No brakes on oilsands

EDMONTON - Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach signalled Monday he'll ignore a call from some of Canada's largest energy companies to control expansion in the oilsands to protect fragile lands. He also brushed aside a plea from the province's aboriginal chiefs to halt approval of new projects.

Stelmach, who famously said he doesn't believe in "touching the brake" on development, dismissed as preliminary a call for an immediate suspension of government land-lease sales in three massive environmentally sensitive swaths of northern Alberta.

UN environment group sets up climate neutral forum

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a new online network on Thursday to help countries, cities and firms aiming to be "climate neutral" exchange ideas on ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The Climate Neutral Network will connect people around the world who have committed to become climate neutral by reducing and offsetting their emissions of the gases blamed for heating the planet, said Achim Steiner, head of UNEP.

Third International Solar Conference

The five-day conference, which starts today, is part of the International Solar Cities Initiative and aims to support projects that reduce energy consumption and climate change.

The conference will feature more than 90 speakers from 20 countries, including environmental activist and author Robert F Kennedy and federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

The conference will also be an opportunity for South Australia to showcase its commitment to sustainability and climate change among business leaders and delegates.

Obama vs. McCain on the environment

But in the Green Realm, Brandon writes that both Obama and McCain have been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters in past Senate races. Both support capping greenhouse gases to fight global warming, which they acknowledge is real and man-made; both oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; both support expansion of nuclear power as a way to generate more electricity with little greenhouse gas pollution.

Heavy snow may help improve environment around China's largest desert

The heaviest and longest snow on record has caused tremendous difficulties in people's lives, but it may help the forestation on the southern edge of Takla Makan Desert, China's largest desert.

The snow since mid-January has covered a remarkable area of 750,000 square kilometers in the south of the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nearly 60 percent of the area has been covered with over 10-centimeter-deep snow until early February.

Musharraf calls for 'enabling environment' to resolve Kashmir issue

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Monday advocated the need for creating an "enabling environment" for the success of the Indo-Pak peace process and said the Kashmir issue could be resolved through "sincerity, courage and flexibility".

In a message on the eve of the "Kashmir Solidarity Day" to be observed tomorrow across Pakistan, Musharraf said, "We firmly believe that an enabling environment is necessary for the success of the peace process."

NZ's clean, green image at risk

The 450-page report is the first summary of the New Zealand environment since 1997 and reveals "the pulse" of the physical wellbeing of New Zealand's land, water, air and biodiversity.

It looks at areas such as the impact of waste, transport, energy consumption and identifies trends to assist with local and central government decision making.