International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

AARHUS CONVENTION

– International treaty requires reporting for Internet registers, takes effect in Oct., 675

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

– Environmental impact assessments, Spain launches database, In Brief, 133
– Environmental protection, China province gives public access to information on businesses, 880
– Major pollutants, China report highlights shortcomings, 976
– Pollution index, China launches to increase public awareness, oversight of problems, 564
– Releases of pollutants

– – Aarhus Convention

See AARHUS CONVENTION

– – Germany launches database, 542

ACCIDENTS

– Explosions and fires

See EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES

– Releases and spills

See OIL SPILLS

– Response

See EMERGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE

ADB

See ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)

ADVERTISING

– Greenwashing, Spain moves to curb misrepresentations of environmental friendliness, 647
– Pesticides, France proposes ban, 49

AFRICA

See also specific countries
– Central Africa, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–57
– Clean Development Mechanism, nations must do more to attract investment, experts tell conference, 676
– Desertec Industrial Initiative, EU participation, In Brief, 649
– Eastern Africa, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–58
– Food security requires use of green technology, water harvesting, UNEP report says, 459
– Forests, ownership by local communities, indigenous peoples better way to protect resources, report says, 531
– Ozone-depleting substances, UN-French GEF agree to replace CFC-using chillers in 6 countries, 764
– Soil degradation, scientists to use digital online maps to study depleted soils in Sub-Saharan region, 108
– Southern Africa, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–60
– Western Africa

– – Elephants, governments agree to conservation effort, 385
– – Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–61

AGRICULTURE

– Amazon Rainforest, Brazil

– – Cattle ranching

– – – Beef exporters agree to buy only from ranchers with legal land titles who have not raised cattle in newly cut rainforest, 186
– – – Shoemakers join ban on products, In Brief, 745
– – – Slaughterhouses, buyers linked to deforestation, government orders inspections, 503; 2 slaughterhouses agree to avoid cattle raised on illegally cut rain forest, 655; accord grows to account for 95 percent of beef exports, 704; third slaughterhouse signs pledge, In Brief, 926
– – – Supermarkets attempt to curb purchase of beef linked to illegal Amazon deforestation, 558; chain signs pact with suppliers to ensure greener products, 607

– – Soy planting slowed due to purchase moratorium, report finds, 365; soy traders extend moratorium, 704
– – Zoning plan allows farmers, ranchers to use larger portion of deforested area along highway, 140

– Biotechnology, OECD advises nations to invest in applications, 577
– Carbon sequestration

– – Agroforestry must be part of climate change solution, UNEP director tells conference, 850
– – Carbon farming, UNEP project to measure carbon dioxide stored in managed lands in developing countries, 467

– Deforestation, Brazil allows small farmers to cut more trees, In Brief, 706
– Environmentally responsible practices, Canada promotion, In Brief, 706
– Genetically modified crops

See generally BIOTECHNOLOGY

– Kyoto Protocol, farmers should have more input into post-2012 agreement, UN agency says, 343
– Land use, Brazil issues new standards to help landowners recover, work land, 875
– Livestock, Danish panel recommends tax on methane emissions, 126
– Pesticides

See PESTICIDES

– Soil degradation, African scientists to use digital online maps to study depleted soils in Sub-Saharan region, 108
– Sugarcane stalk burning, Brazil hopes to stop, In Brief, 101; President proposes crop management plan, 876
– Sustainability, UN organization calls for governments to encourage practices, 153
– Water resources, India drafts contingency plans to ease impact of delayed monsoon season on crops, 616

AIR POLLUTION

– Agricultural burning of sugarcane stalks, Brazil hopes to stop, In Brief, 101; President proposes crop management plan, 876
– Air quality

– – Canada

– – – Alberta strategy, In Brief, 705
– – – Effectiveness of emissions iniatives, report finds gaps in information, 134

