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Campaigners have criticised plans for a sea trial of cloud-whitening technology, funded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

A US-based research body, Silver Lining, which has received $300,000 from Mr Gates, is developing machines to convert seawater into microscopic particles to be sprayed into clouds. Scientists believe this will increase the whiteness, or albedo, of clouds and increase their ability to reflect more sunlight back into space, reducing global warming.

The Gates-backed sea trial would be the largest known attempt to geoengineer the climate so far, reported to be conducted over an area of 10,000km2.

However, campaigners say such a large-scale trial is ‘risky’ and that a global ban on geoengineering experiments should be put in place until regulations governing the sector can be introduced.

‘We knew Microsoft was developing cloud applications for computers but we didn’t expect this. Bill Gates and his cloud-wrenching cronies have no right to unilaterally change our seas and skies in this way,’ said Jim Thomas from Canadian environmental campaigners, ETC Group.

In March, MPs from the Science and Technology Committee backed such calls and said countries should not be allowed to take unilateral action on geoengineering without consulting the UN.

A major report on the subject by The Royal Society last year also warned of the unknown side-effects of cloud-whitening, including, changes to regional weather patterns and ocean currents.

However, the report said it had advantages over other forms of geoengineering because it could be stopped immediately, and within ten days nearly all of the salt paricles would rain or settle out of the atmosphere.

It could also be used over Arctic to reduce summer ice melt, the scientists said.

>>> Please read the full article here

Two of the UK’s nocturnal creatures are “in crisis”, say conservation groups, who are asking the public to take part in a national survey.

Butterfly Conservation and the Bat Conservation Trust are asking people to take part in a “National Moth Night” on 15 May to find out more about the creatures and their habitats.

They say UK moth numbers have fallen by a third in the past 40 years.

This poses a threat to the bats that feed on them.

There are now 17 species of bat in the UK, all of which are protected by law because their numbers have decreased so dramatically.

The groups hope that the night-time event will draw attention to the creatures’ plight and shed light on the threats they face.

Richard Fox, surveys manager at Butterfly Conservation, said: “We need to learn as much as we can about which moths are facing the biggest problems so we can direct our work into protecting them and their habitats.

Dr Zoe Randle: “Clothes moths give other moths a bad name”
“That’s why we are appealing to the public to get involved and look for moths on their patch.

“Without moths, the whole of biodiversity starts to unravel,” he added.

The group is asking people to try out bat detectors and moth traps at one of a series of National Moth Night events around the country.

Or, they suggested, “hold your own night-time safari in your garden and report back your discoveries”.

>>> Please read the full article here

By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC News

Climate change could wipe out 20% of the world’s lizard species by 2080, according to a global-scale study.

An international team of scientists also found that rising temperatures had already driven 12% of Mexico’s lizard populations to extinction.

Based on this discovery, the team was able to make global predictions using an “extinction model”.

They conclude, in an article in Science journal, that “lizards have already crossed a threshold for extinctions”.

Although the grim prediction for 2080 could change if humans are able to slow global climate warming, the scientists say that a sharp decline in their numbers had already begun and would continue for decades.

The large research team was led by Barry Sinervo from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California in Santa Cruz, US.

He said: “We are actually seeing lowland species moving upward in elevation, slowly driving upland species extinct, and if the upland species can’t evolve fast enough then they’re going to continue to go extinct.”

Lizards, the researchers say, are far more susceptible to climate-warming extinction than previously thought. Many species live right at the edge of their “thermal limits”.

Rising temperatures, they explained, leave lizards unable to spend sufficient time foraging for food, as they have to rest and regulate their body temperature.

A group of biologists including Dr Raymond Huey from the University of Washington in Seattle wrote an accompanying article in Science explaining the significance of the research.

Dr Huey and his colleagues said the predictions were “disturbing”.

But they pointed out that follow-up surveys were needed to confirm the results.

“Lizard populations rise and fall over time and failure to detect individuals during short surveys may indicate transient rarity rather than extinction,” they wrote.

But their article went on to say that the research team had shown that “climate-forced extinctions were not only in the future” but were “happening now”.

