WELCOME

Welcome to the EcoLincs website. This is an information site aimed at people who live and work in and around Lincoln. It is managed by the EcoLincs group, which is a voluntary organisation interested in sustainability. To find out more about the group click on About Us. Otherwise feel free to browse the site and please contact us with your comments - you can add your comments to the Forum or you can find contact details in the About Us section.

LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

 

ECO-HOTEL BY BRAYFORD POOL?

A plan for a 6-storey hotel on the north bank of Brayford Pool is being considered by Lincoln City Council.  Nic Lance has suggested that the hotel should produce renewable energy to meet some of its energy needs. “It would be a wonderful gesture as the hotel would be built on the site of the former Electricity Works – effectively a power station.  At the beginning of the 20th century, coal-fired engines produced the first electricity for Lincoln here. So why not look towards solar panels and micro wind turbines to produce a new generation of clean, green electricity at the start of the 21st century?.  Fossil fuels won’t last forever and recently, energy costs have shot up, so it’s a good incentive to produce renewable energy and Lincoln’s first eco-hotel.” Go to article in full

PERMACULTURE ARRIVES IN LINCOLN

On 5 April, Chris Chidlow - a permaculture tutor from York – came to Lincoln to give an introduction to Permaculture gardening.  He gave a mixture of theory and practical advice together with some DVDs of inspiring Permaculture projects around the world.Go to article in full

SHOPS HEATING THE SKY

 

It was a cold wintry day, the temperature just above zero. In fact there had been a flurry of sleet, but many shops in Lincoln kept their front doors wide open.  Between the Stonebow and the Strait, 40% of shops had open doors.  These included Poundland, Intersport, French Collection, Jean Station, Blacks, British Red Cross and The Works.   Further down the High Street, one of the worst culprits was Fresh to Go which had so many doors open, it was virtually open air.  Go to article in full

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN AN ALLOTMENT?

There are 900 plots spread accross 18 sites in Lincoln.

If you are interested in taking up an allotment click here for more information.

HAVE YOU GOT A WILDIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN? Due to popular demand Lincoln's hidden wildlife friendly garden day is back!! It will be held on the 13th of July 2008. We are looking for allotments and gardens that will help to inspire people to make their own gardens wildlife friendly no matter how small they are! If you would like to find out more about this event please contact Kate Bell

 

THE FUTURE OF OUR WASTE

The health of the planet – and the council tax we pay – both depend on finding alternatives to throwing our waste into landfill sites. Here County News looks at the draft Lincolnshire Waste Strategy currently out for public consultation.

 

Lincolnshire

Anti-

Incineration

Alliance

 

For more information about this campaign click here

'LINCOLNSHIRE'S CHANGING FOOTPRINT'

 

We would like to invite you to submit photographs that highlight:

• Evidence of climate change within the County such as extreme weather conditions, changing landscape and agriculture, changes to our gardens. 
• Things you have done to reduce energy consumption/ reduce food miles (e.g. grow your own) at home or in your community.

 

The best images will be selected in July 2008 and will be included in an exhibition to be held in late Summer 2008.

 

For more information and how you can take part email kate.bell@lincoln.gov.uk.

SAVE MONEY- SAVE ENERGY- SAVE A TONNE!

www.saveatonne.com is a simple, one page website with the clear
message that you don't have to dramatically change your routine to make
dramatic changes to our environment!

    The informative site features ten easy ways for individuals to
'save a tonne' of CO2 from switching off your TV to car sharing.

    The calculations show just how quickly these changes amount to a
dramatic impact to the environment and your finances.

 

Could you be an Every Action Counts Community Champion? We are r

 

COULD YOU BE AN EVERY ACTION COUNTS COMMUNITY CHAMPION?

Every Action Counts are recruiting, training and supporting over 1,000 volunteers in England, helping them to become Community Champions.

