TABLE OF CONTENTS
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S/N |
Title |
Synopsis |
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I. Subject Area: Environmental Regulations and Policies |
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1 |
Italy prepares to "boost incineration" |
Italian environment ministry has indicated that the issuance of new policy guidelines is needed to boost Italy's incineration and to meet the medium term target of sending 27% of the waste for incineration. |
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II Subject Area: Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation |
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2 |
Origin Energy blown over by wind power |
Australian power company Origin Energy said yesterday it will buy the entire electricity output from Australia's largest wind farm Challicium Hills. |
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3 |
UNEP and US National Renewable Energy Laboratory join forces. |
A new collaboration between UNEP and US National Renewable Energy Laboratory further boost international effort in green energy research. |
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4 |
DOE backing automotive, stationary fuel cell research. |
The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a US$70 million programme for the research and development of stationary and automotive fuel cell technology. |
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5 |
US's largest electric vehicle fleet |
The US Postal Service, in partnership with numerous environment agencies, has launched the largest fleet of electric vehicles in the US. The fleet numbers nearly 400. |
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III. Subject Area: Recycling and Waste Management |
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6 |
Scientists develops "green" solution to plastics waste |
The research team at Cornell University has found a green solution to replace non-biodegradable plastics with new fully biodegradable, environmentally friendly green composites. |
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IV. Subject Area: Environmental Pollution and Health |
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7 |
Fuel and solvent chemicals may pose greater health risk than previously thought |
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have discovered that the chemical derivatives of benzene found in fuels and solvent chemicals are highly hazardous and damaging to the nervous system. |
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8 |
Use biotech to help poor, not rich, scientists say |
A survey of 28 leading scientists concludes that using biotechnology to produce simple nutritional and hygienic improvements and cheap vaccines would do more to improve global health than the development of high-tech treatments. |
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V. Subject Area: General Environmental News |
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9 |
US grain group seeks methyl bromide ban exemption |
The North American Millers' Association has requested the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USPEA) to exempt ban on methyl bromide for grain fumigations as the ban would cost the industry more than US$60 million annually. |
SUMMARY REPORT
Period Covered : 23 Sep 2002 to 29 Sep 2002
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Item 1 |
Italy prepares to "boost incineration" |
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Summary |
The Italian environment ministry has indicated that a new policy guideline would be issued to pave way for a significant increase in waste incineration and empowering the local authorities to manage waste. Despite making good progress in recycling and re-use, Italy is struggling to comply with self-imposed targets to reduce landfilling. The government is hopeful that with the new policy guidelines in place, Italy would be able to meet its medium term target of incinerating 27% of its wastes and freeing up landfill space. |
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Reference |
http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=12952 |
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Item 2 |
Origin Energy blown over by wind power |
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Summary |
Australian power company Origin Energy has announced that it will buy the entire electricity output from Australia's largest wind farm Challicium Hills. Origin has also agreed to buy the 30 megawatts produced by Yambuk wind farm, near Portland in Victoria state, which will be operational by 2003. The power produced by Challicium Hills and Yambuk, which are both owned by Pacific Hydro Ltd, will be enough to supply the needs of more than 42,000 homes annually. This is seen as the first step in a process that will ultimately see a vibrant local wind energy manufacturing industry established in regional Victoria. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=17977 |
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Item 3 |
UNEP and US National Renewable Energy Laboratory join forces |
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Summary |
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREAL) have recently announced a collaboration to further boost international efforts in green energy research. The new agreement will enhance the existing pilot Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA), which prepares surveys and high quality solar and wind maps for 13 developing countries. Under the new agreement, it allows an additional assessment in Maldives and an expansion of the Bangladesh assessment. The SWERA project aims to attract potential investors to deploy renewable energies to the developing counties by eliminating uncertainties about the countries' size and intensity of the solar and wind resource. This would then allow the investors to know with certain accuracy, the locations where they can secure a good and reasonable return. The SWERA project also links with other renewable energy initiatives, including the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development, which was launch by UNEP at the World Summit on Sustainable Development on 1st September in Johannesburg, to promote renewable and cleaner forms of energy production on the ground in developing countries. |
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Reference |
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Item 4 |
DOE backing automotive, stationary fuel cell research |