>>> Please read the full article at the BBC website, here

A leading collection of dead snakes, spiders and scorpions housed at a research centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been destroyed by fire.

The curator of the Butantan Institute said the destruction of the entire collection was a “loss to humanity”.

The nearly 80,000 preserved snakes and the thousands of specimens of spiders and scorpions were used in research.

Live animals housed nearby that are used to produce serums and vaccines were not harmed, the institute said.

“The entire collection was lost, the biggest collection of snakes in the world,” curator Francisco Franco said. “It’s a loss to humanity.”

A firefighter said the flammable liquid used to preserve the specimens helped spread the fire.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.
Some of the specimens in the 100-year-old collection were of rare or extinct species.

>>> Please read the full article here

New UK prime minister David Cameron has promised that his government will be the greenest ever.



During a visit to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Cameron said that the low carbon economy will be at the heart of his agenda and pledged to make all ministerial departments cut their carbon emissions by ten per cent.

“We’ve got a big, big opportunity here, I want us to be the greenest government ever. It’s a very simple ambition and one I’m absolutely committed to achieving,” he added.

He also highlighted his intention to focus on the green economy, saying: “We’ve got a real opportunity to drive the green economy, green jobs, green growth and make sure we have our share of the industries of the future.”

Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne has been placed in charge of the DECC, replacing Labour MP Ed Miliband, and it certainly seems like he has his work cut out for him if the government is going to place so much focus on environmental issues.

Huhne told reporters that he would be doing his bit to help cut carbon emissions by cycling to work.

But does the Con-Dem government have the potential to be the greenest ever?

>>> Please read the full article here

Much has been said about the relative merits of responsible tourism. Yet many have not heard of it or see it as a ‘fad’ – yet another form of eco-friendly consumerism dominating the marketplace.

However, responsible tourism presents one of very few opportunities to make small changes that could make a big difference. Operators offer holidays, adventure packages and traveling advice that can cut your carbon footprint dramatically. Responsible tourism is a genuine solution to combating the damage made by traveling (and let’s be honest, we don’t want to give up those days in the sun).

Companies such as Responsible Travel provide experiences that respect the local communities and cultures of your destination. They help build a tourist infrastructure and economy whilst paying fair wages and without exploiting your host country. They can be a fantastic way of immersing yourself in a new culture (or a new beach!) without damaging the host community.

Responsible Travel was the first company to recognise the requirement for responsible tourism. They saw the potential in helping communities build a tourist economy that could benefit, rather than hinder, them and their culture. Since then they have gone on to become the largest provider of responsible travel experiences and remain the first stop for eco-aware travelers across the globe.

So if you are looking to try something new, experience a different culture or simply lie on a beach for a week, look no further than a responsible tourism company to provide an eco-friendly experience you will never forget.

>>> For more information on responsible tourism click here

>>> For eco-friendly travel products take a look at our eco travel advice

>>> Check out Responsible Travel and get £2 cash back here

The concept of eco-fashion can be confusing. In such a fast-paced transient world how can you possibly remain eco-conscious? To be on-trend yet aware of your carbon footprint, the pit-falls of consumerism are seemingly overwhelming. And I’m not talking about high-end couture fashion. These days designers are creating astonishing masterpieces out of everything from recycled bottles to car tyres. No, I mean everyday wear. I mean that little dress from People Tree you can’t bear to be without, I mean those Love Eco earrings that would go perfectly with your Green People top, I mean that cute Ascension lingerie that would put a spring in your step.

It is all a matter of planning. A matter of intelligent decision making and questioning your purchases. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to a new dress or buying a new bikini for your holiday but there is a fine line between being a conscious shopper and an impulse purchaser.

For one, ask yourself ‘will I really wear this?’ and by ‘wear’ I don’t mean simply on one night out, to one dinner party or one interview. I mean will it make a useful addition to your wardrobe. If the answer is no then step away from the clothes rack. As you remove yourself from the vicinity of the item your heart rate will slow, your mind will stop believing that top will make you look like Kate Moss and you will realise how un-important that item of clothing is to your life.

