London authority gets serious about CO2
Haringey Council has become the first local authority in the UK to pledge to cut its carbon emissions by 40 percent over the next decade. The authority made the pledge to reduce its environmental impact as part of the FoE Get Serious About CO2 campaign.
Councillor Claire Kober, Haringey Council leader, explained that the borough wants to be the greenest area in London. "Before doing this I wanted to check exactly what this would mean and whether we could realistically meet that target. I now believe we can."
Haringey Council

Scarecrows go green
SolarUK has developed what's believed to be the UK's first solar powered 'bird dispersal system', otherwise known as a scarecrow. The electronic Worzel Gummidge uses natural bird distress calls to prompt birds to move on. Powering the unit by using solar panels means it can be independent of external power supplies and also a 'low carbon', money-saving solution.
http://www.solaruk.com/

UK wasting millions by not recycling
The UK is losing out on more than £650 million by throwing away rubbish rather than increasing recycling, research from Friends of the Earth (FoE) has found. In its report,Gone to waste: The valuable resources that European countries bury and burn study, the environmental group claims that approximately 24 million tonnes of recyclable goods are being incinerated or sent to landfill. Flanders in Belgium was singled out as recycling twice as much in percentage terms as the UK.

Cost of going green: £7,000 for each Scottish home
According to a new report, it will cost £16 billion to make homes in Scotland energy- efficient over the next decade - around £7000 per home. The figure comes as finance secretary John Swinney announced a £2 million pilot loans scheme to help pay for home- efficiency measures, including interest free loans of between £500 and £10,000. The cash is aimed at helping to cut carbon emissions from homes by 42 per cent by 2020.

Via Low Carbon Economy

New eco-friendly home unveiled - One of the most energy efficient houses in the UK has been put on to the market. Barnsley Hill Farm includes features such as a spa, a 25-seat cinema, and indoor swimming pool and steam room, yet remains friendly to the environment with 20 solar panels and a recycling scheme for transferring rainwater to toilets, taps and washing machines. But at £3.5 million it ain't cheap. Stonebee Developments

Electric cars for Brighton - Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to become the first area in the UK outside of London to install electric car charging points. People in Brighton and Hove will soon see four charging points placed across the city, while a further ten are to be introduced before the end of 2009. Brighton and City County Council

Britain's 'Top 100s' called to back global climate campaign - Britain's top 100 business leaders and top 100 media personalities are to put their efforts and influence behind the global 'tck tck tck' campaign, ahead of December's climate change summit in Copenhagen. Department of Energy and Climate Change

via LowCarbonEconomy.com

Busy day for green stories in the newspapers and online. Here's our round up of today's top stories:

China sets Carbon Target, sort of - Undoubtedly the biggest environmental story right now, but is China's commitment to cutting carbon emissions by 2020 much more than hot air given that it hasn't actually put a figure to the cut? Many are regarding it as a step in the right direction from the world's biggest polluter which has, up until now, refused to commit to cutting emissions. At the UN General Assembly Meeting China's President Hu Jintao (pictured) also announced his country would plant a forest across an area the size of Norway. Telegraph.co.uk

Director jailed over porky pies - A director of One Food Limited which claimed to sell 'organic, natural and ethical products' was jailed for 27 months when it was found out they contained non-organic ingredients. According to Northampton Chronicle, he routinely asked staff to dispose of wrapping from pork pies and chickens bought in Tesco and Waitrose! He also supplied Fortnum and Mason in London with non-organic pies bought from a butcher. The prosecution estimated that the company could have made up to £500,000 over 6 years from the scam.

Lib Dems back 10:10 - Lib Dems have called on local authorities to join 10:10 campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010. In a dig at cost cutting leader Nick Clegg, Simon Hughes, the party's energy and climate change spokesman, said: "We must not axe our social fabric. But I'll own up. I too am in favour of controversial and, yes, savage cuts. Of emissions. By 10 per cent in 2010." Will be interesting to see if Labour and Conservative parties follow suit. Guardian

• My Zero Waste is challenging all its readers to reduce their bills in October. Not in the way you might think (though I'm sure the site's owner Mrs. Green would improve wholeheartedly of you turning down your thermostat), but by saying 'no' to paper bills. More info here.

• Ecorazzi's beady eye has spotted that Sarah Palin has a bag that looks every bit like an eco-friendly shopper bag at first glance. But look closely, and you'll see that the messsage it carries is anything but ethical!

