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Table of Contents

S/N	Title					Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1		EU Plans Tough Screening Of Toxic Chemicals			The European Commission will propose tough new controls on chemicals to curb the effect of toxic substances on humans and the environment in a bill that could influence lawmakers around the world.
2		Norway Taxes Two Greenhouse Gases			The Norwegian government has introduced an emission tax on two greenhouse gases [hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs)] to lower industrial emissions and promote the use of substitutes.
3		Portugal Enacts GMO Regulations			Portugal has enacted new regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their release into the environment.
II. Subject Area: Waste Management
4			Sustainable Development Logo For Products in France	The French government has launched a study into the possibility of creating a government-sanctioned "sustainable development" logo for products.

III. Subject Area: Renewable and Green Energy
5		Canadian Government Unveils Programme To Commercialize Fuel Cell Technology		The Canadian Fuel Cell Commercialization Roadmap released in Apr 2003 outlines how the Canadian government, companies and institutions can plan fuel cell programmes together to accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies
IV. Subject Area: Environmental Research and Findings
6	GM To Test Fuel Cells To Power Dow Chemical Plant		General Motors Corp will supply and test a fuel cell system to power a Dow Chemical Co. plant in Texas, which could lead to Dow buying or leasing 500 fuel cell units this decade.
V. Subject Area: General Environmental News
7		Mexico Steps Up Monitoring of Pollution At Beaches		The Mexican government's new programme to monitor the water quality of major beach resorts in Mexico has found some beaches to be highly polluted, leading to protests by hotel owners that that the monitoring effort was damaging the tourism industry.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	EU Parliament Backs Tough New Polluter-Pays Rules Proposal	The European Parliament has recently submitted the first polluter-pays bill to the EU environment ministers for endorsement. The bill will make polluters liable for the full costs of repairing the damage they do to the environment and also make it mandatory for companies to obtain environmental liability insurance.
II. Subject Area: Resources Conservation
2	Staples Launches In-store Recycling Programs For Electronics And Batteries	A US company, Staples Inc, has announced a recycling programme that allows its customers to drop off their used cell phones, PDAs, pagers, chargers and rechargeable batteries in any of its stores. The recycling programme would help reduce the amount of electronic wastes and their hazardous elements from going into landfills.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Technologies
3	Portable Dust Collector Offers Three-Stage Filtration and Versatile Performance	A US company, Farr Air Pollution Control has introduced a new portable dust collector, called "Zephyr® II" collector. The equipment, which offers 99.99 percent removal efficiency for 0.5 micron and larger particles, could be used to capture welding fumes, grinding dusts, dry dusts, soldering fumes and other airborne particles.
4	GM To Add Fuel Saving Device To SUVs And Pickups	General Motors Corp. has announced that it would progressively use new fuel-saving technology on its SUVs, pickup trucks and vans to improve their fuel efficiency.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
5	UN Sets Schedule To Target UN Environmental Issues	The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development has set a schedule to address global environmental issues ranging from clean drinking water to waste management and tourism.
6	EU Wants To See Russian Action On Kyoto Plan	The European Union wants to see Russia taking active measures to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
7	UK On Track To Meet Kyoto Greenhouse Gas Cuts	The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reported that Britain was well on course to meet its emission goals under the Kyoto Protocol.
8	UK Emissions Scheme Sees Seven Million Tonnes Of CO₂Change Hands	UK government has reported that the first year of its voluntary emissions trading scheme saw around 900 companies exchange rights to emit over seven million tonnes worth of carbon dioxide.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Norwegian Ban on Ozone Depleters to Begin in 2004	The Norwegian government has adopted an ozone-depleting substance regulation that includes prohibiting the use of certain ozone-depleting substances beginning 1 Jan 2004, and a trading system that limits businesses' ability to import ozone depleting substances.
2	Ontario Proposed to Toughen Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles Using Diesel Fuel	The Ontario government proposed to toughen opacity standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses powered by diesel fuel in 2004.
3	Japanese to Sharply Cut Emissions From Motorcycles by 2007	The Ministry of the Environment of Japan proposed world's toughest motorcycle emissions regulations as part of the ministry's drive to reduce emissions causing respiratory ailments and photochemical smog.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
4	Eco-Drive Alerts Cut Car Emissions	The Ministry of Environment of Japan develops a personalised electronic system that alerts drivers of their vehicle's fuel consumption, idling time and other driving habits to help reduce carbon dioxide emission from motor vehicles.
