcoHub via:

Climate change turning seas acid: The shift disrupts ocean chemistry and attacks the "building blocks needed by many marine organisms, such as corals and shellfish, to produce their skeletons, shells and other hard structures."
This story is brought to EcoHub via:

‘A meeting with Georg Kell’ Head of the UN’s Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Sustainability in business management that leads to continued growth in economic and human capital, without unnecessary resource depletion and consequential negative environmental impacts.

Green energy overtakes fossil fuel investment, says UN. Wind, solar and other clean technologies attracted $140bn (£85bn) compared with $110bn for gas and coal for electrical power generation, with more than a third of the green cash destined for Britain and the rest of Europe. The biggest growth for renewable investment came from China, India and other developing countries, which are fast catching up on the West in switching out of fossil fuels to improve energy security and tackle climate change. This story is brought to EcoHub via:

Newcomer Fou Furnishings, scooped a finalist award for Best Organic Textile Product in The Natural and Organic Awards 2009, for its clever, unique, life-changing ‘Fou duvet’ top-opening cover, meaning you will never struggle with a duvet cover again.

Start of Shell Oil/Saro-Wiwa Trial Delayed: More than 13 years after Nigeria executed writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others, a U.S. civil trial of the Shell Oil Company in connection with those deaths has been postponed. Click for more details.

This story is brought to EcoHub via:

$10 billion climate fund gains support. With only six months left before the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, a Mexican proposal of a ”Green Fund” is gaining support... The idea ”has been gaining a lot of traction over the last couple of months,” Artur Runge-Metzger, Head of the European Commission’s climate and energy unit..
This report is brought to EcoHub via COP 15

U.N. to intensify their efforts to address the security implications of climate change, including sea-level rise... the culmination of a year-long campaign by a coalition of Pacific small island developing states (PSIDS) to focus the attention of the international community on the security aspects of climate change and to refer the issue to the Security Council.

BBC2’s It’s Not Easy Being Green star Dick Strawbridge M.B.E. recommended energy efficiency before micro renewables at the Greener Homes and Buildings Show this weekend. EcoHub opinion: “My recommendation would certainly be to make the trip to the show.. it would be a real shame to get there after the masses have cottoned on to eco-savvy living.” Click for more info.

Low Carbon Communities
3rd Annual Conference date set for
Saturday 19th September 2009.

Watch this space for more details.

Prof. Stephen Schneider on Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation at UNSW, Sydney.

Hilary Benn M.P. on the release of UK Climate Predictions document
(click here)