THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER
Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
506 Victoria Ave., Montreal, Quebec H3Y 2R5
Ph. (514) 369 0230, Fax (514) 369 3282
Email [EMAIL PROTECTED], Website
<http://www.gallon.elogik.com/>http://www.gallon.elogik.com
Vol. 3, No. 21, July 4, 1999
**************************************************************************
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
**************************************************************************
MORE REFUGEES FLEE FROM ENVIRONMENT THAN FROM WARFARE
One of the emerging phenomena of the new millennium is the rapid
migration of people escaping from environmentally degraded areas
and from areas where conflict has arisen over too few natural resources
for too many people. It has raised such a concern that Canada�s
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have established
units to monitor environmental and resource conflicts and the eco
refugee migration they create.
It has been determined that environmental refugees fleeing from
drought, floods, deforestation and degraded land totaled 25
million last year. This outnumbered those displaced by war
for the first time, according to the International Red Cross based
in Geneva. Its 1999 World Disasters Report, an annual survey of
humanitarian trends, said last year's "natural disasters" were the worst
on record, creating 58% of the world's refugees. "Everyone is aware of
the environmental problems of global warning and deforestation on one
hand and the social problems of increasing poverty and growing shanty
towns on the other," Astrid Heiberg, the president of the International
Red Cross Federation, said."But when these two factors collide, you
have a new scale of catastrophe." Last year environmental problems
drove 25 million people from their land to already vulnerable squatter
communities on the edge of fast-growing cities. Dr. Heiberg predicts
that, "the combination of human-driven climate change and rapidly
changing social and economic conditions will set off a chain reaction
of devastation, leading to super-disasters." To obtain a copy of the full
report go to the website of the International Federal of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies at <http://www.ifrc.org/>http://www.ifrc.org/
********************************************************************
NATURAL DISASTERS A MISNOMER SAYS KOFI ANNAN
United Nations SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan, speaking at the
closing ceremonies for the United Nations International Decade
for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) at the International
Conference Centre of Geneva, said that, "It is becoming increasingly
clear that term 'natural' for such events is a misnomer," Annan added
that, ecological imbalances brought on by poor development practices
and climate change are responsible for much of the loss of life,
displacement and destruction that follows floods, storms, earthquakes
and droughts, the secretarygeneral pointed out. The cost of weather
related disasters in 1998 alone exceeded the cost of all such disasters
in the whole of the 1980s. Tens of thousands of mostly poor people
died in storms, floods, earthquakes and droughts. Tens of millions have
been temporarily or permanently displaced. The cost of disasters in the
1990's was some nine times higher than in the 1960s, Annan said. "We
know what has to be done. What is now required is the political
commitment to do it," he declared. See complete article at
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/jul99/1999L070604.html See complete series
of articles on the environment at Lycos�s Environment News Service (ENS) at
http://ens.lycos.com/ GENEVA, Switzerland, July 6, 1999 (ENS).
*******************************************************
AUSTRALIA BEGINS TO PAY FOR CO2 REDUCTION OUTSIDE
ITS BOUNDARIES
Australia, like Canada, is rich with coal, oil and gas. It is hard to
deal with the strong lobbies established by the fossil fuel industries
when it comes to meeting the Kyoto Protocol for greenhouse gas
(GHG) reduction. So, instead, the Government of Australia has
begun to fund finance GHG reductions and sequestering outside
of the country. Australia will implement projects in three other
countries that are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"The projects demonstrate the capacity of Australian industry to
address the global issue of climate change through cooperative
activities in other countries," said Industry, Science & Resources
Minister Nick Minchin. Chile, Indonesia and Mauritius will launch a
number of collaborative projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
under Australia's International Greenhouse Partnerships Program.
"It is estimated that the four projects will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by some 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year,"
said Senator Minchin, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300,000
cars each year. A project in Chile will reduce leakage from gas pipelines
and convert industrial facilities from oil to natural gas. In Indonesia, gas
from a city landfill will be used to generate electricity. Two projects
in Mauritius will involve a solar photovoltaic system that has been
installed for the government, while the second project will reduce fuel
consumption in an oilfired power station. Go to the website of the
Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources at
http://www.dist.gov.au/
**************************************************************
AUSTRALIA INTRODUCES NEW NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATION
The federal Environment Minister of Australia, Senator Robert Hill,
introduced the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Bill, which is designed to set up a new list of triggers for federal
government
action. However, opponents say Canberra's existing powers to curb state
government excesses have been reduced. First unveiled a year ago, the
new environment bill was claimed by Senator Hill to drag Australia's
environment laws out of the 1970's. The bill was said to be the first attempt
this century to actually define national environment responsibilities,
instead of relying on de facto powers such as foreign investment controls.