However, if you genuinely believe this garment will become a staple, that it is a classic or something you will make the most of then go ahead. Make sure it fits well and is well made (buy sustainable wherever you can) and don’t feel guilty about it. Buy it if you are going to enjoy it.

Being eco-friendly is not about feeling guilty for every purchase you make. It is impossible (or at least no fun!) to live in an entirely frugal manner. Cutting out all palm oil, only wearing clothes from charity shops and cycling everywhere (even in the rain) is admirable but for many it is not an option. Surely it is just as important to inspire one million people to buy little but quality, to make well-informed decisions and support eco-fashion lines as it is to praise the brave few who live in a zero-carbon manner?

Eco-friendly fashion is not a contradiction in terms. If anything, being conscious of your decisions as a consumer allows you to make informed purchases that are more likely to last the seasons and transcend fair-weather trends to remain chic and classic. Fashion is a multi-million pound industry and it’s safe to say it’s not going anywhere. So why not support well-made sustainable clothing lines that will last the ages? You don’t have to dress in recycled potato sacks to be eco you know.

>>> For more information on eco-shopping and eco-living click here

>>> For more information on Carbon Footprint click here

>>> For Top Ten advice on eco shopping click here

>>> For more information on eco-shopping click here

Air travel is a major contributor to carbon emissions from many developed countries. In 2006, aviation alone accounted for 6.4 per cent of the UK’s CO2 emissions. It is predicted that unless changes take place this figure could rise to ten per cent.

 Friends of the Earth calculate that worldwide more than 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted from flights each year, the same amount, it claims, as that released by all human activity in Africa.

What’s more, aviation can also have a significant impact on the quality of the air. Kerosene, the main component of most jet fuels, releases gases like carbon monoxide alongside CO2. 

This has led to companies looking for new ways to mitigate some of the effects of flying and earlier this month United Airlines became the first commercial carrier in the US to operate a flight using synthetic jet fuel, made from natural gas.

Created by the US firm Rentech, the synthetic fuel reduces ground level pollution by emitting 96 per cent less particles from an idle engine. 

The firm claims that the lower density of the fuel allows for a lighter takeoff weight, meaning less fuel is used during the flight. This fuel is also used by the US air force.

United Airlines sent up a team of 19 engineers and observers to assess both the performance and environmental benefits of the fuel. 

However, it could be many years before synthetic jet fuels become the norm within the industry. 

One option which is available now is carbon offsetting. The UK government’s offsetting scheme offers air travellers the opportunity to pay someone to make a reduction equivalent to the emissions from that flight.

Projects which the government says have already benefitted from the scheme include hydroelectric power plants in Fiji and wind energy schemes in Cyprus.

Although with the cost of such schemes being passed directly to the consumer, some may doubt how great the uptake will be.

There is also, of course, the solution of using air travel less. 

The results of the United Airlines test flight are due to be released within the next week, but how long will it be before a definitive answer on how best to make the aviation industry more environmentally friendly is revealed?

>>> Please read the full article here

The “alarming” rate at which species are being lost could have a severe effect on humanity, conservationists warned today. Targets set eight years ago by governments to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010 have not been met, experts confirmed at a UN meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

The third Global Biodiversity Outlook report said loss of wildlife and habitats could harm food sources and industry, and exacerbate climate change through rising emissions.

Achim Steiner, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said: “Humanity has fabricated the illusion that somehow we can get by without biodiversity or that it is somehow peripheral to our contemporary world: the truth is we need it more than ever on a planet of 6 billion [people], heading to over 9 billion by 2050. Business as usual is no longer an option if we are to avoid irreversible damage to the life-support systems of our planet.”

The report confirms what a coalition of 40 conservation organisations said last month, when they claimed there have been “alarming biodiversity declines”. The coalition said that pressures on the natural world from development, over-use and pollution have risen since the ambition to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss was set out in the 2002 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The first formal assessment of the target, published at the end of April in the journal Science, is the basis of today’s formal declaration. This week’s meeting will see governments pressed to take the issues as seriously as climate change and the economic crisis.