5	Fast Recycling of Catalyst Precious Metals by Bacteria	A Birmingham University research team claims to have developed a quick and cheap method for recycling precious metals in spent automotive catalysts, using bacteria.
III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Energy
IV Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
6	NASA Research Team Finds Soot Gas Impact on Climate Change	The NASA researchers and the Columbia University scientists found airborne, microscopic, black-carbon (soot) particles contribute more to climate change than previously assumed.
V Subject Area: General Environmental News
7	New Zealand Introduces Incentive Scheme for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions	The New Zealand government has offered incentives, in the form of promissory notes for Kyoto Protocol emission units, to firms reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Europeans Invited to Shape New Waste Strategy	The European Commission issued a policy statement to launch a broad consultation exercise on potential measures for recycling in preparation for new laws on waste reduction.
2	California E-Waste Recycling Bill Advances to Senate Floor	The California Senate Appropriations Committee passed a legislation that would require the recycling of toxic electronic waste and prevent it from being exported to developing nations.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
3	This Electric Bus Will Run and Run	U.S. engineers have developed a system for charging electric vehicles on the move and a trial run for public buses has been scheduled early next year.
4	Fill Her Up With Caged Hydrogen	Researchers have found a new material for storing hydrogen gas that can pave the development of safer, low-pressure fuel tanks for electric cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
5	Water Plants Mop up Metals	UK scientists reported that a common pond fern and a simple powder of ground-up seaweed could be used to clean up water contaminated with heavy metals.
III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Energy
6	Solar PV Design for Flat Roofs	Two U.S. companies have developed a solar energy product that is designed for all types of flat and low-slope roofing situations.
7	Minnesota Companies Try Cleaner, Greener Designs	Some prominent Minnesota businesses have committed to an environmental movement to design products that can be easily disassembled and recycled with minimal waste generation during and after their life cycles.
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News
8	How to Halve U.S. Transport Emissions	A report on Global Climate Change said that it is possible to reduce U.S. carbon emissions from transportation 20 percent by 2015 and almost 50 percent by 2030.
9	EU to Link Emissions Trading to Rest of World	The European Union aims to link its greenhouse gas emissions trading system to the rest of the world so that EU firms can buy pollution permits from other countries to help meet pollution targets.
10	Expect a Hot Polluted Future, Says EU Forecast	A new assessment of future energy trends by the European Union predicts that worldwide pollution from carbon dioxide is set to double in less than 30 years if global efforts to curb climate change are not made.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Australia To Boost Fuel Excise Duties, FY 2003-2004 Budget Submission Shows	The Australian government will boost excise levels on gasoline and diesel fuels in order to fund a grant scheme to speed the use of low-sulphur gasoline and diesel.
2	Opposition Slows Ethanol in US Senate Energy Bill	US Senate action on a plan to double ethanol production may be delayed due to opposition, the Energy Committee Chairman said this week.
3	Lawmakers May Reduce Proposed Limits To Mercury Pollution In Bush Plan.	The proposed standards for reducing mercury pollution may be relaxed as new data indicate that the levels in the government plan are not feasible.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
4	UN Nuclear Agency Tries To Avert Water Crisis	The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is helping countries use atomic physics to squeeze every last bit of water hidden in the earth's crust to avert a crisis of the world's most precious commodity.
5	NASA H2 Expert Addison Bain To Test Hydrogen-Compressed Natural Gas In Ford Crown Vic	Dr Addison Bain, whose groundbreaking research proved that hydrogen did not initiate the Hindenburg fire in 1937, has begun a new project to demonstrate use of hydrogen-compressed natural gas blends for fueling today's automobile engines
III. Subject Area: Climate Change
6	Report Sees Possibility for 50% Cut In European Power Plant Emissions By 2020	European Union power producers can achieve a 50% cut in their emissions of carbon dioxide by 2020 through a policy promoting effective programmes for reducing energy demand and increased reliance on renewable energies.
7	Rich Nations To Emit More Greenhouse Gases, Says UN.	The UN reported that the most industrialised nations of the world would increase their greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent this decade. This is a setback after near stabilisation in the 1990s.
