Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
The following is the September/October edition of the EarthLink, a bi-monthly current awareness newsletter produced by INFOTERRA/USA. EarthLink provides information on international environmental activities, publications and news of interest to EPA staff and other environmental professionals.
BEST GLOBAL BUSINESS PRACTICES AWARD
The Best Global Practices Award was established by the International
Trade Administration (ITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and announced
in the Federal Register on July 25, 1996. The program seeks to encourage
the
U.S. business community to develop voluntary codes of conduct, and practice
exemplary corporate citizenship. The Department of Commerce chairs an
interagency committee that includes the Environmental Protection Agency,
Small Business Administration, United States Information Agency, and the
Departments of State, Justice and Labor. An award will be presented to
a U.S. multinational company's program or practice that exhibited extraordinary
leadership in one or more of the five Model Business Principles during
the last three years.
The Model Business Principles, developed as a result of extensive consultations with business, labor leaders, members of the non-governmental organization community and the Clinton administration, are used as a reference point in framing a code of conduct for each company. Adopted in 1995, the Model Business Principles cover the following areas:
- Provision of a safe and healthy workplace.
- Fair employment practices, including avoidance of child and forced labor, avoidance of discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, or religious beliefs, and respect for the right of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively.
- Responsible environmental protection and environmental practices.
- Compliance with U.S. and local laws promoting good business practices, including laws prohibiting illicit payments and ensuring fair competition.
- Maintenance, through leadership at all levels, of a corporate culture
that respects free expression consistent with legitimate business concerns,
and does not condone political coercion in the workplace; that encourages
good corporate citizenship and makes a positive contribution to the
communities in which the company operates; and where ethical conduct
is recognized, valued, and exemplified by all employees. The program
also includes an information clearinghouse for companies working to
develop voluntary codes of conduct aboard, containing sample codes of
conduct donated by international companies and organizations interested
in furthering good corporate citizenship worldwide.
Companies may obtain copies of an application form from the Office of Export Promotion Coordination, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 23003, Washington, D.C. 20230, phone: (202) 482-4501; fax: (202) 482-1999.
For further information on the Best Global Business Practices Award, contact: David C. Bowie, Deputy Director, Office of Export Promotion Coordination (202) 482-4501, or visit the International Trade Administration homepage at: http://www.ita.doc.gov.
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT NEWS
**Europe**
Burke, Maria. "Europe Targets Vehicle Emissions," Environmental Science and Technology. 30, No. 1 (1996): 281A-282A.
European Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard and Environmental Council Chair Brendan Howlin meet in May to discuss the adoption of directives on fuels, and a reduction of vehicle emission levels, which will cover particulates, nitrous oxides, and hydrocarbons. At a recent meeting in London, representatives of several European Union countries agreed to eliminate all ground-level ozone pollution episodes by 2005. In addition, the ministers intend to develop a new framework with the European Environment Agency to monitor and forecast pollution episodes and develop a pan-European strategy.
**United Kingdom**
Slater, D. "Meeting the Challenges of Integrated Pollution Control," UNEP Industry and Environment (January-March, 1996): 19-22.
The United Kingdom has developed a new environmental enforcement system called Integrated Pollution Control (IPC), which may help solve the problem of how to improve environmental protection without harming industry. Key features of IPC are: to ensure that substances which are unavoidably released to the environment are released to the medium (air, water, etc.) to which they will cause the least damage; to stress pollution prevention rather than waste clean-up; and to allow for public scrutiny of the process.
IPC was adopted in the UK as part of the Environmental Protection Act of 1990. Since then the European Community has developed the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, which is anticipated to be adopted in 1996, and will come into effect in 1999.
**United States**
Fairley, Peter. "TRI: Growing Pains - Expansions Rile Industry," Chemical Week (June 12, 1996): 18-20.
