Day: 17 September 2004

EU accused of caving in to US pressure over GMOs

The European Union's Executive Commission has been accused of "caving in" to pressure from the US to adopt genetically modified (GM) foods by an alliance of environmental, farming and civil society groups.

Key to global warming: a load of pooh

Plankton pooh could be the answer to understanding just how much carbon dioxide our oceans can actually store, according to scientists in the southern hemisphere.

UK to replicate EU chemical centre

The UK is to set up its own version of the EU chemical centre in order to help the industry prepare for legislation that will come into force over the next few years.

Polars bears health threatened by toxic chemicals

Evidence proving that polar bears are being harmed by industrial toxic chemicals present in water and soil has emerged this week.

Governments must wake up to many facets of water management

A more holistic and innovative approach must be taken to tackling depleting water supplies around the world, according to industry insiders.

Noise map will pinpoint traffic hotspots

The noisiest boroughs in London have been pinpointed by the Government in a new initiative to cut back noise pollution from traffic.

Seabird eggs show highest contamination to date

Seabirds' eggs from the San Francisco Bay area have been found to contain the highest levels of toxic chemicals ever traced in wildlife, scientists from the Californian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed this week.

Battle of bidders begins for waste funding

Seven preferred bidders were named this week for the first round of a Government programme that will fund pilot schemes using new technology for treating and diverting biodegradable municipal waste.

Global warming will leave Belgium underwater

Brussels will become a coastal capital by the year 3000 as Antwerp disappears beneath the waves because of global warming, a report has warned.

UK business briefs: Contamination confusion, Renewables funding, Welsh supplier, Oil leak fines, Heating schemes, Toxic lettuce, Greener shipyards

A major legal ruling threatens to throw Scotland and the rest of the UK's contaminated land strategy into doubt, according to a report released in Scotland this week. It states that the European Court of Justice suggests all forms of contaminated soil should now be officially classified as waste. While the ruling should ensure that contaminated land is properly cleaned up, it puts in doubt some of the practices currently applied. Scotland has an estimated 3,580 hectares of contaminated land and projects involving any of these sites might be affected.

European business briefs: Iraqi pollution concerns, Irish parks, Iran nuclear power, Growing energy demand, Spanish oil slick

The UN announced this week that Iraqi scientists will assess pollution ranging from oil spills to scrap metal from destroyed military vehicles in an effort to tackle environmental damage in the war-ravaged country. Environmentalists have been struggling to draw attention to damage caused during last year's US-led invasion, the 1991 Gulf War and waste discharged by industry struggling with years of sanctions. A pilot scheme starting next month will test samples from five of the 300 locations in Iraq considered to be contaminated by various pollutants, including a sulphur mine and a seed store containing toxic fungicide.

International business briefs: Angola opens up, Exxon fined, EPA commendations, Hong Kong pollution, Australian wind concerns, Mexico and Australia in energy deal

Angola has become more open about how it uses its oil and mining revenues, and has made progress in talks with the IMF which are crucial to unblocking bilateral aid, according to Callisto Madavo, World Bank vice president for Africa while he was in Johannesburg for an African investment conference this week. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are helping Angola to shed light on revenues into the country, where a 27-year civil war ended in 2002. Angolan deputy prime minister Aguinaldo Jaime said last week that high oil prices had swollen state coffers by US$275 million in the first half of 2004.

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie