TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
|
I. Subject Area: Environmental Policy and Regulation |
||
|
1. |
Laws To Prevent, Limit Shipping Accidents |
The Europeans Parliament approved three draft measures designed to curb shipping accidents and their environmental impact. |
|
2. |
Sulfur-Free Gasoline, Diesel by 2009 |
The European Union's council agreed to introduce "Sulfur-free" gasoline and diesel fuel starting in 2005 and mandating its use by 2009. |
|
3. |
EPA tightens microbial standards for small drinking water systems |
USEPA tights its requirements on disease causing microbes for small drinking water systems. |
|
4. |
EU tries to reduce ozone pollution by law |
European Union (EU) has adopted a law requiring countries to ensure ozone levels do not exceed World Health Organization (WHO) standards by more that 25 times annually. |
|
II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
||
|
5.
|
Promotion of methane-fuel vehicles |
Metan, an Icelandic firm, aims to construct a viable methane-fuel industry for vehicles. |
|
6 |
Researchers discover PCB-degrading microbes |
Scientists have discovered a PCB-degrading bacterium, which is able to catalyze the dechlorination of PCBs. |
|
III. Subject Area: Waste Management and Green Energy |
||
|
7 |
New guidelines will reduce hazards posed by plastic wastes
|
Experts have adopted a set of technical guidelines for protecting human health and the environment from the improper management and disposal of plastic wastes. |
|
IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
||
|
8. |
GHG could cause Climatic Shifts
|
Researchers from the National Academies claim that Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and other human activity may increase the possibility of significant, abrupt and unwelcome regional or global climate change effects. |
|
9. |
Recycling frees imposed at point of sale. |
Japanese personal computer manufacturing industry to add prepaid PC recycling fees on sale prices. |
|
10. |
Developing countries funded to build biosafety skills |
UNEP is carrying out a US$38.4 million capacity building project to help developing countries prepare for the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. |
|
V. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
||
|
11. |
Emissions control goes to the smog dogs |
Washington has resorted to using 'smog dogs' to help track down gross polluters. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 14 Jan 2002 to 19 Jan 2002
|
Item 1 |
Laws To Prevent, Limit Shipping Accidents |
|
Summary |
Recently, the European parliament approved three draft measures designed to curb accidents and their environmental impact. Draft measures include speeding up of the application by the European Union of U.S type restrictions on single-hulled oil tankers, strengthening port safety checks and imposing additional requirements on "Classification societies" responsible for certifying the seaworthiness of merchant vessels. The call for such laws was the result of the sinking of the Maltese-registered tanker Erika, which led to extensive pollution of France's Atlantic Coastline. Some of the reinforced controls include the banning of most dangerous ships from EU ports and lead to blacklisting of rogue 'flag of convenience' registers. |
|
Reference |
International Environment (Reporter) Vol 25, ISSN 0149-8738, Pg 6 |
|
Item 2 |
Sulfur-Free Gasoline, Diesel by 2009 |
|
Summary |
The European Union's Council concurred to introduce "Sulfur-free" gasoline and diesel fuel starting in 2005 and mandating its use by 2009. The new fuels will have sulfur of up to 10 ppm of sulfur, compared to the 50ppm of sulfur currently allowed in gasoline. The Environmental Commissioner commented that "Sulfur-free" fuels would speed up the introduction of the latest fuel-efficient technologies in cars, thereby significantly reducing the emission of carbon dioxide - the most important greenhouse gas. |
|
Reference |
International Environment (Reporter) Vol 25, ISSN 0149-8738, Pg 10 |
|
Item 3 |
EPA tightens microbial standards for small drinking water systems |
|
Summary |
USEPA has tightened its requirements on disease causing microbes for small drinking water systems which serve less that 10,000 people. The small systems will be given 3 years to implement the best available technology to remove 99% of Cryptosporidium through enhanced filtration. This rule is currently in force for large drinking water systems. Cryptosporidium spores, found in animal waste can cause intestinal problems and possibly death, cannot be eliminated using commonly used disinfectants like chlorine. Instead they can only be removed through enhanced filtration technologies. EPA estimates that the rule will cost US$39.5 million per annum. |
|
Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=19176&image1=2 |
|
Item 4 |
EU tries to reduce ozone pollution by law |
|
Summary |
European Union (EU) assembly has adopted a law which require countries to ensure ozone levels do not exceed World Health Organization (WHO) standards by more that 25 times a year. The law forms part of a package aimed at tackling ground-level ozone and acid-rain. The measure aimed to encourage countries to cut down on pollutants, especially from car exhaust, which create ozone when they react with sunlight. The resultant smog is can pose a major health risk and sometimes lead cities to close their streets to traffic. |
|
Reference |
http://www.pollutiononline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={B6FFFA0D-0A06-11D6-A789-00 |
|
Item 5 |
Promotion Of Methane-Fuel Vehicles |
|
Summary |