By August 1, 1996, facilities were required to report on the 280 chemicals added to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) in November 1994. In addition, President Clinton wants to expedite consideration of chemical use reporting under TRI. Reporting materials accounting (MA) data on chemical use--how much of each chemical is shipped to facilities, stored on-site, and shipped out in products--could double paperwork for plants complying with TRI. Industry would like the EPA to keep TRI focused on measuring direct risks, because "in addition to hazard you need exposure to come up with risk." Environmental groups are firmly behind expansion of the right-to-know program. They want an expanded TRI for two reasons: belief in the public's right to know and the fact that there are chemicals too hazardous to use. Industry and the EPA are firm in their stands, each one preparing for litigation, but also hoping to avoid it and the subsequent damage such legal battles would cause.
**Air Pollution **
"Effects of Conventional Gasoline, RFG Require Extensive Study, EPA Report Says," Daily Environment Report (August 19, 1996): A-4-5.
Research thoroughly comparing oxygenated fuels and conventional gasoline is needed to determine which causes less damage to the environment, according to an EPA study announced August 16, 1996 in the Federal Register. "Simply stated, the question is whether public health and the environment are or are not better off with the substitution of oxyfuels for conventional fuels," states a report entitled "Oxyfuels Information Needs." The report, which provides background information on fuels and details current and past research, also added, "[a]lthough exposure to conventional gasoline has long been commonplace, the introduction of oxyfuels has raised new questions about the benefits and risks of chemicals that are used on such a widespread scale." The report named seven interrelated areas where research needs to be done to support comparative assessments of fuels and fuel additives. According to the report, research must: characterize emissions, determine environmental endpoints of emissions, assess exposure levels to the environment and humans, determine effects to human health and the environment, study impacts on global climate change, and analyze methods of risk reduction.
Comparing the fuels is difficult because there is little data on individual fuels. Information that is available on individual fuels often is not commensurate to related information on another. Also, the data that is available is of little use, says the report, because "a meaningful assessment of the environmental risks and benefits of oxyfuels must be comparative; that is, it must consider any given oxyfuel in relation to the environmental risks and benefits of conventional fuels."
**Chernobyl**
Povinec, Pavel; Scott Fowler, and Murdoch Baxter. "Chernobyl and the Marine Environment: The Radiological Impact in Context," IAEA Bulletin (1/1996): 18-20.
The release of 1-2.1018 becquerel (a high measurement of radioactive fallout) resulted from the accident at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in April 1986. This radioactive debris created a "worldwide transient trace experiment" with the radionuclides serving as tracers, similar to colored dye, since anthropogenic radionuclides primarily result from fallout from atmospheric nuclear tests. Oceanographers and other scientists as a result were able to follow the movement of the radionuclides through coastal and ocean ecosystems. The article discusses some of the studies done, including evidence that containments such as radionuclides are clumped by photoplankton, thus speeding the movement of the radionuclides and other containments to the ocean depths.
**Climate Change**
"Tempestuous," The Economist (July 20, 1996): 68.
Although the second Conference of the Parties (COP-2) was held in July to discuss further reducing greenhouse-gas emissions after the turn the century, there is increasing evidence that many countries will not be able to meet the current target. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change signed at the Rio Summit in 1992 seeks to hold greenhouse-gas emissions at 1990 levels. A survey done recently by the World Energy Council, indicates that "carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels (the main source of man-made greenhouse gases) have risen by 4% in rich countries since 1990." In addition, two reports have been issued on the impact of rising greenhouse-gas levels: 1) second assessment report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), while recognizing that there are uncertainties, suggests that there is increasing "man-made climate change," 2) World Health Organization (WHO) report predicts a dire impact on human health if global warming continues.
Also reported in "COP-2 Opens Facing Calls for More Action, Widening Gap Between Industry, Green Groups," International Environment Reporter (July 10, 1996): 587-588 and "U.S. Statement Breaks Logjam in Talks on Speeding Up Phaseout of Gas Emissions,"International Environment Reporter (July 24, 1996): 637-639.
