UK targets for cutting carbon emissions by 2050 will not be met without radical changes to the engineering of buildings, a report says.

One of the study's authors criticised the government's "woeful track record on setting ill-considered targets".

The Royal Academy of Engineering report lays out a groundwork for reducing the environmental impact of new buildings as well as refurbishment of old ones. It added there was a serious skills gap in the sector that could grow worse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8469070.stm

20/01/2010
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Global low carbon policies will become a reality, after the UK government and an Arab institute joined forces to fund research.

The department for energy and climate change (DECC) will co-operate with the Masdar Institute from the UAE to support RENA, an international body that advises nations on renewable energy legislation.

Ed Miliband, minister for the department, said: "These two new collaborative projects are examples of exactly the type of global collaborative effort that we must encourage to tackle climate change problems."

http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/community_content/_low_carbon_news/8438/uk_and_uae_to_fund_1m_research_into_low_carbon_policies

20/01/2010
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ScienceDaily (Jan. 20, 2010) - The parasite that causes malignant malaria in humans has been detected in gorillas, along with two new species of malaria parasites, reports a study co-authored by UC Irvine biologist Francisco Ayala.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119133517.htm

20/01/2010
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A captive Bornean orangutan has been seen acting as a peacemaker, breaking up fights between other warring apes.

It is the first time that an orangutan has been seen behaving in this way, say scientists who published details in the journal Primates.

Peacemakers likely intervene in squabbles to ensure they do not spiral out of control.

By Matt Walker

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8466000/8466488.stm

20/01/2010
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A study issued by Indonesian government recommends a moratorium on peatlands conversion in order to meet its greenhouse gas emissions target pledged for 2020, reports the Jakarta Post.

The report, commissioned by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), says that conversion of peatlands accounts for 50 percent of Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions but only one percent of GDP. A ban on conversion would therefore be a cost-effective way for the country to achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions 26 percent from a projected baseline by 2020.

http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0118-indonesia.html

19/01/2010
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 Kenya's planned development path will more than double its carbon emissions unless efforts are taken to pursue low carbon development, according to an environmental think tank.

Kenya's planned development path will more than double its carbon emissions unless efforts are taken to pursue low carbon development, according to an environmental think tank. Yet the country has high potential for mitigating climate change because it has significant opportunities to use renewable energy, says a report released by the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI). Kenya emits relatively low levels of carbon because it has an electricity generation system based on renewable energy and widespread use of biomass for household energy generation, the report says.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/19/kenya-carbon-crossroads

19/01/2010
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