May 17-18, 2008

Biodiversity Loss Costs 6% of World Income (AFP)

The destruction of flora and fauna is costing the world $3.1 trillion dollars per year, or 6% of its overall gross national product, according to a new EU report.

Carbon Tax Fuels Revolt in B.C. Town (Edmonton Sun)

B.C.'s landmark carbon tax is prompting a northern revolt, with one mayor saying his community won't pay the tax on municipal fuel purchases unless the Liberal provincial government proves its claims that the tax will be revenue neutral.

World Wildlife Numbers Down 25% in Three Decades (Guardian)

More than one in four of all individual animals, birds and fish on the planet have disappeared in just over 30 years, and human activities are to blame, according to a new report by the WWF and the Zoological Society of London.

Energy Efficiency Could Use More Development(Cleantech Group)

Energy efficiency is one of the top energy success stories of the last 50 years, but its influence is mostly invisible. That low profile could put the whole industry in danger of missing out on needed future investments, warns a new report.

Coal Plants Ordered to Reduce Emissions (Toronto Star)

The Ontario government, which has twice broken promises to close highly polluting coal-fired power plants, has ordered utility Ontario Power Generation to reduce coal emission levels to two-thirds below 2003 levels by 2011.

Microsoft, Environment Agency Join To Provide European Pollution Data (All Headline News)

Microsoft is embarking on a five-year alliance with the European Environment Agency to deliver real-time information about local air and water pollution levels to more than 500 million Europeans.

German Coal Use Jumps 3.5%, Increasing Emissions(Bloomberg)

German coal consumption jumped 3.5 percent in January as colder weather increased demand, boosting emissions of greenhouse gases in Europe's biggest economy, government statistics have revealed.

Obesity Contributes to Global Warming (Reuters)

Obese and overweight people require more fuel to transport them and the food they eat, and the problem will worsen as the population literally swells in size, a team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has said in a new report.