Month: September 2001

Poland makes good progress on cleaning up pollution, but the situation is still bad

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, known as the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), has announced that Poland has made good progress in cleaning up its pollution hotspots, but that Polish rivers are still too polluted to be used for industrial or agricultural production.

French question high-risk plants in urban areas after massive explosion kills 29

The French government and industrial leaders are seriously considering the position of allowing industrial facilities to be located in highly urbanised areas, following an explosion at a chemicals factory in the southwestern city of Toulouse which left 29 dead and at least 650 injured.

Nature reserves too small to protect species

New research suggests that most reserves in eastern North America are too small to hold onto the mammal species they have sometimes been created to protect.

Electricity industry calls for funding for energy research

There is concern within the European electricity industry over the lack of funding to be designated specifically for energy research and development within the draft Sixth Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration which is currently being scrutinised by the European Parliament and member states, according to an electricity industry body.

Greenhouse gas trading simulation needs companies to participate

A new round of on-line greenhouse gas emissions trading simulations, taking place between 1-8 November, requires companies to participate in order to give them an insight into how a future emissions trading regime might work, and what the ramifications of it might be.

Industrialised and developing countries are under threat from asbestos dangers

Despite increasingly strict exposure standards, which have contributed to a fall in asbestos-related pulmonary fibroses, and a cessation of production or prohibitions on use in several countries, there is an alarming increase in asbestos-related cancers, delegates at the annual congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) heard.

Government does not know how much packaging waste is being recycled

Because there is no central register recording which companies are being awarded Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs), the UK Government does not know how much packaging is being recycled, and the country will not achieve recycling targets set by the European Commission for packaging waste this year, says a PRN trading forum.

Ireland moves to tackle waste crisis

The Irish environment minister, Noel Dempsey, has announced new measures he hopes will tackle the nation’s continuing inability to cope with a huge increase in waste which has matched its impressive economical growth.

Environment Agency proposes first ever integrated pollution regulations for food and drink industry

The Environment Agency has published its proposal for the first ever integrated pollution regulations for the second largest producer of waste in the UK – the food and drink industry, which will effect around 1,100 facilities.

French budget gives priority to the environment

With an annual increase in environmental spending of 6.3% - far above the growth rate of the economy - French finance minister, Laurent Fabius, has significantly boosted the fortunes of France’s protection efforts, although certain green proposals have been dropped.

Number of prosecutions for environmental crimes increases

The levels of fines for pollution crimes are so low that companies in England and Wales are still treating them as an acceptable risk, says the Environment Agency at the launch of a report revealing the companies that have the most and the least respect for the environment.

Companies announce first ever greenhouse gas transaction under new emissions scheme

The science company, DuPont and energy trading company, MIECO Inc. have announced the first-ever transaction of greenhouse gas emissions allowances under the UK’s newly developed trading scheme, instantly boosting the system, which will not even be formally launched until April 2002.

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