Horizons

Best foot forward My carbon footprint is the theme of this year's Life Through A Lens photographic competition for secondary school students.

The idea is that the photograph captures some of the elements that make up your carbon footprint and ways that you can reduce the environmental impact of energy use. Prizes include PC or laptops fully equipped with digital cameras, MP3 players and camera phones. The winning entries will also be exhibited at various venues later this year. Download information pack from Sustainable Energy Ireland (www.sei.ie 1850-376666) or from the Northern Ireland Energy Agency (www.nienergyagency.org, 048-90269952). The closing date for entries is Friday, March 14th.

Tree's a crowd

For many people, talk about climate change and its dangers to our planet results in a feeling of despair. A public seminar during National Tree Week (March 2nd to 8th) aims to alleviate some of that despair by encouraging positive action. Entitled Can Trees Save Our Planet?, the seminar will be addressed by architect and broadcaster Duncan Stewart and gardening expert Gerry Daly. Dr Peter Wyse Jackson, director of the National Botanic Gardens, will give an overview of endangered tree species. The seminar will be held on Monday, March 3rd, at 6pm in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. Admission is free.

Sustaining the progress

As the corporate world begins to recognise the added value associated with sustainability, there will no doubt be more entries this year to the ACCA Ireland Sustainability Reporting Awards. Now in its seventh year, the awards give recognition to private companies and public sector agencies that report on their environmental, social and sustainability activities and initiatives. For detailed information about this year's criteria, contact Luke Brockie on 01-4988903 or e-mail luke.brockie@ie/accaglobal.com The closing date for receipt of applications is March 28th. See also www.accaglobal.com/sustainability

Reward for energy savers

Sustainable Energy Ireland announced details of the 5th annual Sustainable Energy Awards earlier this week. These awards aim to encourage, recognise and reward good practice in energy management and are open to all organisations in commercial, industrial and public sectors. Contact Deirdre Farrelly at Sustainable Energy Ireland on 01-8082087 or visit www.sei.ie

More power to the climate

Harnessing the Irish climate for energy is the subject of a one-day conference on Friday in the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. Organised by the agricultural meteorology department of Met Éireann, the conference will focus on climatic issues associated with sustainable wind, solar, marine and biomass energy supply in Ireland. Call 01-8065560 or e-mail sarah.oreilly@met.ie for more details. 

EcoWeb

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Find out more about how the Moringa tree is a key to sustainable livelihoods in Ethiopia and Eritrea on this Irish charity website. Also learn about the schools campaign to highlight how trees can reduce poverty in those countries.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times