Climate change

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

This year’s International Science Festival (3-17 April) will include 46 events at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, with many events taking place at the Real Life Science Studio and other facilities at the Botanics’ new John Hope Gateway visitor and interpretation centre.

The University of Edinburgh returns to the Edinburgh Science Festival with free events, workshops and shows aimed at children and families. Discover Science 2010, running for the duration of the Science Festival (8th-17th April), takes place at the National Museum of Scotland, and Adam House, Chambers Street.

Around 200 educational and interactive activities for the wee ones and lectures and talks for older heads in various venues across town.

Talk by Patrick Holden, a part-time farmer, who has been involved in the organic movement since 1973.

The City of Edinburgh Council has become the 100th Council to sign up to the 10:10 Climate Change campaign. Council Leader, Councillor Jenny Dawe signed the pledge at 10:10am on Wednesday morning at Edinburgh City Chambers. It was 100th day of the 10:10 campaign.

Rail journey times between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Shotts will be slashed by up to 33 minutes when a new winter timetable starts in ten days time.

A new scottish history web site developed for pupils, teachers and the general public is now up and running.

About 150 people in Edinburgh joined in yesterday's International Day of Climate Action by forming a human "350" outside the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood.

World leaders meet in Copenhagen in December to agree on a climate action plan to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Climate scientists tell us that this is probably the last chance mankind has to avert catastrophic climate change - do too little and the future will be characterised by floods, droughts, fires, mass human migrations, wars, desertification, and such like on an ever-increasing scale.

A new study outlines a vision of a UK High Speed Rail network that would cut journey times between Edinburgh and London to 2 hours 40 minutes.

Greengauge 21's "Fast Forward: A high-speed Rail Strategy for Britain" recommends a network of mainly new railways operating at up to 200mph

Take One Action - the UK's first major activist film festival - takes two this year.

EdinburghGuide.com has acquired a number of DVDs of the feature-length urban cycling documentary You Never Bike Alone.

An Edinburgh school has beaten off competition from around the United Kingdom to be shortlisted for a top energy award. Currie Community High School is the only Scottish entry to be recognised at the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy 2009.

Join climate campaigners from across Scotland in Edinburgh to learn about the UN climate talks taking place in Copenhagen this December, and plan a campaign to put pressure on the UK delegation that will be attending.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has recommended 41 Scottish bathing beaches for excellent water quality in its annual Good Beach Guide. This is just over one third of the 109 tested and 3 less than it recommended last year.

Free seed packs will be handed out at many of the events being held in and around Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife as part of Scottish Biodiversity Week. Thousands of easy-to-grow packs containing rocket, chives, coriander and lettuce seeds are expected to be distributed during the week which runs between 16-24 May. Events vary from Ranger-led walks through wildflower meadows to puffin-watching on an RSPB cruise down the Firth of Forth.

As of 2009, the U.N. has declared 8 June as officially World Oceans Day across the globe each year. This year's theme is "one ocean, one climate, one future."

Donald Trump and the European Emissions Trading Scheme have come out tops in the inaugural Stupid Awards, beating a shortlist of "some of the most notorious climate-trashers" in Scotland, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, budget airline Ryan Air and the Scottish Government.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is marking Earth Day by holding a Climate Change Rally to push for a strong Scottish Climate Change Bill.