Conservation & Environment News - Week 11/12/07 - 17/12/07

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Rising seas 'to beat predictions' - BBC News 17/12/07

The world's sea levels could rise twice as high this century as UN climate scientists have previously predicted, according to a study.

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At a glance: Bali climate deal - BBC News 15/12/07

The UN climate change convention has concluded in the Indonesian island of Bali. The agreement launches a two-year negotiating process - the "Bali roadmap" - aiming to secure a binding deal at the 2009 UN summit in Denmark. Here are some key elements of the roadmap and other issues agreed in Bali.

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Climate deal sealed by US U-turn - BBC News 15/12/07

Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling.

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2007 data confirms warming trend - BBC News 13/12/07

This year has been one of the warmest since 1850, despite the cooling influence of La Nina conditions, according to scientists.

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Q and A: Bali climate conference - BBC News 12/12/07

Delegates from nearly 190 countries are meeting for two weeks in Bali to discuss climate change.

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Arctic summers ice-free 'by 2013' - BBC News 12/12/07

Scientists in the US have presented one of the most dramatic forecasts yet for the disappearance of Arctic sea ice.

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Hold back the geo-engineering tide - BBC News 11/12/07

Projects that add nutrients to the world's oceans in order to create algal blooms that will absorb more carbon from the atmosphere are scientifically unsound, argues Kristina Gjerde, high seas policy advisor to the World Conservation Union. In this week's Green Room, she calls on delegates at the UN climate conference to halt schemes that could do more harm than good.

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Low faith in biofuels for climate - BBC News 11/12/07

Decision-makers in the climate change field have little faith in biofuels as a low-carbon technology, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) says.

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New European protected sites for rare birds - RSPB Online 17/12/07

RSPB Scotland today applauded the Scottish Government after it announced the designation of two new Special Protection Areas that will be protected under European law.

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New prize for farmers helping wildlife - RSPB Online 12/12/07

The RSPB has joined forces with BBC Countryfile magazine to launch a ground-breaking UK-wide competition to highlight the work that farmers are doing for wildlife.