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Kick the oil habit and make your own ethanol

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new company hopes drivers will kick the oil habit by brewing ethanol at home that won't spike food prices.

S.Africa moves to restrict coastal development

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa moved on Thursday to curb coastal property developments to help protect vast stretches of coastline from environmental damage.

French bid for British Energy - bad for climate and bad for taxpayers

The parties involved in the expected takeover of British Energy have "little interest in tackling climate change or protecting British taxpayers", said environmentalists today.Nathan Argent, nuclear campaigner for Greenpeace, said:"The expected French Government bid to takeover of British Energy will come with huge financial costs, a tiny reduction in carbon emissions and continued confusion over who pays for the clean up of radioactive waste. "Energy bosses admit that replacing the UK's existing reactors will cost about £60 billion - twice the amount the Government estimated only months ago. Even the Government has said that this will only reduce carbon emissions by around four per cent."Such an investment should instead be used to enable the UK to reach legally binding renewable energy targets, environmentalists say."And there's still an enormous question mark over dealing with spent nuclear fuel produced by the reactors that the French hope to buy. Since the beginning of 2005, the UK Government has been legally committed to dealing with all the spent nuclear fuel on these sites, and this commitment will continue even when the sites are sold. So, the British taxpayer will be financing the clean-up of French owned nuclear sites in the UK."It's worryingly obvious that anyone involved in this dodgy deal - and that includes the Government - has little interest in tackling climate change or protecting British taxpayers."For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

Britain puts personal carbon trading plan on ice

LONDON (Reuters) - The British government has shelved plans to get people to reduce their carbon footprint by allowing them to trade personal emissions permits because it would be too expensive and ambitious.

Problems plague Canada's emissions trading plans

COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - Just as Canada is set to launch a domestic carbon emissions trading scheme in a bid to curb its rising greenhouse gas emissions, a number of issues have surfaced, casting doubt on the country's plans.

Conservationists win battle on key California land

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Conservation groups and a California real estate company on Thursday reached a long-fought deal to conserve and protect an area eight times the size of San Francisco from developers.

Adventurers complete global trip

Two young British explorers sail into Sydney Harbour, bringing an end to a natural-powered global adventure.

Tree-lined streets may cut city kids' asthma risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - City blocks boasting plenty of trees aren't only more pleasing to the eye; they may be healthier for children's lungs, according to research conducted in New York City.

Great tits cope well with warming

Great tits in Britain seem to be adapting to climatic change, scientists report, unlike some other birds.

City proposes climate change plan

People in Cambridge are asked to comment on plans by the city council to deal with climate change.