Day: 21 May 1999

News in brief

UK news briefs

OECD presents recent country experiences in Domestic Emissions Trading Systems

At its last meeting, the Annex I Expert Group on the UNFCCC held a roundtable discussion where seven countries presented their recent experience as well as current thinking on domestic emissions trading systems - edie provides links to these presentations.

IEA reports on international developments in energy efficiency

Many new energy efficiency policies and measures have been implemented recently in International Energy Agency (IEA) Member countries. However, additional efforts still need to be made if countries are to meet their Kyoto targets, according to the latest Energy Efficiency Update from the IEA.

Prodi called to create sustainable development Commissioner

The European Environmental Bureau, a federation of 132 environmental organisations in Europe, has called on the incoming President of the European Commission to appoint a Commissioner for sustainable development and environmental policy integration.

Department of Energy adds new category of alternative fuels

The Department of Energy (DOE) has published a final rule adding "P-series fuels" to the regulatory definition of alternative fuels.

Ford to convert pickups to low emission vehicles

Ford Motors is to convert all pickup trucks it sells in the US and Canada into Low Emission Vehicles (LEV) starting this Autumn.

GM corn can kill Monarch butterflies

A widely-used commercial corn, genetically modified to produce a bacterial toxin to protect against corn pests, has an unwanted side effect: its pollen kills monarch butterfly larvae in laboratory tests, according to a Cornell University report published in the science journal Nature.

Ethanol and MTBE gasoline blends do little to reduce smog

Ethanol and MTBE - the two principal types of oxygen additives - used in reformulated types of gasoline in the US contribute little to reducing ozone pollution, a National Research Council (NRC) report has revealed.

Court throws out US EPA’s ozone and particulate regulations

The US Court of Appeals for Columbia has thrown out the US EPA's new regulations for ozone and particulate matter in a case brought by the American Trucking Association (ATA).

SPAIN: Aznalcollar mine continues to leak

Authorities in Andalucia have reported that the recently re-opened zinc mine at Aznalcollar continues to pollute the Guadiamar river with acidic water containing high levels of zinc and manganese.

NATO bombing has not polluted the Danube

The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia has not produced any detectable environmental damage to the Danube River to date, according to the participants in an international workshop held last week as part of the Danube River Pollution Reduction Programme.

US criticises EU Move to Limit Emissions Trading

The United States Government has expressed disappointment at Monday's statement of the European Union seeking to restrict the use of emissions trading under the Kyoto Protocol, and force all states to account for at least 50% of their target by domestic emissions reductions.

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