• Are you a parent, concerned about the chemical cocktail your kids will be exposed to if they're trick-or-treating this Halloween? Sprig has some fantastic ideas for treats that look and taste the real deal but are all natural underneath. Full list here.

• If the credit crunch is forcing you to live on beans on toast, you might be wondering what to do with all those cans. Recycled crafts has some good ideas here

Matthew and Waveney are a couple from Christchurch, New Zealand. They live with their dog and two chickens, and have just embarked on an ambitious project to go for an entire year without generating any household rubbish, and are blogging their rubbish free adventures here.

The blog makes fascinating reading, and is well worth checking in on from time to time. But the rest of the 'Rubbish free year' site is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to cut down on household waste, even if eliminating it entirely seems a tall order. In the Rubbish Free Guide you'll find answers to questions like how to recycle toothbrushes and which painkillers are most ecologically packaged, how to safely dispose of paint and some helpful tips on composting, burning and giving away unwanted food safely. I've added Matthew and Waveney's blog to my trusty RSS reader and can't wait to see how they get on!

It's Friday, so we'll let you off the hook if you want to go off and read something that isn't about saving the planet for a change this afternoon. Just don't go getting any ideas about driving great big SUVs, flying in planes or doing your shopping in Primark...we'll NEVER forgive you.

- Bayraider is confused as to why this hamburger shaped phone is such a hit on Ebay, and more perplexed still as to its association with the film Juno. The Flavor Flav alarm clock requires little explanation, however. [Bayraider]

- Dollymix editor Cate Sevilla just loves using the word vagina, and explains here why she uses it at least 15 times a day. And Isabelle O'Carroll talks about why detoxing is such a complete waste of time -- a woman after my own heart [Dollymix]

- If you're planning on getting into a spot of trouble abroad, Lost Weekend spells out to you exactly what British embassies can and can't do for you (they won't give you crash space or money, but will provide bourbon biscuits in abundance). Oh, and here's a whizzy new jet plane that you might be able to take to Oz in 25 years time. Don't pack your bags just yet. [Lost Weekend]

As 2007 draws to a close, Shiny Media's fashion and lifestyle blogs are giving something back to the blogging community by compiling a list of the ultimate top 100 blogs. The definitive list will be published before the new year, but for now, here are the Top Ten green and ethical blogs as chosen by the Hippyshopper team. Enjoy!

1. Eco Worrier
This refreshingly down-to-earth blog from Times columnist Anna Shepherd is a personal record of one woman's attempt to live a more sustainable life. Never one to be swayed by bogus claims to greenness, Anna is a and trustworthy guide through what has become a maze of conflicting messages. Her posts are concise, relevant to everyday life and well researched, with a lot of witty observations that ensure the tone of the blog stays firmly on the right side of preachy.

2. EcoRazzi
This snarky, celeb-focused site is so of-the-moment it hurts (but in a good way, of course). Stars are falling over themselves to grab the latest organic it-bag or hybrid car at the moment, so there's no shortage of material for the site, which has itself just undergone a slick makeover as glossy as the celebs that grace its pages. Often the first to break big stories, Ecorazzi keeps a good balance between patting the Leo Di Caprios of this world on the back when they do something genuinely green and blowing a well-deserved raspberry at those nameless 'slebs who try a bit too hard to land on the eco-bandwagon for their own dubious ends.

Follow the jump for more great green blogs!

I stumbled across Chatreuse Chic for the first time this morning, and really liked what I saw. Describing itself as a blog for 'eco fashionistas', It's a site that not only presents green fashion in a stylish and eye-catching way; it explains what's good about it, too.

Scanning the homepage, you'll notice that all items are split into categories that tell you why they deserve the 'green' label. Good b/c it's fair trade brings you the best in fairly traded fashion, good b/c it's handmade is packed with quirky, crafty stuff as well as instructions on customising your own, and good b/c it's organic brings you stylish threads that haven't been dipped in pesticides.

There are some really cool outfits featured here, from very diverse sources and the site has a really user-friendly interface. As they've done their research so well, you'll find almost any style and where to buy it with very little fuss.

Yesterday, Treehugger alerted us to the newest ethical social network, Razoo. These are online havens specifically for those who wish to do good in the world, be it through encouraging greener lives, raising awareness and money for charity or simply "promote social good".

