News

Legislation

Commission seeks a new approach

Pronouncements from Brussels over recent weeks suggest the EU could be about to embark on a major overhaul of its environmental programmes. Although concrete proposals have yet to emerge, the signs are that the new Commission is prepared to take a very different approach than in the past, due in part to the straitened economic outlook.

The first indication came in October when two senior Commission officials raised doubts over the future of the EU's Environmental Action Programme (EAP). The current, sixth EAP expires in 2012 and Brussels-watchers had assumed that a follow-on programme would be tabled in due course. But Kurt Vandenberge, an aide to Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, told a conference that: “Times today are very different from when the previous EAP was adopted [in 2002]. The focus of all governments is on growth and jobs. Anything seen as going against that will be very, very difficult.” His comments were echoed by Peter Vis, a senior aide to EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. Both officials questioned whether the current EAP had foreseen or inspired environmental policy developments, such as the EU emission trading scheme (ETS).

In the Commission's view, the main challenges for environmental policy in coming years are implementation and integration with other policy areas, rather than new legislation. One example is the proposal to strengthen the environmental component of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (see separate item below). An EU environmental strategy might be a better instrument to achieve these goals, Mr Vandenberge suggested. But John Hontelez, of the green group European Environmental Bureau, pointed out that a strategy would be an instrument of the Commission alone and would not be legally binding on the European Parliament and Member States. Jacqueline McGlade, head of the European Environment Agency (EEA), agreed there was a need for a unifying EU environmental policy “narrative”.

Shortly afterwards the Commission threw another programme into the pot, announcing that it had launched a review of rules governing the LIFE+ environmental financing programme. A recent mid-term assessment, conducted by consultants, concluded that a specific funding programme for the environment such as LIFE+ is still relevant and is needed even more given the EU's failure to meet its 2010 biodiversity target. It also helps improve implementation of environmental laws, the consultants say. The new review will consider the role of the programme in supporting eco-innovation and whether other instruments might be more appropriate in certain circumstances. Possible options could be to provide delivery mechanisms other than grants, such as direct investment, investment funding to attract private sector funds, and loan guarantees. The impact assessment will be completed in the first quarter of 2011.

Under a separate announcement on innovation policy, the EU's Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) is to be replaced by a broader Eco-Innovation Plan. The new plan, to be published early next year, will go beyond ETAP's remit, which is to facilitate the development and uptake of environmental technologies. It will focus on “specific bottlenecks, challenges and opportunities for achieving environmental objectives through innovation”, according to the Innovation Union initiative. This will include a review of rules in policy areas related to eco-innovation with a view to update them or adopt new ones. The move follows a recent review of ETAP, which was launched in 2007.¹

The Commission sees eco-innovation as key for Europe in the increasingly competitive clean technology market. Commissioner Hedegaard said a 30% carbon reduction target would be a major driver of innovation in this area. She wants EU members and regions to set specific budgets for the procurement of products in areas such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. This should create procurement markets for innovative products across Europe with a total value of at least €10bn annually.

Finally – and most controversially – the Commission is proposing to raise its own taxes in order to finance part of its programmes. Presenting proposals for reforming the EU's budget for 2014–20, the Commission said Europe's own sources of funding were too limited, making it heavily reliant on contributions from Member States. It is proposing an EU charge on air transport, taxes on energy and the financial sector, and revenues from emissions trading as potential options. The proposals will be highly unpopular with Europe's national governments, many of which are having to rein in their own spending.

EAP Conference: http://www.eapdebate.org/; EEB: http://www.eeb.org/; European Commission: innovation strategy, http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm; budget reforms, http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/library/communication/com_2010_700_en.pdf

Europe gears up for greener CAP

As JEM went to press, the European Commission was set to unveil proposals for reform of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). These were understood to include, for the first time, the introduction of a mandatory green component to strengthen the scheme's contribution to environmental protection.

Over recent months, the Commission has been seeking to tread a fine line between those who want no changes and those who say the CAP scheme should focus solely on the environment.² According to a draft paper obtained by a lobby group, European farmers would have to take certain environmental measures to get a yet undefined proportion of direct CAP payments. Such measures include permanent pasture, green cover and crop rotation. Other options being considered are keeping the status quo with a more equitable distribution of direct payments and abolishing all market and income support. The leaked paper appears to strongly favour introducing a mandatory green component in the first pillar.

