Beijing Pledges U.S.$16 Billion in Spending for Pollution Control through 2015
April 8, 2013 in International Environment Reporter
Beijing’s municipal government plans to spend 100 billion yuan ($16.1 billion) over the next three years on measures to reduce water, air, and solid waste pollution…
Mexico’s New Climate Change Law to be Implemented over 18 Months with International Aid
January 16, 2013 in International Environment Reporter
Mexico’s new Climate Change Law will be gradually implemented over the next 18 months, the international affairs coordinator of the Environment Ministry (Semarnat) told BNA Jan. 14…
Obama Victory Resurrects Climate Issue, but Carbon Tax Likely to Face Uphill Battle
November 12, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
President Obama’s re-election and unexpected gains by Democrats in the Senate have environmental groups gearing up on several fronts to push for more U.S. action on climate change, including a possible resurrection of a proposal to tax the carbon content of fuel…
European Parliament Passes Law to Improve Energy Efficiency, Reduce Greenhouse Gases
September 14, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
The European Parliament on Sept. 11 approved energy efficiency legislation designed to help the European Union reduce energy consumption by about 17 percent by 2020, save up to $75 billion annually through reduced fuel imports, and meet greenhouse gas reduction targets…
China Releases Plan for Saving Energy, Cutting Emissions, Pledges US$372 Billion
August 28, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
China’s State Council has released a plan for energy-saving and the cutting of key emissions covering the rest of the 12th Five-Year Plan period and has projected that around 2.366 trillion yuan would be spent on investments to achieve energy conservation and emissions-reduction goals by the end of that period…
Germany in Forefront of Chemical Leasing; Advocates Cite Economic, Green Benefits
August 6, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
As countries strive for cleaner industrial processes out of ecological concerns, German companies and the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, or UBA) are stepping up efforts to promote so-called chemical leasing, which advocates credit with economic and environmental benefits…
China to Require Importers for First Time to Preregister Hazardous Substances
July 26, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
Companies importing hazardous chemicals into China will be required to register these substances prior to import for the first time starting Aug. 1…
ANALYSIS: The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Overseas Environmental Crimes: How Did We Get Here and What Happens Next?
July 16, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
The regulation of natural resources by developing countries, including through limits on the harvesting of local fish or the extraction of lumber, has evolved into a major new risk area for a wide range of companies. Inconsistent or ineffective local enforcement, cultural expectations of bribery, and the huge profits at stake are adding up to increasingly high levels of risks of concurrent violations of environmental and anti-corruption laws.
China Proposes Measures For Voluntary Trading Of Carbon Emission Reduction Credits
July 9, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
PHILADELPHIA—China’s top planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NRDC), has recommended measures for establishing exchanges for voluntary trading of carbon emission reduction credits.
Fracking Can Be Safe in UK with Strong Regulation, Robust Monitoring, Report Says
July 2, 2012 in International Environment Reporter
LONDON—The United Kingdom can manage the health, safety, and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing as long as the government creates strong regulation and robust monitoring systems, according to a government-commissioned review released June 29.