International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

BALTIC SEA

– Anti-pollution pledges from countries, industry, 159
– Environmental management, EU legislation request, 18
– Helsinki Convention

See HELSINKI CONVENTION

– Natural gas pipeline, Finland approval, 163

BANGLADESH

– Mangrove conservation, India cooperative agreement, 387
– Shipbreaking, easing of toxics rules, 439

BANKING AND FINANCE

See FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

BASEL CONVENTION

– Coordination with Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, joint head, 251; cost neutrality, 306
– Harmonization of standards

– – Canada, policy updates, 420
– – U.S. final rule to align rules with OECD, 31; publication, 76

– International waters origination, Norway plans proposal, 705
– Monitoring of shipments, Ivory Coast station, 678
– Participation, U.S. dispute resolution, 938
– Refusal of shipment

– – Brazil sends shipment back to Germany, 841
– – Nigeria orders ship to port of origin, 485

– Strategic framework, approval, 540

BATHING WATER

See WATER RESOURCES

BATTERIES

– Cadmium ban from tool batteries, EU consultation, 261
– Disposal

– – Brazil documentation requirements, 470
– – Spain regulation revisions, 750

– Recycling

– – Brazil rules take effect, 1141
– – India law on dealer, producer responsibility, 566

– Storage in depot, Argentina summons makers to seek disposal solution, 882; disposal agreement, 1094

BELGIUM

– Air quality, European Comm'n warning, 1079
– Carbon sequestration, province refusal to approve capture ready coal-fired power plant, 930
– Data sharing, EC referral to court, 461
– Electric utilities, emissions reduction agreement, 987
– Emissions trading, proposed tax on profits made from selling free credits, 650
– EU presidency, priorities, 697; plans, 867
– Flood risk management, European Comm'n final warning, 641
– Groundwater, EC referral to court, 555
– Motor vehicle recycling, EC referral to court, 641
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–8
– Ozone levels, 2009 data, 653
– Particulate matter, European Comm'n final warning, 641
– Pollution prevention, EU court ruling, 266
– Radioactive waste, study of underground storage, 874
– Recycling, Flanders household waste sorting statistics, 1187
– River basin management plans, European Comm'n first warning, 555; second warning, 1079
– Urban wastewater, EC referral court, 641

BEVERAGE CONTAINERS

– Waste reduction, Australia commissions regulatory impact statement, 726

BIODIVERSITY

– Biopiracy, Brazil enforcement actions, 1193
– Climate change

– – Latin America impacts, 30
– – Netherlands, mitigation, 992
– – Payments for ecosystem services, OECD recommendations, 1014

– Conservation

– – China, 20-year plan, 1097
– – Corporate responsibility, recommendations, 707
– – EU

– – – Baseline data, 555
– – – Strategy, 876

– – European Comm'n warning to Portugal, 641
– – France

– – – Efforts inadequate, 463
– – – National strategy revisions, 708
– – – Natura 2000 designations, 877

– Ecological Overshoot Day, 853
– Ecosystem restoration, UN report on economic benefits, 580
– EIAs, Japan modification of law to reflect initiatives, 120
– Endangered or threatened species

See ENDANGERED SPECIES

– Environmental health, Italy 2009 assessment, 411
– Genetic resource access and benefit sharing, Brazil priorities, 1065; framework, 1102
– Habitat protection

– – Denmark strategy to preserve rural areas, 61
– – EU long-term vision, 99
– – Israel, national plan, 533
– – Portugal regulation of government funding, 30
– – 2010 loss reduction goal not met, report, 538
– – Venezuela, regional environmental policies, 473

– Mangrove conservation, India-Bangladesh cooperative agreement, 387
– Marine conservation

– – Indonesia, establishment of protected areas, 1207
– – NAFTA map of protected areas, 609

– Oil and gas development, Ecuador proposal to halt Yasuni National Park extraction in exchange for half market value, 29; government backs away from exchange plan, 75; agreement, 796
– Soil atlas, EU publication, 926
– Valuation of ecosystems, World Bank program, 1104

BIOENGINEERING

See generally BIOTECHNOLOGY

BIOFUELS

– Aviation fuels

– – Advances in development, industry on, 953
– – China-Boeing development agreement, 576

– Biodiesel, Argentina content requirement increase, 716
– Biomass

– – Japan forest plan, 944
– – Power plants

– – – China funding needs, ADB report, 669
– – – Poland construction plans, 415

– Biotechnology, Brazil approval of yeast to convert sugar cane to diesel, 221
– Development, China biogas investment lagging, 768
– Environment and health impacts of production, Canada seeks study proposals, 67
– Ethanol

– – Brazil

– – – Electric power plant construction, 112
– – – Gasoline content requirement, 77
– – – Polyethylene production from sugar cane ethanol, 998
– – – U.S. renewable fuel standard, sugar cane ethanol classification, 165

– – Climate-friendly ethanol use, impact on demand, 303
– – Japan, E10 tailpipe emissions, 804
– – Peru, postponement of blend requirements, 996
– – Switzerland, review of policies promoting use, 105; sustainability rules thwarting promotion efforts, 989