“Since 1970 we have reduced animal populations by 30%, the area of mangroves and sea grasses by 20% and the coverage of living corals by 40%,” said Prof Joseph Alcamo, chief scientist of the UNEP.

“These losses are clearly unsustainable, since biodiversity makes a key contribution to human wellbeing and sustainable development.”

The Science study compiled 30 indicators of biodiversity, including changes in populations of species and their risk of extinction, the remaining areas of different habitats, and the composition of communities of plants and animals.

“Our analysis shows that governments have failed to deliver on the commitments they made in 2002: biodiversity is still being lost as fast as ever, and we have made little headway in reducing the pressures on species, habitats and ecosystems,” said Stuart Butchart, the paper’s lead author.

“Our data shows that 2010 will not be the year that biodiversity loss was halted, but it needs to be the year in which we start taking the issue seriously and substantially increase our efforts to take care of what is left of our planet.”

The failure to meet the CBD target will not be a surprise to experts or policymakers, who have warned for years that too little progress was being made. Last month the head of the IUCN species survival commission, Simon Stuart, told the Guardian that for the first time since the dinosaurs, species were believed to be becoming extinct faster than new ones were evolving.

>>> Please read the full article at the Guardian website, here

Since the Deepwater Horizon explosion two weeks ago, it has been hard not to view as primitive the efforts to contain the oil and prevent more of it leaking.

Whether it is the containment booms drafted in to prevent the oil washing ashore or early efforts to set the oil on fire, or even the attempts to funnel the leaking oil via giant sunken towers, the somewhat low-tech containment efforts starkly contrast with the often hi-tech methods usually witnessed in deep-sea drilling.

The latest BP plan being weighed up is similarly low-tech. Engineers may try to plug the well by pumping debris into it at high pressure, a method known as a “junk shot”.

“They are actually going to take a bunch of debris – some shredded up tyres, golf balls and things like that – and under very high pressure shoot it into the preventer itself and see if they can clog it up to stop the leak,” the US Coast Board Admiral Thad Allen told CBS News yesterday.

Tyres, golf balls, and “things like that” do not immediately inspire confidence, However Dr Simon Boxall, oceanographer at the National Oceanography centre in Southampton, Hampshire, said the unique conditions of the Deepwater Horizon spill – there has never been an oil leak at this depth before – mean all traditional methods “go out of the window”.

There have been blow outs in shallow water, but with those you’re looking at 100-metre-deep tops, where you can get divers down and you can get equipment down,” he said.

“It’s nothing compared to doing it 1,500m [5,000ft] down – this goes beyond all our technological knowhow and experience.”.

Boxall said a junk shot has been tried before, although he was only aware of one incident, which took place at a much shallower depth.

“We’re working in completely new territory, but the idea is not quite as daft as it sounds,” he said.

“Bear in mind the pressures at these depths are phenomenal, so what seems like an odd thing to bung a hole with at the surface can actually work quite well. Golf balls seem really quite hard but actually they’re quite soft.

“Certainly if you add a tonne of pressure per square inch to a golf ball then it starts to give. So I guess what they’re looking to do is use these things that are slightly plastic in their feel to bung into a hole which will help bung it up.”

The main problem for engineers is how to get the debris into the well almost a mile beneath the surface. The plan is to block the well beneath the semi-operational cut-off valves – at the moment, the well is partly shut off, restricting the oil flow – without making the spill worse.

“They’re planning to sort of try and insert them somehow magically before the cut off valve, but that doesn’t quite make sense,” Boxall said.

“All these things you can imagine are perfectly feasible on land if you had whatever technology was available to bung them in the hole.

“But when you’re looking at some mechanism to fire them into a hole when you’re a mile down in seawater, I can’t imagine what they would use, unless they’re using compressed air – but that is difficult at those depths anyway because the pressures are so great.”

He added: “There are one or two engineers out there who seem to be thinking: ‘This is ok as long as we don’t cause more damage than we solve.’”

BP’s ultimate solution to the leak is to drill a relief well, but that could take up to three months before that is completed. In the meantime, they will continue to try and position a cofferdam over one of the leaks today.

>>> Please read the full article at the guardian website, here