Day: 9 November 2001

New project will assist sustainable management of dams

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has launched a new Dams Development Project (DDP) to last two years in Cape Town, South Africa, in order to promote last year’s World Commission on Dams (WCD) report.

Environment Agency launches composting consultation

The Environment Agency has launched technical guidance notes on the operation and regulation of composting for external consultation.

European Commission to take action against the UK for breaking legislation on water pollution from farm nitrates

The UK will receive a reasoned opinion for failing to designate the Ythan estuary in Scotland as a vulnerable area under the directive to protect waters from nitrate pollution. A reasoned opinion is the second stage of action, just one level below being taken to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

New book claims no link between emissions and global warming

Climate change is not linked to industrial emissions of greenhouse gases, and rises in carbon dioxide could even be beneficial, according to a new report by a Canadian-based economic think-tank.

Wanted: Large scale solar projects

Energy Minister Brian Wilson has announced a £3 million large scale solar building trial and has invited developers to bid for a share of the money.

The quality of Britain’s beach waters reaches an all time high

This year has seen the highest number of beaches in England and Wales – 467 out of the 481 designated beaches – reaching the mandatory standard set out by the Bathing Waters Directive, the highest since records began in 1988. In addition, 60% of designated waters have also met the stricter guideline standards in 2001, up by more than 15% from last year.

Rivers and estuaries in England and Wales “probably cleaner than they have been since before the industrial revolution”

The latest survey by the Environment Agency (EA) reveals a substantial improvement in the chemical quality of English and Welsh rivers since 1990, with 94% classified as of ‘good’ or ‘fair’ quality in 2000, and for the first time, aesthetic quality is also assessed.

Forest ‘sinks’ absorbed more carbon in 1990s than in 1980s despite deforestation

Land-based ecosystems absorbed all of the carbon released by deforestation plus another 1.4 billion tonnes emitted by fossil fuel burning during the 1990s, but this “convenient uptake” cannot be relied on to head off global warming in the future, researchers have said.

Italian environmentalists and relatives protest ruling over PVC plant deaths

Environmentalists and relatives of 157 workers poisoned at a petrochemicals plant near Venice are outraged over a court ruling that absolves managers of the state-owned petrochemicals company of manslaughter, the UK newspaper The Independent has reported.

Electricity industry body calls for constructive dialogue on emissions trading

A European electricity industry body has announced its willingness to take part in constructive discussions on greenhouse gas emissions trading as it regards such schemes as useful for facilitating cost-effective emission reductions, but states that the introduction of trading schemes should not present shocks to national economies.

France publishes official report into Toulouse chemicals disaster

Following the most serious industrial disaster in Europe since the 1920’s, the French government has released its first assessment of September’s chemical factory explosion, making several recommendations on hazardous industrial installations.

Russia stalls final outcome of international climate talks

Russia, whose participation is essential for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, has threatened to block agreement at the international Conference of the Parties (COP7) talks in Marrakech, Morocco, over what it sees as it’s insufficient allowance of carbon ‘sinks’.

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