Day: 5 October 2001

Couple have green powered wedding

Two US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees who were married on 28 September held what is thought to be the US’s first green powered wedding.

UK faces possible retreat on night flights

A landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) says that the Government has infringed the basic human rights of residents living near London’s Heathrow airport by failing to protect them adequately from night-time aircraft noise.

Simple farming method improving sustainability of impoverished Asian nations

Scientists have announced that a major agricultural transformation is sweeping across Asia’s breadbasket regions that could have significant implications for charting a course toward more ecologically-friendly, yet higher-yielding agricultural production among all groups of farmers.

UK may have to export scrapped refrigerators containing CFCs

The UK does not have the infrastructure needed to meet the 1 January 2002 deadline for the European Commission’s regulation for the disposal of ozone depleting substances from domestic refrigerators, and may be forced to export scrapped refrigerators for disposal in other European countries, it has been revealed.

New Zealand plans to increase renewable energy by up to 42% by 2012

The New Zealand government has announced that it aims to increase renewable energy supply by 19-42% and improve overall energy efficiency by 20% by 2012, as part of the country’s new NZ$79 million (US$32 million) energy strategy.

Government okays Sellafield plant for commercial production of MOX fuel

Following five public consultations over four years, the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Health have given the go ahead for the British Nuclear Fuels’ (BNFL’s) commercial production of MOX fuel for use in certain types of nuclear power station around the world.

New combustion engine design could be 40% more efficient than conventional engines

A UK-based international engineering company is claiming that its new design for a combustion engine has the potential to revolutionise the global market for all internal combustion engine applications, with a 40% improvement in fuel efficiency and 50% fewer emissions compared to conventional engines.

European Parliament repeats its demand for Noise Framework Directive

The European Parliament has repeated its demand for tough a Noise Framework Directive, previously rejected by the European Council, but has not specified the types of noise to be covered.

MEPs vote to crack down on pollution from ‘non-road mobile machinery’

The European Parliament has shown strong support for proposals to cut down on emissions from lawnmowers and hedge trimmers, with eventual reductions of up to 85%, provided loopholes left open for big manufacturers are closed.

European paper recycling shows healthy increase

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has released its report for 2000, showing that recovered paper production has grown fractionally more than the rate for the manufacture of other paper.

Controversial Turkish dam project to contravene human rights legislation

Eight NGOs advise that support for the controversial US$1.52 billion (£1 billion) Ilisu Dam project could be in breach of European Human Rights Act.

Stricter new air quality rules become law

The European Council has approved two major EU air quality directives which will cut acid rain and smog and help the implementation of Kyoto Protocol commitments.

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