EU launches new 6.5-bln fund to slash over-fishing

2011-12-02T15:30:31Z

The European Commission unveiled a new 6.5-billion-euro fund Friday to help fishermen move towards sustainable fishing as part of an effort to save fish stocks.

"This new fund will increase economic growth and create jobs in the sector. No more money will be spent to build big vessels," said the EU's fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki.

Cars go green and online: Tokyo Motor Show opens

2011-11-29T19:30:30Z

Energy-saving electric cars with advanced green technology vie for attention as the Tokyo Motor Show opens Wednesday, with robots and computers becoming ever more part of the vehicles on display.

Companies are showcasing concept cars with "transformable" bodies and automotive computers linked to smart phones, while showing off energy-efficient vehicles with electric, fuel cell and hybrid engines.

On display on We...

S. Korea's Lee dons warmer underwear to save power

2011-11-28T16:30:24Z

South Korea's president has turned down the thermostat in his office and donned warmer underwear to save energy, he said Monday, urging fellow citizens to do the same to avoid a supply shortage.

The warmer underwear was initially uncomfortable, Lee Myung-Bak disclosed in a fortnightly radio address. "But after a while, I got used to it, and now I am very warm...

Australia plans world's largest marine reserve

2011-11-25T05:30:26Z

The Australian government has said it plans to establish the world's biggest marine protection zone to safeguard a huge swathe of the Coral Sea, a biodiversity hotspot brimming with life.

The proposed Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve off the northeast coast of Australia would cover about 990,0...

Macedonians plant millions of trees on 'Tree Day'

2011-11-23T15:30:23Z

Macedonians were given a day off work Wednesday to plant almost six million trees as part of government efforts to revive forests and increase ecological awareness in the Balkan country.

Thousands of people braved rain and fog on the special public holiday to plant around 5.7 million trees at some 400 sites around the country.

The "Tree Day - Plant Your Future!" campaign was introduced in 2008 to revive Macedonia'...

U.S. proposes to double auto fuel economy by 2025

2011-11-16T23:00:19Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration proposed on Wednesday doubling auto fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, a White House energy priority that has come under scrutiny in Congress.

The plan grew out of an uneasy agreement bet...

Toyota to unveil new hybrid model at motor show

2011-11-15T05:30:35Z

Toyota Motor said Tuesday it would unveil a new compact hybrid car at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, boasting improved fuel efficiency amid intensifying competition to build more eco-friendly vehicles.

The "Aqua", to be sold under the name "Prius C

Mexico to earn royalty on light bulb carbon credits

2011-11-07T03:01:49Z

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Mexico will earn a royalty on carbon credits generated from energy-saving light bulbs through a world-first deal that could pave the way for other developing countries to fund emissions cuts, the investor said on Monday.

Under the project, an Australian company, Cool nrg International, advised by Reuters) - When Brian Castelli rebuilt his house in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC two years ago, it turned out to be twice the size of the one that used to sit on the same lot. That might seem excessive, but it turns out that with some smart, low-cost efficiencies, his heating and electric bills are s...

ARM unveils 64-bit architecture suited to servers

2011-10-27T10:30:28Z

LONDON (Reuters) - British chip designer ARM has unveiled details of its first 64-bit architecture, which it said would expand its reach into enterprise applications such as servers currently dominated by Intel.

The ARMv8 architecture includes instruction sets for both 32-bit processing, which is used in the chips that power China (Reuters)- China's Great Wall is falling victim to development as legal and illegal mines tear vast chunks out of the hills below the landmark, conservationists warn.

Voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the 6,400 km (4,000 mile) wall snakes its way across 11 Chinese provinces and draws millions of tourists every year, mostly to restore...

Massachusetts is most energy efficient state in U.S.

2011-10-20T15:30:22Z

(Reuters) - Massachusetts is the most energy efficient state in the nation, pushing previous leader California into second place, according to a study issued on Thursday.

California had held the top spot for the previous four years, since the start of the annual reports by the nonpro...

Court rejects stay on wolf hunts in Idaho, Montana

2011-10-19T09:32:05Z

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - A federal court rejected a bid by conservationists for an immediate halt to wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana on Tuesday, but the judges said they would reconsider the request next month.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and others had asked the China's Sinochem have agreed to form a 50-50 joint venture to make and sell energy-efficient foam insulation in China, the two companies announced Monday.

The joint venture will produce HFC-245fa, a non-ozone-depleting rigid foam blowing agent used in insulation for appliances, construction, transportation and other applications "wh...

"Rewilded" rare tiger kills "domesticated" relative

2011-09-28T04:00:06Z

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - An extremely rare South China tiger has been killed by another on a South African reserve dedicated to saving the species from extinction, the conservation group behind the project said.

Sa...

Kenya's Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai dies

2011-09-26T10:30:44Z

Kenyan environmental activist Wangari Maathai who became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize has died of cancer at the age of 71, her family announced Monday.

Tributes flowed in for Maathai, who died on Sunday at a Nairobi hospital w...

Cambodian cattle herds offer hope for tiger: WWF

2011-09-19T12:30:32Z

Large herds of wild cattle in eastern Cambodia mean the area could be one of the best places in Asia for a recovery in tiger populations, conservation group World Wildlife Fund said on Monday.

There may be no more than five tigers living in the wild in the eastern plains areas it surveyed, the WWF said, but the p...

Car Sales to Remain Strong

2011-09-16T10:30:16Z

The auto industry is a bright spot in the economy as Americans pony up for new wheels.

Can U.S. automakers’ recent success last? Yes. Despite the wretchedly soft economy, the U.S. auto industry -- domestic and foreign brands -- is doing well, with U.S. sales headed to 13 million this year and more...

China raises bar for fuel-saving car subsidies

2011-09-15T19:30:15Z

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has made qualifications more stringent for fuel-saving vehicle subsidies, part of efforts to cut emissions in the world's biggest auto market.

Cars will be eligible for the 3,000-yuan ($470) subsidies only if they consume 6.3 liters of gas or less per 100 kilometers, compared wit...

Red mullet and chips: Warming changes Europe's fish diet

2011-09-15T14:30:40Z

Bye bye, cod, skate and haddock. Hello, blackbelly rosefish, John dory and splendid alfonsino.

Fish-lovers in northern Europe will have to grapple with some unfamiliar names as the greenhouse effect accelerates.

Biologists on Thursday report that warmer seas are causing a remarkable turnover in commercially-caught species off Britain,

Group's full coffers shock commission

2011-09-10T02:30:10Z

Jaws dropped Tuesday when Clark County commissioners learned that a county conservation program has banked more than $50 million in research funds, with more than $40 million not targeted for anything.

Collected over nearly two decades from the $550 per-acre fees paid by developers and coming from federal land-swap funds, the money had been targeted toward research that was later a...

Boeing to put more fuel-efficient engine in 737

2011-08-30T18:30:26Z

Boeing launched Tuesday an upgraded version of its popular 737 airplane powered by a more fuel-efficient engine, citing strong demand from airlines.

Boeing said the new line, dubbed the 737 MAX, will use CFM International's LEAP-1B engines optimized for the single-aisle 737, the world's best-selling commercial aircraft.

Boeing's board of direc...

Boeing launches 737s with fuel-efficient engines

2011-08-30T12:31:23Z

Boeing launched Tuesday a new family of its best-selling 737 airplane that will be powered by a fuel-efficient engine, citing strong demand from airlines.

The new line will be powered by CFM International's LEAP-1B engines optimized for the 737, the company said.

With that engine the planes will have the lowest operating costs in the single-ai...

Zimbabwe to hand out 5 mln energy-saving bulbs

2011-08-15T07:30:36Z

Zimbabwe's electricity authority is to hand out 5.5 million energy-saving flourescent bulbs to its consumers in a bid to curb consumption, a state daily newspaper reported Monday.