Meanwhile, data published by statistical office Eurostat notes that the great majority of EU land is used for agriculture and forestry, representing 43% and 29% of total land cover respectively. More than 10% of land is used for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. The greatest share of land used for residential and commercial purposes is in the Netherlands and Belgium. Denmark has the highest share of land covered by crops (48%), followed by Hungary (47%), Poland (36%) and the Czech Republic (35%). The figures are the result of “the largest harmonised land survey ever implemented in the EU”, Eurostat says.

We will report on the final CAP proposals in full in our next issue.

CAP Reform Group: http://capreform.eu; Eurostat: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu

Aviation agrees global climate deal; debate over NO_x/SO₂ trading

Governments have welcomed an “historic” global deal for the aviation sector on climate change, the first time an economic sector has reached such an agreement.

Members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) agreed to cap greenhouse gas emissions from global aviation from 2020, and to improve fuel efficiency by 2% annually up to 2050. The ICAO will also aim to set a worldwide CO₂ standard for aircraft engines in 2013. Countries (except those with the smallest emissions) will submit action plans setting out how they will achieve goals on emissions and fuel efficiency. Industry association IATA called on governments to work with the sector to help meet these commitments.

EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said the deal was “not as ambitious as Europe thinks it should be”. Nevertheless, the EU won an important battle, namely that it will not be required to get the mutual consent of other countries, such as the US, to include aviation in its emissions trading scheme (ETS). A group of US airlines is currently challenging this move in the European Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, industry representatives and green groups have come out against a similar European trading scheme for nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂). The European Commission has been considering the idea as a way of improving air quality, although concrete proposals are unlikely to emerge before 2013.

Air quality legislation, including the recently revised IPPC directive,³ is sufficient to tackle NO_x and SO₂ pollution, according to industry group BusinessEurope (BE). Pollution has fallen and is expected to decline further, coming very close to the targets set in the 2005 thematic strategy on air quality, noted BE's Philippe de Buck. Future action should focus on proper implementation of existing laws and new national or local initiatives, he added. The trading scheme would replace the IPPC's permit approach of setting emission limits for industrial plants. pollution, according to industry group BusinessEurope (BE). Pollution has fallen and is expected to decline further, coming very close to the targets set in the 2005 thematic strategy on air quality, noted BE's Philippe de Buck. Future action should focus on proper implementation of existing laws and new national or local initiatives, he added. The trading scheme would replace the IPPC's permit approach of setting emission limits for industrial plants.

Green group EEB also spoke out against a trading scheme. Like businesses, the group foresees little room for trading as industrial installations remain obliged to limit emissions to meet local air quality targets set by the air quality directive.

Confirming provisional data issued earlier in the year,⁴ the European Environment Agency predicts that eleven EU countries will exceed their NO_x limits under the national emission ceiling (NEC) directive for 2010. France and Spain are expected to overshoot by nearly a third. Road transport is the primary problem for NO_x emissions and would not be covered by a NO_x/SO₂ trading scheme, the EEA says.

ICAO: http://www.icao.int/; IATA: http://www.iata.org/; BusinessEurope: http://www.businesseurope.eu/; EEB: http://www.eeb.org/; EEA: http://www.eea.europa.eu/

EPA lays out priorities

EPA has issued a strategic plan setting out its priorities for the next five years (2011 to 2015).

The plan presents five strategic goals for “advancing the Agency's environmental and human-health mission”. These are accompanied by five cross-cutting fundamental strategies that seek to adapt the EPA's work to meet America's growing environmental protection needs. The Agency says the updated plan will guide its “renewed commitment to… achieving the vision of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable environment”.

Among the key measures are new benchmarks that track progress against Administrator Lisa Jackson's seven priorities unveiled a year ago. The five strategic goals are: taking action on climate change and improving air quality; protecting America's waters; cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development; ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution; and enforcing environmental laws. In addressing these priorities, EPA will continue to affirm the core values of science, transparency and the rule of law.

On the second priority, protecting America's waters, the Agency has also issued a Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy, emphasizing the need to build on existing efforts to promote sustainable water infrastructure.

EPA: http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm; http://water.epa.gov

Time to reform green governance?

The Finnish government has joined calls for the international environmental governance system to be overhauled. Echoing earlier calls by EU ministers,⁵ Finnish diplomats said the system for overseeing the world's environmental problems was in need of urgent reform. Finland represents industrialised countries within a UN Consultative Group asked to make recommendations in this area.