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Summary |
The Department of Energy (DOE), United States has announced a US$70 million solicitation programme for the research and development of stationary and automotive fuel cell technology. The research will be key to the development of FreedomCAR technology, which is an Energy Department programme that helps fund the high-risk research needed to provide a full range of affordable cars and light trucks that are free of foreign oil and harmful emissions. The research also aims to develop stationary fuel cell technology that would help to save energy and improve US's energy security through energy diversity. DOE hopes that by taking advantage of synergies between the stationary and automotive applications, this solicitation will represent a first step in implementing an integrated procurement strategy in the newly formed Hydrogen, Fuel Cell and Infrastructure Technologies Programme. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=22455 |
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Item 5 |
US's largest electric vehicle fleet |
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Summary |
The United States (US) Postal Service in partnership with numerous environment agencies, has launched the largest fleet of electric vehicles of 400 numbers in the US. The postal service points out that the battery-powered electric vehicles (EV), as opposed to their gasoline-powered cousins, do not have tailpipes and emit no pollutants. In addition, they avoid the wasted fuel associated with sitting in traffic and the constant stop-and-go pattern of a mail carrier, which can make between 400 to 600 stops per day. The deployment of the new postal service electric delivery vehicles will help reduce the emission from gasoline-powered vehicles. |
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Reference |
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Item 6 |
Scientist develops "green" solution to plastics waste |
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Summary |
A research group at Cornell University has found a "green" solution to plastics waste by replacing them with fully biodegradable composites made of soya bean protein and other biodegradable plastics and plant based fibers. These "green" composites (reinforced plastics) have good properties that could replace plastic parts in the interiors of cars, computers, and in packaging materials and other consumer products. They also provide good insulating properties against heat and noise for use in applications such as cars. These green composites use natural fibers which are embedded in a matrix made of plant-based or other resin for strength. The research group is currently working with a number of fibers, including those from kenaf leaves, pineapple leave and banana stems. The resin materials that are being researched on include commercial resins, such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyacetones, and those derived from microorganisms. |
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Reference |
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2002/09/09262002/s_478510.asp |
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Item 7 |
Fuel and solvent chemicals may pose greater health risk than previously thought |
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Summary |
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have found that the chemical components of gasoline, jet fuel and common solvents may pose a greater health risk than previously thought. The finding of the research has also shown that a chemical derivative of benzene, found in fuels and other chemical systems is very reactive and highly capable of damaging the nervous system. Apart from their high neurotoxic potency, these chemical substances also have the ability to cause blue discoloration of tissue and urine to turn green. The research team is currently looking into the possibility of using this property as a biological marker of exposure to these hazardous substances. |
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Reference |
http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=22394 |
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Item 8 |
Use biotech to help poor, not rich, scientists say |
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Summary |
A survey of 28 leading scientists concludes that using biotechnology to produce simple nutritional and hygienic improvements and cheap vaccines would do more to improve global health than the development of high-tech treatments. A report on the survey done by two Toronto researchers showed that the survey produced a list of top 10 biotechnologies to improve health. They include development of cheap vaccines, ways to cleanse drinking water, methods to genetically modify foods to enhance nutritional value. The list mentions no high-tech treatments such as artificial hearing or organ transplants. Currently, ninety percent of all medical research is targeted at problems affecting only 10 percent of the world's population. The report shows a consensus among scientists on the need for improved health care for the billions of poor people around the world. It is hoped that the report will receive the serious consideration of health and science ministers worldwide and by the international donor community as a guide to research and funding priorities, said the studies co-author. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=17957 |
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Item 9 |
US grain group seeks methyl bromide ban exemption |
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Summary |
The North American Millers' Association has sought the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for an exemption from a ban on methyl bromide to fumigate grain mills. The U.S millers have reduced their methyl bromide usage significantly to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)'s approved dosage of 6 pounds per thousand cubic feet, in order to meet the 2005 phase-out stipulated by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The US grain millers said that a total ban on the use of methyl bromide would cost the grain industries more than US$60 million annually as a result of having to temporarily close the mills to use sanitizers that are slower acting. The US Agriculture Department has already spent more than US$100 million researching alternatives but with little success. |
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Reference |
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/17899/story.htm |