"We will give the compact fluorescent lamps for free in exchange for incandescent bulbs which we will destroy," Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) spokesman Fullard Gwasira was quoted as saying by The Herald newspaper.

"This is a...

Analysis: Copper's green appeal shields against substitution

2011-08-04T04:30:23Z

LONDON (Reuters) - Copper's vital role as an electrical conductor will fire demand from renewable energy and technology industries even while the high price of the metal forces other industries to turn to aluminum as a substitute.

As the cost of power escalates, the growth of green energy will increase demand for copper due to its unrivalled ductile and energy-efficient qualities.

"The...

Obama unveils sharp increase in auto fuel economy

2011-07-29T16:00:12Z

WASHINGTON/DETROIT (Reuters) - Several major auto makers on Friday embraced the Obama administration's proposal to push the industry further away from once-dominant gas guzzlers to more lean and efficient vehicles.

The proposal, which is the result of months of negotiations betw...

How to Cut Cooling Costs in a Heat Wave

2011-07-25T10:30:17Z

These eight tips will help keep your electric bill under control.

It is hot outside. Too hot to even go to the pool because the water's so warm that it doesn't cool you down. So what do you do if you live in a part of the nation taking a beating from this heat wave? You retreat indoors and crank up the AC. Then you gasp when you see the electric bill and start looking for possessions to pawn t...

EU proposes overhaul of failing fisheries policy

2011-07-13T08:30:25Z

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's fisheries chief called for an overhaul of the European Union's failing fisheries policies on Wednesday, and warned those EU countries that may seek to resist reform that business as usual is not an option....

Tuna species urgently need protection: IUCN

2011-07-07T18:30:28Z

The reference organisation for the conservation status of Earth's animals and plants said for the first time Thursday that most species of tuna are urgently in need of protection.

Five of eight tuna species are now threatened or nearly threatened with extinction due to overfishing, according to the Red List of Threatened Species, compiled by the Swiss-based ...

EU targets sustainable fisheries by 2015: draft

2011-07-06T10:30:24Z

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's executive will propose plans to rescue the bloc's over-exploited fish stocks next week, with the aim of achieving sustainability by 2015, draft proposals seen by Reuters show.

The plan is part of proposals to reform the EU's common fisheries po...

Boeing Dreamliner lands in Japan for tests

2011-07-03T02:30:06Z

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner flew into Tokyo from Seattle Sunday for test flights as All Nippon Airways prepares to become the world's first airline to deploy the new fuel-efficient long-haul jet.

The wide-bodied twin-engine plane touched down at Reuters) - Boeing Co is aiming to make a decision on whether to re-engine or redesign its 737 narrowbody by the end of the year, but it is not making any promises, the chief executive of Boeing's commercial airplanes division said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters a day before the start of the Paris Air Show, Jim ...

IHI, M'bishi Heavy to help make Airbus engine: report

2011-06-19T02:00:06Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's IHI Corp <7013.T>, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries <7011.T> and K...

US keeps bluefin tuna off endangered list

2011-05-27T16:30:23Z

The United States on Friday rejected calls to protect Atlantic bluefin tuna as an endangered species, saying that while it was worried about overfishing it did not fear imminent extinction.

Environmental groups have repeatedly voiced concern that the global fad for Japanese food was driving the world's stocks of tuna to dangerously low levels and have sought strong safeguards to preserve the species' survival.

The

Power bills rising to pay for energy efficiency programs

2011-05-26T02:31:01Z

Sun readers reacted angrily to news Monday that Southern Nevada energy rates will rise 3.4 percent, or $5.29 a month on the average residential bill. The increase will pay for energy efficiency programs and the lost sales related to those efforts for NV Energy, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada ruled.

The rate increase was the result...

Japanese households hope to beat heat as summer looms

2011-05-26T01:30:07Z

TOKYO (Reuters Life!) - As Japan heads into the sizzling summer months facing a severe power shortage after the massive March earthquake and tsunami, individual families are looking for new ways to cut down on electricity use and still stay cool.