In a note to fellow EU environment ministers, Finland says the global governance system is fragmented because it was developed in a “piecemeal fashion”. This has led to “unclear mandates, mounting bureaucracy and cost-inefficiency”. The costs of operating the system are significant, estimated at $1.6bn in 2006, and the proliferation of multilateral environmental agreements is a problem. At present there are more than 500 international and regional treaties and other environment-related agreements, many of which have a “myriad of secretariat”.

The Group was set up by UNEP's Governing Council. It will make recommendations on a set of options including enhancing the UN's Environment Programme and creating a World Environment Organisation. But it will also put forward ideas for a broader reform of environmental governance.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajendra Pachauri is to continue as chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change despite the ‘HimalayaGate’ affair.⁶ A recent independent assessment concluded that IPCC chairs should serve only one term.⁷ However, delegates at an IPCC meeting in Seoul decided there was no reason to truncate Dr Pauchauri's tenure halfway through his second term. He will therefore stay on to oversee publication of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) due in 2013–14.

EU Council of Ministers: http://register.consilium.europa.eu (ref: 14634)

Environmental quality

Lessons from Hungarian sludge spill

The environmental damage from the recent toxic sludge spill in Hungary is “not an exceptional case” in the metal and mining sector, according to sustainability rating agency Oekom. The company has issued a report criticising the sector's poor environmental performance.

The Hungarian government took control of the aluminium plant in Ajka in October after around one million cubic metres of red sludge burst from a reservoir. The mud, containing toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic and chromium, covered an area of about 40 square kilometres. Local rivers were contaminated and a direct threat to the Danube river was only narrowly averted.

According to Oekom, companies such as Rio Tinto and Canadian firm Barrick Gold are directly involved in mining projects in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea where toxic sludge is released without any prior treatment or storage. Spokesperson Kristina Ruter claimed: “More than 50% of mining companies have been responsible for severe damage to the environment”.

The agency rates Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro as the greenest company, followed by the German copper producer Aurubis and Finnish steel company Rautaruukki. Companies are ranked according to a set of green and social indicators. MAL, the aluminium firm involved in the Hungarian disaster, is not covered by the report.

In the majority of cases, Oekom said it was unable to conduct a detailed evaluation because the performance information was not available. This is “totally inadequate” given the sector's importance for the economy, and contradicts its self-image as a “sustainability pioneer”.

Oekom: http://www.oekom-research.com/

EU softens line on oil drilling

Authorities in Europe are softening their line on oil drilling in the wake of the crack-down after the Deepwater Horizon spill. Initial calls for a moratorium on offshore drilling, from the European Parliament and others, have been set aside in favour of more consistent EU-wide regulation.⁸

At present, the European Commission has limited powers in relation to the oil and gas industry. This sector is mainly regulated under national law, with licensing and safety rules varying greatly across the EU. In a long-delayed policy paper, the Commission urges governments to apply the precautionary principle when considering whether to authorise offshore drilling operations until the EU's safety regime is improved. This regime is likely to include strengthened licensing standards and rolling out best practices.

According to the paper, the current fragmented regime makes it difficult to manage safety and environmental risks, increases costs for companies, and may slow down Europe's response to accidents. It proposes a “more coherent legal framework for offshore exploration and production activities in Europe that ensures EU-wide application of state-of-the-art practices”. This will help streamline legislation and create a level playing field, the Commission adds.

Fig. 1 SINTEF Researcher Per Daling working on studies of the blowout oil from the Gulf of Mexico. Photography: Svein Tønseth.

Next year Brussels will propose EU requirements for the licensing of hydrocarbon exploration and production, based on an impact assessment. Prospective operators should have a contingency plan and prove that they would be able to pay for damage in the event of an accident. The Commission also intends to extend the Seveso II directive on pollution control and major accidents to offshore oil and gas installations. The 2004 directive on environmental liability will be changed to cover all EU maritime waters, as demanded by the European Parliament. Guidance on how the waste framework directive applies to oil spills will also be prepared.

European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/oil/offshore/standards_en.htm

Atlantic facing “serious problems”

Despite “clear signs of improvement” over the past ten years, the marine environment in the northeast Atlantic continues to face serious problems, experts say. Their conclusions came in a report presented at a meeting of the OSPAR Convention in Norway.

The most widespread impacts on marine ecosystems are due to fishing activities, according to the Quality Status Report 2010. Biodiversity loss, ocean acidification and the impact of climate change on the area are also major environmental concerns.

