Day: 23 October 1998

China receives UK help for flood recovery

Tony Blair has promised a further £5 million towards rehabilitation work in China following its worst floods for half a century.

News in brief

Parliament votes to cut HGV emissions ---- Commission calls for greener energy policies ---- UK in dock over groundwater . . . . .

Electricity Tax Hike Part of Norwegian Environment Budget

An increase in electricity charges and a tax on mineral oil are two new environmental measures foreseen in the Norwegian government's budget proposal for next year.

Chemical industry study disputes hormone disrupter effects

A new study funded by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) has failed to reproduce the results of previous work that lead to public health concerns over low-level exposure to a chemical used in some plastics and food packaging.

Denmark Headed for Trouble with Commission over Pesticide Ban

A proposal for a national ban on private use of pesticides, under consideration by the Danish environment ministry, looks set to bring Denmark into conflict with the European Commission.

Industry calls for voluntary approach to greenhouse emissions reduction

European industry associations have called on the European Commission to favour voluntary agreements rather than regulatory or tax-led approaches as the main policy tool for reducing industry greenhouse gas emissions.

Controversy Looms over Planned EU Air Quality Standard for Benzene

The European Commission's environment directorate is close to finalising a draft EU air quality standard for benzene that could require major emissions reductions from industry and traffic, particularly in pollution "hotspots."

Waste incineration laws to be strengthened

The European Union is poised, for the first time, to set a limit for dioxin emissions from non-hazardous waste incineration plants.

Germany goes for nuclear phase-out

Germany's new government has announced a range of environmental, including a complete phase-out of nuclear power and a range of environmental taxes.

News in brief

Design for environment 'not enough' ---- Georges causes floods and storm surge on Gulf Coast

US citizens use less water

Newly released statistics on water use by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) show that the US is using less water-- 402 billion gallons per day (bgd) for all uses, which is 2 percent less than in 1990 and nearly 10 percent less than in 1980, despite a continuous increase in population over that same time period.

US EPA launches four new ‘Compliance Assistance Centres’

The US EPA has launched four new 'Compliance Assistance Centres' intended "to assist small businesses, local governments and communities in understanding and complying with environmental regulations".

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