Takahiro Tsukakoshi is well ahead of ...

Brazil farm interests score one against forest protection

2011-05-25T20:30:34Z

Brazil's powerful agricultural sector has scored a major victory, with the approval by the lower house of Congress of a reform that would open up some protected forests to cropland and ranchers.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, was initially intended as a measure to rein in unfettered logging, and increase protections of Brazil's forested areas, which play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases.

But farm-based economi...

EU wants safety-first approach to fishing quotas

2011-05-25T05:00:36Z

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's fisheries chief sought on Wednesday to clamp down on overfishing by preventing fishermen from taking advantage of poor data on dwindling stocks.

Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki proposed tighten...

Hong Kong bans trawling to save fish stocks

2011-05-20T05:30:39Z

Hong Kong has banned trawl fishing in its waters, a decision welcomed by conservationists Friday as a crucial move to save fish stocks and revive the city's depleted marine environment.

The measure, which is expected to come into effect in late 2012, comes after a long campaign by environmental groups who say the method is extremely damaging to the seabed and fish stocks.

The territory's law-making body approved the ban on Wed...

Eight new reef fish found off Indonesia's Bali

2011-05-13T05:30:24Z

Scienists from Conservation International have discovered eight new fish and one new coral species off Indonesia's Bali island.

The new species include eels and damsels, the colourful little fish that dart among coral branches and help give reefs their dazzling appearance while playing a k...

In Ghana, not all see oil as a blessing

2011-05-10T02:30:06Z

AKWIDAE, Ghana (Reuters) - Fisherman Steven Smith-Borlah gazes out to sea from his beachside hut in Akwidae, a coconut leaf-roofed village that squats between a mangrove swamp and the overgrown ruins of a 17th century German fort.

Twice a day, yellow helicopters fly overhead, shuttling between Ghana's oil boomtown Pushing efficiency hurting NV Energy's bottom line, prompting it to seek rate hike

The state's electric company wants to raise power bills by as much as 5 percent for Southern Nevadans as compensation for the loss of electricity sales because customers are more power-efficient.

NV Energy said programs it funds, such as subsidizing energy-efficient light bulbs and helping customers replace old air co...

Brisk sales of permits for planned Idaho wolf hunts

2011-05-05T18:00:09Z

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - Permits for planned wolf hunts sold briskly in Idaho on Thursday, as most wolves in the Northern Rockies were officially removed from the endangered species list and conservationists sued over the unprecedented removal of protection by Congress.

The end of federal...

Ocean Plastic Vacuum

2010-10-28T12:02:10Z

In this undated photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine debris program, plastic trash is seen on the shore in Kahuku, Hawaii. Appliance manufacturer Electrolux has made a vacuum cleaner out of plastic garbage collected at Kahuku bea...

Gulf Oil Spill Corals

2010-10-22T17:08:34Z

Sandra Brooke, director of coral conservation for the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, prepares a piece of dyed coral to be lanced in a lander, an underwater structure, to sit for a year on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico to study the growth rates and possible effects o...

Greener Congregations

2010-07-04T11:30:49Z

In this July 2, 2010 photo, Rev. John Buehrens poses near the Energy Star plaque at the First Parish Church in Needham, Mass. Old and new intersect all around this classic Massachusetts meeting house after renovations that this month earned it the Ocean Conservancy Tuesday, March 10, 2009 shows a trash-covered in Manilla, Philippines as volunteers pick up during the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup. According to the group's report released Tuesday, nearly 400,000 volunteers scoured about 17,000 miles of coastline, river bottoms and ocean floors during its 23rd Internatio...

Hong Kong Earth Hour

2010-03-30T08:45:47Z

These combo photos show a general view of commercial buildings before (top) and after (bottom) turning off lights at Hong Kong's central district Saturday, March 27, 2010 to mark the annual Earth Hour. Earth Hour takes place worldwide at 8.30 p.m. local time and is a global call to turn off lights for 60 minutes in a bid to highlight the global climate change. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

How to Conserve Resources

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