Day: 10 March 2000

MEXICO: Mitsubishi ditches plans to build saltworks in whale breeding ground

Mitsubishi has supported the decision taken by Mexico's President to end plans for a 260km² saltworks in Baja. The company maintains that an environmental impact assessment has shown that the saltworks would not harm the environment or any specific species, but it acknowledged concerns "about the alteration of the landscape".

Canada: US exporting hazardous waste north thanks to lax laws

The Canadian Environment Minister has been asked by an environmental NGO to invoke the Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste to slow down the province of Ontario's imports of hazardous waste from the US.

SWEDEN: Organic farms have lower animal density

Sweden should guard against over-intensification of farming practices if it wants to control nitrogen run-off into the Baltic and Skagerrak Seas, says the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNF).

Mediterranean: Existing marine and coastal protection systems aren’t working

The European Environment Agency (EEA) wants to see action on all fronts to protect the Mediterranean from environmental degradation.

MALTA: Waste will be the biggest environmental hurdle to EU accession

Introduction of a modern urban waste management system looks to be the most serious environmental challenge for Malta, which has embarked on the road to EU accession.

Cogeneration industry waiting for a “change in attitude”

Growth in combined heat and power (CHP) electricity generation is suffering in Europe because market liberalisation has not been properly thought out, says Cogen Europe, the CHP trade association.

NORWAY: Row over gas-fired power stations topples Government

The weeks-long battle between the Norwegian coalition Government and the Labour and Conservative parties over whether to approve the construction of up to five gas-fired power stations has led to a vote of non-confidence in the coalition Cabinet.

Emissions trading to feature prominently in EU climate change policy

The EC has published a Communication on a European Climate Change Programme. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström has stressed that current trends show that Europe will not meet its Kyoto targets if member states proceed with 'business as usual'.

Utilities dominate UK corporate environmental reporting awards

Among the winners and shortlisted companies at this year's UK Environmental Reporting Awards (ERAs), the utility sector was the most heavily represented. United Utilities won the "best overall envrionmental reporter" award.

BNFL privatisation viable only if safety structure is streamlined

The UK's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has told a Parliamentary committee that partial privatisation of British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) would not pose a threat to safety provided an overly complicated company structure is avoided.

Mixed environmental report card for plans to expand Gatwick Airport

A sustainability review of the plans to expand Gatwick Airport has concluded that the economic and social impacts will largely be positive, while the environmental impacts will be much more mixed.

ENGLAND: 20-year housebuilding targets abandoned for South East

The Government has decided that setting 20-year targets for new housebuilding in the South East is counterproductive and that it encourages excessive building and wasteful use of land. Instead, five-year targets will be in the offing.

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