International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

UAE

See UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

UGANDA

– Biotechnology, banana field trials, 1015
– Methane capture project, CDM registration, 782

See UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

UKRAINE

– Aarhus Convention, noncompliance, 679
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–27

See UNITED NATIONS (UN)

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (USTs)

– Decommissioning, Denmark ban on older, smaller tanks, 275

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

– Climate change, sea-level threat, 134
– Sustainable development, building rating system, 901
– Water resources, policy committee, 133

UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

– Air quality

– – European Comm'n rejection of extension request, 13
– – Long-term consequences, 325
– – Particulate matter, European Comm'n second warning, 555

– Biomass subsidies, review of scheme, 214
– Budget, impact on environmental programs, 651; announcement of cuts, 1031
– Carbon sequestration, demonstration competition expansion recommendation, 653; inclusion of gas projects, 1133
– Clean coal, energy bill, 414
– Clean energy, funding recommendation, 706
– Climate change

– – Adaptation funding for developing countries, capital market initiative, 877
– – Air travel demand limits to meet 2050 emissions targets, 16
– – Airports, review of Heathrow expansion, 329
– – Coalition government on emissions reductions, low-carbon economy, 504; action plans, 745; lobby comments, 790
– – Emissions reduction target recommendation, 63; advisory committee recommendation, 653
– – Reporting of GHG emissions, business coalition on, 790

– Emissions trading

– – Aviation sector lawsuit, 47
– – Cash-back incentive, elimination, 1032
– – Delay of cap-and-trade phase, proposal, 1127
– – Registration deadline, 743
– – Simplification of scheme, recommendations, 986

– Energy, 2010 budget proposals include low-carbon projects, 14
– Energy efficiency

– – Boilers, homeowner upgrade scheme, 65
– – Ecodesign, request for comments on enforcement of labeling rules, 324
– – Green rating system for new homes, 15
– – Homes

– – – Funding, 269
– – – Insulation by energy suppliers, 652
– – – Value added tax rate reduction, OECD recommendation to eliminate, 708

– Enforcement

– – European Comm'n final warning, 318
– – Sanctions, flexibility and proportionality, 156

– Environmental agencies, independent body closures as cost reduction, 744
– Flood management law, 408
– Food production strategy to reduce carbon emissions, waste, 64
– General election, green campaign issues, 409
– Green Investment Bank, creation, 323; prime minister support, 987
– Kyoto Protocol, 2008 emissions reductions exceed target, 162
– Marine resources

– – Energy action plan, 330
– – Indian Ocean reserver, creation, 366
– – Management proposals, request for comments, 742

– Motor vehicles, subsidies for electric cars, 218
– Noise action plans for urban areas, 324
– Oil depot explosion, issuance of fines, 742
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–26
– Pesticides, consultation on implementation of EU directive, regulations, 215
– Recycling, London plans to boost rates, 105
– Renewable energy

– – Budget cuts, 706
– – Council sale of excess electricity, 791
– – Feed-in tariffs, 157
– – Micro energy generation plan, input sought, 709

– Solid waste

– – Proposals, request for comments on landfills, hazardous waste, 325
– – Reduction policies, 794
– – Refuse-derived fuel, export approval, 594

– Toxic substances, substitution guidance, 870
– Waste reduction, retailer program, 273

UNITED NATIONS (UN)

– Aarhus Convention

See AARHUS CONVENTION

– Basel Convention

See BASEL CONVENTION

– Biodiversity

– – Ecosystem restoration, economic benefits, 580
– – Genetic resource access and benefit sharing, Brazil priorities, 1065; framework, 1102; geoengineering moratorium recommendation, 1103
– – 2010 loss reduction goal not met, 538

– Carcinogens, agency evaluation, 487
– Climate change

– – Assessment procedures

– – – Expert selection for 5th report, IPCC, 683
– – – IPCC defense, 184; policy review, 245; independent review by InterAcademy Council, 304; committee selection, 493; InterAcademy Council recommendations, 853