8	Getting A Vertical View Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will measure the vertical profile of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
IV. Subject Area: Resource Conservation
9	German Stores Stop Plans For Nationwide Can Recyclers	The German food industry has withdrawn from a nationwide project to provide a network of recycling machines for drink cans.
V. Subject Area: General Environmental News
10	European Environment Improving But At Risk From Economic Activities	The European Environment Agency's latest assessment of Europe's environment notes progress over the past decade, but cautions that environmental harm from economic activity could reverse the improvements.
11	Banks To Adopt Environmental Rules Amid Opposition	About 10 US and European banks are preparing to adopt new environmental principles governing how they finance projects, especially in emerging markets.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Spain Revamps Rules on Subsidies For Firms Treating, recycling Used Oil	Spain's Environment Ministry requires companies treating and recycling used oil to comply with emissions legislation and environmental and human health standards before being eligible for subsidies.
2	Thai Pollution Control Agency Near Finalising Plan On Waste Management	Thailand's Pollution Control Department had prepared a national waste management plan that it hoped would be adopted within the next year.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
3	Oxide Materials May Facilitate Small-scale Hydrogen Production	US researchers developed a new system that could be used to produce hydrogen needed to power small-scale fuel cells in homes or vehicles.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
4	Cadmium Studies Suggest New Pathway To Human Cancer	US researchers found that cadmium in food, water and cigarette smoke could inhibit the repair of DNA and cause genetic defects and cancer.
5	Traffic Pollution Linked To Severe Asthma Attacks	British researchers found that exposure to nitrogen dioxide from vehicle exhausts exacerbate asthma attacks.
6	ADB Urges Government, Private Sector in Asia to Curb Air Pollution	The Asian Development Bank launched a set of policy guidelines for Asian countries to curb worsening air pollution.
IV. Subject Area: Renewable and Green Energy
7	GM Looking At More Deals To Test Fuel Cells	As part of its broad effort to make fuel cell cars competitive, General Motors Corporation is working towards signing more agreements to test stationary fuel cells.
8	Solar Panels Installed To Power Oil Production Facility	Chevron Energy Solutions developed and installed a solar photovoltaic system to power an oil production facility in California.
9	Rebates For Solar PV Launched In Chicago	A US solar company and electric utility teamed up to offer rebates to promote the installation of solar electric systems in Chicago.
V. Subject Area: General Environmental News
10	Progress To Reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions Achieved By Climate Leaders Partnership	3 US companies had set new greenhouse emission goals under the Climate Leaders Programme and 11 new companies had joined the programme.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Australia Initiating Emission and Fuel Standards Review	The Australian Motor Vehicle Environment Committee has started a review process to assess the adoption of Euro IV and V standards.
2	Australia Takes On World-First Plan For Reporting Greenhouse Gases Emission	Australia has implemented a new law, which requires private businesses and government departments with turnovers higher than the payroll tax threshold to report their greenhouse gas emissions publicly.
3	Bay Area Adopts New Rule Regulating Oil Refinery Pollution	The Bay Area Air Quality Management District in the US has passed stringent rules to regulate oil refinery pollution. Oil companies will have to monitor the volume of flare gas emissions, their composition and the causes for their release, from the flare stacks.
4	New Bill Would Allow Expanded Tax Credits For Pollution Control Efforts	The US House Revenue Committee has approved a new bill to allow tax credits up to 50 percent for pollution control equipment that go above and beyond those standards already required by law.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
5	Corn Replaces Petroleum in Green Packaging	A company in the US has invented a new type of green packaging, which looks like plastic but turns into compost after disposal
6	SHEC Labs Unveils Advanced Solar Concentrator	The Solar Hydrogen Energy Corporation (SHEC) has developed an advanced solar concentration technology to harness solar energy for steam generation. The steam generated is then used to operate steam turbine to produce electricity.
III Subject Area: Renewable and Green Energy
7	Converting Garbage into Ethanol	A US company has developed a new process that could convert trash into ethanol for use as fuel.
IV Subject Area: General Environmental News
8	Medical Wastes Disposal In China	China has announced plans to build modern medical waste disposal and treatment facilities. Its State Environmental Protection Administration has said that the present sewage disposal and solid waste treatment facilities in hospitals across the country are far from adequate.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Asian Development Bank Issues Emission Policy Guidelines	The Asian Development Bank (ADB) released a set of policy guidelines to help nations reduce vehicle emissions.
