International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

SAICM

See STRATEGIC APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT (SAICM)

SEWERS AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS

See generally WASTEWATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT

SHIPBREAKING

– IMO convention

– – Basel Convention equivalency, 540
– – South Asian opposition, 302

– Tanker scrappage overseas, U.S. review request, 1095
– Toxic substances, Bangladesh eases rules, 439

SHIPS AND SHIPPING

– Arctic region

– – Canada proposal for regulated traffic zone, 276; final rule, 655
– – Countries agree on need for new regulations, 629

– Bunker fuel tax, Japan proposes IMO establishment, 128
– Diesel fuel sulfur content, impact of MARPOL specification on oil refiners, IEA report, 627
– Emissions limits

– – IMO limits for Canadian, U.S. waters, 350
– – U.S. limits sulfur in fuel, NOx emissions, 32

– Hazardous materials transportation, U.S. proposed harmonization with international standards, 601
– Maritime pollution

– – Australia levy increase, 238

– Oil spills

See OIL SPILLS

– Ports

See PORTS

SINGAPORE

– Chemical safety tests, participation in OECD data sharing, 122
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–57

SLOVAKIA

– Air quality, European Comm'n warning, 982
– Electronic waste, European Comm'n warning, 1079
– Environmental protection, ministry reorganization, 160
– Landfills, European Comm'n warning, 641
– Renewable energy

– – Tax exemptions, OECD recommendation to eliminate, 1186
– – Unstable source approval requirement, 271

SLOVENIA

– Air quality, European Comm'n court action, 318
– River basin management plans, European Comm'n first warning, 555; second warning, 1079

SMALL BUSINESSES

– Clean production agreements, Chile legal status, 113
– Energy efficiency, Australia state scheme for utilities to support initiatives, 727

SMELTERS

– Blood lead levels, China legal aid center lawsuit, 566
– Shutdown, U.S. company seeks new conditions before restarting Peru operation, 520; government threatens to close complex, 606; deadline to restart operations missed, 758

SOAPS AND DETERGENTS

– Phosphates

– – EU, ban proposal, 1078
– – Finland progress on ban slow, 159

SOFTWARE

– REACH

– – Accuracy and completeness tool, 5
– – Dossier submission, 273

– Toxic substances, OECD application toolbox, 86

SOIL CONTAMINATION

– Heavy metals, Brazil Recobem site, state penalties appeal, 73
– Land management, New Zealand proposed standard, 177
– Penalties, Russia, 929
– Prevention, China draft law, 168
– Property value loss, Canada refinery liability, 719
– Remediation

– – EU passage of law unlikely, 926
– – Taiwan potential polluter liability, 122; law takes effect, 178

– Site assessment, Australia standard reconsideration, 1004
– Soil quality, EU to revive proposals, 265

SOLAR ENERGY

– Desert areas, Morocco project, 389
– Desertec Industrial Initiative, Germany support, 268; 4 additional countries support, 318; 17 additional partners join, 1040
– Feed-in tariffs

– – Australia, New South Wales reduction, 1100
– – Germany reduction proposal, 99; chancellor's endorsement, 268; criticism, 320; Parliament approval, 701
– – Spain, voluntary reduction agreement, 1083; law increases legal, technical security, 1180

– Financial assistance, EIB plan for France, India, 12
– Financial incentives, India

– – Announcement, 78; allocation of funding, 294
– – Microgeneration programs, 617; guidelines for linkage to grid, 771

– Generation targets, IEA on meeting global electricity needs, 537
– Hot water heating systems, Canada, Ontario incentives, 34
– Investment, Asian Development Bank expansion plans, 480
– Mediterranean Solar Plan

– – France-Morocco partnership, 300
– – Transmission grid, partnership to study feasibility, 695

– Off-grid equipment, India subsidies, 1207
– Premium payments, Italy reduction plan, 792
– Subsidies

– – Czech Republic, consideration of decrease, 217; tax bill to cover subsidy costs, 1129
– – France, new conditions, 210; reduction, 834
– – Spain, elimination for projects not meeting operational deadlines, 792

– Targets, Egypt 2020 goals, 180
– Tax incentives

– – Chile provision for new homes, 607
– – France, proposed elimination, 1081

– Thermoelectric production, Spain tops U.S., 702

SOLID WASTE

– Construction and demolition waste

– – Hong Kong notification requirements, 231
– – Sweden, management guidelines, 795

– Disposal fees, Portugal suspension, 330
– Generation, Australia national report, 478
– Handlers, Denmark online registry, 649
– Industrial waste, Japan fines for illegal dumping, 176
– Landfills

