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 |
European Parliament Has Approved A Plan On Recycling Targets For Plastics, Metals, Paper And Glass |
The European Parliament has approved a plan to raise overall national recycling targets laid down in Parliament and Council Directive 94/62 on packaging waste to levels between 20% to 50%. |
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2 |
Russia And Canada Will Push For Ratification Of Kyoto Protocol |
Russia and Canada have indicated their intention to press forward with ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. They will send ratification documents to their respective parliaments for endorsement. |
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3 |
New Air Pollution Rules Target Off Road Vehicles |
The US EPA has issued new emission standards for the engines of off road vehicles. When fully implemented in 2012, the new standards are expected to prevent the release of more than two million tons of air pollution each year. |
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II. Subject Area: Environmental Technology |
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4 |
Scientist Develops 'Green' Solution To Plastic Composites |
A Cornell University scientist is working on fully biodegradable composites that can replace plastics through the use of soybean protein and other plant-based fibers. |
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5 |
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle - New Form Of Power Generation |
A new technology known as integrated gasification combined cycle has been used by two power plants in the US to generate more power than conventional power plants. The air emissions from the power plants comply fully with the requirements of the Clean Air Act. |
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III. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
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6 |
Global Treaty Mooted To Counter Mercury Dangers |
Scientists from around the world have agreed that there was enough evidence on the dangers posed by mercury to human health to justify international action. |
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IV. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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7 |
Chlorine Dioxide Gas Kills Dangerous Biological Contaminants |
Scientists in the Purdue University discovered that chlorine dioxide gas, which is used to rid office buildings of anthrax, could effectively eliminate deadly bacteria from fruits and vegetables. |
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8 |
New Jersey Announces Plans To End Air Pollution Credit Program |
The State Department of Environmental Protection has announced that it would end the clean air pollution credit program in New Jersey because there is no evidence that air pollution was being reduced by the plan. The failure of the program is attributed to the lack of key safeguards and careful monitoring of pollution credit transfers and capping of emission levels. |
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SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered: 16 Sep 2002 to 22 Sep 2002
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Item 1 |
European Parliament Has Approved A Plan on Recycling Targets for Plastics, Metals, Paper and Glass |
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Summary |
The European Parliament has approved a plan to raise overall national recycling targets laid down in Parliament and the Council Directive 94/62 on Packaging Waste. However, final agreement on targets and deadlines is unlikely to emerge until later in the legislative procedure. The Commission proposed to introduce material specific recycling targets: 20 percent for plastics, 50 percent for metals, 55 percent for paper and cardboard, and 60 percent for glass. They said that recovery and recycling costs could be offset by savings from waste-disposal costs estimated at $6 to $9 billion a year. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol. 25, No. 19, Page 856 |
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Item 2 |
Russia and Canada Will Push for Ratification of Kyoto Protocol |
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Summary |
Russia and Canada have indicated their intentions to press forward with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and they would send ratification documents to their respective parliaments for endorsement. As of 30 Aug 02, some 90 countries representing 37.1 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have assented to the Kyoto Protocol, and a handful of small-emitting countries is expected to ratify shortly. While Canada represents 3.3 percent of the emissions, Russia with its 17.4 percent of 1990 emissions, is seen as a linchpin in bringing the treaty into force. Russia is expected to benefit financially from the Kyoto ratification because it would have a surplus of greenhouse gas emission credits to sell on the open market created under the protocol. |
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Reference |
International Environment Reporter, Vol. 25, No. 19, Page 862 |
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Item 3 |
New Air Pollution Rules Target Off Road Vehicles |
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Summary |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new emission standards for the engines of off road vehicles including motorcycles, forklifts, airport baggage transport vehicles and electric generators. The EPA says, when fully implemented in 2012, the new standards are expected to prevent the release of more than two million tons of air pollution each year - the equivalent of removing the pollution from more than 32 million cars every year. To facilitate compliance of the new standards, manufacturers of off road motorcycles will be given incentives to switch from two stroke engines to cleaner four stroke engines, beginning in 2006. At least 50 percent of a manufacturer's fleet will have to meet reduced emissions levels for hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon monoxide in 2006, and 100 percent of the fleet must meet the standards in 2007 and beyond. |
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Reference |