– – Chile, Temuco plan targets firewood use, In Brief, 327
– – China

– – – Beijing, U.S. Embassy offers independent assessment, 614
– – – Progress noted in report, 564

– – EU

– – – Economic downturn could help countries stay within pollutant limits, agency says, 910
– – – Extensions, European Comm'n denials, In Brief, 597
– – – Noncompliance, European Comm'n issues 1st warning to 10 member states, 77
– – – Ozone-forming pollutants down, ozone persists, In Brief, 693

– – France, 2008 levels of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide lower than previous years, government reports, 689
– – Hong Kong

– – – Mainland pollution complicates review of goals, 284
– – – Objectives, government releases for review, stresses health benefits, 709

– – India report charts decline, 752
– – Italy, air quality worsened in 2008, lobby group says, 223
– – South Africa delays start date for more stringent standards, 985
– – South Korea, special law relief to ease economic burden of regulation, 515
– – Switzerland, national standards exceeded in some areas despite overall improvements, report says, 359
– – United Kingdom, London mayor seeks public comment on improvement plans, 961

– Air transportation

– – Emissions reduction through better management, industry executives issue joint pledge at conference, 337
– – UK plan for third runway at Heathrow prompts concerns from critics, 87

– Ammonia, Switzerland outlines emissions reduction plan, 824
– Carbon monoxide

See CARBON MONOXIDE

– Emissions, EU data indicates long-term decline continues, agency reports, 818
– Environmental trends, Finland reports gains in clean air, 170
– Hazardous waste incineration, Brazil citizens sue U.S. companies citing health impacts, 410
– Heavy metal emissions, Norway seeks explanation of increase from Russian smelter, 53
– Highways, Switzerland reports levels along major road axis fall slightly, 776
– Indoor air quality

See INDOOR AIR QUALITY

– Industrial pollutants

– – EU universal regime proposal, committee supports minimum performance standards, 77; Parliament supports proposal, 217; environment ministers agree on controls, diverge from Parliament stance, 591
– – NAFTA body releases data on releases, transfers, 553

– Motor vehicle emissions

See MOTOR VEHICLES

– Nitrogen dioxide, Switzerland outlines emissions reduction plan, 824
– Nitrogen oxides

See NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx)

– Oil and gas operations

– – Flaring, Nigeria Senate approve 2010 deadline to end practice, 459
– – Venting controls, Peru companies fear costs, 560

– Ozone

See OZONE

– Particulate matter

See PARTICULATE MATTER

– Permits, Norway exempts certain companies from requirements, 918
– Releases of pollutants

– – Germany launches database to allow public access to information, 542
– – International treaty requires reporting for Internet registers, takes effect in Oct., 675
– – NAFTA body releases data, 553

– Ships and shipping

See SHIPS AND SHIPPING

– Volatile organic compounds

See VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)

– Weather systems key to forecasting air quality, report finds, 294

AIR TRANSPORTATION

– Biofuels, partnership on dual aviation-shipping industry fuels, In Brief, 385
– Climate change

– – EU

– – – International airlines assigned to member countries for emissions monitoring, 121; list finalized, 773
– – – Reporting, guidelines set procedures, 393

– – International industry group pledges to 50 percent carbon emission reduction by 2050, 890
– – Scotland considers regulation, 13
– – UK advisory panel saids developed nations must limit emissions, 820
– – UN official says emissions control vital to fight global warming, 65; largest-emitting nations agree to mitigate emissions, 65
– – Website promotes goals, In Brief, 581

– Decline in air traffic may yield short-term benefit of lower emissions, association says, 38
– Emissions reduction through better management, industry executives issue joint pledge at conference, 337
– Emissions trading

– – Airlines commit to capping emissions by 2020, improving fuel economy, 520; aviation group sets fuel efficiency targets for 2020, 2050, 940
– – Offset program, proceeds to fund energy project, industry group says, 521
– – Post-Kyoto agreement proposal creates virtual countries to account for emissions, allocations, 335

