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 |
Norway to start emissions quota trading in 2005 |
The Environment Ministry of Norway will start a limited scheme for trading the right to emit greenhouse gases by 2005. |
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2 |
Britain earmarks funds for solar power |
The British government announced that it was providing £20 million to promote the installation of solar power cells on the rooftops throughout the nation. |
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3 |
Japan to require recycling of PCs starting in summer 2003, METI says |
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is preparing to launch a compulsory recycling system for personal computers in 2003. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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4 |
New furnace technology aims to save energy and cut emissions |
The University of Toronto has developed a new laser sensor that detects wasted energy in an industrial furnace. |
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5 |
Nitrogen oxide detector helps scientists answer pollution questions |
The University of California has developed an advanced detector capable of measuring all types of nitrogen oxide (NOx) compounds in the air. |
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6 |
First fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid up and running |
US Department of Energy announced a new technology that successfully combined a fuel cell with a micro-turbine to produce 190 kW of electricity. |
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7 |
European space agency satellite expected to relay environmental data |
The European Space Agency successfully activated the first scientific instrument on board Europe's largest environmental satellite ever built on 6 Mar 02, marking the beginning of an unprecedented global data collection mission. |
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III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
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8 |
Pollen production - and allergies - may rise significantly over next 50 years |
Harvard University's researchers reported that rising carbon dioxide levels could lead to an increase in the incidence of allergies due to ragweed and other plants by mid-century. |
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IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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9 |
European motorcycle emissions cut by 70 percent |
The European Commission Pollutant announced that emissions from new motorcycles would be reduced by 65 to 70 percent from today's levels across the European Union within four years. |
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10 |
Plastic solar cells developed in lab |
The University of California is developing the first generation of plastic solar cells, which may one day provide a cheap substitute to silicon cells currently in use. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered : 25 Mar 2002 to 31 Mar 2002
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Item 1 |
Norway to start emissions quota trading in 2005 |
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Summary |
The Environment Ministry of Norway will start a limited scheme to trade the right to emit greenhouse gases by 2005. The proposed quota-based emission trading scheme will allow companies currently exempt from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions tax to buy the right to emit CO2, a by-product of burning fossil fuels. The CO2 tax would be continued until 2008 to avoid creating more pollution by companies taking advantage of cheap quotas. By 2008, the system will be expanded to all sectors as part of the U.N.-sponsored 1997 Kyoto protocol, which calls for reductions in global emissions of greenhouse gases, by an average of 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2008-12. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/15177/story.htm |
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Item 2 |
Britain earmarks funds for solar power |
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Summary |
The British government announced that it was providing £20 million to promote the installation of solar power cells on the rooftops throughout the nation. It hoped to curb Britain's emission of carbon dioxide by encouraging wide spread use and implementation of renewable energy systems. The funds would help the development of renewable energy projects and lower the cost of solar technologies in the coming years, making them a more economical option in energy production. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=20134&start=1 |
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Item 3 |
Japan to require recycling of PCs starting in summer 2003, METI says |
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Summary |
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) is preparing to launch a compulsory recycling system for personal computers in the summer of 2003. METI's waste and recycling promotion panel is currently working out the expanded computer recycling scheme and will issue it as a proclamation later in the year. The new system would require retailers to collect a fee for each new desktop PC and laptop PC that they sell. Retailers would transfer the recycling fees they collect at the point of sale to domestic PC manufacturers and importers, who ultimately will be responsible for storing and eventually disposing the PC's at the end of useful lives. Retailers expect consumers to keep their PCs for longer period of time once the new recycling system goes into effect. However, the program might cause a potential surge in illegal dumping of used PCs. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, ISSN 0149-8738 |
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Item 4 |
New furnace technology aims to save energy and cut emissions |
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Summary |
