Table of Contents
| S/N | Title |
Synopsis |
|
| I. Subject Area: Environment Policy & Regulation | |||
| 1 | Canada Releases Climate Change Plan | Canada has released the "Climate Change Plan for Canada" that outlines how it could comply with the Kyoto Protocol's targets. | |
| 2 | EU Ministers To Consider Energy Tax Plan | European Union finance ministers are trying to set tax rates for energy products. | |
| 3 | Germany Backs Key EU Global Warming Plan | Germany supported a EU climate emissions trading scheme after its industry was allowed to form collective pools to carry out bidding. | |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | |||
| 4 | Sugar Turns Plastics Biodegradable | Indian chemists are mixing plastics with sugar to make them palatable to soil bacteria. | |
| 5 | Faster E.Coli Test In Works | Researchers are developing a monitoring system that could give instantaneous readings of E.Coli bacteria. | |
| III. Subject Area: General Environmental News | |||
| 6 | Japan Launches Fuel Cell Cars In California | Honda and Toyota have launched the world's first commercial cars that run on fuel cell in Japan and California. | |
| 7 | US EPA Releases Costs For US Pollution Abatement Work | The United States Environment Protection Agency has released the 1999 Pollution Abatement Costs and Expenditures. | |
| 8 | High Carbon Dioxide Levels Can Retard Plant Growth | A research study by Stamford University shows that elevated carbon dioxide could reduce plant growth. | |
| S/N | Title |
Synopsis |
|
| I. Subject Area: Environment Policy & Regulation | |||
| 1 | EU Agrees To Sulphur-Free Fuel Phase In By 2009 | The European Union will ensure sulphur-free petrol and diesel are fully available by 2009 in a move to promote lower traffic emissions and improve fuel efficiency of vehicles. | |
| 2 | EU Member States, Parliament Agree On Citizens Access To Environmental Data | European Union member states and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on a directive designed to give citizens easier access to environmental information held by public authorities. | |
| 3 | Ontario Government Offers Tax Incentives To Promote 'Green' Electricity Generation | The Ontario government will provide a combination of tax incentives and tax holidays to promote the development of new electricity generation projects from renewable sources. | |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | |||
| 4 | Successful CFC Destruction Tests | Eco Logic and Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc. of Ontario, Canada have successfully tested a technology that can be used to destroy Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) without the creation of problematic residuals. | |
| 5 | Turning Food Waste Into Plastic | Researchers at Hawaii Natural Energy Institute in Honolulu have used food scraps to come up with what they claim is an inexpensive way to make biodegradable polymer. | |
| III. Subject Area: General Environmental News | |||
| 6 | Reduced Carbon Dioxide Emission From Cars | European Commission's latest report on reducing carbon dioxide emission from passenger cars shows that EU efforts to work within the car industries have resulted in a 10% reduction in emissions from new cars sold since 1995. | |
| 7 | Satellite Used To Track Pollution Hotspots | Scientists have combined satellite images from NASA and the European Space Agency to identify pollution hotspots and track pollutants as they move across the globe. | |
| 8 | California's First Hybrid Fuel Cell Bus Enters Into Service | California's first hybrid fuel cell bus has been launched. The bus draws its electricity from fuel cell and batteries. | |
| 9 | New Water Index Highlights Haves And Have Not | A new Water Poverty Index developed to highlight the differences between water-rich and water-poor nations will be the cornerstone of the Third Water Forum in Kyoto in March 2003. |
| 10 | Air Pollution Damages Across Generations | Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, reported that air pollution from steel mills causes genetic damage that fathers can pass to the next generation. |
| 11 | Tree Farms Won't Halt Climate Change | According to the first results of CarboEurope, a Europe-wide programme that has pioneered research into carbon budget, planting forest to soak up carbon dioxide, a measure allowed under the Kyoto Protocol to address climate change, will actually result in the release of more carbon in the first 10 years. |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
1 |
Energy reform could boost Australia GDP | Australia's economy would become more productive if the government were to adopt key energy reforms. |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | ||
2 |
GE unveils loco to meet emissions standards | General Electric Co. is introducing new railroad-locomotive technology that meet more-stringent federal emissions standards. |
| III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Recycling | ||
3 |
