Month: October 2000

Nations with unsustainable development named and shamed

The first measure of human pressure on global ecosystems has revealed the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore as the world’s three worst offenders.

EPA launches consultation on management of septic systems

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a 60 day consultation on its draft guidelines for the management of onsite or decentralised wastewater systems.

New report paints devastating picture of world’s freshwater systems

The World Resources Institute says that freshwater systems are globally by far the most degraded ecosystem and that half of the world's wetlands were lost in the 20th century.

Ambitious new lake set to return desert to bloom

An ambitious plan by the president of Turkmenistan will create a giant lake and vast areas of farmland.

Edie news team seeks feedback

Republican voting record on the environment slammed

A system of scoring the environmental voting record of US Congressmen has awarded the Republicans an appalling result and the Democrats a generally good one.

New system captures and recycles air pollutants

Researchers in the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a device which captures and recovers dilute volatile organic compounds and other hazardous air pollutants.

West to pay Russia to close down ozone depleting plants

The World Bank has signed an agreement providing funds with the Government of the world’s largest ozone-depleting economy, Russia.

Mixed reports from “one of the worst environmental disasters ever in the Southeast”

There are differing views on the potential damage caused by a 250 million gallon coal sludge spill.

Radar to protect Amazon

A new radar surveillance system to protect the mighty Brazilian rainforest from deforestation is under construction.

NGOs launch Copenhagen Chemicals Charter

Two leading European NGOs pledged to make safety the number one priority in European chemicals policy, signing the Copenhagen Chemicals Charter in the presence of Environment Commissioner, Margot Walstrom.

Blair announces £150 million of new environmental spending

In his first major speech on the environment since assuming office three and a half years ago, Tony Blair pledged £50 million to renewables, £50 for recycling and the same for ‘neighbourhood renewal’, and also launched a new coalition to promote sustainable development in the UK.