– Grain burning to generate electricity, Poland approval, 274
– Household biomass exchange for biogas, India pilot project, 120
– Overuse, EU GHG emissions could increase, 363
– Palm plantations, EU draft rules incentive to clear forests, 151
– Price spikes in commodities, food, OECD report, 629
– Production expansion, cooperation among industry, NGOs, and government needed, 685
– Production incentives

– – Alberta program extension, 382
– – India policy, 79

– Renewable standard

– – Canada gasoline proposal, 373; finalized regulations, 879
– – Czech veto of higher requirement, 508; lawmakers override veto, 557
– – EU, higher GHG emissions, 1086; Brazil sugar cane industry warns of WTO challenge, 1162
– – Germany, adoption of proposal, 1080
– – Spain, proposal, 1041

– Second generation, IEA forecast, 681
– Subsidies, United Kingdom scheme review, 214
– Sustainability

– – EU

– – – Solid biomass fuel standards, 207
– – – Voluntary certification scheme, 589

– – Germany certification scheme, 319
– – Portugal, criteria decree-law, 708
– – Switzerland, promotion efforts thwarted, 989

– Targets, Egypt 2020 goals, 180
– Tariffs, Canada fee remittance, 522
– Transportation fuels

– – British Columbia low-carbon standards, 22
– – EU, impact on emissions, 207
– – Norway fuel standard, 369
– – 2050 prediction, IEA chief, 354

– Used cooking oil, Argentina power plant, 1139

BIOTECHNOLOGY

– Amflora potato, EU approval, 261
– Bananas, Uganda field trials, 1015
– Citizen petition, EU ban, 980
– Corn, China safety certification, 40
– Development, Australia national strategy, 235
– Eggplant, India moratorium on Bt Brinjal, 174
– Federal authority, India plan, 233
– Financial incentives, Egypt plans, 129
– Livestock, New Zealand institute's research plans, 479
– Open field trials, India contamination prevention measures, 119
– Polyethylene production from sugar cane ethanol, Brazil company, 998
– Regulatory authority, India bill, 848
– Restrictions

– – EU member state right to ban crops, proposal, 694; opposition, 924; ministers critical, 1027; proposal not likely to survive WTO challenge, 1124
– – Germany, national restrictions upheld, 1177
– – Italy position study, 653; regional leadership opposition, 1132

– Rice, China safety certification, 40
– Safety, OECD

– – Brochure, 398
– – Consensus document compilations, 1221

– Yeast ferments sugar cane to diesel fuel, Brazil approval, 221

BOLIVIA

– Kyoto Protocol, parallel process plans, 392
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–30

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

– Stockholm Convention ratification, 370

BRAZIL

– Agricultural burning

– – Cane growers accord, 564
– – Wildfires increasing, 847; additional funding to combat surge, 884

– Air quality, Sao Paulo standards, 662
– Amazon Rainforest

– – Aquifer, discovery, 428
– – Belo Monte hydropower dam approval, 111; challenge of licensing, 2 suits, 379; challenges dismissed, concession auctioned, 425; concession contract, 886
– – Cattle ranching

– – – Ban of beef from illegally raised cattle, 115
– – – Seizure of livestock raised on illegally cut land, 114
– – – Slaughterhouses behind on pledge, 472; buying restrictions, 764

– – Creation of indigenous reserves, 34; suspension of demarcation, 114
– – Deforestation

– – – Cattle ranching impacts

See Cattle ranching, this subheading

– – – Environmental protection fund, proposal, 167
– – – Rate reduction on track to exceed 2020 target, 166
– – – Record rate decline, year ending July 31, 2009, 473; record drop for year ending July 31, 2010, 886; rate of decline less than initially estimated, 1195

– – Hydroelectric dam construction, eco-friendly model, 114
– – Reforestation fund creation, 520
– – Soy trader moratorium, renewal, 712
– – Timber, illegal harvesting

See Timber, this heading

– – Urban areas, transfer of federal lands to municipalities, 1094
– – Zoning, economic/environmental proposal, 335; presidential approval, 1194

– Biodiversity, biopiracy enforcement actions, 1193
– Biofuels

– – Biotechnology

– – – Polyethylene production from sugar cane ethanol, 998
– – – Yeast to convert sugar cane to diesel, approval, 221

– – Gasoline ethanol content requirement, 77
– – U.S. renewable fuel standard, sugar cane ethanol classification, 165

– Biotechnology

– – Polyethylene production from sugar cane ethanol, 998
– – Yeast to convert sugar cane to diesel, approval, 221

– Climate change

– – Business Sustainability Index eligibility requirements, 664
– – Carbon Efficient Index for companies, 34
– – Emissions reduction

– – – Bill under consideration, 426
– – – Early achievement of target, plan, 1093
– – – Implementation of law, 517; World Bank cost analysis, 609