The report, which follows a first assessment in 2000, shows advances in some areas including inputs of nutrients, contaminants, key radioactive substances and pollution from oil and gas production. For example, oil discharges have fallen by 20% on average, with most countries meeting OSPAR's 15% target.

But some targets set a decade ago will not be met. This is the case for OSPAR's goal of no eutrophication by 2010. Concentrations of hazardous substances remain a problem in many coastal areas. For example, very often levels of cadmium, mercury, lead, PAHs and PCBs are “unacceptable” in fish, shellfish and sediments, according to the report.

Elsewhere, scientists have reiterated calls for Europe to step up its investment in marine and maritime research.⁹ Gathering for the EurOCEAN 2010 Conference, they launched the Ostend Declaration, urging politicians and policy-makers to address the grand challenges and opportunities facing Europe's seas and oceans in the decade ahead.

The European Commission is currently consulting on a possible integrated EU-level strategy to manage all aspects of the Atlantic basin, including environmental protection and economic activities.¹⁰

OSPAR: Quality Status Report 2010, http://qsr2010.ospar.org; EurOCEAN 2010: http://www.eurocean2010.eu/

High mining a threat to water quality

Mountain-top mining can have a detrimental impact on water quality in associated valleys, EPA scientists say. Their report, endorsed by the Agency's independent Science Advisory Board (SAB), finds that valley fills are associated with increased levels of conductivity which threaten stream life in downstream waters.

A growing body of scientific literature, including previous and new studies performed by EPA, shows significant damage to local streams that are polluted with the mining runoff from mountain-top removal. To protect water quality, EPA scientists used field data to derive a range of conductivity values considered safe for aquatic life. This range is between 300 to 500 microSiemens per centimetre; the maximum value is a measure of salinity that is roughly five times above normal levels. The benchmark is intended to protect 95% of aquatic species in streams in the Appalachian region influenced by mountain-top mining and valley fills.

Based on this science, EPA has released guidance designed to minimize irreversible water quality impacts caused by such mining.

EPA: “A Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams”

Chemical hazards

REACH reaches key landmark

Activity on chemical registrations under the EU's REACH scheme reached a frantic pace over recent months as companies raced to submit dossiers ahead of the 1 December deadline. In late October submissions were running at around 2500 dossiers per week. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) expected to receive around 38 000 dossiers covering about 5000 separate substances. After initial criticism, the registration process was much improved during its later phases following the introduction of new IT tools.

ECHA has started publishing lists of those substances submitted for registration, although it will be some time before the full list is available. These show what use the chemicals have been registered for, but not the name of the registering company. In a change of policy designed to speed up dissemination, the Agency is no longer checking with companies whether certain information it publishes from their dossiers is confidential. ECHA is required to disclose information submitted by companies unless it would harm their commercial interests.

Meanwhile, ECHA's Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement has launched its second enforcement project. The project, comprising industry and independent experts, will check compliance with supply chain-related obligations for substances in mixtures. It will also check that chemicals used in mixtures have been registered.

According to green group EEB, under one-quarter of large retailers in Europe meet new legal requirements to inform consumers about substances of very high concern (SVHC). Under REACH, companies are obliged to provide information about any SVHC substances contained in their products in concentrations above 0.1% within 45 days of a request. To test compliance, EEB sent more than 150 information requests to European retailers. Half of these went unanswered and most of those who responded did not meet minimum legal requirements. Commenting on the findings, trade association Eurocommerce said retailers' poor responses were due to suppliers not providing sufficient information about SVHCs in their products, as required under the REACH regulation.

EEB also found phthalates in concentrations of up to 63% by weight in the products it tested. Such chemicals face restrictions under REACH.¹¹

ECHA: http://echa.europa.eu; EEB: http://www.eeb.org/

Cuts to mercury emissions

EPA is proposing to cut emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from sewage sludge incinerators. Such incinerators, which are typically located at wastewater treatment facilities, are one of the largest sources of mercury emissions in the US.

The proposed standards would apply to both multiple hearth and fluidized bed incinerators. Units incinerating sewage sludge at other types of facilities such as commercial, industrial and institutional incinerators will be covered under different air pollution standards. Overall, the proposal would cut mercury emissions from these units by more than 75%.

