Day: 4 February 2000

Best practice reduces nutrient and sediment levels in water entering the Chesapeake Bay

Levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay are beginning to fall as a result of measures taken in the bay's main tributaries, a US Geological Society survey shows.

JAPAN: Citizens win air pollution case against government and highway corporation

Osaka High Court has ruled that plaintiffs living near two highways in Amagasaki have been subjected to excessive levels of particle pollution from vehicle emissions.

EC defends precautionary principle but puts brakes on its unfettered use

The European Commission has published a Communication on the future use of the Precautionary Principle. It seeks to avoid excessive and unpredictable use of the principle, while simultaneously asserting the right to protect "the environment, human, animal and plant health" from scientific uncertainty.

AUSTRALIA: Fossil fuel emissions can rise by at least 22% without threatening Kyoto target

A fortuitous pattern of decline in land clearing will allow Australia to increase its fossil fuel emissions by a minimum of 22% and still meet its Kyoto Protocol target, according to The Australia Institute.

Global warming could reduce Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide

Global warming could reduce the ability of the cold Southern Ocean to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, speeding up the pace of climate change, scientists have claimed.

European Parliament resists efforts to water down car recycling plans

Despite some confusion about when car manufacturers will begin recovering and recycling vehicles, a vote in the European Parliament has confirmed that manufacturers and not consumers will be responsible for picking up most, if not all, of the cost.

83% of the UK public wants more domestic recycling

Distance from recycling sites is what keeps most households from recycling. The second annual Yellow Pages Recycling Report shows that domestic recycling grew by two percent in 1999, but the public wants to do more.

E-commerce could help industrial countries reach Kyoto targets

The internet could help industrial countries reach their Kyoto carbon emission targets by cutting greenhouse gas emissions from shopping traffic and reducing industrial energy demands, according to recent European and US research.

‘Anti-green’ award winner dumped as shadow environment minister

John Redwood has been stripped of his post as Shadow Environment Minister only a week after being deemed the politician who inflicted "the most damage to the environmental cause over the last parliamentary year".

UK Government backs down on pesticides tax in favour of voluntary reductions

The UK Government will not introduce a pesticides tax in the next Budget, but will instead rely on voluntary action by the agrochemicals industry to minimise the environmental impact of pesticides.

Renewable energy to make up 10% of UK supply within a decade

The UK Government has confirmed that the country's electricity generators must aim to source 10% of their electricity from renewables by 2010.

Sustainable Development panel hands UK government its final wish list

The UK Panel on Sustainable Development has published its final report. It lists its final wishes and reviews Government's progress on recommendations the panel has issued since its formation in 1994.

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