Day: 3 September 1999

CHINA: celebrations cause major air pollution in Beijing

As the October 1st 50th anniversary of National Liberation Day approaches, more than 5,000 construction projects are under way to prepare for the massive celebrations. As a result, there is now a rapid resurgence of air pollution in Beijing.

New UK expert group on air pollution

The effects of long-range air pollution on the UK's natural environment will be examined by the National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution (NEGTAP), announced Michael Meacher, the UK environment minister.

EU generates 27 million tonnes of hazardous waste

The EU was generating around 27 million tonnes of hazardous waste in the mid-1990s, according to a new report from Eurostat - Statistical Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg.

Halcrow studies the environmental benefits of saving water

Halcrow, an environmental consultancy, will be investigating what benefits the UK government and water companies can expect from planned savings in water consumption.

UK draft air quality policy criticised as too weak

John Prescott has published the Government's draft Air Quality Strategy amid calls from Friends of the Earth (FoE) for more stringent controls on ozone and small particles.

LIFE-Environment 1999: 152 new projects approved

The European Commission has decided to co-fund 152 new projects under the LIFE-Environment programme for the year 1999. The total financial contribution from the Commission towards these projects is euro 65 million. The total investment cost of all the projects represents around euro 206 million.

UK publishes ‘satellite’ environmental accounts

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has published the first annual set of environmental accounts for the UK. These accounts, published as 'satellite' accounts in the annual accounts publication, The Blue Book, represent a major step toward the integration of environmental data into the UK's calculations for its Gross Domestic Product.

IRELAND: Govt. issues guidelines for park and ride tax incentives

Irish environment minister, Noel Dempsey T.D., has issued guidelines on park and ride facilities setting out the criteria and requirements which park and ride facilities and associated residential development, if any, must meet in order to benefit from the tax incentives provided for in the Finance Act, 1999.

BP launches a clean fuels programme in the Paris region

BP France has launched a "Clean Fuels" programme for the Paris region, with the introduction of BP Diesel Ecology, a new ultra low sulphur diesel, which anticipates the EU environmental specifications on sulphur set for the year 2005.

Co-op Bank cuts CO² emissions by 20% in 12 months

The Co-operative Bank has announced a 20% reduction in its CO² emissions. The bank has also managed to increase its use of renewable energy to 40% of total electricity use and is moving towards its goal of becoming the UK's first PVC-free bank.

Battery industry makes last stand against ban

European battery manufacturers, cadmium suppliers and recycling firms are finalising a draft voluntary agreement on battery recycling in order to avoid a Commission ban on nickel cadmium in rechargeable batteries.

UK’s largest poultry producer ends use of growth promoters

Supermarkets and consumers were taken by surprise when the UK's largest poultry producer announced its decision to phase-out the use of antibiotics for growth promotion.

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