Transport & Environment Report Released: How Clean Are Europe's Cars 2012

Recently, Transport & Environment a pro-environmental NGO that focuses "on smarter and greener transport policies at the EU level in Brussels" released its annual report titled, How Clean Are Europe's Cars (2012). The report available here, discusses "the annual progress Europe’s major car manufacturers have made in reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of new cars."

 

Previous editions of the report are available here:

2011

2010

2009

2008

 

Congressional Research Service Report Released: Update on Controlling Greenhouse Gases from International Aviation

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the public policy research arm of Congress, just issued the report Update on Controlling Greenhouse Gases from International Aviation (Nov. 19, 2012). The 10-page report authored by Jane A. Legget discusses the,

European Union’s (EU’s) decision in 2008 to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international flights under its Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS),effective January 1, 2012, has been contentious among nations, prompting threats of noncompliance and retaliatory trade actions. The U.S. Administration and other national governments have objected to the EU law for intruding on national sovereignty with regard to its application to flight operations outside EU airspace. Strong industry opposition has led both the U.S. House and Senate to pass a bill (S. 1956) that directs the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit U.S. airlines from participating in the EU ETS if he determines that doing so is in the public interest. The EU has refused to eliminate the international aviation provisions but has proposed to suspend enforcement on flights to and from EU countries until September 2013. This “stopping the clock” is intended to allow time for nations to agree on equivalent, global actions under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Details of the proposed EU amendment are not yet available. The EU ETS inclusion of international aviation, the reasons leading to it, its costs, and other aspects are discussed in CRS Report R42392, Aviation and the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme. This report summarizes a few recent developments in the continuing debate over whether and how to address GHG emissions from international aviation.

 

 

Effective Advocacy in the European Environmental Decision-making Process -- BNA Webinar

Effective Advocacy in the European Environmental Decision-making Process webinar

Wednesday, April 25, 2012


12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET


This webinar will facilitate a discussion about how to conduct effective advocacy in the European environmental decision-making process. Using examples from chemicals legislation, such as REACH and RoHS, climate change policy, and related litigation, the panelists will identify the players and processes that create and enforce European environmental law and policy and how and when one can engage in the process, from initial consultations to litigation in the courts. Important differences with advocacy in the United States will be highlighted, and practical advice will be provided for those working with companies doing business with or in the EU market.


The 90-minute presentation is designed to help you:

•Understand how European environmental law and policy is created and how you can be an effective advocate in that process.

•Learn about the interaction between European environmental law and the national environmental law of the individual 27 European member states.

•Identify differences between the United States and EU in the creation and implementation of environmental law and policy

Illegal Logging in South Eastern Europe: Regional Report -- REC

Illegal Logging in South Eastern Europe: Regional Report (English) -- published by the Regional Environmental Center finds that [from the Executive Summary] "in South Eastern Europe, the forestry sector has significant untapped potential that could contribute to the social and economic development of a large stratum of the population. It is therefore vital to identify trends, such as illegal logging, that prevent the realisation of the full potential of forestry in the region.

There are general patterns that can be discerned in the analysed countries:

• sizeable state-owned forest areas, and areas (especially near borders) particularly vulnerable to the illegal harvesting of timber;

• a mix of young and old forests, with a tendency towards a decrease in high-quality forests;

• a lack of reliable and aggregate data on forests and forest management structures; and

• the recent loss of substantial forest areas, through clear cutting and forest fires.

Out of the Abyss: Transforming EU Rules to Protect the Deep Sea -- Pew

 Out of the Abyss: Transforming EU Rules to Protect the Deep Sea is a report by the Pew Research Center that summarises the current problems in the regulation of deep-sea fisheries in the northeast Atlantic by the EU, including weak catch and effort limits, lack of knowledge of the status of deep-sea fish stocks and the impact of fishing; incomplete deep-sea species coverage; deficient monitoring and control measures; significant data and reporting gaps; and a lack of sufficient measures to ensure sustainability and protect vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems such as cold-water coral reefs from the harmful impacts of bottom fisheries.

