On August 15, 2011, the world's largest sun-powered boat, the PlanetSolar, docked in Hong Kong after having embarked from Monaco last September, highlighting the potential for sustainable energy use in the shipping industry.

http://www.france24.com/en/20110815-worlds-biggest-solar-boat-docks-hong-kong
http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-boat-arrives-in-hong-kong-081611/

In the worst oil spill in a decade for the region, the British government reports as of August 16, 2011 that an estimated 1,300 barrels of oil had leaked from a platform in the North Sea before being brought under control, with officials stating that the oil’s natural dispersion would hopefully avoid adverse effects on wildlife.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/15/north-sea-oil-spill
http://www.france24.com/en/20110815-north-sea-oil-leak-biggest-decade-britain

Japan's NHK news agency stated that 35 people across 12 prefectures died of heatstroke the week of August 8, 2011, with the nation's Fire and Disaster Management Agency reporting that 7,071 people were treated for that same week heat-related effects as extremely high temperatures continued.  

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/16_30.html
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/08/17/20110817p2g00m0dm002000c.html

According to a mid-August 2011 report, the Zimbabwean government is sponsoring a US$12 million project that includes the distribution of 5.5 million free energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs along with a new billing system that allows customers to monitor and conserve electricity usage.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-08-zimbabwe-mln-energy-saving-bulbs.html
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/zimbabwe-hand-5-mln-energy-saving-bulbs-083232353.html