International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

LABELS AND LABELING

– Abamectin, EU consultation, In Brief, 826
– Climate change

– – Carbon Disclosure Project, large companies more willing to disclose actions, survey finds, 893
– – South Korea to expand carbon footprint program to include home appliances, 195

– Detergents, Danish court finds labeling method failed to meet EU rules, 402
– Diantimony trioxide, EU agency opens consultation, 167; ECHA issues first opinion, 591
– Electric power generation, Denmark council says power companies' use of green energy labels confusing, 730
– Energy efficiency

– – Australia considers expanding scope of program, 846
– – Brazil, builders show interest in program, 703
– – Denmark system ineffective, report says, In Brief, 93
– – EU, U.S. Energy Star requirements for office equipment, In Brief, 581
– – European Union regulatory panel supports overhaul for appliances, 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
– – India appliance requirements, 759
– – Mexico publishes requirements, 872

– Environmental claims

– – EU ecolabeling scheme, Parliament approves revision, 305
– – UK should take tougher action against greenwashing, committee says, 264

– Epoxiconazole, EU agency opens consultation, 167
– Flame retardant (tris[2-chloro-1-chloromethyl)ethyl] phosphate, EU consultation, In Brief, 826
– Fuel efficiency

– – Brazil sticker program, In Brief, 368
– – India requirements, In Brief, 619; government prepares guidelines, In Brief, 848

– Indoor air, South Korea proposes emissions standards for furniture, interior building materials, 195
– REACH guidance, In Brief, 778
– Tetrahydrofuran, EU consultation, In Brief, 826
– Tires, European Parliament committee supports energy, noise requirements, 305; Parliament approves rules, 352; ministers adopt requirements, 590; Commission changes proposals from directive to regulation, 641; Parliament, member states agree on scheme, 910
– Toxic substances, European Comm'n adopts final amendments, 79

LABLES AND LABELING

– Energy efficiency

– – China, Guangdong province to develop certification scheme for doors, windows, 977
– – Netherlands, improvement plans include new scheme, 962

LABOR UNIONS

– International organizations should have role in trade, environment disputes, French President says, 577

LAKES

– Koroneia, European Comm'n issues 2nd warning to Greece for pollution and overextraction of water from wetland, 590
– Simcoe, Canada, Ontario environmental protection plan, comments sought, In Brief, 60; release of final plan, In Brief, 508
– Wabamun, Canada, British Columbia fines railroad for lye spill, 499
– Water quality, Ontario improvements, In Brief, 369

LAND MANAGEMENT

– Amazon Rainforest

– – Court expected to oust farmers, impose land use restrictions on indigenous reserve, 28; court ousts rice farmers, ranchers from reserve, 273
– – Federal land transferred to Roraima to repay debt due to creation of indigenous reserve, 99
– – New institution to police land titles, combat deforestation created under proposal, 27
– – Ownership rights

– – – Foreign owners, Brazil lower house approves size, residency restrictions, 973
– – – Occupiers, Brazil measure details how to obtain plots, 185; Senate approves measure, In Brief, 510; President signs bill, In Brief, 609

– Carbon sequestration, UNEP project to measure carbon dioxide stored in developing countries, 467
– Coastal islands, China drafts protection law, 614
– Conservation

– – Chile high court upholds ruling blocking construction of power plant in port of Ventanas, 608
– – Colombia considers mining ban in natural areas, In Brief, 610
– – European Comm'n closes 2 cases against Ireland, 77
– – German cabinet approves bills to consolidate, simplify environmental rules, 221
– – India report charts degradation, 752

– Food manufacturing, China environmental court suit prompts rescission of rights for plant, 843
– Food shortage linked to degradation, UNEP report says, 205
– Forests

See generally FORESTS

– Planning

– – Panama program loan, In Brief, 236
– – Taiwan drafts bill as part of climate change adaptation strategy, 981

– Protected lands, Colombia, Bogota identification program, In Brief, 101

LANDFILLS

– Capacity, Brazil state plans to double number of facilities, In Brief, 706
– Closure, Poland considers amendments to reduce pollution, 226
– Compliance, Colombia deadline, In Brief, 975
– Flow control

See FLOW CONTROL

– Garbage crisis in Beijing, China, In Brief, 571
– Illegal waste tips, European Comm'n issues final warning to Italy, 590
– Industrial waste, Japan toughens standards in response to court rulings, 241
– Open dump conversion, World Bank announces loan to Morocco, 460
– Permits, European Comm'n issues warning for improper transposition of law, 260
– Taxation, UK issues guidance on operator liability, 16
– Waste reduction