– – Brazil cooperative agreement to monitor GHG emissions, 34
– – Dairy sector, tracking of GHG emissions, 493
– – Executive secretary, de Boer's successor, 244; proposed candidates, 393; selection of Figueres, 536

– Energy access, global targets, 488
– Environment Program

– – Climate Neutral Strategy, 904
– – Kenya electronic waste law, recommendations, 951
– – Ocean acidification risk, report, 1215

– Environmental governance, need for reform, 1218
– Kyoto Protocol successor agreement

See KYOTO PROTOCOL

– Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention

– – Long-term strategy, draft, 1157
– – Russia air quality management plan, 1131

– Mercury, negotiators begin preparing pact, 581
– Millennium Development Goals

– – African continent, atlas of water resources, 1210
– – Means to achieve, 902

– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–69
– Ramsar Convention

See RAMSAR CONVENTION

– Resource efficiency, environmental policy, 580
– Specialty metals, environmentally-friendly technologies to drive recycling, 539
– Stockholm Convention

See STOCKHOLM CONVENTION

– Sustainable development, panel creation, 816

UNITED STATES

– Biofuels, renewable fuel standard classification of sugar cane ethanol, 165
– Bisphenol A, Cal. comment request, 204
– Border with Mexico

See MEXICO-U.S. BORDER ENVIRONMENT

– Chemical industry information exchange, California-Denmark agreement, 49
– Clean energy development

– – China cooperation, research centers, 901
– – India partnership, 1104
– – Inter-American Development Bank-Latin America cooperation, 422
– – Ministerial meeting scheduled, 470
– – North Am. Dev. Bank, Mexico border initiative, 423
– – Race with China not zero-sum game, 526

– Climate change

– – Adaptation fund for developing countries, Senate Republicans on freeze of pledged aid, 1218
– – Adaptation, policy shift from emissions reduction, 900
– – California-British Columbia vehicle emissions accord, 35
– – Diplomatic cables, leak, 1201
– – Emissions reduction cost comparable to EU commitment, OECD report, 960
– – Legislation

– – – Impact of lack of action, 355
– – – Republican senator withdraws support, 422

– – Manipulation of data, scientist cleared of allegations, 683
– – Pacific Coast collaborative, 225

– Cosco Busan oil spill, sentencing of operator, 227; settlement with owner, 1140
– Drinking water, Canada wary of buy American provisions, 659
– Electronic waste exports

– – Cathode ray tubes, proposed fine for illegal operation, 110
– – Limits, EPA supports bill, 562; introduction, 1000

– Emissions trading, Western Climate Initiative

– – Cap-and-trade program design, 761
– – Reporting, harmonization of requirements, 562

– Energy efficiency

– – Harmonized test methods and standards, discussion with EU, 1109
– – Promotion, Japan agreement, 1161

– Environmental law in Jordan, participation in consultations, 43
– Environmental protection, China cooperative agreement, 1068
– Forests

– – Debt-for-nature programs

– – – Brazil agreement, 799
– – – Costa Rica agreement, 1050

– – Lacey Act revision impact on illegal wood products trade, Analysis & Perspective, 188
– – Mau Forest Complex rehabilitation, pledged funds, 486

– Fuels, governors consider low-carbon standard, 722
– Great Lakes restoration plan, 228
– Hazardous waste, harmonization with OECD transboundary shipment rules, 31; publication, 76
– International cooperation, EU opens liaison office, 462
– Kyoto Protocol

– – Cooperation with EU, ambassador recommendations, 85
– – Emissions reduction target, commitment, 225
– – India bilateral agreements could help global talks, 1068
– – Progress in Cancun without passage of bill, negotiator on, 521; envoy hopeful, 1065
– – Support of Copenhagen Accord, forum of top emitters, 75
– – Tianjin talks, rift with China remains, 1005; envoy critical of China emissions reduction position, 1007

