Day: 24 August 2001

Thai floods devastating as prevention advice ignored

Floods which left an unknown number of dead in northern Thailand, were far more devastating because United Nations recommendations for flood control made after flooding some twelve years ago had largely gone unheeded.

Nordic nations protest about UK’s radioactive emissions and reaffirm emissions trading commitment

Environment ministers from North European countries and autonomous regions have written a joint letter of complaint to the British Prime Minister concerning radioactive emissions from the Sellafield reactor and the same nations recommitted to establishing a Baltic Sea trading scheme for emissions.

US firefighters and land managers use NASA-satellite data to combat wildfires

NASA’s Terra satellite, providing a view of fires across the entire United States, are helping experts to manage more effectively fires burning across 11 states, both during and after wildfire events.

Good news from the Baltic shows that clean up efforts have been rewarded

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the organisation which promotes the prevention of pollution into the Baltic Sea has announced that the region has reached its 50% reduction goal.

Recycling in the US could be lower than the EPA and states are reporting

A new survey of state recycling managers in the US has revealed that recycling levels may be lower than federal figures claim, and in some states recycling is actually on the decline due to deadlock between industry and government.

Householders urged to take part in new home and garden pesticide survey

UK use of pesticides in the home increased by 38% between 1999 and 2000, with the general public spending £35 million on 4,306 tonnes of pesticides, but as a society we still know very little about the environmental and health impacts of these chemicals, says pesticide awareness group PAN-UK. In response to this the organisation has launched a survey to investigate domestic use of pesticides.

Government launches air quality expert group

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced the formation of the new Air Quality Expert Group in order to help tackle air pollution in the UK.

Latest pesticide survey shows some decreases in pesticide residues in food

There has been a decrease in pesticide residues in potatoes, with no organic produce containing any residues, according to the latest report by the Government’s Pesticides Residues Committee which examined butter, milk, processed potatoes and infant foods that are meat, fish and egg based, during first three months of this year.

Russian governor warns of radioactive contamination of rivers

The governor of a Siberian city has warned the prime minister that liquid radioactive waste from some 40 years of the nation’s nuclear weapons programme may drain into the Ural Mountains’ rivers, devastating the environment.

Boost for biofuels

The European Commission is to propose offering big tax incentives and impose mandatory minimum take-up for biofuels.

New environment ministry consults public on aims and objectives

The revamped environment ministry, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) wants the public to help decide what direction its policy emphasis should take and has denied that agriculture and rural Britain is taking a backseat.

Electricity and gas suppliers will have to meet new energy saving targets for domestic customers

Electricity and gas suppliers will have to improve the energy efficiency of their domestic customers by meeting new energy saving targets, detailed in a new consultation document published by the Government.

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