TABLE OF CONTENTS
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S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation |
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1 |
EU and US on opposite sides of Kyoto Protocol |
Both EU and US will debate how to implement the Kyoto Protocol during the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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2 |
Solar-powered sludge drying system |
The THERMO-SYSTEM solar dryer is an energy-efficient system designed to accept liquid, thickened or dewatered sludge and dry them to over 75% solids. |
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3 |
140-MW integrated solar combined cycle power project for Rajasthan |
India's desert state of Rajasthan is planning to set up a 140-MW integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) power project in an effort to promote the use of solar energy in the region. |
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III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
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4 |
Ballast water carries microbes around globe |
American researchers said bacteria are being spread around the globe via the ballast water of ships. |
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5 |
Kids taking steroids for asthma need calcium and exercise |
Inhaled steroids have revolutionized the treatment of severe asthma, but a new study showed they have unexpected side effect: osteopenia, or thinning of the bones that can lead to fractures and other bone problems. |
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IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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6 |
EPA pledges review of biotech corn |
The Environmental Protection Agency has pledged to do a thorough review before allowing a variety of gene-altered corn in food products following the discovery of the biotech corn in the taco shells. |
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7 |
U.S. greenhouse gas output is increasing |
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming phenomenon increased 0.8% last year. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered : 30 Oct 2000 to 5 Nov 2000
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Item 1 |
EU and US on opposite sides of Kyoto Protocol |
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Summary |
The United States and European Union (EU) are on opposite sides of the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol, which was adopted in 1997, calls for ratifying nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 5 % below their 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012. Both EU and US will debate how to implement the Kyoto Protocol during the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The issues debated will include the definition of a sink (climate change terminology meaning something that removes carbon from the air) as well as the amount of credit a country will get towards their greenhouse gas emissions from reforestation or reducing their deforestation or other changes. Land-rich US wants to include sink credit system into the Protocol while EU, with limits on land available for reforestation by member countries, wants a lower value for these credits in an emissions trading system. However, if the EU and US do not ratify the Protocol it could not go into force. The Protocol can only come into force if 55 countries ratify it. Industrialised countries accounting for 55% of this group's 1990 carbon dioxide emissions must be among the 55 ratifying countries. The Protocol has been ratified by 30 countries, but none of the major emitting countries are included in that group. These issues need to be addressed during COP6 in order for major industrialised countries to consider ratifying it during the Protocol. Time may be running out for countries to be able to implement the measures of the Protocol if it is to go into force. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthtimes.org/nov/environmenteuandusonnov1_00.htm |
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Item 2 |
Solar-powered sludge drying system |
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Summary |
The THERMO-SYSTEM solar dryer is an energy-efficient system designed to accept liquid, thickened or dewatered sludge and dry them to over 75% solids. The system consists of a translucent chamber, sensors to monitor atmospheric drying conditions, air louvers, ventilation fans, mobile electric "Moles", and a microprocessor that controls the entire drying environment. The system's main source of drying energy is the sun's radiation. The microprocessor evaluates a number of climatic variables and then initiates one or more operations which optimize the moisture-absorbing potential of the ambient air. The microprocessor is the brain, helping to ensure that the drying potential of the chamber's atmosphere is optimized and the incoming solar radiation is maximized to produce a consistently dried sludge in a relatively short time. |
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Reference |
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Item 3 |
140-MW integrated solar combined cycle power project for Rajasthan |
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Summary |
India's desert state of Rajasthan is planning to set up a 140-MW integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) power project in an effort to promote the use of solar energy in the region. The ISCC project has been envisaged as the first step in a long-term programme for promoting solar thermal power in Rajasthan, which would lead to development of similar systems in the country. The plant will be located at Mathania near the tourist city of Jodhpur, and will start its operation in 2003. The project is expected to include a naphtha/gas fired gas turbine of about 70 MW and steam turbines of about 70 MW. The Global Environment Facility will grant $45 million to the project and the Indian government $15 million, while German development agency KFW has agreed to provide a loan of DM500 million. |
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Reference |
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Item 4 |
Ballast water carries microbes around globe |
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Summary |
American researchers said bacteria are being spread around the globe via ships' ballast water. The Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the United States receives about 2.6 billion gallons of foreign ballast water each year. The Environmental Research Centre in Maryland measured the total concentration of bacteria, virus-like particles and the bacteria Vibrio cholera (V. cholera) that causes cholera in the ballast water of ships arriving in Chesapeake Bay. They found that each litre of ballast water contains about a billion bacteria and seven billion virus-like particles. The researchers said that although commercial ships, which have used ballast water for stability since the 19th Century, have helped to spread many species around the world, there is virtually no research into the transfer of potentially harmful pathogens in ballast water. They called for more research into the spread of microbes in ballast water. |
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Reference |
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Item 5 |
Kids taking steroids for asthma need calcium and exercise |
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Summary |
Inhaled steroids have revolutionized the treatment of severe asthma, but a new study says they, along with oral steroids, may come with an unexpected side effect: osteopenia, or thinning of the bones that can lead to fractures and other bone problems. Researchers recommend that children who are taking these drugs regularly should take daily calcium and vitamin supplements, and should exercise more. Steroids are the cornerstone of asthma management because they cool down the lung inflammation that is the first stage in asthma. The downside of steroids is that they may cause growth suppression in children when used over long periods. The researchers said that children who regularly use steroids to control asthma, who have low calcium intake, and who do not get regular exercise are the most at risk for bone problems. |
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Reference |
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Item 6 |
EPA pledges review of biotech corn |
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Summary |
The Environmental Protection Agency has pledged to do a thorough review before allowing a variety of gene-altered corn in food products. Discovery of the corn in the food supply has forced nationwide recalls of taco shells and forced the shutdown of processing plants. The corn was only allowed for animal feed or industrial purposes because of unresolved questions of its potential to cause allergic reactions. The government has been unable to trace about 1.5% or 1.2 million bushels of this year's crop. The rest has gone to approved uses or is being held in storage. Aventis CropScience, which developed the corn, wants the EPA to grant a temporary food-use permit for the corn to avoid further recalls and shutdowns of food processors. EPA plans for a 30-day public comment period and formal consultations with scientists. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/10/10312000/ap_biocorn_39705.asp |
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Item 7 |
U.S. greenhouse gas output is increasing |
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Summary |
The US Department of Energy reported that the emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for the controversial global warming phenomenon increased 0.8% last year. The amount of carbon dioxide, the major component of greenhouse gases, increased 1.3%. Carbon dioxide accounts for 83% of the greenhouse gases that some scientists believe trap heat in the atmosphere and have triggered a gradual warming trend that cause major long-term climate changes. The 1.3% carbon dioxide increase as compare to 0.1% last year is in line with the average annual increase for the 1990s of 1.4%. This translates to 1,527 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCe) being released in the form of carbon dioxide last year compared to 1,507 MMTCe in 1998. Total greenhouse gas emissions climbed to 1,833 MMTCe in 1999 from 1,818 MMTCe the year before. A sharp 2.9% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles accounted for around one-third of the total carbon dioxide total; emissions from industrial and residential sources were up less than 1%. The Department of Energy observed that greenhouse gases emissions were continuing to grow. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2000/11/11012000/upi_greenhouse_39734.asp |