But the bill comes against a history in Australia where the most significant
wins for the environment, such as the 1983 decision not to dam the Franklin
River in Tasmania, came with federal action against a state using other
laws. Several weeks ago, amid growing opposition, Senator Hill began
quiet talks on the legislation with the Australian Democrats, a moderate
centre party with a balance of power in the Senate. Unknown to some
other green groups, the prestigious Worldwide Fund for Nature and Humane
Society International also took part in talks with the government. The
Democrats Environment spokeswoman Senator Lyn Allison announced
they had achieved more than 400 amendments, turning what was a bad bill
into a great bill.
The final Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Bill is
somewhat Canada�s new Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The
Australian Environmental law will let states assess and designate projects
for environmental approval through bilateral agreements with Canberra.
It is somewhat like a harmonization agreement that devolves more powers
to the states. For its part, the federal government will have the primary
role
in six areas of national environmental significance, such as developments
affecting world heritage properties, whales, wetlands and nuclear activities.
But greenhouse gas emissions, land clearing, water use and forests are
exempt from the list of issues that would trigger national action under
the new Australian environmental legislation. A legal consultant to the
Australian Conservation Foundation, associate professor Rob Fowler,
said the amendments simply added another procedural hoop to an already
complex process. Source Environment News Service (ENS) 1999. The
Australia Ministry of the Environment & Heritage�s�s website is
at http://www.erin.gov.au/
***************************************************************
U.S. REPUBLICANS ADD ANTI ENVIRONMENTAL RIDERS
TO SENATE INTERIOR APPROPRIATION BILL
The Department of Interior is responsible for managing the
United States� public lands, public forests and wilderness. The
latest budget appropriations bill to be approved by the government
is being loaded up with extra conditions, called riders, by the
Republican Senators, that will result in harming the environment
rather than helping it. One rider is highlighted by a rider that would
eliminate key protective measures in the U.S. Northwest Forest Plan.
The rider, described in Section 329 of the Interior Appropriations
bill, would allow the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management to avoid wildlife surveys in old-growth forest habitat
that are slated for logging. Surveys for rare and sensitive old-growth
species -- and protection of known sites -- are required by the Northwest
Forest Plan in order to prevent additional listings under the Endangered
Species Act. Legal efforts are currently underway by conservationists
to force recalcitrant federal agencies to obey the law and conduct these
wildlife surveys. The rider would become an end-run around law and
the requirements there under. For more information contact, Senator
Patty Murray, ph. (206) 553-5545 (Seattle, Washington) or at ph.
(202) 224-2621 in Washington DC, or Senator Ron Wyden at ph.
(541) 858-5122 in Medford, Oregon, or at ph. (202) 224-5244
in Washington DC.
*******************************************************************
DIRECTORY OF AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPANIES WORKING IN WATER POLLUTION
The Australian Water and Wastewater Association (AWWA) of
Australia has published the most recent AWWA Australian
Environmental Products & Services Directory. It is now available on
line. You can search for AWWA�s Corporate Members by category,
state and/or keyword. Go to its website at http://www.awwa.asn.au/
and use the link in the bottom right corner that says "Directory". The
AWWA CDRom, Water; A teacher's Educational Resource, has been
produced. Copies are available for Aus $49.95 + P&H (0294131288,
contact email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or go to website
http://www.awwa.asn.au
Also, the AWWA reports that the Victorian EPA has released a draft
Industrial Waste Management Policy for Prescribed Industrial Waste.
The draft policy proposes a 50% reduction in land filling of prescribed
wastes by 2010. Information sessions will be held in Melbourne and some
regional centres. Further information: www.epa.vic.gov.au or 0396285622.
For more information contact, Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
***********************************************************************
U.S. EPA BEING OPPOSED IN ITS EFFORTS TO REDUCE
AIR POLLUTION FROM COAL FIRED ELECTRICITY PLANTS
WASHINGTON AP) - Stung by adverse court decisions, the Environmental
Protection Agency shifted strategy and announced a scaled-back plan
to cut smog-causing pollution from electric power plants, especially coal
burning plants in the Ohio Valley. EPA Administrator Carol Browner said she
remained optimistic about the appeal of two recent court decisions that
threatened the agency's new air quality standards for smog and fine soot
and put a freeze on regulations to curtail cross-state pollution. But
Browner said another approach was needed as insurance to guarantee that
drifting pollution from Midwest power plants into Canada the U.S. Northeast is
curtailed as planned. See the full story from Associated Press at the website
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559935954-89b
*************************************************
AFTER CFC PHASE OUT IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
NEED TO SPEED UP PHASE OUT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
The OECD countries were required quickly to phase out the production
and use of ozone depleting substances (ODS) like CFC�s. During June 15
to 18, 1999, representatives from over 100 governments met in Geneva
to prepare recommendations for strengthening the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and for funding national
efforts to eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals. The 19th meeting of the
Protocol's Open-Ended Working Group was held at a time of growing
concern that global warming may already be making ozone depletion worse
than previously predicted.
