News from 1 April 2005 on edie

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Warning over environment danger from Bolkestein services directive

The EEB, Europe's largest federation of environmental organisations, has issued a warning over the impacts that the proposed services directive could have on the environment.

EU regulators to attack illegal waste trade

European regulators agreed increased efforts to combat illegal trade in waste at a meeting in Prague last week. Senior officials warned that the problem was extensive and getting worse. "As regulators we must strike while the iron is hot," said Gerard Wolters, head of the Netherlands environmental inspectorate.

Rural climate change forum launched

Environment Minister Elliot Morley has launched a high level forum to tackle climate change issues in rural areas this week.

State of water reports submitted to Commission

The Government has submitted a review of the impact of human activity on the status of the water environment, along with an economic analysis of water use, to the European Commission as part of the implementation process of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Government failing on energy policy as CO2 emissions rise again

Carbon dioxide emissions rose again last year and have risen for five of the past seven years, despite Tony Blair's promises to put climate change at the heart of policy decisions and the setting of ambitious reduction targets.

Environment Agency gets greater role as new flood measures announced

The Environment Agency is set to be given a new role in managing all forms of flooding and coastal erosion in England, in new plans unveiled by Government this week.

Blair inspects green brownfield regeneration in Thames Gateway

Tony Blair has visited the Thames Gateway regeneration development to check on progress ahead of the impending general election and to mark the publication of a document highlighting progress since the project began in 2003.

Aggregates levy funding to reduce impact of quarrying

Defra is providing £29.3 million from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) to address the impacts that quarrying has on the environment and nearby communities.

Agency cleans up its red tape over brownfield remediation

The Environment Agency has announced changes to mobile-plant licensing regulations in order to speed up brownfield remediation and development.

Trans-Atlantic GMO contamination blunder not safe

Agro-chemical giant Syngenta has been accused of misleading governments and the public following the recent disclosure it had been trading unapproved genetically modified corn for the past four years.

Allowing degradation of our planet is ‘economic suicide’

Businesses and governments around the world must stop treating our ecosystems like inexhaustible supplies of natural resources, according to a shock report showing the economic implications of not protecting our planet.

Day: 1 April 2005