News from 0 2004 on edie

Cadmium in partial EU battery ban

Controversial chemical cadmium will be phased out of use in certain batteries, following an agreement by EU Ministers, but will still be allowed for some purposes.

Europe wriggles free from Monsanto’s GM takeover, for now

Environment Ministers have temporarily blocked the genetically modified oilseed rape from Europe produced by American biotech giant Monsanto following a vote.

Clean tech for clean water project in Maldives

A unique solar-powered, off-grid, water purification project will begin in the Maldives in January 2005, providing local bottled drinking water to be sold to the local community on the island of Kulhudhuffushi.

Oil pollution victim compensation goes up under Protocol

Victims of oil pollution will receive increased amounts of compensation following Spain's ratification of the 2003 Protocol establishing an International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund.

Quarter of world’s bird species face extinction threat

A tenth of the world's bird species are likely to have vanished by the year 2100, with another 15% on the brink of extinction, a group of scientists have warned.

Airport expansion plans challenged in Court

Government plans for airport expansion in the south east were challenged this week as the High Court began a Judicial Review of the Aviation White Paper.

Government agrees to keep foreign nuclear waste

The government has decided to keep nuclear waste arising from the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel and dump it in this country despite having no permanent solution for the UK's existing nuclear waste problems.

German recycling system branded illegal

Germany's packaging recycling system has been declared illegal and unfair to foreign drink firms in a ruling from the European Court of Justice.

Investors ignore environmental damage of mining sector and reward polluters

A research report in to the metals mining sector has found that bad environmental practice is unlikely to affect shareholder value despite the high risks it brings.

Industry warns emissions trading will affect competitiveness

A coalition of power intensive industries has warned that emissions trading will serve as an excuse to raise electricity prices, affecting industry's international competitiveness.

Wood recycling plants receive big funding boost

Waste wood will be given a new lease of life instead of rotting in landfill thanks to two recycling projects being funded by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

UN combats environmental threat in Eastern Bloc countries

Communities living near the Tisza river are still at high risk from floods and industry pollution incidents, according to a recent environmental assessment by a UN agency.

Year: 2004