Various assessments have found that the EU’s deep-sea fisheries management regime for the northeast Atlantic is inadequate, poorly enforced, and inconsistent with EU and international principles, agreements and legal obligations for the sustainable management of fisheries. As a result, leading scientific authorities have concluded that the EU’s fisheries for deep-sea species in the northeast Atlantic are ‘outside safe biological limits’ and that deep-sea fishing should be significantly reduced or ended entirely.

EUWI Annual Report 2011

The European Union Water Initiative Annual Report 2011, dated October 17, 2011 presents the main achievements of the EU Water Initiative during 2010 and the first part of 2011. It includes a Foreword highlighting the policy development during the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, and indications on the preparation of a new EUWI strategy, which was discussed during the Multistakeholder Forum in Stockholm on 25 August 2011

Third Follow up Report to the Communication on water scarcity and droughts in the European Union

This report from the the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (COM (2007) 414 final /* COM/2011/0133 final */), offers planning advice and steps to be taken to improve water use efficiency and prevent droughts.

The North Sea Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative Memorandum of Understanding

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today by 10 North Sea countries. The ten countries have committed to work together to identify and overcome the regulatory, legal, market, planning and technical issues involved in creating a North Sea grid.

European Union v. United States: An EHS Regulatory Comparison

This BNA Webinar takes place on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (ET).

Topics: Environment, health, and safety regulatory programs of the European Union and United States have key differences and key similarities that impact a multinational company's day-to-day operations and risk management priorities. BNA invites you to join an esteemed panel of Enhesa experts who will provide a comparative analysis of these programs and practical solutions for how to address EHS challenges in both regions. The experts will provide examples of how two similar facilities, one in the EU and one in the United States, face pertinent EHS issues. BNA’s webinar is designed to help you:

- Understand legal and regulatory structures
- Gain insight on permitting (used, issued, updated)
- Identify the risks and liabilities related to soil contamination
- Learn about emissions requirements (MACT, emission trading, reporting)
- Examine chemicals regulation (U.S. program, REACH, GHS)
- Analyze risk assessment versus a prescriptive approach to health and safety management
- Deal with drug control, smoke prohibitions, and restriction of alcohol on site
- Become knowledgeable about accident reporting
- Consider implications of different enforcement practices on EHS management

EUWI 2010 Annual Report

This European Union Water Initiative Annual Report covers the Initiative's work in the Eurpopean Union, Africa and Asia.

Complying With Environmental Laws in Europe-Teleconference/Webinar

This webinar offered on June 3, 2009 is designed for international, corporate, real estate, environmental and litigation attorneys who have clients conducting business in the European Union that could be impacted by existing and emerging environmental laws, this seminar features environmental lawyers and risk management experts located in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Speakers will discuss the most significant environmental laws and exposures in their respective countries including the European Union Environmental Liability Directive (ELD). The ELD along with existing EU regulations will make operators financially responsible for activities that damage the environment. Several ELD claims are presently being processed in various EU jurisdictions and include significant cost exposures for cleaning up environmental damage.

Complying With Environmental Laws in Europe-Teleconference/Webinar

This Webinar prosented by the New York State Car Association is designed for international, corporate, real estate, environmental and litigation attorneys who have clients conducting business in the European Union that could be impacted by existing and emerging environmental laws, this seminar features environmental lawyers and risk management experts located in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Speakers will discuss the most significant environmental laws and exposures in their respective countries including the European Union Environmental Liability Directive (ELD). The ELD along with existing EU regulations will make operators financially responsible for activities that damage the environment. Several ELD claims are presently being processed in various EU jurisdictions and include significant cost exposures for cleaning up environmental damage.

Questions that will be addressed and discussed include:

How is the ELD being implemented and enforced within the EU? What is the claims history for the ELD?

What liability exists under the 1996 Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive and 2006 Waste Disposal Directive?

What are the biggest concerns for environmental loss in a given country?

What is next in Europe?

What waste permits are required?

When and where does a company need to demonstrate satisfactory financial security and how can these requirements be met?

Are NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) a significant threat?
What risk management techniques are available to mitigate the effect of environmental loss?

When and where is environmental insurance compulsory?