International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

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

– Pesticides, France proposes ban, 49

AFRICA

See also specific countries
– Central Africa, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–57
– Eastern Africa, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–58
– Food security requires use of green technology, water harvesting, UNEP report says, 459
– 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

– – Beef exporters agree to buy only from ranchers with legal land titles who have not raised cattle in newly cut rainforest, 186
– – Soy planting has slowed due to purchase moratorium, report finds, 365
– – Zoning plan allows farmers, ranchers to use larger portion of deforested area along highway, 140

– Carbon farming, UNEP project to measure carbon dioxide stored in managed lands in developing countries, 467
– Genetically modified crops

See generally BIOTECHNOLOGY

– Kyoto Protocol, farmers should have more input into post-2012 agreement, UN agency says, 343
– 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
– Sustainability, UN organization calls for governments to encourage practices, 153

AIR POLLUTION

– Agricultural burning of sugarcane stalks, Brazil hopes to stop, In Brief, 101
– Air quality

– – Canada, report finds gaps in information on effectiveness of emissions initiatives, 134
– – Chile, Temuco plan targets firewood use, In Brief, 327
– – European Comm'n issues 1st warning to 10 member states over noncompliance, 77
– – Hong Kong, review of goals complicated by mainland pollution, 284
– – Italy, air quality worsened in 2008, lobby group says, 223
– – Switzerland pollutant levels exceed national standards in some areas despite overall improvements, report says, 359

– 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

– Environmental trends, Finland reports gains in clean air, 170
– Gas flaring, Nigeria Senate approve 2010 deadline to end practice by oil drilling operations, 459
– 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
– Indoor air quality

See INDOOR AIR QUALITY

– Industrial emissions, EU proposal combines several directives into universal regime, European Comm'n says, 10; committee supports minimum performance standards, 77; Parliament supports proposal, 217
– Motor vehicle emissions

See MOTOR VEHICLES

– Ozone

See OZONE

– Particulate matter

See PARTICULATE MATTER

– Ships and shipping

See SHIPS AND SHIPPING

– Volatile organic compounds, China to begin Guangdong air monitoring in May, 329
– 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
– – – Reporting, guidelines set procedures, 393

– – Scotland considers regulation, 13
– – UN official says emissions control vital to fight global warming, 65; largest-emitting nations agree to mitigate emissions, 65

– 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, Post-Kyoto agreement proposal creates virtual countries to account for emissions, allocations, 335

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, In Brief, 267

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

– Biofuels

See BIOFUELS

ANDEAN COMMUNITY OF NATIONS (CAN)

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

ANIMAL TESTING

– Consumer products, research institutions sign international agreement to reduce use, 381
– Restrictions, EU Parliament approves tightening as step towards phaseout, 394

ANTARCTICA

See POLAR REGIONS

APPLIANCES

– Carbon footprint labeling program, South Korea expansion to include home appliances, 195
– Energy efficiency

– – China, local government procurement, In Brief, 379
– – EU

– – – Regulatory panel supports labeling overhaul, phase-in of stricter consumption standards, 306; Parliament approves appliance sticker proposal, blocks TV label, 395
– – – Standby mode, Eco-Design Directive limits energy consumption, 9
– – – Water circulator standards, In Brief, 267

– – Japan Eco-Point program rewards buyers, 376

– Refrigerators, Brazil proposes recycling program, 141

ARCTIC REGION

See POLAR REGIONS

ARGENTINA

– 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
– 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

– Mercury in thermometers, blood pressure meters, In Brief, 190
– Nuclear energy, plans to build fourth plant, In Brief, 411
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–30
– Renewable energy, state-run electric utility increases use to reduce GHG emissions, 446

ASBESTOS

– Exposure, France proposes rule change based on new data, recommendations, 170
– 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

ASIA

See specific countries

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)

– Future Carbon Fund exceeds funding target, 35

AUSTRALIA

– Carbon sequestration, initiative with Poland to establish global institute to develop technologies, 203
– Clean energy, budget includes $3.4B funding, 454
– Climate change

– – GHG emissions reduction targets set for 2020, 33
– – Wildfires, inquiry likely to consider implications, 146

– Electronic waste, take-back mandate, In Brief, 419; council supports scheme, 454
– 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
– – Free emission permit allocations, government releases guidance paper, 197
– – Harmonization of scheme with New Zealand, ministers consider options, 280

– Energy efficiency

– – Benefits, study estimates programs will net $14B, 198
– – Economic stimulus includes household push with focus on insulation, 107

– Hazardous waste, Victoria issues draft recycling regulations, 243
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–44
– Renewable energy, leaders agree on plan to increase use in electricity generation, 418
– Sustainable development, Northern Territory lists principles, 198
– Waste policy, comments sought, In Brief, 334
– Wildfires, inquiry likely to consider climate change implications, 146

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