A small office at Vogrie Country Park in Midlothian is taking on a larger role in helping to safeguard biodiversity in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The Lothian Wildlife Information Centre has been given a grant of £42,000 by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to help fund its work over the next three years.

The Scottish Government published its Climate Change Bill yesterday. The Bill lays out a legal framework for ambitious reductions of Scottish greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of 80% below 1990 levels* by 2050.

Celebrations took place yesterday on one of the largest and best examples of lowland raised peat bogs in the Lothians to mark its re-declaration as a National Nature Reserve (NNR). The 110 hectare Blawhorn Moss is owned by Scottish Natural Heritage and the organisation is keen for people to visit this internationally recognised reserve.

Work to reduce journey times and increase frequency of the railway service between Glasgow and Edinburgh is ahead of schedule and key design contracts will be signed next month, Glasgow's Eleventh State of the City Economy Conference was told yesterday.

The exceedingly wet August which saw more than three times normal rain fall, and flooding in Edinburgh and around Scotland, is an example of climate change taking hold say environmental group WWF. The organisation, who provide a monthly Climate Change Update, say it was the 6th dullest and the 10th wettest August ever recorded.

Take One: Action! is the UK's first major film festival all about people and movies that are changing the world. The festival celebrates Scotland's global connections - from South Africa to Nicaragua - and explores global challenges in which Scotland has a vital role to play - from climate change to the rules about how poor nations trade.

As the clock ticks down to the Edinburgh Fringe, EG asks Fringe director Jon Morgan what we can expect this year. Morgan says, in spite of the credit crunch, and fears over a "breakaway" Comedy Festival, the Fringe appears to be appear in good health with around 2,000 shows coming to the city in August.

With climate change not merely the 'hot topic' of the 20th Edinburgh International Science Festival but of everyone and their granny's breakfast table, it was no great surprise Professor Chris Rapley, former Director of the British Antarctic Survey, took Great While It lasted; Now What? as the title and theme of his Edinburgh Medal Address on the subject.

Dr David King was until 2007 H. M. Gov's spokesperson on climate change, and is the author of The Hot Topic, the subject of Thursday's Edinburgh International Science Festival event. Would he be a bearer of better, or at least more encouraging news on the international frying and freezing front?

The Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South-West delivered his first budget as Labour Chancellor earlier today "to secure a strong, sustainable future."

The City of Edinburgh Council is one of four councils that will take part in a study looking at the "on the ground" impacts of climate change to improve the city's readiness for extreme weather.

Drivers were able to cross the Forth and Tay road bridges free of charge from midnight last night as all tolls were abolished after more than 40 years.

The former chief scientific advisor to the British government, a scientist from the British Antarctic Survey, and the head planner of the design company behind a chinese "eco-city" (and the new Forth Bridge) are among guest speakers tackling Climate Change at the 20th Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The SNP government today launched its ambitious plans to tackle climate change with the publication of the Scottish Climate Change Bill Consultation.

In 2006, inventors in Edinburgh filed a total of 489 patent applications, according to the UK government's Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Not bad, but the IPO is hoping to see those numbers continue to rise

A supercomputer which it is expected to offer insights into many burning scientific questions of the day from climate change, to questions about the evolution of the universe and sub-nuclear particles, was launched today at Edinburgh University.

The recent climate conference in Bali, Indonesia may have left little in the way of concrete goals for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, but temperatures continue rising.