Australia takes on 6.9 billion plastic bags mess | Australia will implement measures to reduce plastic bag litter from the current 50 to 80 millions a year by 38 million bags by the end of 2004. |
4 |
German retailers agree to implement deposit system | Top German retailers will set up and operate a nationwide clearing system for returned non-refillable cans and bottles from 1 Oct 03. |
| IV. Subject Area: Environmental Research | ||
5 |
Danger of toxic metals in soils underestimated | French soil biologists have shown that soils tainted with heavy metals from industrial pollution and sewage sludge may poison organisms that live in the soil far more readily than previously thought. |
6 |
Study shows microbes cleaning up Boston Harbor | US researchers discovered that microbes in the mud are able to clean up spills and leaks into the harbor. |
7 |
Latex : the new world in eco-friendly food packaging | Swedish researchers have developed an eco-friendly food packaging from latex. |
| IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News | ||
8 |
US global warming emissions in biggest decade drop | US greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.2 percent in 2001, the largest decrease in a decade, due in part to slow economic growth and a milder winter. |
9 |
Report strengthens energy efficiency in North America | The release of the "North American Energy Efficiency Standards And Labeling" report has strengthened the market for high-efficiency products in North America. |
10 |
Children gets grant to make a new hospital "green" | The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, US will receive US$5 million funding to use environmentally green technology and design for its building. |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
1 |
US To RReducetion in Off-Road Diesel Emission Limitss | USEPA is drafting new rules to reduce dangerous emissions from off-road diesel-powered vehicles and machinery. |
12 |
Canada Issues NNew Power Plant Emission LimitsEnergy reform could boost Australia GDP | Australia's economy would become more productive if the government were to adopt key energy reforms.The government of Canada has issued tighter emission guidelines to reduce smog and acid rain pollutants from new coal, oil and gas fired power plants. |
3 |
Bangladesh Government Takes Action To Ban Two-Stroke Engines In The City | Following a High Court order, the Bangladesh government launched the first phase of banning two-stroke vehicles from city roads. |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | ||
4 2 |
Air Ionisers
Wipe Out Hospital Infections GE unveils loco to meet emissions standards |
Repeated airborne infections of the bacteria, acinetobacter in an intensive care ward have been eliminated by the installation of a negative air ioniser according to researchers from the Leeds University in the UK.General Electric Co. is introducing new railroad-locomotive technology that meet more-stringent federal emissions standards. |
5 |
Sensor Snaps Polluting Vehicles As They Pass By | The UK government is testing a remote sensing device that detects excessive emissions from passing vehicles and photographs offender's licence plate. |
| III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Recycling | ||
356 |
Pledge To Curb Cell Phone WasteAustralia takes on 6.9 billion plastic bags mess | Several US companies have pledged to reduce the number of old wireless phones that wind up in landfills.Australia will implement measures to reduce plastic bag litter from the current 50 to 80 millions a year by 38 million bags by the end of 2004. |
| IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News | ||
787 |
Temperatures Likely To Set Record High In 2003US global warming emissions in biggest decade drop | A UKThe Meteorological Office has forecasted that 2003 could be the warmest year ever recorded.US greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.2 percent in 2001, the largest decrease in a decade, due in part to slow economic growth and a milder winter. |
8 |
American Lung
Association Files Intent To Sue USEPA For Failing To Update National Ambient Air Quality Standards |
The American Lung Association and eight other environmental groups have alerted the USEPA of theirour intent to file a lawsuit against the agency for failure to comply with the Clean Air Act. |
9 |
'Green' purchasing by US States, Local Governments | A report from the USEPA shows how more than forty state and local governments are currently implementing environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) programmes. |
10 |
Germany Switches To 10ppm Sulphur Mogas | Germany hasmoves to switched to implement 10 parts per million (ppm) sulphur content in gasoline and diesel on 1 January 1 2003, helped by a 1.5 euro cents-a-litre tax break. |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
1 |
Philippines to Require Oil Companies to Reduce Aromatics, Benzene in Gasoline s | The Philippines Government had set more stringent requirements on the emissions from unleaded gasoline. |
2 |