"These scientific findings add new urgency to the world-wide
elimination of chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs) and halons", said Klaus
Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment
Programme, which is sponsoring the talks. In addition to the climate
change problems, the ODS substances continue thin the protective ozone
shield over Northern Europe, creating an ozone 'hole' similar to the one
that already appears each spring over the Antarctic.
Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, developing countries are to
freeze their CFC and halon emissions at average 1995-97 levels
during the 12-month period beginning on 1 July 1999, just two weeks
from now. They must then cut back rapidly to 50% by the year 2005.
Developed countries phased out the use of these chemicals almost
completely in 1996, although Russia and several others have
experienced delays in meeting their deadlines. For more information
go to the Ozone Secretariat which is the Secretariat for the Vienna
Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and for the Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Secretariat is
based at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) offices in
Nairobi, Kenya. The Secretariat functions in accordance with Article 7 of
the Vienna Convention and Article 12 of the Montreal Protocol, which
detail its duties. Visit the UNEP Ozone Secretariat website at
http://www.unep.org/unep/secretar/ozone/home.htm
*******************************************************************
CHINA, INDIA, AND RUSSIA NOW THE WORLD�S LARGEST
CFC PRODUCERS
It use to be the United States that was the largest producer of CFC�s.
Now China is the world's largest producer of CFCs and halons,
followed by India, and Russia. The Protocol's Multilateral Fund has
allocated money to help these countries close down their production
facilities for these chemicals over the next 10 years. The Fund is now
negotiating with India, which has the second largest production capacity
of all developing countries, to develop a funding programme for closing
down production facilities there.
Russia's CFC production capacity of about 100,000 tonnes is the
world's largest, although actual production is currently just some
17,000 tonnes, putting China and India ahead. Although classed as a
developed country under the Protocol, Russia is treated as a developing
country when it comes to not being able to reduce its CFC use. Russia
has had difficulties eliminating its need for CFCs and halons by the 1996
deadline due to its ongoing transition to a market economy.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) with the World Bank has
contributed $60 million to China, Russia, India and other developing countries
to help them switch from CFC production. And 10 donor countries, the
GEF have together pledged $19 million to support additional work.
The Co-chairs of the Working Group, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul Gelil of
Egypt and Mr. Jukka Uosukainen of Finland, accompanied by the
Protocol's Executive Secretary Madhava Sarma, will brief the press
June 17, 1999. For more information, please contact Michael Williams
at (+41-22) 917 8242/244/196, email [EMAIL PROTECTED], fax
797 3463. Official documents and other materials are available on
the Internet at <http://www.unep.org/ozone>http://www.unep.org/ozone/ or at
the
website
<http://www.unep.ch/ozone>http://www.unep.ch/ozone/
*************************************************************************
AIR POLLUTION HAZE DISCOVERED HANGING
OVER INDIAN OCEAN
A brownish haze the size of the United States hangs over the
Indian Ocean in winter time. Scientists say the cloud of
atmospheric aerosols consists of fossil fuel byproducts, soot
and sulfur droplets which have blown to sea from industrial and
transportation combustion in China, India, Indonesia, and Southeast
Asia. While too early to predict whether the net effect on the global
environment will be that of warming or cooling, scientists have
identified two consequences implicated by the haze. First, aerosols
will reflect solar radiation, cooling the area covered by the haze.
Second, the haze will produce acid rain that could harm life below
it, terrestrial or marine. An intensive six-week surveillance of the
3.8 million square miles of haze was recently completed by scientists
sponsored, in part, by the National Science Foundation and California's
Scripps Oceanographic Institute. Visit Scripps Oceanographic Institute�s
website at <http://sio.ucsd.edu/>http://sio.ucsd.edu/ Source, New York Times,
June 10, 1999,
article, "Enormous Haze Found Over Indian Ocean."