See LANDFILLS

– Medical waste

See MEDICAL WASTE

– Municipal waste

See MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

– Packaging

See PACKAGING

– Recycling

See RECYCLING

– Refuse-derived fuel, UK export approval, 594

SOMALIA

– Stockholm Convention ratification, 817

SOUTH AFRICA

– Acid mine drainage

– – Crisis assessment, 949
– – Second shutdown notice, issuance, 1148

– Air quality, new rules, 484
– Carbon sequestration, atlas of potential capacity, 950
– Carbon tax, OECD recommendation, 729
– Climate change, draft policy, 1209
– Coal-fired power plant, World Bank loan, 397; developing nations need balance between environment, economy, 445; defense of loan as equitable treatment, 582
– Environment minister, Molewa named, 1151
– Environmental impact assessments, new rules, 781
– Environmental protection, priorities, 443
– Gold mining, acid mine drainage control, 296
– Medical waste, arrest for illegal dumping, 239; CEO arrest, 483; final order to clean up buried waste, 620; safe for use declaration, 1148
– Motor vehicles

– – Carbon emissions tax on new sales, 241; expansion to light trucks, 812; delay of tax on double-cab pickup trucks, 858
– – Fuel specifications, oil industry on, 42

– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–65
– Renewable energy

– – Benefits include emissions reduction, job growth, 573
– – National transmission grid, 240

– Wastewater treatment, performance report, 532
– Water resources, priorities and challenges, 442

SOUTH AMERICA

See specific countries

SOUTH KOREA

– Clean energy technology, investment to develop export industry, 1056
– Climate change

– – Emissions reduction instruments, OECD report, 772
– – Law finalization, 82; industry-agency cooperation, 1002

– Energy efficiency, surtax on energy-guzzling appliances, 347
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–54
– Renewable energy standard, 2012 goal, 346; legislative preparations, 946

SOUTHEAST ASIA

– Renewable energy, IEA recommendations on policy changes, 675

SOUTHERN COMMON MARKET

See also specific countries
– Guarani aquifer, joint management agreement, 798

SPAIN

– Aarhus Convention, noncompliance, 679
– Air quality, European Comm'n final warning, 318
– Batteries, disposal regulation revisions, 750
– Biocides

– – Handler training requirements, 648
– – Registration, authorization, and market placement, issuance of orders, 750

– Biofuels, blend content increase proposal, 1041
– Carbon sequestration, support of bill, 367
– Climate change

– – Adaptation fund for developing countries, commitment, 1130
– – Carbon fund contributions, 507
– – Fluorinated gases, regulation, 597

– Coal, law requiring domestic use, 988
– Electric vehicles, emissions reduction strategy, 367
– Emissions reduction

– – Renewable energy project registration, 213
– – 2009 decrease, 465

– Emissions trading

– – Reporting, decree, 326
– – Revisions to regime, 104

– Energy efficiency, public building complexes conversion plan, 749
– Environmental impact assessment procedure modifications, 330
– Fuel efficiency, driver training, 212
– Hazardous substances, harmonization with GHS, 556
– Hazardous waste dumping, European Comm'n final warning, 318
– Kyoto Protocol, 2008 emissions reduction lags behind target, 161
– Oceans, marine environment protection bill, 212
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–23
– Patents, environmentally friendly technologies strategy, 270
– Radioactive waste storage, list of eligible sites, 213
– Renewable energy

– – Production increase, 2009, 410
– – Registration of projects, 213

– River basin management plans, European Comm'n first warning, 555
– Solar energy

– – Subsidies

– – – Elimination for projects not meeting operational deadlines, 792
– – – Feed-in tariff reduction, agreement, 1083; law increases legal, technical security, 1180

– – Thermoelectric production tops U.S., 702

– Solid waste management, transposition of EU directive, 648
– Sustainable development, proposed bill, 326
– Urban wastewater treatment, EC referral to court, 461

STEEL INDUSTRY

See IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

STOCKHOLM CONVENTION

– Addition of chemicals, 814; amendments take effect, 857
– China implementation, dioxin emissions reduction plan, 1143
– Coordination with Basel and Rotterdam conventions, joint head, 251; cost neutrality, 306
– Export controls, Canada proposals, 935
– Panel recommendations, 1059
– Participation, U.S. dispute resolution, 938
– PCBs Elimination Network, 307
– Ratifications

– – Bosnia and Herzegovina, 370
– – Ireland, 817
– – Somalia, 817

STRATEGIC APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT (SAICM)

