Day: 27 April 2001

Welsh Minister for Culture opens house of the future

Welsh Assembly Minister for Culture, Jenny Randerson, has officially opened a sustainable house of the future which uses examples of best practice for renewable energy and efficiency.

New technology reduces emissions by 50%

Scientists from a US Department of the Environment laboratory have developed the technology to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen from a diesel engine by half.

Coca-Cola shareholders fail to pass recycling resolution, but hope is on the horizon

At Coca-Cola’s annual general meeting in Atlanta, shareholders concerned about the lack of recycling within the company’s US operations have failed to pass a resolution significantly increasing both plastic and can recycling over the next four years, but remain enthusiastic that the result was better than expected.

Mexico comes clean on its water problem

The Mexican environment minister has admitted that the nation’s water problems are more serious than thought, with grave problems of desertification and pollution.

Mining tops US pollution inventory with a 12% annual increase in emissions.

The US EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) has revealed mining as the nation’s largest polluter, accounting for 17 of the nation’s top 20 toxic releasing facilities.

European Commission hosts ‘Green Week’ experiment

The EC has held its first ‘Green Week’ attempting to engage European citizens with its plans for the environment and raise the subject’s general profile.

Brownfields legislation wins unanimous approval from US Senate

Legislation giving an extra $250 million annually to clean-up brownfield sites was uncontested in the US Senate after securing the endorsement of President Bush.

Europe needs a strong waste policy, with greater regulation

According to the Brussels-based federation for environmental citizens groups, the European Environment Bureau, Europe needs to develop a strong waste policy with greater regulation, and to defend the policy from calls for decentralisation.

Russian coastal city needs $150 million to recover pollution hotspots

A Russian city on the coast of the Baltic Sea needs a further $150 million (£104 million) in order to clean up its worst pollution hotspots, although the pollution load has decreased by 20% over the last 10 years.

EC plans to make new and existing buildings more energy efficient

The European Commission has proposed a new law making energy savings of 22% by 2010, in a sector responsible for around 40% of the EU’s energy consumption through heating, hot water, cooling and lighting heating.

Only UK and Germany ensure that Kyoto commitment to reducing greenhouse gases is still on track

The UK, Germany and Luxembourg are the only three EU nations making the necessary greenhouse gas reductions, a new survey says.

First ever study of Albania’s environment shocks United Nations experts

A new study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has revealed five extremely contaminated ‘hot spots’ and has reportedly shocked some of the experts involved in the study.

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