*******************************************************************
PHILIPPINES PASSES TOUGH NEW CLEAN AIR LEGISLATION
Philippine President Joseph Estrada signed a landmark Clean
Air Act into law despite lobbying by businesses and oil companies
that complained the law would increase their costs. Air pollution
in the Southeast Asian country has already reached alarming
levels, according to the Asian Development Bank. "In the long
run, this will be good for our government and our people, especially
the poor," Estrada said. The three major Philippine oil companies -
Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell, and Caltex Philippines - estimated they
will spend at least $158 million to upgrade their refineries to meet
the new air standards. A key feature of the law is a ban on the use of
incinerators. Biomedical waste incinerators now in operation will be
phased out over three years. Only cremation and agricultural burning
practices, already covered by existing laws, will continue. The
environmental group Greenpeace described the law as an "environmental
milestone.� Source, Associated Press (AP) Visit the website of the
Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural
Resources at http://www.denr.gov.ph/
*******************************************************
CANADA CANADA CANADA CANADA
*******************************************************
ONTARIO ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY PROFILES
The Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement
(OCETA) has completed another series of profile reports on emerging
environmental technologies in Ontario. They include, (1) Aquatic
Sciences� "Potassium Dosing System for Control of Zebra Mussels
in Semi-Static Water Systems"; (2) Aquatic Sciences� "Remotely
Operated Vehicles (ROV) for Underwater Pipeline & Tunnel
Inspection"; (3) LEHDER Environmental Services Ltd.�s "Integrated
Environmental Consulting Services"; and, (4) Mikro-Tek "Ammonium
Nitrate Removal with Floating Cattail Mats". For further information
on any of these Profiles, to obtain a package of 72 Profiles ($70+gst),
or to find out about having a technology or business profile written
about your environmental technology or service you can
contact Jeff Getty, Profiles Coordinator, OCETA, 63 Polson Street,
2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1A4 Tel (416)
7785264, Fax (416)
7785624 or by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*********************************************************************
CANADIAN DIRECTORY ON POLLUTION PREVENTION
The Pollution Prevention (P2) Directory as part of the services
offered through the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention's (C2P2)
membership/sponsorship program. The P2 Directory is fast becoming the
strongest pool of Canadian P2 expertise and is one of the most visited
pages on the C2P2 web-site. The P2 directory is undergoing changes to
make it easier for potential client/partners to connect to your organization.
The benefits of the modified directory include the fact that users can
quickly and efficiently search for companies or other organizations based
on sector expertise, products/services provided or geographic location;
and, there is an opportunity to advertise products, services and
achievements to a national/international audience on C2P2's Internet
site. Environmental companies in Canada can take advantage of this
effective marketing tool by completing a database form found at the
C2P2 website. Submission deadline for Canadian companies is
August 16, 1999. Contact, Tania Del Matto, Researcher, Canadian
Centre for Pollution Prevention, 100 Charlotte Street, Sarnia,
Ontario N7T 4R2, ph. 519-337-3480, Fax (519) 337-3486, E-mail
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Website http://c2p2.sarnia.com/
*******************************************************************
ONTARIO ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Canadian
Environment Industry Association, Ontario Chapter, have released
the 1999 Ontario Environment Business Directory. It is available in
both print and electronic formats. The directory provides an overview
of the products and services offered by more than 400 Ontario
environmental companies. Users can search by company name,
firm type (e.g. manufacturer consulting, etc.), market subsector
(e.g. water / wastewater), client markets (e.g. food industry), keywords,
and city / town, and contact listed companies through email and
hyperlinked websites. The website edition - can be found at
http://www.envirodirectory.on.ca It is the first, and only, searchable
online directory of Ontario environmental suppliers. If you wish to
receive a print version of the Directory, contact Brad Defoe, Senior
Business Development Advisor, Ontario Ministry of the Environment,
fax (416) 314-7919 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
**************************************************************
U.S. FIRM BUYS PROCTOR & REDFERN
One of Canada�s larger environmental consulting engineering firms,
Proctor & Redfern International Ltd., was purchased by a U.S.
