Month: February 2000

NORWAY: Parliament in crisis over gas-fired power plants

Norway's coalition government has received an ultimatum from the Labour and Conservative opposition parties demanding that it approve the construction of five gas-fired power plants. Such a move would go against the Government's climate change policy.

Germany: Vivendi subsidiary chips away at former East Germany’s water quality worries

OEWA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vivendi Water, is expecting strong growth in public-private partnerships with German municipalities, particularly in the former East Germany where one of the challenges is to tackle customers' suspicions of drinking water quality.

American firms in Europe back risk-based environmental legislation

The organisation representing American companies operating in the EU has published its suggestions for the EU's Sixth Environmental Programme. It strongly recommends making more use of risk assessment.

INDIA: Energy use will increase ten-fold and water resources fail in 50 years

A report published by the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI)in New Delhi, paints a bleak picture of the environmental cost of India's economic development over next half century.

US Government praises new fuel-efficient car

US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has congratulated DaimlerChrysler on the launch of its latest, ultra fuel-efficient hybrid car.

Scandinavia, Ireland and Germany express anger at Sellafield safety lapses

The public image of British Nuclear Fuels' (BNFL) flagship nuclear fuel re-processing facility, at Sellafield, has come under further criticism from the Nordic Council, Ireland and Germany.

Project will simulate cross-border trade in ‘green’ energy certificates

Proving the viability of trade in renewable energy certificates across national boundaries is the aim of a project receiving EC funding.

Algae offer a renewable source of hydrogen

Scientists have discovered how to use green algae to produce hydrogen from sunlight and water. They say the technique could one day enable a small commercial pond to produce enough hydrogen gas to meet the weekly fuel needs of a dozen cars.

NETHERLANDS: Tracing diesel compounds in the body could improve knowledge of health risks

Toxicologists at Nijmegen University have found substances related to diesel exhaust in the bodies of test subjects. The discovery may pave the way for a testing system that would measure individual exposure levels.

EC’s plans for ground-level ozone limits receive backing from EP Environment Committee

The European Parliament Environment Committee has come out in favour of the EC's controversial plans to introduce limits on ground-level ozone that go beyond a UN-brokered deal covering the same pollutants.

Win a copy of State of the World 2000

SOUTH PACIFIC: Study of sea levels combined with climate change education for schoolchildren

A project that monitors climate and sea levels from the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean to the Cook Islands in the Central Pacific is beginning to offer hard data, but the islands are also busy educating schoolchildren about the threat of rising seas and climate change.