Tesla Motorsplans to begin selling electriccars in Europe next year, taking advantage of the weak dollar. Ze'ev Drori, chief executive of the US start-up, told the Financial Times that Tesla would start selling the roadsters, which will be priced at just under

Installing a green roof can dramatically reduce energy use and costs - as well as supporting biodiversity, reducing flooding and combating climate change. Roofs offer an opportunity for more green spaces in the heart of the city That was the message for delegates at an afternoon seminar organised by CIRIA, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association. Firms that have installed green roofs have reported a 25% reduction in energy use in the floor directly under the roofs, and reduced usage at a lower percentage in other floors.

Europe has announced plans to back investment in renewable energy in Africa and other parts of the developing world in an effort to provide reliable electricity in an environmentally sustainable way. The European Commission has launched the Global Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Fund with Euro 80 million to part-fund private projects over the next four years. The fund will target small-scale projects, predominantly in African states. According to EC statistics, around 1.6 billion people have no regular access to reliable energy sources.

Tens of millions of people switched off lightbulbs this weekend as part of a global campaign to throw the spotlight on climate change, organisers of the Australian-led

Japan fell from the top position in the world as a solar battery producer in 2007, replaced by Europe, a survey by a U.S. industry journal said Saturday.

BLACK carbon, emitted from biomass burning, diesel engine exhaust and cooking fires

Royal Dutch Shell, Europe's biggest oil company, is working on a process to turn sugars into a synthetic petrol, rather than ethanol, with the aim of moving to a commercial demonstration plant in two years' time. The company yesterday announced a joint venture with Virent, a US biotech business based in Wisconsin, saying results from research over the past year had been better than expected in terms of costs and yields.