– Nanomaterials, African nations' resolution on safe handling, 242

SULFUR DIOXIDE

– Air pollution

– – Bulgaria warned by European Comm'n, 318
– – EU law review, postponement, 696

– Emissions reduction, China goals met for 2009, 171; first quarter 2010 emissions increase, 530; slight increase first half of 2010, 1097
– Iron and steel industry, China enforcement actions, 524
– Thermoelectric power plants, Chile emissions limits, 27; correction, 77

SULFUR IN DIESEL FUEL

– Ship fuel, impact of MARPOL specification on oil refiners, IEA report, 627
– Standards

– – Chile, 71
– – Hong Kong considers Euro V specifications, 526

SULFUR OXIDES

– Electric power plants, Belgium region agreement, 987

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

– Agriculture, Denmark political accord threatens targets, 412
– Biofuels

See BIOFUELS

– Building codes

– – Qatar rating system, 1149
– – Standards coalition draft, 307
– – UAE rating system, 901

– Business guide, OECD, 1069
– Clean production agreements, Chile legal status, 113
– Climate change

– – Brazil

– – – Business index eligibility requirements, 664
– – – Espirito Santo state bill, 605; law, 939
– – – Pernambuco state, law, 714

– – Businesses, risks and opportunities, report, 624
– – Carbon risk analysis, integration into corporate credit ratings, 1062
– – China companies' commitment, 434
– – Corporations

– – – Accounting protocols for emissions reporting, 1106
– – – Brazil, business index eligibility requirements, 664
– – – GHG emissions measurement standards for products, supply chains, 138
– – – Integration of policies into business strategies, report, 961
– – – Wal-Mart supply chain, GHG emissions reductions, 226

– – East Asia, regional effort needed, 440
– – India

– – – Carbon tax on infrastructure sector, 1101
– – – Road map for low-carbon growth, 84

– – Investment in low-carbon technologies, economist on, 1156
– – Low-carbon growth progress despite uncertainty over global pact, 448
– – South Korea low-carbon green growth bill finalization, 82; industry-agency cooperation, 1002
– – Spain, proposed bill, 326
– – U.K. coalition government on low-carbon economy, 504; action plans, 745; lobby comments, 790

– Construction, Finland initiative, 66; proposed building requirement revisions, 990
– Consumption patterns unsustainable, reports, 490
– Economic strategy

– – EU green growth targets, 264
– – Greece, OECD recommendations, 274

– Energy efficiency

See ENERGY EFFICIENCY

– Environmental governance, U.N. delegates on need for reform, 1218
– Environmental management

– – China, Guangdong province initiatives, 668
– – EU environment commissioner nominee emphasizes focus, 57
– – India, Delhi population growth taking toll, 569; green industrial policy, 810
– – Morocco, national charter, 485
– – Russia, draft policy framework, 983

– Fast-track development of green economy, coalition, 1158
– Forests, China loan, 1147
– Investment index, Brazil, 1197
– Middle East and North Africa corporate index development, 129
– Planning, Canada strategy, 338
– Procurement, Brazil criteria for soliciting federal contracts, 111
– Renewable energy

See RENEWABLE ENERGY

– Resource efficiency, UN report on environmental policy, 580
– Supply chain

– – China working paper on environmental performance demands, 1054
– – Participation role in companies reaching goals, 1152

– Taxation to fund economy shift, European Green Party, 1039
– U.N. panel creation, 816
– Urban areas

See URBAN AREAS

– Water resources, U.N. report on role of wastewater management, 354

SWEDEN

– Air quality, European Comm'n court action, 318
– Biocides, increase in availability, 465
– Budget, 2011 plan, 1037
– Climate change, opposition coalition supports carbon tax, 466
– Construction waste management guidelines, 795
– Cosmetics, European Comm'n warning, 461
– Data sharing, EC referral to court, 641
– EIAs, planning rules revision, 327
– Elections, coalition alliances, 931
– Electronic waste, recall of mislabeled appliances, 599
– Enforcement, website, 330
– Explosives oversight, rules update, 754
– Hazardous waste, recommendations on drug manufacturer liability, 1037
– Industrial plant permits, European Comm'n final warning, 318; court action, 1079
– Nitrogen oxide emissions, impact of tax, 217
– Nuclear energy, liability increases, 216
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–24
– PCBs in mammals, study, 219
– REACH, proposed enforcement changes, 510
– Toxic substances

– – Bisphenol A baby bottle ban implementation plan, 752
– – Elimination from environment, priority, 1133

– Water management, new agency, 706

SWITZERLAND

– Carbon tax, rapid payout of revenues, 506; first reimbursement, 598
– Ethanol, review of policies promoting use, 105; sustainability rules thwarting promotion efforts, 989
– Kyoto Protocol successor agreement

– – Co-host of ministerial meeting with Mexico, 731
– – Economic growth, emissions reduction targets may be missed, 1132