The rule will be finalized in 2011 and become effective in 2015. Once implemented, EPA estimates that the proposal would yield health benefits ranging from $130 million to $320 million, with annualized costs estimated at approximately $105 million. The move follows a similar measure targeted at mercury emissions from the cement industry.¹²

The Agency also intends to propose a rule to reduce mercury waste from dental practices. Dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, account for 3.7 tons of mercury discharged to the US each year, predominantly to the water environment. EPA expects to propose a rule next year to be finalised by 2012.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has attempted a rapprochement with its member governments over ongoing global mercury talks. The Commission stood aside from the first session of talks in June because of a disagreement with Member States over who should represent the EU at such international meetings.¹³ The recommendation specifies what areas it should deal with and outlines the legal basis on which it is allowed to negotiate.

EPA: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/new.html; http://www.epa.gov/mercury/index.html

No change for BPA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has advised against lowering the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for the controversial chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). The Agency also found no evidence of neurobehavioral toxicity in BPA.

The decision was long delayed and much anticipated. In June, a group of scientists and NGOs urged EFSA to reduce maximum BPA levels in high-risk groups such as children.¹⁴ The TDI was lowered to 0.01 milligrams per kilogram of body weight in 2002, then brought back to its previous 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ level.¹⁵ It has not changed since.

In its opinion, EFSA questions the reliability of studies showing adverse health effects below the TDI. But one EFSA expert expressed a minority opinion, saying that the TDI should be temporary rather than permanent. A temporary TDI is adopted if there are uncertainties in the data and new data will be available in future.

Industry group PlasticsEurope welcomed the recommendation, saying it was consistent with findings by national authorities in Germany, Ireland, France, Belgium and the UK. NGOs called for the precautionary principle to be applied because of possible effects on the brain acknowledged by EFSA.

EFSA: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/

Consultants recommend POPs limits

Concentration limits for three types of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste could be introduced if the recommendations of a consultancy study are implemented. The interim study for the European Commission's Environment Department recommends limits for PBDE, PFOS and PeCB, all of which are prohibited under the Stockholm Convention.

The consultants recommend a low concentration limit of 10 ppm for PBDEs and PFOS, and 50 ppm for PeCB in waste such as end-of-life vehicles. Any waste containing POPs above these concentrations would be “destroyed or irreversibly transformed” using physico-chemical treatment or incineration. These concentrations “correspond to a strict application of the precautionary principle in the light of the objective of the fastest elimination possible,” the consultants say. They also recommend a maximum concentration limit of 500 ppm for PBDE (single congeners) and PeCB, and 50 ppm for PFOS. Another option is to have less stringent concentration limits for a period of up to six years after which stricter limits would be proposed.

Stakeholders are being invited to comment on the recommendations. A final report is due in March.

European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pops.htm

Public & occupational health

Pharma assessments should be tightened

The strategies used to assess the environmental risks posed by pharmaceuticals are not enough to protect natural microbial communities, reveals a researcher from the University of Gothenburg who is calling for better environmental risk assessments.

Concern over the environmental impact of pharmaceutical products has been growing for some time.¹⁶ Gothenburg Researcher Sara Brosché looked primarily at the combined effects of ‘cocktails’ of pharmaceutical substances. Her results show that although the levels of drugs normally seen in the environment are low, they are not without their risks.

“We saw effects on bacteria from the antibiotic chlortetracycline even at the concentrations shown in scientific publications to be present in the effluent from sewage treatment plants. Although chlortetracycline is no longer used in Sweden, many antibiotics from the same class are still in use.”

Small quantities of pharmaceuticals are nowadays found in most aquatic environments, from groundwater to seawater. The highest concentrations are in the effluent from sewage treatment plants, often in the form of a cocktail of many different drugs. Once out in nature, these drug residues continue to affect living creatures. This applies particularly to antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics and antifungals, which are designed to kill microorganisms whether they are “bad” and cause infection, or “good” and serve important functions in nature.

“When five pharmaceuticals and personal care products (fluoxetine, propranolol, zinc pyritione, clotrimazole and triclosan) were mixed together at concentrations which did not have any significant effect individually, the mixture had an almost 30% effect on microalgae”, observed Brosché. She also studied the high levels of antibiotics in effluents from pharmaceutical production in India. When microbial communities were exposed to this effluent, they rapidly developed increased tolerance to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.

University of Gothenburg: http://gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/23156

Pollution on the map

Real-time maps of air, ground and water pollution can now be made available to everyone thanks to INTAMAP, an EU-funded research project.

The project has developed open specifications software to draw up contour maps that not only show the exact location of polluted areas but also illustrate where pollution is coming from and where it is headed. Such information enables public authorities to decide more quickly on appropriate action to tackle the source of the pollution and allows individuals to avoid it.