Kerr, Richard A. "Sky-High Findings Drop New Hints of Greenhouse Warming," Science 273 (July 5, 1996): 34.
Summarizes the results of a study reported in Nature (July 4, 1996: 39-46) which provides further evidence that human activity may impact the global climate. The study compares actual atmospheric readings to computer models. The reported findings conclude that "the recent pattern of atmospheric temperature change, at altitudes of up to 20 kilometers, is unlikely to reflect only the natural vagaries of climate. As telltale signals, they cite worldwide cooling high in the atmosphere and warming in lower layers, especially in the Southern hemisphere--just what models predict." Benjamin Santer of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the lead author of the study, concedes that "[t]he major uncertainty is the credibility of the model estimates of natural variability." But he also said that "they would have to be wrong by a factor of 2 to make our results nonsignificant."
Tsonis, A.A. "Widespread Increases in Low-Frequency Variability of Precipitation Over the Past Century," Nature 382 (August 22, 19960: 700-702.
Understanding variations in precipitation patterns is important to understanding global climate change, because of precipitation's role in hydrological and energy cycles. Tsonis' analysis of the global data sets and regional networks of precipitation measurements indicates that "that the global mean precipitation has not changed. The fluctuations about the mean, however, have increased significantly (on decadal to multi-decadal timescales)." In other words, during the last century the likelihood of extremes in precipitation has increased. Tsonis' findings are consistent with modeling of a climate-warming scenario.
Ramaswamy, V., M.D. Schwarzkopf and W.J. Randel. "Fingerprint of Ozone Depletion in the Spatial and Temporal Pattern of Recent Lower-Stratospheric Cooling," Nature 382 No. 6592 (1996): 616-618.
A review of lower stratospheric air temperatures from 1979 to 1990 reveals a cooling trend with spatial and season variances. Evidence is provided for stratospheric ozone depletion as the central cause of the cooling. The study suggests a human influence on the patterns of temperature change in the lower stratospheric over the 11-year period.
Broecker, Wallace. "Glacial Climate in the Tropics," Science 28 (June 28, 1996): 1902-1904.
Paleoclimatologists are in the process of revising previous estimates of the degree of cooling of the tropics during the last period of global glaciation. Current research on the oxygen isotope record for planktonic foraminifera seems to support Broecker's conclusion that glacial cooling in the tropics may have been 1-3 C lower than previously thought. The cause, however, of this additional cooling and the full extent of its effects are not yet known.
**Environmental Protection**
Kiss, Alexander. "From Stockholm to Post-Rio: A Quarter Century of Environmental Law and Policy," Naturopa 80 (1996): 4-5.
The Stockholm Conference in 1972 set the stage for environmental protection in general, recommending that global resources be safeguarded "for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning or management as appropriate" (Principle 2). A decade later, the World Charter for Nature, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on October 28, 1982, took into account planning and implementation of development activities such as nature conservancy. Since the 1990s, the trend is growing toward economic methods, and the "'polluter pays'" principle has been elevated to the level of a legal principle. In conjunction with this trend, is an increasing public awareness of environmental issues. Future concerns center on whether current, powerful market forces will facilitate environmental protection, and should focus on citizen involvement in environmental decision-making processes.
**Industry**
Black, Harvey. " Greener' Dry-Cleaning Alternative Pushed by Industry, Environmental Groups," Environmental Science and Technology 30 No. 1 (1996): 284A-285A.
"Wet cleaning," a new technology involving slow agitation of clothes without the use of perchlorethylene, is being actively promoted by a coalition of cleaning industry groups, environmentalists, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The coalition, comprised of the International Fabricare Institute, an industry trade organization, the Neighborhood Cleaners Association, Greenpeace and several other groups, is named the Professional Wet Cleaning Partnership, and is brokered by EPA's Design for the Environment program. In addition to evaluating wet cleaning processes, the coalition is involved in projects to train professional cleaners in the use of wet-cleaning equipment. A Canadian study published in 1995 revealed that although customer satisfaction with wet cleaning matched that of dry cleaning, the cost of introducing the new technology will be a major factor in its acceptance by dry cleaners.