– – Emissions reports, environmental licensing discounts, 33
– – Espirito Santo state, bill, 605; law, 939
– – Monitoring of emissions, U.N. agency cooperative agreement, 34
– – Pernambuco state, law, 714
– – Policy adoption, 22
– – Sao Paulo state, decree, 663; GHG inventory, 1138
– – Seedling planting, Rio de Janeiro, 847

– Contamination, Recobem site, Parana state penalties appeal, 73
– Desertification, prevention initiatives, 280
– Diesel fuel, Guanabara Bay spill due to mudslides, 382
– Elections, leading presidential candidates on environmental issues, 883
– Electric plants, experimental ethanol-fueled plant, 112
– Electronic waste, Rio Grande do Sul law, 1137
– Emissions trading, state explores air pollution credit exchange, 516
– Energy, 10-year plan, 518
– Environment Ministry

– – Employee strike, 523
– – Resignation of minister, 382

– Forests

– – Amazon Rainforest

See Amazon Rainforest, this heading

– – Buffer zones around protected areas, 1196
– – Cerrado protection program, 937
– – Debt-for-nature program, U.S. agreement, 799
– – Deforestation fines, 77
– – Fine suspension for landowners, 756; proposed bill impact on emissions reduction target, 1195
– – Hydroelectric project construction, protections, 114
– – Land use, restrictions on small landowners eased, 473
– – Legal reserve registration deadline extension, 24
– – Loans by government banks, guide, 1001
– – Protected status, Rondonia revocations, 803
– – Restoration, resolution on loans, 841; approval, 939; availability, 1138

– Groundwater, joint management of Guarani aquifer, 798
– Hazardous materials transportation, near-empty containers, 220
– Hazardous waste shipment back to Germany, 841
– Hydroelectric projects

– – Belo Monte Dam approval, 111; challenge of licensing, 2 suits, 379; challenges dismissed, concession auctioned, 425; concession contract, 886
– – Forest protections during construction, 114

– Industrial waste impoundments, new law, 1048
– Motor vehicles, truck emissions monitoring accord, 564
– Nuclear power, expansion study, 564
– Offshore oil concessions, study of safety criteria, 710
– Oil and gas production and exploration, study of net profits tax, 936
– Oil spills, national contingency plan, 606
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–31
– Penalties, Sao Paulo state resolution, 523
– Permits

– – Authority based on environmental impact, bill, 23
– – Closure due to administrative violations

– – – Ports, EIA data delivery plan, 711; accord, 764
– – – Restrictions, 713

– – Low-impact projects streamlined, 604
– – Tiete River watershed, Sao Paulo state licensing restrictions, 73
– – World Cup projects, 77; prioritization, 473

– Pesticides

– – BASF products ban, 284
– – Endosulfan

– – – Federal lawsuit seeking ban, 603; phaseout plans, 710; resolution, 847
– – – State ban, 378

– – Glyphosate seizure, 339
– – Labeling and packaging, seizure of Tordon, 603

– Plastic shopping bags

– – Consumption reduction, Rio de Janeiro state requirements, 713; trade group lawsuit, 936
– – Supermarket chain ban, 284; association program to reduce consumption, 1202

– Procurement, sustainability criteria for soliciting federal contracts, 111
– Recycling

– – Batteries, rules take effect, 1141
– – Construction waste, city rules, 335

– Solid waste

– – Documentation requirements for disposal of batteries, tires, 470
– – Flammable waste, state landfill ban, 520
– – Management plans

– – – Bill, lower house passage, 280; pending in Senate, 661; President signs, 755
– – – Funding, 220; investment plans, 799
– – – Generator registration, Sao Paulo City, 1137
– – – Sao Paulo state, 378

– – Small-scale landfills, simplified standards, 661

– Soybean export terminal, police investigation of EIA, 756
– Steel industry

– – Toxic emissions, settlement of environmental damages, 841; plant upgrades, 1001; criminal charges against executives, 1198
– – Untreated effluent from blast furnace, fine, 1197

– Sustainability index, additions to list, 1197
– Timber

– – Charcoal

– – – Illegal timber as source, enforcement initiative, 429
– – – Steel industry prohibitions on use, 799

– – City bans illegally harvested timber, 335
– – Concessions, audit criteria, 228
– – Government officials arrested, alleged link with illegally-harvested timber, 560

– Wastewater and wastewater treatment, untreated effluent from blast furnace, 1197
– Water resources

– – Apa River, cooperative agreement with Paraguay, 523
– – Municipality clean water plan submission deadline, 660
– – Sao Francisco River, use and discharge fees, 426
– – Urban industrial use, Sao Paulo state fees, 25
– – Vegetation preservation, payments to landowners, 712

– Wetlands, landowner liable for harm prior to ownership, 604
– Wild birds as pets, licensing violation, 1048
– Wind energy, energy contract auctions, 25

BUILDINGS

– Energy efficiency

See ENERGY EFFICIENCY

BULGARIA

– Air quality

– – European Comm'n rejection of extension request, 13
– – Sulfur dioxide, European Comm'n final warning, 318

– Flood management plans, European Comm'n warning, 641

BUSES

– Air emissions, Hong Kong phaseout of older models, 348