EU Cracks Down on Off-Road Engine Emissions | The Australia's economy would become more productive if the government were to adopt key energy reforms.European Commission proposed to strengthen the limits on nitrogen oxides and particulates emissions from off-road machinery. |
3 |
EU Buildings Energy Law Reaches Statute Book | The European Union enacted a new law on energy performance of buildings. |
| II. Subject Area: Waste Management and Recycling | ||
435 |
France to Require Manufacturers, Distributors, Importers to Recycle Tires | France enacted a new legislation which requires manufacturers, distributors and importers to collect and recycle used tires. |
5 |
Free Battery Recycling Offered to Public Agencies | Rechargeable battery recycling would be made available to public agencies free of charge under a new initiative from the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation in United States. |
| III. Subject Area: Climate Change | ||
6 |
US Senate Bill Would Cap Greenhouse Gas Emissions | The United States Senate introduced a bipartisan bill which attempts to curb global warming by establishing a market based trading system in greenhouse gas emissions. |
7 |
Scientists Discover Global Warming Linked to Increase in Tropopause Height | Researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in United States discovered that the increase in the height of the tropopause over the past two decades was linked to ozone depletion and increased greenhouse gases. |
| V. Subject Area: General Environmental News | ||
8 |
Initiative Targets Air Pollution from Ground Freight | The United States Environmental Protection Agency is launching a new partnership programme aimed at reducing air pollution from trucks and other ground freight carriers. |
9 |
Aseptic Packages Are Difficult to Recycle | Aseptic packages which are used to ship food safely without refrigeration are difficult to recycle. |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
1 |
US EPA Announced Pollution-Trading Policy for Waters | The US Environmental Protection Agency will allow industries, farmers and others to buy and sell the right to release pollutants into US waterways. |
2 |
EU Proposed Tougher Rules for Paints, Diesel | The European Union proposed new regulations to reduce pollution from diesel engines and from paints and varnishes. |
3 |
New Rules on the Way for Refinery Emissions | San Francisco will issue new rules to require refineries to monitor emissions from their flares. |
4 |
Pennsylvania Announces Phase-In of New Gasoline Can Standards | Pennsylvania will adopt the new federal guidelines for portable fuel containers to be more spill-proof and less likely to release harmful vapours into the air. |
5 |
Manufacturers to Label Mercury Fluorescent Lamps in US | The US has required fluorescent lamp makers to label all lamps containing mercury, as well as their packaging, sold in-state. |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | ||
6 |
Key Carmakers to Work Together on Fuel Cells Cars | A group of top carmakers aims to jointly develop technology to allow fuel cell cars to cover similar distances as gasoline engine cars. |
| III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Energy | ||
7 |
Draft German Law Sets 80% "Green" Packs Target | The German government has set a new goal for refillable drinks and "ecologically favourable" one-way containers to account for at least 80% of all drinks packs by end 2006. |
8 |
US EPA Launched National Plug-In to Recycling Campaign | The US EPA launched a national Plug-In To Recycling Campaign to encourage Americans to reuse and recycle electronics. |
9 |
New York Will Develop a Renewable Portfolio Standard | New York pledged to obtain 25% of its energy from renewables by 2012. |
10 |
Renewables Use Available Land to Produce Little Energy | Cornell University reported that renewable energies could replace only half the consumption of fossil fuels in the US, while occupying one-sixth of the US land area. |
| IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News | ||
11 |
Scientists Find El Nino's Grandparents | Scientists say that two alternating climate cycles, "El Viejo" and "La Vieja" in the Pacific, will give them a better understanding of climate changes around the globe. |
12 |
Transport for London Authority Threatened U-Turn on 'Green' Car Loophole | London has threatened to abolish a loophole permitting 'green' cars to escape the London's £5-a-day congestion charge. |
13 |
Indonesia Fails to Stop Illegal Logging | Environmental Investigation Agency reported that corruption in Indonesia's police and military has contributed to a surge in illegal logging that has destroyed much of the country's forests. |
14 |
Danes Review Support for Eco-Friendly Cars | The Danish government is reviewing its car-pricing policy "from an environmental perspective". |
15 |
UK Chemicals Body Sets Resource Use Targets | The UK's Chemical Industries Association has announced new targets for cuts in resource use to be met collectively by its members in 2012. |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
1 |
