Day: 9 April 1999

ANTARCTIC: ice shelves breaking up due to decades of higher temperatures

Two ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula known as the Larsen B and Wilkins are in "full retreat" and have lost nearly 3,000 square kilometres of their total area in the last year, say scientists in Colorado and the United Kingdom.

Shareholding environmentalists launch BP Amoco information website

With a week to go before BP Amoco's Annual General Shareholder's Meeting on April 15, 1999 in London, a group of Greenpeace supporters have launched an interactive website as a forum to discuss concerns and share information about BP Amoco's business strategy.

USGS opens river studies station in Missouri

A new US Geological Survey (USGS) River Studies Station, located at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Centre in Columbia, Missouri has been set up to gather the many layers of information needed to understand the dynamic nature of large rivers, as well as the biological systems they support.

Monsanto enters forestry biotech joint venture

Biotech giant Monsanto is to form a forestry biotech joint venture with three leading paper companies in an effort to boost the productivity of the world's forests.

UK Government to spend extra £8 million on renewables R&D

The UK Government's expenditure on renewables research and development will rise from around £10 million in the current financial year to £18 million in the year 2001-2002, according to a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consultation Paper. The Paper adds that Government support for renewables could rise to around £150 million a year next century.

US EPA steps up refrigerant regulation crack-down

The US EPA is stepping up its enforcement of its Refrigerant Regulations in an effort to protect the ozone layer and reduce skin cancers, cataracts and other harmful conditions.

Largest US IV products manufacturer to phase out vinyl IV bags

The largest US producer of intravenous (IV) bags, Baxter International, announced on April 6 that it is to develop alternatives to PVC for their products, including IV bags.

News in brief

European news briefs

ITALY: Commission approves environmental aid to steel companies

The European Commission has approved aid of euro 7 million which Italy will grant for environmental protection to four steel companies: ILVA Laminati Piani; Acciaierie di Cornigliano; ICMI; and Acciai Speciali Terni.

Soap industry cleans up in Sweden but not Europe

The soap industry has made considerable environmental progress in Sweden, due to continuous pressure from strict eco-label criteria, yet the same companies continue to sell older, 'dirtier' products to the rest of Europe at the same price, says the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation SSNC.

Europe’s rain contaminated with pesticides

Much of Europe's rain is contains levels of pesticides exceeding drinking water standards, says a new report to be published this summer by Swiss scientists.

NATO bombs European environment, say Yugoslav Greens

NATO's air attacks against Yugoslavia risk major environmental damage and contamination of the water supply of much of Eastern Europe, says the President of the Yugoslavian New Green Party.

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