This last quote came from the mission statement of Razoo. This is a network devoted to making a difference by starting discussions about everything from sustainability and water to AIDS and homlessness, through human rights and education. And that's just a fraction of the topics. By promoting discussion and swapping tips and ideas, the entrepreneurs behind Razoo hope to inspire ideas that just might save the world (or, rather, us). And it's certainly not the only sight with lofty ideals. Just take a look at the many different ways in which social networks are encouraging us to fight the good environmental fight...

The green blogs and shops are chock-full of cozy and wonderful winter warmers at the moment; from organic blankets and pyjamas to cheering sun lamps and rugs made from recycled wooly socks. Here's our pick of some of the most innovative and attractive items around to see you through the colder months, using all kinds of unusual materials. Clockwise from top:

Organic Larch blanket from 2Modern, $72 - $85

People Tree 'star' knitwear accessories, £14

Recycled sock sheep rug from Oregon Wool, $120

New bamboo and cotton towels from Natural Collection, from £11.50

(Centre) Sun Jar from ECOutlet , £19.99

New Yorkers aren't generally known for their 'greenness', but like everywhere else on the planet there are people who live in the city but who don't necessarily subscribe to it's wasteful ways. Colin Beavan is one such citizen. He is a writer who has begun an experiment where he and his family will attempt to live in the centre of NYC without making any net impact on the environment. He believes that if we rely on 'country bumpkins' to save the world we will all be doomed, as most of the world's populations live in cities. The experiment started at the end of November 2006 and will last for one year. The whole thing is being documented in the highly amusing and inspiring 'No Impact Man' blog.

Lemons are our friends, and so are the people at Eco Street, so we thought we'd share their top tips on how the humble lemon can help you live an eco-friendly life. From cooking to cleaning to fighting off a cold, lemons really can do a lot for a small fruit. Read on for 10 eco-friendly things that you can do with lemons, then hot-foot it to your local farmers market to stock up!

1. Grow a lemon tree - the most eco-friendly thing to do with lemons is grow them so that you have your own carbon neutral supply. These can be grown in the UK, believe it or not.

2. Highlight your hair - much better for you and the environment than commercial bleaches. Mix the juice of one lemon with one teaspoon of salt and apply to your hair with a comb. Get out into the sun for a couple of hours. Do some vegetable gardening, tend your lemon tree, go for a walk, you get the picture. Don't do this too often, it will dry your hair out.

More lemony tips after the jump

Welcome to the 87th edition of Carnival of the Green, coming to you this week from Hippyshopper HQ.

With a little help from our friends in the ever-growing green blogosphere, we'll be covering everything environmentally focused that's made the news this week (as well as a few nuggets that haven't), keeping you well ahead of the game in environmentally friendly living. Thanks to last week's hosts AIDG.org for keeping the ball rolling last week! We'll be handing over to Nichomachus.net in a week's time.

Energy Saving: Five unusual ways to stay cool

If you're in the drenched and deluged UK, it's unlikely you'll need to use this information in the immediate future, but with the chaos we're experiencing amid the flooding, who knows what the weather might do next? Be prepared by reading Lighter Footstep's guide to staying cool by making some simple lifestyle changes that won't impact on the environment.

Weather wisdom from the insect kingdom

Sticking with the weather theme, there's wisdom aplenty at the Bean Sprouts Blog, a great little treasure-trove for sustainable gardening tips run by some keen allotment owners. Check out this post to discover what ants and slugs can tell you about the forecast for the day ahead. And while I'm singing the praises of the Bean Sprouts crew, they also have one of the best concise lists of 'reasons for eating organic' I've found on the web. Great for waving under the noses of those nay-sayers who mock you for spending that extra fifteen pence on your organic milk. Check it out!

Follow the jump for more green goodies from the Carnival!

Great Green Shoes is one of those wonderful websites that do exactly what they say on the tin. There are now more than enough green shoes to justify a blog, and this one brings them to your desktop whenever a new pair catches the editor Liz Hincks' eye.

A self-confessed shoe fanatic, Liz scours the web along with her team for animal free, environmentally friendly, shoes suitable for vegans, vegetarians and everyone who prefers a quality alternative to leather. There's a good range of styles represented, with an equal spread of sexy, sporty, practical and seasonal trends.

Related post: Ethical footwear finds its feet

Last week's C4 documentary, which questioned mankind's role in climate change, seems to have left a greater impression than I'd suspected, and I stumbled across a fresh crop of blog posts after it was repeated on Monday night. It seems to have divided opinions pretty starkly. Read on to see the different arguments, and tell me which side you fall on...