EU Parliament Bans Two Flame Retardants; Ministers Set To Sign Legislation Into Law | The European Parliament has approved a ban on two polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chemicals used as flame retardants in furniture and electrical appliances. |
2 |
EU Hopes For Energy Tax Deal In February | European Union finance ministers aim to reach a deal in February on planned common rules for the taxation of energy products. |
3 |
New Canadian Emissions Regulations Largely Harmonize With US Standards | Environment Canada issued final regulations for on-road vehicles and engine emissions to reduce smog-related vehicle emissions and make Canadian standards more comparable with those imposed in the US. |
| II. Subject Area: Waste Management and Energy | ||
4 |
Company Awarded Grant To Raise Recycling Rates Of Demolition Debris | The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection awarded a grant to greenGoat (a provider of resource conservation strategies for construction companies) to quantify the financial benefits of recycling construction and demolition debris and raise the recycling rates of such debris. |
5 |
Britain Offers Incentives For Renewable Energies At The Community Level | The British government has launched a £10 million campaign to encourage the installation of renewable energy systems. |
| III. Subject Area: Climate Change | ||
6 |
Greenhouse Gases Give Rise To Exchange-Traded Status In US | The Chicago Climate Exchange announced that its pilot internet-based market for greenhouse gases would commence trading in spring 2003. |
7 |
Rabo Intermediary In Dutch Greenhouse Gas Projects | Rabo, a private financial institution, has signed an agreement with the Dutch government to become a financial intermediary for projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. |
| IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News | ||
8 |
US Deploys Monitor System For Germ Attacks | US would start a national environmental monitoring system for anthrax, smallpox and other deadly germs that could be released into the air. |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
|
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | |||
1 |
EU slashes sulphur content in automototive fuels from 2005 | The European Union has passed a law that will reduce sulphur content in automotive petrol and diesel by 2005 and phase out sulphur in fuel by 2009. | |
2 |
Africa accelerates switch to unleaded petrol | A United Nations Environment Programme report showed that African countries would phase out lead from petrol within five years. | |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | |||
3 |
Innovative Biotechnology used to decontaminate land in the U.S. | A US company has come up with waste eating 'bugs' to recover lost real estate equity due to contamination in a fraction of the time it takes conventional methods. | |
4 |
New patent improves diesel performance and reduces greenhouse gases | A US company claims to have developed a fuel atomizer that reduce fuels consumption per mile on diesel-powered vehicles, as well as improve the performance of stationary generators. | |
5 |
US company develops promising Solar/Fuel Cell Power System | A US company will be developing a 'stand-alone' regenerative solar-fuel cell system. | |
| III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Recycling | |||
6 |
Micro-turbines turns sewage gas into electricity | A US sewage plant is using micro turbines to produce electricity from bio-gas efficiently to supplement its power requirement. | |
| IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News | |||
7 |
Ministry says dioxins found in German animal feed | Animal feed produced by a East German firm was found to contain excessive dioxins in January 2003 and 300 pigs given the feed has to be slaughtered. | |
8 |
Man-made activities worsen mercury pollution | The United Nations has released its first report on the global impact of mercury. | |
9 |
USEPA to test safety of silicofluorides in US water supplies | The USEPA intends to test the silicofluorides, which have been introduced into U.S water supplies more than 50 years ago, amidst public health concerns. | |
10 |
EU aims to improve greenhouse gas monitoring system | The European Commission launched a proposal to improve the monitoring of European Union's greenhouse gas emissions. | |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
|
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology | |||
13 |
GM Introduces The New 10,000 Psi Hydrogen Storage Tank System | General Motors Corporation has announced that the driving range of fuel cell vehicles would increase by 60% to 70% using a 10,000 psi compressed hydrogen storage tank system. | |
24 |
Electricity From Under The Sea | Britain has announced the use of undersea turbines, which operate on the same principle as wind turbines, to produce electricity as an important source of renewable energy. | |
| II. Subject Area: Environmental Environmental TechnologyHealth | |||
36 |