"Uprooted," The Economist (August 31, 1996): 53.
Forestry companies headquartered in the Northern Hemisphere have long dominated the forestry products industry. Although worldwide demand for wood and paper products is expected to continue growing at a rapid pace, companies in North America and Western Europe, such as International Paper and Georgia Pacific, will face increasingly stiff competition from their counterparts in developing countries. Warmer southern climates in which trees grow more quickly, often lax environmental regulations, and the burgeoning markets of developing nations all contribute to the shifting future of the forestry industry. Many of the northern forestry firms are opening or planning to open operations in the south in order to remain competitive in the global market.
Shining a New Light: Time to Talk Achievement? Chemical Week, July 3/10, 1996, pp. 31-32.
The chemical industry's Responsible Care program was launched to continuously improve environmental performance with a commitment to communicate and listen to the public. It is felt that this initiative has made great progress. However, progress in rehabilitating the reputation of the chemical industry has been much slower. "Producing the right product in a responsible manner may actually be the easy part...the next phase is more difficult because it involves a business in which we are less expert: getting our industry's message out." Advertising campaigns are being launched to do just that. The message will include talk about chemistry's contributions to the quality of life as well as its efforts to improve the environment.
**Recycling**
"Glass Re-Use and Recycling," Warmer Bulletin No. 49 (May 1996): pull out information sheet.
One of the major drawbacks of using glass as opposed to plastic or paper materials is that glass is heavy and fragile, making it relatively expensive unless it is recycled and re-used. A glass bottle which is designed to be re-used several times consumes more raw materials in original manufacture than a single-use bottle. And they are heavy to transport, consuming more fuel. If it is reused a number of times it will become cost effective, if it is thrown away after a single use, however far more resources have been wasted than if a single use bottle had been used and thrown away.
Both retailers and the general public dislike returnable bottles. Retailers, due to the space the bottles take up, and the public because they don't like the extra effort involved in returning bottles to the store. Requiring deposits on returnable bottles is one solution, yet may have the effect of encouraging consumers to buy less expensive products in single use containers.
There are a number of issues involved in glass re-use and recycling. Standardizing as many containers as possible could help increase re-use and reduce waste, but might also have the effect of limiting experimentation and development. A combination of approaches is likely to be the best overall solution.
**Sustainable Development**
"Sustainable Development Is a New Global Agenda: Attacking Overconsumption," Chemical Week (July 3/10, 1996): 39-46.
Sustainable development, endorsed by the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, demands equal emphasis on social, economic, and environmental progress for a world population that could almost double by 2050. Industries, governments, and nongovernmental organizations are just beginning to look at strategies for the present to deal with this long-term concept. The President's Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD) is identifying pilot projects, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) supports eco-efficiency as a tool for moving toward long-term sustainability. "Eco-efficiency is reached by the delivery of competitively priced goods...that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life while progressively reducing ecological impacts..." The limits of natural resources must be acknowledged and humans must act accordingly. The Wuppertal Institute of Germany says that, to become sustainable, industrialized countries must reduce material and energy consumption per unit of economic value by 75%-90%. Controlling consumption is the challenge.
**Urban Environment**
Communaute Urbaine de Strasbourg. "Urban Environmental Charter," Naturopa 80 (1996): 28.
The Environment Charter, adopted by the Council de Communaute in February 1993, is a contract between citizens and their local authority. It includes a series of projects reflecting the desire to improve environmental quality. The charter focuses on implementation of local programs such as traffic plans to address air quality, strategic plans for drinking water supplies, and waste collection centers for household waste management.
**Waste Management**
"Gothenburg: Port, Industrial Centre and Green Model," Warmer Bulletin No. 49 (May 1996): 8-9.