company. In the 1960's and 1970's, Proctor & Redfern grew on the
basis of obtaining large contracts for sewage treatment plants and
sewer systems in cities throughout Canada. Normally contracts were
like cost plus, where the bidder was given a percentage net income
based on the total cost of the project. The larger the project, the more
money generated for the company. This made it hard for consulting
engineering firms to design and build newer less costly sewage
treatment systems. Engineering firms like Proctor and Redfern
faced difficult times in the 1980's and 1990's when much of the
construction of secondary and tertiary sewage treatment plants
slowed down substantially. Procter & Redfern has since re-
engineered itself and broaden its business base. The company was
purchased by Earth Tech of Long Beach, California. Earth Tech, a
subsidiary of Tyco International, is a $750million (US) global
environment and engineering company focusing on water, waste
water, architecture and environmental projects. To visit the Procter
& Redfern website go to http://www.pandrint.com/
For more information, call Cathy Spark at (416) 4457022, ext. 2844
you can visit Earth Tech at http://www.earthtech.com
**************************************************************
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODEL FORESTS
AND ECO TOURISM
An International Conference on Sustainable Development entitled,
"Model Forests and Eco-tourism, Keys to Sustainable Community
Development," will be held September 10 to 12, 1999, at the World
Trade and Convention Centre, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Keynote
speakers will include Greg Neale, environment correspondent for
_The Sunday Telegraph_ (London) and author of _The Green Travel
Guide_, and Dr. Art Hansen, of the International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD) based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The conference
chairperson is Louis LaPierre, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Professor,
Wildlife and Environmental Ecology and holder of the K.C.Irving Chair
in Sustainable Development. In addition to a program of speakers, the
conference will allow researchers to present their work by means of
poster sessions. The research submitted needs to subscribe to the
following themes,
- Community development through eco-tourism
- Tools and technologies for sustainable forest management
- Community participation within sustainable forest management
For more information contact Harold Rennie, Communications
Officer, Nova Scotia Francophone Project, Phone (902) 424-3957,
Fax (902) 424-0556, E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Or visit the conference website at <http://www.ccfne.ns.ca/lanterne>
**********************************************************************
WORKSHOP ON WHAT TO DO WITH SLUDGE FROM
CANADA�S LARGEST SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
A Sewage Sludge Workshop will be held in Toronto, June 19, 1999
to discuss ways of dealing with the 53,000 tonnes of sewage and
industrial waste sludge generated from the City of Toronto�s Main
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Contracts have been offered to
private companies to dispose of the sludge. They propose to spread it
on Ontario lands as a soil enhancer or to turn it into pellets and sell it
as a fertilizer. Normally the recycling and reuse of human feces as
a neutralized rich fertilizer is welcomed. However, given that governments
have failed to get toxic chemicals, heavy metals and other hazardous
wastes out of the sewage treatment system, the sludge that is screened
from the liquid sewage becomes a toxic liability rather than a value
added asset. Therefore, these proposals raise serious environment
and public health issues.
Issues to be covered at the workshop include, How contaminated is
sludge and does it pose an environmental and public health risk? Can
the City�s proposed �Sewer Use Bylaw� stop industrial pollutants
from contaminating sludge? How is sludge used and regulated on
agricultural land? Can sludge or sludge pellets be safely used on
farm land or home gardens? What is the experience in the United
States with farm application of sludge? The meeting will be held
Saturday, June 19th, 1999 at Toronto Metro Hall, 55 John St., Toronto,
Room 308-309, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call ph. (416)
922-4099, Fax (613) 237-3438 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
****************************************************************
OTTAWACARLETON RECEIVES �TAKE IT BACK� AWARD
In a municipal council ceremony RCO Executive Director
John Hanson presented the Region of OttawaCarleton with
two Ontario Waste Minimization Awards. The first, was a
Bronze Award for disposing of only 236 kg. of waste per person
(the provincial average is 340 kg). The second, an Outstanding
Product Responsibility Award, was in recognition of the Region�s
unique �Take it Back� program. Now in its second year, the Take
it Back program involves 158 retailers who will take back a wide
range of solid waste and hazardous materials at their stores or service
centres, including: automotive (oil, batteries, antifreeze, tires, etc.)
pharmaceuticals, electronics and appliances, plant pots, propane and
butane tanks and cylinders, and eye glasses. �All over the world
senior levels of government are moving to require industries to take
back and recycling these products.� Hanson said. �So it is truly
remarkable how successful OttawaCarleton has been in encouraging
distributors of these types of products to voluntarily participate.�
Visit Recycling Council of Ontario website at http://www.rco.on.ca
For more information on the Take it Back program, call ph. 6135601335
or visit http://www.rmoc.on.ca
********************************************
***************************************************************
$180.90 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO
THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER
Subscribe to "The Gallon Environment Letter". The 8 to 10 page newsletter is
loaded with up to date business and policy information that your company,
government agency, or organization can use immediately. It is provided twice
a month. It is also accompanied by the "Green Jobs Available Report" that is
sent to you once a month. Subscribe now. Send a cheque for $180.90 a year
($169.00+ $11.90 GST) and help finance the research that delivers inside
information and breaking news on environment business in Canada and the
world.
Make your cheque out to, "Gallon Letter", 506 Victoria Ave., Montreal,
Quebec,
H3Y 2R5.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Copyright (c) 1999 Canadian Institute for
Business and the Environment, Montreal
All rights reserved.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