http://ens-news.com/ens/sep2002/2002-09-17-06.asp |
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Item 4 |
Scientist Develops 'Green' Solution to Plastic Composites |
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Summary |
Plastic parts with origins ranging from car parts to packaging are found in abundance in landfills throughout the world. A Cornell University scientist is working on fully biodegradable composites that can replace plastics through the use of soybean protein and other plant-based fibers. Instead of non-degradable plastics based on petroleum products, green composites use natural fibers that are embedded in a matrix made of plant-based or other resins for strength. They are made from renewable agricultural sources and are environmentally friendly, as they will biodegrade naturally once they are thrown on a compost pile. The plant-based green composites could become inexpensive alternatives for many mass-produced items. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=22307 |
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Item 5 |
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle - New Form of Power Generation |
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Summary |
The US recently commissioned two power plants (250 megawatt and 260 megawatt) using a new technology known as integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). In these power plants, coal is converted into a gas, which is then cleansed and burned in a combustion turbine. The advantage of IGCC is that it allows easy capture of carbon dioxide from the exhaust, while producing electricity more efficiently than other clean-coal methods. The process can also be retrofitted on to existing power plants. The process involves feeding coal into a gasifier that is injected with steam, oxygen and flux. This changes the chemical structure of the coal, producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the process. The raw gas is then purified of sulphur compounds, and the tars and heavy oils left over from the restructuring are recycled back into the gasifier for combustion. The clean gas is then used as fuel in a gas turbine to produce power. It is reported that IGCC plants are able to operate at about 40% to 44% efficiency as against 33% for conventional power generation plants. The air emissions of the plants are also well within the Clean Air Act's requirement. |
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Reference |
The Economist Technology Quarterly Sep 21st 2002, Page 4 & 5 |
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Item 6 |
Global Treaty Mooted to Counter Mercury Dangers |
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Summary |
Scientists from around the world have agreed that there is enough evidence on the dangers posed by mercury to human health to justify international action. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is starting negotiations on a full global treaty to restrict mercury use. Mercury, which is used in or released by many industrial processes as well as in dentistry and medical thermometers, is transformed by contact with water into a poisonous compound easily absorbed by humans, animals and fish. The danger comes when mercury accumulates in the body. Mercury poisoning can cause serious brain and kidney damage even when absorbed at low levels. Scientists in the UNEP Mercury Assessment Working Group have made several proposals (eg. an increase in information exchange and substitution of mercury with other products) for consideration by governments in the respective countries. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/17763/newsDate/16-Sep-2002/story.htm |
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Item 7 |
Chlorine Dioxide Gas Kills Dangerous Biological Contaminants |
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Summary |
Scientists at the Purdue University have conducted experiments to test the effectiveness of chlorine dioxide gas, the same sanitizing agent used to rid US federal office buildings of anthrax, to kill pathogens found in food. The experiment measured how effectively chlorine dioxide gas could kill Listeria monocytogenes cells in apples. Although Listeria is relatively rare, it is considered the most deadly of the food-borne pathogens with a 20 percent fatality rate. FDA requires that sanitizers be effective enough to reduce organisms by at least 100,000 fold for pathogens like Listeria, E.coli 0157:H7, and Salmonella. In the study, the gas reduced the Listeria to a far greater extent than currently possible with other methods. Chlorine dioxide gas is effective as it is a strong oxidizing agent that kills by disrupting the cell membranes of the bacteria. The researchers will be determining ways to make the process viable for use by commercial food producers. |
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Reference |
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/09/020916063725.htm |
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Item 8 |
New Jersey Announces Plans to End Air Pollution Credit Program |
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Summary |
Companies in New Jersey will have to reduce air pollution on their own after the state announced plans to do away with the clean air program once touted as a national model. The clean air program, which was developed in 1996, is based on the concept that a company will operate more cleanly if doing so is in its financial interest. The program allowed companies to buy and trade pollution "credits." Companies that develop cleaner operations, for example, could sell their credits to businesses that exceed government pollution standards. The state Department of Environmental Protection has called the program a "failure" because there was no evidence that air pollution was reduced by the plan. The program did not include key safeguards and careful monitoring of credit transfers and capping of emission levels. In some cases, companies built their entire clean air plan on purchasing credits that never existed, in effect, leaving them to pollute without sanctions. |
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Reference |
http://www.pollutiononline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={1E9E772C-CA4B-11D6-A78B-00D0B7694F32}&Bucket=Current+Headlines |