– Environmental performance, EU Clean Sky initiative, In Brief, 547
– Fuel efficiency, aviation group sets targets for 2020, 2050, 940
– Traffic management, EU efficiency plans, In Brief, 826

AIRPORTS

– Air quality, UK plan for third runway at Heathrow prompts concerns from critics, 87
– Conservation site damage, European Comm'n gives Spain compliance date, 169

ALPS

– Climate change, Swiss-Italy border alteration

– – Joint study commission, In Brief, 267
– – Switzerland approves measure to move border, 775

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

– Biofuels

See BIOFUELS

AMMONIA

– Air quality, Switzerland outlines emissions reduction plan, 824

ANDEAN COMMUNITY OF NATIONS (CAN)

– Solid waste management, funding of Colombia-Ecuador project, In Brief, 144

ANIMAL TESTING

– Alternatives, research funding, In Brief, 826
– Consumer products, research institutions sign international agreement to reduce use, 381
– REACH compliance

– – Clarification, ECHA addresses data needs, 867
– – More tests, more expense will be incurred, study says, 773

– Restrictions, EU Parliament approves tightening as step towards phaseout, 394; ECHA launches new process to avoid unneeded testing, 725

ANTARCTICA

See POLAR REGIONS

APPLIANCES

– Carbon footprint labeling program, South Korea expansion to include home appliances, 195
– Coal-burning stoves, China phaseout, In Brief, 665
– Energy efficiency

– – Australia considers expanding scope of program, 846
– – China

– – – Local government procurement, In Brief, 379
– – – Subsidies, government announces plans to subsidize sales, 511

– – EU

– – – Regulatory panel supports labeling overhaul, phase-in of stricter consumption standards, 306; Parliament approves appliance sticker proposal, blocks TV label, 395; ministers delay agreement, to be settled under upcoming Swedish presidency, 540; UK consultation on implementation, In Brief, 548; standards finalized, In Brief, 693
– – – Standby mode, Eco-Design Directive limits energy consumption, 9
– – – Water circulator standards, In Brief, 267; standards finalized, In Brief, 693

– – India eco-labeling, In Brief, 759
– – Japan

– – – Consumer purchase incentives included in supplementary budget, 514
– – – Eco-Point program rewards buyers, 376

– Recycling

– – Brazil proposes program for refrigerators, 141
– – Japan statistics, In Brief, 516

AQUACULTURE

– Authority, Brazil establishes new ministry, 605
– Licensing requirements, Brazil simplifies rules, In Brief, 509

ARCTIC REGION

See POLAR REGIONS

ARGENTINA

– Batteries, city seeks disposal contractor, 836
– Coke plant to pay damages for air pollution, 29
– Drinking water, Sante Fe province declares emergency due to drought, 410
– Energy efficiency, incandescent light bulb ban, In Brief, 30
– Geothermal energy, construction bids, In Brief, 509
– Hazardous waste, company officials indicted on charges of dumping industrial waste into river, 785
– Logging operations

– – Indigenous peoples, court issues temporary logging ban in inhabited areas, 29; ban extension, In Brief, 278
– – Native forest protection, implementing regulations issued, 187

– Matanza-Riachuelo River

– – Government missed cleanup deadlines, ombudsman says, 277
– – Public water company dumping raw sewage, ombudsman says, 188
– – World Bank loan, In Brief, 562

– Mercury in thermometers, blood pressure meters, In Brief, 190
– Nuclear energy, plans to build fourth plant, In Brief, 411
– Oil spills, Shell settles damages claim with city of Magdalena, 506
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–30
– Plastic bags, capital to phase out use of nonbiodegradable shopping bags, 785
– Pulp mill in Uruguay no significant source of transboundary pollution, study finds, 743
– Renewable energy, state-run electric utility increases use to reduce GHG emissions, 446
– Wind farm planned, country has potential to become leader in production, report says, 506