– – EU, In Brief, 547
– – Poland will not meet EU deadline, spokesperson says, 778

LATIN AMERICA

See also specific countries
– Climate change

– – Emissions reduction commitments should be greater, World Bank official says, 233
– – Mitigation and adaptation approach too reactive, UN says, In Brief, 236

– Information technology, Latin America survey finds Brazilian, Mexican firms resistant make energy efficiency investment, 272
– Kyoto Protocol, aid vital to success of Copenhagen talks, ministers say, 874

LEAD PAINT

– Restrictions, South Africa announces hazardous designation, 855

LEATHER INDUSTRY

– Shoemaking, Brazil makers join ban on Amazon products, In Brief, 745
– Wastewater and wastewater treatment, China tannery discharges, In Brief, 759

LIABILITY

– Ed. Note: This heading covers general liability issues.
– Environmental liability

– – EU directive remains untested, group calls for implementation guidelines, 123
– – Slovenia directed to transpose law, pay court costs, 220

LICENSING

– GMO seeds

– – Brazil agency moving slowly on approvals, 274
– – European Comm'n supports licenses for corn, 78

– Mines and mining, Colombia prohibits in national parks, 187
– Permit process

– – Brazil

– – – Civil suit against official dismissed, In Brief, 877
– – – Criticism of agency, In Brief, 878
– – – More licenses granted under new environment minister, 58; minister issues measures to further streamline process, 703; working group drafts preliminary council resolution, 786

– – New Zealand considers reforms to expedite process, 198

– Urban development projects, Brazil separation of powers forbids judicial branch interference, supreme court rules, 184

LIGHTING

– Energy efficient light bulbs

– – China

– – – LED industry value increase goals, In Brief, 984
– – – Local government procurement, In Brief, 379
– – – Shanxi capital implements subsidy plan, 794

– – France promotion program, In Brief, 178
– – Norway, disposal rules, In Brief, 826
– – Taiwan promotes to build low-carbon economy, official says, 456

– Incandescent light bulb bans

– – Argentina, In Brief, 30
– – EU to phase out by 2012, 9; Parliament committee supports plan, 168; EU Commission finalizes phaseout plan, 258; consumer groups say alternatives pose health risks, 820

LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS

See LNG

LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS

See LPG

LITHUANIA

– Sewage treatment plant, HELCOM downgrades pollution hot spot priority, 492

LNG

– Diesel fuel substitute, Chile urges firms to use, 449

LOANS

See also ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND INSTRUMENTS; FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
– Carbon sequestration, Colombia Andean-Amazon piedmont, In Brief, 236
– Climate change, Colombia loan to mitigate impacts, In Brief, 927
– Economic sustainability, World Bank loan to help Peru improve environmental policies, 189
– Energy efficiency, Australia announces new trust, 417
– Environmental management, Brazil receives $1.3B loan from World Bank, 231; loan for environmental sustainability, In Brief, 975
– Environmental risk analysis, Brazil banking association agrees to conduct, 321
– Fuel efficiency, European Investment Bank approves loans to auto manufacturers, 303
– Land use, Panama program, In Brief, 236
– Matanza-Riachuelo River cleanup, Argentina, In Brief, 562
– Open dump closure and rehabilitation, World Bank announces loan to Morocco, 460
– River decontamination, Colombia receives record loan, 233
– Sugarcane harvesting, Brazil hopes to stop burning, In Brief, 101
– Wind energy

– – European Bank for Reconstruction and Redevelopment finances farm in Poland, 438
– – European Investment Bank finalizes loan agreements for projects in Egypt, Cyprus, Ireland, 910

LOGGING OPERATIONS

– Asia-Pacific regional talks to promote fair trade in forest products, Indonesia-U.S. talks convened, 852
– Auction, Brazil bidding rules, In Brief, 235; second auction, In Brief, 562
– Certified timber

– – Brazil bank agrees not to finance housing projects using illegally cut wood, 59
– – EU committee approves import prevention proposal, 168; Parliament approves due diligence plan , 353

– Charcoal production, Brazil state revises forest code to discourage timber cutting, 835
– Illegally logged timber, Brazil sets yield limits, wood dimensions for sawmills to discourage purchases, 274
– Indigenous peoples lands, Argentina court issues temporary ban, 29; ban extension, In Brief, 278
– Native forest protection, Argentina issues implementing regulations, 187
– Trade agreements, Peru, U.S. discuss commitments in annex to trade promotion agreement, 367

LPG

– Carbon tax exemption by Norway, EFTA body rejects, In Brief, 694

LUXEMBOURG

– Emergency planning, EU court finds noncompliance, 220
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–19