Day: 21 September 2001

General Motors takes fuel cells closer to commercialisation

Committing to a promise that the company would have a working demonstration of fuel cell technology by early 2002, General Motors (GM) has unveiled the world’s first gasoline fuel processor for fuel cell propulsion.

Fallout from US attacks no longer poses public health risk

Fears that the massive dust pall created by the devastation of buildings and aircraft in 11 September’s terrorist attacks would introduce asbestos and other harmful substances into the local air and water supplies, are now receding with the publication of monitoring results by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Dutch green policies keep targets on track

Green policies in the Netherlands are beginning to bite with particular success in the reduction of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and inputs of agricultural nitrates, according to the latest annual survey by the national environmental research agency, RIVM.

EU places tighter eco-labelling on four more product groups

Personal and portable computers, dishwashers and soil improvers are the latest product groups to complete the EU’s current revision of criteria for eco-labelling, while paints and varnishes will continue with existing criteria for another 18 months until June 2003.

Germany turns it back on small-scale hydropower

Research by the German environment agency has concluded that small-scale hydropower plants have a disproportionately higher impact on the environment than large plants.

NGOs dispute use of EU funds for incineration

Seventy-four Non Governmental Organisations have complained to European Union Commissioners over a pre-accession fund being used to fund the incineration of hazardous waste in Bulgaria.

Environmentalists call on European Commission to drop biofuels proposal

Europe’s largest network of environmental NGOs, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) has called on the European Commission to scrap its recent proposals to boost the consumption of biofuels for transport in Europe, saying that they could do far more harm than good.

DEFRA workers on strike over “unfair” pay

Civil servants working at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, began a further two-day strike on 20 September over claims that some staff are earning up to £4,500 less than colleagues for doing the same job.

Half of people living in flood risk areas do not know

The Environment Agency has begun a big publicity drive following research revealing that nearly 50% of people living in flood prone areas are oblivious to the risk and only one person in ten takes any action to prepare.

New shadow environment spokesman has green credentials

The new Conservative environment spokesman, Peter Ainsworth, who will be shadowing DEFRA secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, intends to make a concerted push for a green agenda, a central office spokesperson told edie.

UK business faces increased targets for packaging recovery

Proposals to increase the 2002 targets for recovery of packaging waste by UK businesses have been published, preparing the UK’s ground for an expected major hike of European targets when the current revision of the EC Packaging and Packaging Waste directive is announced.

Mayor says it will be very difficult for London to meet air standards and launches his own strategy

Transport curbing pledges form a central platform in The Mayor’s Draft Air Quality Strategy, for which Ken Livingstone wants as many public opinions as possible. However the Mayor recognises that “meeting the objectives in London will be very difficult”.

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