World Food Experts Still Divided Over Irradiation | International food experts will meet to deliberate whether to do away with the maximum dose for irradiation, which is currently set at 10,000 Gray. The proposal has stirred opposition from the European Union and infuriated numerous consumer lobby groups. | |
4 |
Children Face Cancer Risks From Wood Play Sets | The US Government has warned that children could face increased risks of developing lung or bladder cancer if they use playground equipment made of wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). It has forged an agreement with the industry to stop the use of CCA in new wood play sets and other consumer products by Dec 2003. | |
| III. Subject Area: General Environmental News | |||
57 |
EU To Debate Pesticide Ban On Highly Toxic Aldicarb Ministry says dioxins found in German animal feed | EU farm ministers are deliberating on a proposal to remove highly toxic aldicarb, a worm-killing pesticide used on sugar beet and root vegetables, from EU markets.Animal feed produced by a East German firm was found to contain excessive dioxins in January 2003 and 300 pigs given the feed has to be slaughtered. | |
69 |
US Firms Set Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets USEPA to test safety of silicofluorides in US water supplies | The US Department of Energy has implemented the new "Climate VISION" (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now) programme. It is a voluntary partnership programme for industries to pursue cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The USEPA intends to test the silicofluorides, which have been introduced into U.S water supplies more than 50 years ago, amidst public health concerns. | |
710 |
Britain Considering DNA Bar Code For GM Products EU aims to improve greenhouse gas monitoring system | The British government is considering requiring all biotech companies to use DNA bar-coding to identify crops and foods containing genetically modified organisms so as to facilitate enforcement.The European Commission launched a proposal to improve the monitoring of European Union's greenhouse gas emissions. | |
8 |
Global Warming Causing Genetic Changes | A study carried out by the Royal Society of London has detected the first signs of genetic change occurring in mammals as a result of global warming. This has raised concerns about how average temperature increases could affect humans. | |
9 |
Air Travel To Knock UK CO2 Emissions Off Target | A Sustainable Development Commission in the UK has warned that existing measures to cut emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) were unlikely to achieve UK government's target. It attributes the failure to the exclusion of CO2 emission from air travel. | |
10 |
EPA Announces Certification Of First Fuel Cell Vehicle | US EPA has announced the certification for fuel economy and emissions of the first US hydrogen fuel cell zero emission vehicle. | |
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
| I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
1 |
European electroscrap laws enter into force | A major package of European Union laws on the management of electrical and electronic waste and hazardous substances in manufactured equipment entered into force with publication in the EU's official journal. |
2 |
EU proposes ban on using arsenic to treat wood for consumer products | The European Commission proposed a directive that would ban the use of arsenic in the treatment of wood in consumer applications. |
3 |
Australia considering fee on plastic bags in the event industry plans fail to curb litter | An options paper setting out how a mandatory levy on plastic bags could be introduced will be completed by Jun 2003. |
| II. Subject Area: Recycling and Green Energy | ||
4 |
Soy-based biodiesel reliable in frigid cold | Researchers at the University of Minnesota Centre for Diesel Reseach said that soy-based diodiesel has been dependable during this winter's arctic US temperatures, confirming recent data, and bolstering calls for its use as an alternative to foreign oil. |
5 |
German "green" power output up 18 percent in 2002 | Germany electricity industry association, VDEW, said power production from renewable energies rose 18 percent last year in Germany to 45 billion kilowatt hours. |
6 |
Recyclers turn construction debris into needed products and services | At construction sites throughout the US, debris like concrete blocks, lumber, plastics, paper, and dirt must be removed. A growing number of businesses throughout the country are specializing in reclaiming those materials so the debris isn't simply hauled off to a regional landfill for disposal. |
7 |
US farm state senators renew ethanol mandate push | A group of US farm state senators launched a new effort to pass legislation that would triple the nation's use of ethanol and renewable fuels to 5 billion gallons annually by 2012. |
| III. Subject Area: General Environmental News | ||
8 |
UK food watchdog warns of mercury risk in tuna | Britain's Food Standards Agency said pregnant women, breastfeeding women and those planning babies should limit their consumption of tuna because mercury found in the fish could present a health hazard. |