ASBESTOS

– Exposure, France proposes rule change based on new data, recommendations, 170
– Home removal program, Poland, In Brief, 650
– Nanoparticle similarity, UK report examines asbestos-like effects, 80
– REACH, European Parliament panel objects to exemptions for 6 fiber types, seeks complete ban, 308; Parliament approves resolution calling for end to exemptions, 395
– Risk assessment, France study finds no significant risk in people living near former factories, 774
– Shipbreaking

See generally SHIPBREAKING

ASIA

See also specific countries
– Climate change

– – Former Soviet bloc nations not equipped to adapt to, mitigate impacts, World Bank reports, 527
– – Mekong River basin vulnerability, In Brief, 943

– Renewable energy development, India leads South Asia nations, U.N. reports, 840

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)

– Future Carbon Fund exceeds funding target, 35

AUSTRALIA

– Carbon sequestration

– – Poland joint initiative to establish global institute to develop technologies, 203
– – Queensland requires new power plants to be technology-ready, 798

– Clean energy, budget includes $3.4B funding, 454
– Climate change

– – Carbon neutral initiative, In Brief, 665
– – GHG emissions reduction targets set for 2020, 33
– – Queensland coastal plan, In Brief, 799
– – Wildfires, inquiry likely to consider implications, 146

– Electronic waste, take-back mandate, In Brief, 419; council supports scheme, 454; government unveils 9 scheme options, public willing to pay for program, 665
– Emissions trading

– – Design rules set out in policy white paper, 33; government seeks comments on draft bill establishing regime, 243; government shifts focus to gaining support of plan, 279; Senate committee splits over draft bills, 377; government delays start of scheme, may strengthen emission reduction targets, 417; time frame unclear as opposition urges delay, 453; Lower House passes bill, opposition party seeks additional information, 516; delay of vote, In Brief, 619; opposition parties outline principles required to secure support of bills, 712; Senate rejects bills, 757; government initiates talks with opposition in effort to break deadlock, 982
– – Free emission permit allocations, government releases guidance paper, 197
– – Harmonization of scheme with New Zealand, ministers consider options, 280
– – Registry accepts applications to trade in carbon market, 931
– – Reporting, Parliament approves amendments imposing requirements on large GHG emitters, 846

– Energy efficiency

– – Appliances, government considers expanding scope of program, 846
– – Benefits, study estimates programs will net $14B, 198
– – Economic stimulus includes household push with focus on insulation, 107
– – Landlord subsidies cut for weatherization, In Brief, 799
– – National strategy, In Brief, 619

– Environmental impact assessments, Western Australia process streamlining, In Brief, 983
– Hazardous waste, Victoria issues draft recycling regulations, 243
– Oil spills, Queensland negotiates $21M for cleanup and damages over Pacific Adventurer spill, 757
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–44
– Renewable energy

– – Electricity generation, leaders agree on plan to increase use, 418; government unveils legislation to set generation standard at 20 percent by 2020, 571; Parliament approves bill requiring 20 percent requirement, 798
– – International Renewable Energy Agency, country joins, 627
– – Queensland strategy, In Brief, 620
– – Target scheme exemption, In Brief, 983

– Sustainable development, Northern Territory lists principles, 198
– Waste policy, comments sought, In Brief, 334; government issues draft framework for comprehensive waste strategy, seeks comments, 665
– Wildfires, inquiry likely to consider climate change implications, 146

AUSTRIA

– Chemical leasing, applications sought for cash awards, 803
– Fuel taxes, OECD report recommends increase to boost energy efficiency, 648
– Susbidies for electricity production from renewable sources, In Brief, 694

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

– Electric cars, Japan firm seeks U.S. loans, In Brief, 148
– Emission standards, India automakers upgrade fleet to meet 2010 standards, 370
– Ethanol-fueled cars, Colombia orders automakers to transition to producing cars using 85 percent ethanol fuel, 368
– Fuel efficiency, Brazil sticker program, In Brief, 368

AVIATION

See AIR TRANSPORTATION