The INTAMAP software uses measurements taken at specific places to create an online contour map that shows the concentration of pollutants updated in real time. Using so-called “interpolation” methods, this map shows what is happening between the measurement points and therefore gives a more accurate picture. Since this can sometimes require a lengthy data processing period, the software looks at the time available to determine whether it should use the most accurate interpolation techniques to produce a highly detailed map, or if a quicker, less sophisticated assessment is needed, to calculate an approximate view.

The project, involving researchers from six European countries, received some €1.8 million in EU funding.

INTAMAP: http://www.intamap.org/

Research activities

US warns on rare earths bottleneck

The economic importance of so-called rare earth metals has been highlighted by reports that China is monopolising global supplies. Prices for many elements have more than doubled in the last six months; those for cerium oxide, used in the polishing of semiconductors, have risen sevenfold. The United States is urging more countries to boost production of these metals, which are used in electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines, all of which are key to the Obama Administration's clean energy policy.

China accounts for 95% of global production of rare earth metals. Its market dominance came into focus when industry sources accused Beijing of holding back shipments to Japan. The incident fuelled concern that clean-energy products could become more expensive and harder to manufacture outside of China.

Testifying before the Senate Energy Subcommittee, US Assistant Energy Secretary, David Sandalow said the US was encouraging its trading partners to quickly develop rare earth metals production. “We must globalise chains for these materials,” he said. “To manage supply risk, we need multiple, distributed sources of clean energy materials in the years ahead.”

The seventeen rare earth metals, including elements such as lanthanum and europium, form unusually strong lightweight magnetic materials. They are found in many countries including the United States, Canada and Australia, but few locations are profitable for extraction. China holds 37% of known rare metal reserves, the United States 13% and the rest is in other countries.

Due to similar concerns, the UN recently called for much greater efforts on rare earth recycling.¹⁷

Department of Energy: http://www.doe.gov/

Jackson applauds China trip

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has hailed a recent official visit to China as a great success. During the visit Ms Jackson signed a memorandum of understanding with her counterpart, Minister Zhou Shengxian, from China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

“This has been an expansive and productive trip, one in which we were able to renew our historic environmental partnership with China and lay the groundwork for expanding that partnership into the future”, said Ms Jackson.

With the signed commitment, the United States and China agreed to continue to collaborate on the prevention and management of air and water pollution, pollution from persistent organic pollutants and other toxics, hazardous and solid waste management, and the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental law.

During the visit, she also opened the regional air quality management meeting in Beijing, visited the largest electronic waste site in the world in Guiyu, hosted a town hall meeting at Sun Yat-sen University, spoke at a corporate environmental stewardship seminar, and marked the successful implementation of AirNow International at the Shanghai World Expo.

The United States has been cooperating with China on environmental issues for the last thirty years.

EPA: www.epa.gov/international/chinamission.html; www.epa.gov/international/regions/Asia/index.html

Eutrophication is a complex picture

Eutrophication of areas such as the Baltic Sea is much more complex than previously thought, new research claims. While there are clear negative effects, such as dead bottoms and massive blooms of cyanobacteria, high plankton production can also have positive effects on acidification. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have shown that it is possible to work out the aggregate effects of various environmental measures.

“The environmental state of the Baltic Sea is affected by many different processes at the same time and on several different time scales”, explained Erik Gustafsson of the Department of Earth Sciences. He has helped develop a mathematical model of the Baltic's marine systems. “Mathematical models are the only tools that can determine the relative significance of such processes…[they] can and should make a contribution as a basis for decisions on environmental measures”.

Large areas of the Baltic have experienced oxygen-poor regions since at least the 1960s. Oxygen conditions are governed both by natural processes and by human impact. Because of strong salinity stratification and limited water exchange through the narrow Danish straits, a large part of the Sea's deep water is isolated for long periods. At the same time, oxygen is consumed due to the decomposition of organic matter. As a result of human activities, the quantity of organic matter increased sharply during the second half of the 20th century.

Model results show that natural variations in climate are of great significance for the oxygen status of the deep water over a time scale of decades. But the marked deterioration in oxygen conditions in the deep water is largely due to inputs of nutrients.

In addition to the physical, chemical and biological processes which are crucial among other things for the plankton dynamics of the area, Gustafsson has included the marine carbon system in his model, so that it is now possible to calculate long-term variations in acidity in the sea.

A recent report examined the growing incidence of eutrophication in US waters.¹⁸

University of Gothenburg: http://gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/22777

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