– Mexico-U.S. border environment

See MEXICO-U.S. BORDER ENVIRONMENT

– Mining, Montana-British Columbia partnership to end in Flathead region, 164; signature of agreement, 224
– Motor vehicles, GHG emissions standards

– – Light cars and trucks, 371
– – Medium and heavy trucks, 512
– – Refrigerants, GM chemical change, 763

– Natural gas project in Papua New Guinea, bank faces lawsuit over EIA, 282
– Nature park, consideration with Russia, 897
– Ocean management, coastal and marine spatial planning recommendations, 30
– Oil and gas reforms, IEA warns against knee-jerk reaction to Gulf spill, 538
– Oily waste dumping

– – Chem Faros, engineer pleads guilty, 469
– – Kerim, company pleads guilty, 561
– – New Fortune, operator sentencing, 761
– – Polembros Shipping, sentencing, 33

– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–42
– Pesticides, Nicaraguan worker claims fraudulent, Cal. court vacates verdict, 717
– Pipelines, EIS for Canada tar sands pipeline and expansion, 375; U.S. State Dep't seeks comments, 420; EPA on inadequacy of State Dep't analysis, 760; withdrawal of special permit request, 801; Mich. representative seeks approval based on jobs creation, 1139
– Radioactive waste

– – Nuclear fuel reprocessing, agreement with India, 348
– – Transportation, request for comments on draft changes to international rules, 684

– Rare earth elements, projected shortage impact on green technology growth, 352; DOD dependence assessment, 429
– Renewable energy

– – Ontario local content requirement, seat sought in Japan WTO complaint, 1010
– – Union petition for investigation of China trade practices, 885; congressional support of petition, 1000; USTR investigation, 1067

– Ships and shipping, oily waste dumping

See Oily waste dumping, this heading

– South Am. Envt., Sci., Tech., and Health Office relocation, 72
– Tanker scrappage overseas, request review, 1095
– Toxic substances

– – Confidentiality claims, talks with EU on sharing information, 535
– – Data available online, 817
– – Testing, EU cooperative agreement, 1015

– Turtle protection, shrimp import ban impact on Mexican fishermen, 334
– U.N. convention participation could help resolve disputes, 938

URBAN AREAS

– Air pollution monitoring, China pilot project, 237
– Climate change

– – Asian megacities vulnerable to flooding, 1055
– – China, low-carbon city plans, 1099
– – Global Cities Covenant on Climate Change, 1154
– – U.S., some taxes increase emissions, OECD report, 1220

– Compliance, China Fujian province data, 117
– Drinking water

– – Australia desalination plant opening, 123
– – China source protection planning document, 610

– Energy efficiency, Italy digital technology initiative, 1133
– Environmental quality, Italy decline, 1041
– Land use, Brazil transfer of federal Amazon areas to municipalities, 1094
– Low-carbon cities, China standards, 432
– Noise, U.K. action plans, 324
– Sustainability, India habitat plan, 616
– Transportation, Russia sustainable system pilot projects, 704
– Wastewater and wastewater treatment

– – Belgium, EC referral to court, 641
– – Italy, EC referral to court, 461
– – Poland strategy revisions, 270
– – Spain, EC referral to court, 461

– Water infrastructure

– – Brazil, management plan submission deadline, 660
– – India sewage treatment rates, 81
– – Panama loan from IAD, 35

– Water quality, China Sichuan province enforcement, 481
– Water resources

– – Brazil state charges industries for use of untreated water, 25
– – China cities face deficits, 344

URUGUAY

– Border with Argentina, pollution monitoring agreement, 762
– Electric power, microgeneration in residences, 471
– Energy efficiency, public buildings, 429
– Groundwater, joint management of Guarani aquifer, 798
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–41
– Pulp mill polluting Uruguay River

– – Argentina demand to close plant rejected, 424; joint monitoring proposal rejection, 516
– – Bridge blockade temporarily lifted, 607

UZBEKISTAN

– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–46