Metan, an Icelandic firm promoting methane gas use, is expecting another 14 methane-fuel passenger vehicles to be added to the country's current 20 bi-fuel fleet. The company's ultimate goal is to construct a viable methane-fuel industry for vehicles in Iceland that could be sold to private owners or find wider commercial use. It's supply of methane, extracted from a landfill enough to power 2,500 of the alternative cars. Note: Methane gas is produced at landfills when microorganisms decompose without the presence of oxygen. Besides its energy potential, methane is an environmental concern because it is a greenhouse gas. |
|
Reference |
International Environment (Reporter) Vol 25, ISSN 0149-8738, Pg 35 |
|
Item 6 |
Researchers discover PCB-degrading microbes |
|
Summary |
US scientists have discovered a PCB-degrading bacterium in Baltimore Harbor sediments by using a rapid DNA screening method. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which are included in the persistent organic pollutant (POP) list, can remain in the environment for decades due to their strong chemical bonds. According to the researchers, the bacteria appears to live off the compound and catalyzes the dechlorination of PCBs. Although there are a few bacterial species that can reduce chlorinated organic molecules, this bacterium is the first found to break the chlorine bonds in the critical ortho-position and this could lead to finding ways for the complete dechlorination of persistent molecules. |
|
Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=19235&image1=2 |
|
Item 7 |
New guidelines will reduce hazards posed by plastic wastes |
|
Summary |
Experts from some 100 Governments have adopted a set of technical guidelines, prepared under the auspices of the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, for protecting human health and the environment from the improper management and disposal of plastic wastes. The guideline responds to growing concern that many developing countries lack the necessary legislation and facilities for coping with the dramatic growth in the quantity of these wastes. The guideline addresses waste management issues including sorting for mechanical recycling, health and safety, shipping and transport, feedstock recycling, compaction, energy recovery and final disposal. |
|
Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=19254&image1=2 |
|
Item 8 |
GHG Could Cause Climatic Shifts |
|
Summary |
A report from National Academies' National Research Council said that Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and other human activity might increase the possibility of significant, abrupt and unwelcome regional or global climate change effects. According to the report, 'Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises', these abrupt changes may cause temperature changes of about 10 degrees Celsius, in only a decade in some places and severe floods and droughts. Instances of such change in the past century include a rapid warming of the North Atlantic from 1920 to 1930 and the Dust Bowl drought of the 1930s. However, more study is needed into the causes, patterns and likelihood of abrupt climate change to reduce the impact on society. |
|
Reference |
International Environment (Reporter) Vol 25, ISSN 0149-8738, Pg 16 |
|
Item 9 |
Recycling Fees Imposed At Point Of Sale. |
|
Summary |
For the first time in Japan, personal computer manufacturers are imposing recycling fees at the point of sale. The Japanese government said that the desktop recycling fee is likely to be set at $25-$33 per unit and the laptop and notebook type at $7.85 to $11.80. As for PCs that have already been sold to consumers, government plans to require consumers to pay recycling and collection fees when they turn used PCs. The average lifespan for a PC used in a Japanese home is 13.8 years, and that requires manufactures to keep the fees for a long time, forcing them to manage funds in a safe, secure financial product. |
|
Reference |
International Environment (Reporter) Vol 25, ISSN 0149-8738, Pg 50 |
|
Item 10 |
Developing countries funded to build biosafety skills |
|
Summary |
A multi-million dollar project to help developing countries assess the potential risks and rewards from genetically engineered crops will be carried out by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The 3-year US$38.4 million capacity building project is seen as a key initiative to help as many as 100 developing countries prepare for the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The project will help developing countries acquire the scientific and legal skills for evaluating the health and environmental issues surrounding imports of so-called Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). The Cartagena Protocol is the first legal environmental treaty to institutionalize the precautionary approach to LMOs. At present, 107 governments have signed the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol and 10 countries have ratified it. Fifty ratifications are required for its entry into force. |
|
Reference |
|
Item 11 |
Emissions control goes to the smog dogs |
|
Summary |
Washington, faced with the threat of losing federal funds for transportation by 2005 if pollution levels are not reduced, has resorted to using 'smog dogs' for emission control. 'Smog dogs' measures a number of pollutants from a car's exhaust by sending an invisible tract of light through the plume. Video cameras record license plate numbers and computers interpret the data received. Environmental Systems Products will carry out a 9-month, US$300,000 pilot program in Mar 2002 to monitor emission levels from passing cars in an effort to track down gross polluters. Legislators are predicting the program will help target only high polluting cars and improve the efficiency of existing programs. |
|
Reference |
http://www.gnet.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=19174&image1=2 |