First straw homes go on sale 11/2/2015

Straw houses will no longer be the preserve of little pigs and self-builders this week, as the first straw houses offered on the open market go on sale. ...more

Wadi Drone for conservation flies through Emirati national park and scoops top prize 10/2/2015

A group of UAE students won the national category in the Drones for Good contest for coming up with a practical idea for a drone to improve government services in the Emirates. ...more

Man-made air pollution reduces Central America rainfall: study 10/2/2015

Air pollution tied to industrialization in the northern hemisphere almost certainly reduced rainfall over Central America in new evidence that human activity can disrupt the climate, a study suggested on Monday. ...more

Japan-inspired 'water-house' slashes energy needs 10/2/2015

As UN climate negotiators gather in Geneva this week, one Japan-inspired Hungarian inventor believes he has found a revolutionary and inexpensive way to construct buildings that could slash humanity's energy needs. ...more

EU to exert 'maximum pressure' in seeking emissions cuts 10/2/2015

The European Union will exert "maximum pressure" to extract by June at the latest pledges from major economies to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, a document seen by Reuters says. ...more

U.S. government, conservationists launch drive to save monarch butterfly 10/2/2015

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation groups launched a $3.2 million campaign on Monday to save the habitat of the embattled orange-and-black spotted monarch butterfly, whose numbers have plummeted in recent years. ...more

Loans for rooftop solar are heating up in Egypt 9/2/2015

Two Egyptian banks are moving into green lending with an initiative to finance rooftop solar power systems for residential consumers. ...more

Plea for 'urgency' at UN climate talks 9/2/2015

UN climate negotiators gathered in Geneva were urged Sunday to show urgency and compromise in crafting a draft by next week for a global pact to be signed in December. ...more

WWF in push to expand Great Barrier Reef protection 9/2/2015

Conservation group WWF is stepping up pressure on Australia to do more to protect the Great Barrier Reef, launching a global campaign ahead of a vote by UNESCO on whether to put the world's largest coral reef on an "in danger" list. ...more

Investments in water in poor nations give big benefits: World Bank 9/2/2015

Investing to provide drinking water for 750 million people in poor nations who lack clean supplies makes clear economic sense with bigger than expected health benefits, World Bank estimates showed on Friday. ...more