A new sensor, that detects wasted energy in an industrial furnace and relays the information to a control system so that input fuel can be adjusted down to save energy costs, has been developed by the University of Toronto. The sensor is designed to detect thermal and chemical energy losses quickly so that input adjustments can be made. This would result in an increase in the furnace's energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions would also be reduced. The sensor depends on laser; hence it is reliable in the harsh furnace environment and has a quick response time. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=20000 |
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Item 5 |
Nitrogen Oxide Detector Helps Scientists Answer Pollution Questions |
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Summary |
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed an advanced detector capable of measuring all types of nitrogen oxide (NOx) compounds in the air, helping answer questions about the production of ozone smog. Nitrogen oxide emissions, from both mobile and stationary sources, react readily with hydrocarbons to form compounds that lead to ozone formation. Up to half of the NOX emissions caused by this process are unaccounted for using traditional detectors and monitors. The scientists believed that they had been able to track previously unaccounted for nitrogen oxide emissions. They discovered large amount of alkyl nitrates, which are organic oxide compounds, previously thought to be a minor contributor to smog. The detector is able to simultaneously monitor the various types of NOX compounds found in the air by flash heating an air sample at different temperatures and have a sensitivity of 30 parts per trillion. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=20033&start=1 |
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Item 6 |
First fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid up and running |
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Summary |
US Department of Energy announced a new technology that successfully combined a fuel cell with a micro-turbine that could herald in a new age for power generation. The system housed at the University of California's National Fuel Cell Research Center, produced approximately 190 kilowatts of electricity - or enough to power about 200 homes. Solid oxide fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert energy in a fuel into electricity without the need for combustion. Micro-turbines are small, high-speed gas turbines. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=20109&start=1 |
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Item 7 |
European space agency satellite expected to relay environmental data |
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Summary |
The European Space Agency successfully activated the first scientific instrument on board Europe's largest environmental satellite ever built on 6 Mar 02, marking the beginning of an unprecedented global data collection mission. A total of 10 instruments abroad the satellite will collect data concerning land, oceans, the atmosphere, and ice movements and ice cap properties. The satellite will be able to identify pollution sources and also trace the pollution as it rises into the air and then report how those emissions impact and interact with the atmosphere. Some satellite data collected by the craft will be distributed by the European Space Agency for free to users engaged in scientific investigation and application development. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, ISSN 0149-8738 |
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Item 8 |
Pollen production - and allergies - may rise significantly over next 50 years |
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Summary |
Harvard University's researchers reported that rising carbon dioxide levels associated with global warming could lead to an increase in the incidence of allergies due to ragweed and other plants by mid-century. They have found that ragweed, which produces one of the most common allergens, produced 61 percent more pollen than normal when grown in an atmosphere whose carbon dioxide level is twice that of the present level. A doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide is expected to occur between 2050 and 2100. Besides producing more allergens, such a trend could alter competitive relationships among different plants, encouraging the growth of weedy species. |
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Reference |
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/03/020322075343.htm |
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Item 9 |
European motorcycle emissions cut by 70 percent |
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Summary |
The European Commission Pollutant announced that emissions from new motorcycles would be reduced by 65 to 70 percent from today's levels across the European Union within four years. A legislative conciliation committee agreed to amend Directive 97/24/EC, the multi-directive for two and three wheeled vehicles, to reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions in April 2003 and in January 2006. Once implemented, the emissions cuts will alleviate the most serious environmental problems linked to motorcycles. The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament still have to formally ratify the amendments. |
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Reference |
http://www.ens-news.com/ens/mar2002/2002L-03-26-04.html |
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Item 10 |
Plastic solar cells developed in lab |
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Summary |
Researchers from the University of California are developing the first generation of plastic solar cells, which may one day provide a cheap substitute to expensive silicon cells currently being used to harness the sun's power. The plastic solar cells could be attached to nearly any surface and can be relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The cells could provide power for a variety of portable electronic devices and could even be attached to devices that are wearable. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=20110&start=1 |