Every Action Counts Community Champions include anyone who likes to get involved. You may be the chair of your residents' association, but you don't have to be. You may help out at your local toddlers' group, but it's not essential. In fact, you don’t actually need to be involved with any other community group, you just need enough passion to help Groups / Clubs / Societies within your community take action for a more sustainable future.  For more information go to www.everyactioncounts.org.uk  If you would like to attend a training session in Lincoln contact Kate Bell on 01522 873311 or email kate.bell@lincoln.gov.uk

 

 

Visit the Lincolnshire Echo Environment page for local news, or select stories from the following Earthwire UK news-feed.

Extinction fear for butterfly A UK mountain-dwelling butterfly could be wiped out in Scotland because of climate change, experts say. Study sees threat from big-particle pollutants CHICAGO (Reuters) - On days when there is a lot of dust and other large-particle pollutants in the air, slightly more elderly people go to hospital emergency rooms with heart problems, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. Mercy Corps and Chinese Partner Start Earthquake Response in Sichuan Province Global Water Resources Files Registration Statement for Initial Public Offering Biodiesel Glycerin to Energy Realtors(R) on Building Green: Niche Market or Wave of the Future? Wildlife threatens many poor farmers' crops: WWF GENEVA (Reuters) - Elephants and other wildlife damage millions of dollars' worth of poor farmers' crops each year, which could be avoided with proper fencing and better land use, a leading environmental group said on Wednesday. Barcelona relies on water by ship to slake its thirst amid drought Barcelona received its first seaborne shipment of drinking water yesterday, part of an unprecedented emergency plan to tackle the city's worst drought in decades. Nissan eyes world's cheapest car Renault-Nissan announces a joint venture with Indian firm Bajaj to produce a $2,500 (£1,276) car. Largest Global Study of Consumer Response to Climate Change Puts the Onus on Brands Natural changes pinned to warming A survey concludes that shifts in the Earth's physical and biological systems are driven by global warming. World tree planting drive sets goal of 7 billion OSLO (Reuters) - A campaign to plant trees worldwide set a goal on Tuesday of seven billion by late 2009, just over one for each person on the planet, to help protect the environment and slow climate change. Peru creates environment ministry as glaciers melt LIMA (Reuters) - President Alan Garcia on Tuesday created the first environment ministry in Peru, where scientists say climate change is hitting hard because of the Andean country's rich biodiversity. Amazon defender quits Brazil environment post BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's environment minister, hailed as a champion of the green movement but scorned by powerful farming groups, resigned on Tuesday after losing key battles in her efforts to protect the Amazon rain forest. Extinction fear for butterflies Climate change is forcing a mountain species higher up hillsides to find cooler temperatures, experts say. Brazil's Amazon minister resigns Brazil's environment minister resigns, after conflicts with the government over Amazon development. Defra grant for emissions study Five local authorities in Devon are carrying out a two-part study into vehicle emissions in the county following a £20,000 Government grant. Committee studies Ireland's climate change Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security have visited Galway to find out the key drivers of climate change in Ireland. Air pollution causes dangerous blood clots People living in the Lombardy region of Italy were 70% more likely to develop dangerous blood clots if they lived in more polluted areas Engines of change Science & environment: Low-emission diesel cars are seen as a greener alternative but what about the health issues? McCain's Gift to the Green Movement The GOP candidate's global warming plan has its flaws. But he has engaged the issue, and that bodes well for the '08 campaign US Study Sees Threat From Big-Particle Pollutants CHICAGO - On days when there is a lot of dust and other large-particle pollutants in the air, slightly more elderly people go to hospital emergency rooms with heart problems, US researchers said on Tuesday. U.N. says up to 2.5 mln affected in Myanmar cyclone The United Nations estimated those affected by the Myanmar cyclone at up to 2.5 million on Wednesday and called an urgent meeting of big donors and Asian states as the Myanmar junta continued to limit foreign aid. Biodiversity worth Euro 2.6bn to Ireland A new study investigating the social and economic aspects of biodiversity in Ireland has estimated it brings in billions of Euros every year. Letters: A sustainable green revolution for Africa Letters: The call for Africa to have an agricultural revolution to solve its food security is timely French Activists Say "Non" To GMO Law PARIS - Hundreds of activists marched in Paris on Tuesday ahead of the expected approval of a law they say blurs the line between natural and genetically modified (GM) foods. Australia Budget - Great Barrier Reef In Frame In Climate Fight CANBERRA - Australia will spend A$3.8 billion ($3.5 billion) to fight climate change, including A$200 million to rescue the Great Barrier Reef, as part of a four-year plan outlined in the government's budget on Tuesday. Peru sets up environment ministry Peru sets up its first environment ministry, ahead of a Latin American-EU summit focusing on climate change. Life feels the effects of a changing climate Climate change is already altering our planet's biology, with only life in Antarctica so far spared its influence, suggests an analysis of thousands of studies (full text available to subscribers) Bird migration at mercy of weather patterns Severe weather conditions as a result of climate change could make it impossible for migratory birds to complete their long-distance flights New study amplifies warning on climate change A wide-scale study published Wednesday has strengthened warnings, spelt out last year by UN scientists, that climate change is already on the march. Official Urges US Climate Service With concerns about global warming rising along with the planet's temperature, the head of the federal agency in change of weather research and forecasting is proposing creation of a new National Climate Service World Tree Planting Drive Sets Goal Of 7 Billion OSLO - A campaign to plant trees worldwide set a goal on Tuesday of seven billion by late 2009, just over one for each person on the planet, to help protect the environment and slow climate change. Farm bill reduces support for corn ethanol US lawmakers have agreed on wide-ranging agricultural legislation that would reduce the federal subsidy on ethanol produced from maize (corn) by 12%. It marks the first move to scale back government support for a biofuel that has been linked to rising food prices and deforestation abroad. Fears for Amazon rainforest as Brazil's environment minister resigns Fears are growing for the future of the world's largest tropical rainforest, after the sudden resignation of Brazil's environment minister, Marina Silva Channel 4 to show Leonardo DiCaprio environment documentary Channel 4 is to broadcast The 11th Hour, the polemical documentary about the environment fronted by Leonardo DiCaprio. By Ben Dowell Brazil Environment Minister Resigns Renowned rain forest defender Marina Silva resigned as Brazil's environment minister on Tuesday, saying she lacked the necessary political support to protect the Amazon Royal Navy warships could run on sunflower oil - if fresh A study by marine engineering experts has set out the likely effects of using biodiesel fuel in Royal Navy warships. Mayor drops legal battle over desalination plant London's new mayor has withdrawn a legal challenge launched by his predecessor over a desalination plant. Barcelona forced to import water Tanker delivers 23m litres to worst-hit region, as Spain suffers most severe drought since records began Forest-fire management 'raises carbon emissions' California study suggests fire-free forests store less carbon. In Spain, the Pain of No Rain Many have predicted that future wars will be fought not over oil, but over water. In Spain, that day seems to draw closer EC urges IT firms to go green The European Commission has announced a new green ICT strategy, designed to promote the use, and development of more energy efficient technology. Fine cuisine reaches new heights Three course lunches are served on top of one of England's highest peaks during a mountain festival. Fears for 600,000 beneath dam damaged by China quake Some 2,000 Chinese soldiers have been rushed to help with plugging "extremely dangerous" cracks that have appeared in a dam upriver from Chinas earthquake-hit town of Dujiangyan and its 580,000 residents. China quake weakens Sichuan dams and cuts off river A devastating earthquake that struck China this week has raised concerns over the stability of dams and infrastructure in the afflicted mountainous area, while landslides have blocked a river that flows to the region. Polar bear listed as threatened species because of global warming The U.S. Interior Department declared the polar bear a threatened species Wednesday, saying it must be protected because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming. Bid to boost eel numbers Two thousand elvers are released at a wildlife haven by the RSPB and Environment Agency to stop the decline of eel numbers. Italy to face court over waste crisis The European Commission is taking Italy to court for failing to effectively resolve the waste crisis that has plagued Naples and the surrounding region of Campania. London Mayor 'recycles newspaper into trees' Boris Johnson, the new mayor of London, has decided to scrap a newspaper highlighting the achievements of City Hall and use the money saved to plant thousands of trees around the capital.

Environmental News provided by EarthWire UK