Gothenburg is a major brewing and shipping center in southwest Sweden with a population of 450,000. It has developed a number of waste collection sites and recycling centers to comply with new regulations developed by Swedish Parliament. The government has produced a waste management model based on source separation, and making companies responsible for the costs of handling wastes which arise from their products.
Of the 360,000 tons of wastes generated in Gothenburg in 1994: 18% went to recycling, 8% for composting, 50% for incineration with energy recovery, 11% was hazardous waste which was sent for special treatment, and the remaining 13% was landfilled.
Gothenburg has used a variety of techniques to deal with its waste management problem, and the results provide a model many cities could learn from.
For more information about Gothenburg Sanitation Authority, contact:
Mr. Leif Wannholt,
Renhallningverket Goteborg,
Gullbergs Strandgata 20-22, Box 312,
S-40125 Gothenburg, Sweden
(46) 31 628500 (phone)
(46) 31 628627 (fax).UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
Notices regarding the following international conferences have been sent to INFOTERRA during the last few months. Notification is received through the mail and over the Internet. The list below is not comprehensive; INFOTERRA maintains a fairly large file of conference announcements. If you have any questions about the conferences listed below, or would like to consult our conferences file, please contact the INFOTERRA office (202) 566-0544 or send an e-mail request to: library-infoterra@epamail.epa.gov.
ECO-INFORMA '96
Lake Buena Vista Florida, USA
November 4-7, 1996
Conference focuses on worldwide communications for environmental applications, and addresses the need to share information which promotes responsible decision-making in environmental problem-solving. Contact: ERIM/Eco-Informa, phone: (313)994-1200, ext. 3234; fax: (313)994 5123; e-mail: wallman@erim.org; internet .ENTREE '96
Sunderland, UK
November 4-7, 1996
Conference focuses on new partnerships and initiatives for sustainable development and on ways in which progress towards sustainability can be guided, measured, and assessed. Contact: Mr. Paavo Taipale, UETP-EEE Helsinki, Finland. Phone: 358 0 229 1 2259; fax: 358 0 2291 2944; e-mail: Paavo.Taipale@tek.fi or Mr. Neil Rotheroe, Sunderland, UK. Phone: 44 191 515 2666; fax: 44 191 515 2669; e-mail: es0bde@industry.sunderland.ac.uk.World '96 World Environmental Congress Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
October 26-29, 1996
The objectives of this conference are to promote environmental science, technology and business by bringing together scientists, engineers and business professionals from industry, academia and governments world-wide. The conference will be held in conjunction with the Third International Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Air Remediation (AOTs-3rd Conference) and the Second International Conference on Ti02 Photocatalytic Purification and Treatment of Water and Air (Ti02-Second Conference).Toward Sustainable Development in the Americas Santa Cruz, Bolivia, South America
December, 1996
Western hemispheric leaders to meet for Summit on Sustainable Development. Follow-up of 1994 Summit of the Americas. Issues to be addressed include: environmental degradation, poverty, population trends, decline in real wealth creation.Asian Productivity Organization World Conference on Green Productivity Manila, Republic of the Philippines
December 4-6, 1996
Conference objectives are to facilitate sustainable socioeconomic development of the Asia-Pacific region through Green Productivity promotion; access current Green Productivity practices in industrial, service and agriculture sectors; encourage development, application and dissemination of cost-effective pollution prevention and control techniques and management practices for industries and communities; discuss implications of international environmental management and control systems such as ISO 14000 on Green Productivity. Contact: Office for Environment, APO, 8-4-14, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107, Japan. Fax: (813) 3408-7220. E-mail: apo@gol.com.R'97. Recovery, Recycling, Re-integration Geneva, Switzerland
February 4-7, 1997
Comprehensive conference on integrated resource management which will consider ecological, economic and social factors and implications. The Congress and exhibition will show the latest developments in recovery, recycling and re-integration technologies, leading to environmentally and economically acceptable solution, through the active involvement of all interested parties. Contact: KUONI CONGRESS, Geneva; Fax: +41 22 908 18 35.
