As the battle for Heathrow’s third runway rages, the two camps; those in favour and those against are invoking environment concerns to make their case. Groups opposed to the third run way such as Greenpeace argued that aviation in general and the third runway in particular will make matters worst for the environment.  Those in favour argue that having a third runway is good for the environment in the long run, it connects Heathrow with the rest of Europe more efficiently hence reducing carbon footprint that are generated by other methods of undertaking... 

he London congestion charge zone will be halved in size after a decision by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, to abolish the western extension introduced last year by his predecessor, Ken Livingstone. Transport for London will lose £70million per year in income from the scheme. All profits were invested in the transport network and fares are likely to rise to pay for the shortfall. The extension, covering Kensington and Chelsea and part of Westminster, will not be removed until Spring 2010 while Mr Johnson undertakes the legal process of rescinding the... 

Thousands of tonnes of rubbish collected from household recycling bins may have to be stored in warehouses and former military bases to save them from being dumped after a collapse in prices. Collection companies and councils are running out of space to store paper, plastic bottles and steel cans because prices are so low that the materials cannot be shifted. Collections of mixed plastics, mixed paper and steel reached record levels in the summer but the “bottom fell out of the market” and they are now worthless. The plunge in prices was caused by a sudden... 

American scientist has demonstrated a new way to capture energy from the sun, the method increases the the power generated by solar panel tenfold. The new technique involves coating glass with a specific mixture of transparent dyes which redirect light to photovoltaic cells in the frame.It was outlined in the journal Science. This technology which is expected to  be in production withing about three years can turn glass buildings into huge renewable energy plants.  Read More →

Leading Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun the first commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle. The four vehicle, called FCX Clarity, runs on electricity produced by combining hydrogen with oxygen, and emits H20 (water vapour) instead of the C02, one of the gases that are said to cause ozone depletion. The car is said to offers three times better fuel efficiency than a traditional, petrol-powered car. At present, Honda plans to produce 200 of the cars over the next three years. Unlike LPG and other alternative... 

Plans to ban or charge for single-use plastic bags are a diversion from the real environmental issues, a  government adviser said. Waste and recycling expert Professor Chris Coggins said such a government policy allowed the supermarkets to pass on responsibility to customers. Professor Coggins was extensively quoted in a BBC article which can be read in full here.  Read More →

The eco-conscious adventurers trying to circumnavigate the world in a carbon-neutral biodiesel trimaran are approaching Puerto Rico, where they’ll take on more fuel, fix the toilet and repair an inspection hatch that flooded their sleeping quarters with biodiesel. Despite the problems, Earthrace has covered 4,200 miles since leaving Sagunto, Spain, on April 27. The team is making its second attempt to circumnavigate the globe in record time and has braved 18-foot seas since leaving the Azores last week. read the full story here  Read More →

Celebrity Chef, Gordon Ramsay called on the government to fine restaurant that serves fruit and vegetables that are out of season. “I don’t want to see asparagus in the middle of December, nor strawberries from Kenya in the middle of March. Mr Ramsay argued that the amount of transportation that goes into transporting fruit and vegetable that are out of season to out kitchens adds significantly to the food mile, which is very bad for the environment. Jay Rayner in an article in the Observer of 11th of May critisised Gordon Ransey’s call asking... 

A report published recently by Waste and Resources Action Programme, a government funded agency claimed that UK households trow away more than 6.7 million tons of food every year. Most of the food are still untouched and could have been eaten. More than £1 billion worth of wasted food was still “in date.”, an average household is throwing away £420 worth of food a year.  Read More →

A record number of consumers have complaint to the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) about companies “green washing” consumers by “severely exaggerating” their product, services or companies green credentials. Shell Petroleum, Ryanair and Toyotal Prius were some of the companies/products were a few of the 561 complaints ASA received from consumers in 2007.  Read More →