2	Campaign To Push Use Of Mass Transit For Kyoto Target	The government in Japan is encouraging its people to use public transport instead of cars to help achieve reduction targets for greenhouse-gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.
3	Thailand to Issue Final Guidelines for Burning of Agricultural Waste	Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is finalizing a set of guidelines that aims to discourage open burning of agricultural waste.

II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
4	Researchers Find New Catalyst To Produce Hydrogen As Fuel	Researchers in the US has found an inexpensive mix of metals that can act as catalyst to produce hydrogen from organic wastes.
5	Toshiba Group Announces Breakthrough in CO2 Absorbing Ceramics	Toshiba Corporation announced it has developed a ceramic material with exceptional carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption characteristics. The new material can absorb 400 times its own volume of CO2 at room temperature.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
6	Vehicle Traffic Associated with Increased Carcinogen Levels	Researchers identified a significant association between vehicle traffic and curbside concentrations of carcinogens.
IV Subject Area: Waste Recycling
7	Japan's Environment Ministry Recommends Recycling Targets for Industry	Japan's Ministry of the Environment has recommended specific 'industry' targets to 'reduce, reuse and recycle' waste, energy and other resources.
V Subject Area: General Environmental News
8	Hydrogen Fuel Technology could destroy Ozone Layer	Simulation studies by the California Institute of Technology showed that a hydrogen-based economy could reduce atmospheric ozone levels by as much as 10% and lead to more harmful UV radiation.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	Agreement On Carbon Sequestration	Thirteen countries and the EU have signed an agreement to aid progress in research into sequestering the carbon dioxide deep underground, in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline reservoirs and unminable coal seams.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
2	Discovery Points to Cheaper Fuel Cells	US researchers have found cheaper way to create an active catalyst to purify the hydrogen before it is used in fuel cells.
3	Microbes Discovered That Eat Toxic Waste	Californian researchers have discovered the bacteria that feed on vinyl chloride, a common and hazardous industrial chemical, that could be used to clean contaminated underground water.
4	Microbe Fuel Cell Packs More Power	German researchers have developed new anode that could harvests ten times more electricity than before from bacteria.
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
5	Smoking And Sitting In Cars Cause Big Increase Exposure To Pollution	European researchers found that car drivers and smokers are at greatest risk of benzene pollution.
6	Britain's Top Doctor Calls for Smoking Ban	Britain's chief medical officer called for laws banning smoking in public places.
IV Subject Area: Waste Recycling
7	Big Businesses Fined For Ignoring Recycling Law	The UK Environment Agency successfully prosecuted 53 companies last year for not recycling or recovering packaging waste, an increase of 66%.

S/N	Title	Synopsis
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation
1	California lawmakers consider restricting flame-retardant chemicals	The California Environmental Protection Agency is considering banning the use of flame-retardant chemicals like pentabrominated diphenyl ethers and octabrominated diphenyl ethers after a study revealed the serious health impacts posed by these chemicals.
2	Key pollutants added to Canadian Environmental Protection Act	The Government of Canada has added the key pollutants that make up smog to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Pollution Act 1999 (CEPA).
3	Australia introduces new fuel-consumption label on cars	The Australian government has introduced a new fuel consumption label for new car models that lists both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology
54	Chloride-eating germs fighting pollution	A research team at Georgia Institute of Technology discovered a microbe called BAV1 that eats organic pollutants loaded with chlorine such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).
III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health
65	Report recommends steps to reduce dietary dioxin exposure	A new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, US has proposed several recommendations to reduce the health impact posed by dioxins in food
76	Diesel fumes raise Canadians' cancer risk	A report released by the Sierra Club of Canada warns that Canadians face high cancer and non-cancer health risks from exposure to diesel exhaust particles, with some children and those in highly exposed occupations especially at risk.
IV Subject Area: Waste Recycling
87	Free fridge take-back scheme launched	A partnership between DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), local authorities, retailer Comet, a community waste organization and a logistics firm, has launched a new free take-back scheme for fridges in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
98	New plastics revolutionises packaging without changing anything	Cargill Dow in US, recently launched its bio-plastic container which is made from corn and biodegrades after disposal.
V Subject Area: General Environmental News
190	Urban smog is found to stunt rural trees	Scientists who set out to gauge the impact of urban pollutants on trees discovered that trees planted near New York City's congested main streets actually grow twice as large as their rural counterparts.

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