Your views on these items and/or your suggestions of additional items are most welcome. Please email Elizabeth Florescu at millennium-project@igc.org.

The Millennium Project defines environmental security as environmental viability for life support, with three sub-elements:
· preventing or repairing military damage to the environment,
· preventing or responding to environmentally caused conflicts, and
· protecting the environment due to its inherent moral value.

2005
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005

2004
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004

2003
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
August-September 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003

2002
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002

December 2005

Montreal Conference on Climate Change Reached New Agreements

Thirty decisions were reached during the first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 1) that was held November 29 to December 9, 2005 in conjunction with the eleventh Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 11), which reached 14 decisions. This package of decisions was named the "Montreal Action Plan" by Stéphane Dion, President of COP 11 and COP/MOP 1. The Plan is a "clear roadmap" for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to develop approaches to cope with consequences of climate changes. It also has established a forum to find innovative solutions. The complete listing of these decisions is available at Decisions adopted by COP11 and COP/MOP1. Some highlights include:
· The Marrakesh Accords were accepted at COP/MOP 1 as a "clear rulebook" of the Kyoto Protocol that sets the framework for the Protocol's implementation and enforcement, including a system for an effective global carbon market. A complex compliance regime was accepted and members of the compliance committee were elected to strengthen Kyoto's Parties' accountability in meeting their emission reductions targets. A review for improving the Kyoto Protocol will be formally launched at next year's UNFCCC meeting.
· There are two mechanisms for developed countries to earn greenhouse gas emission credits: 1) The Clean Development Mechanism gives developed countries emission credits for investing in sustainable development projects in developing countries. (Developed nations have pledged over $13 million for this mechanism to be expanded in 2006-07.); and 2) The Joint Implementation mechanism gives developed countries emission credits for investments in low greenhouse gas emissions projects in other developed countries (in particular in transition economies).
· Negotiations for new emissions reduction targets for developed countries in the post-Kyoto period (2013-2017) were approved to begin May 2006. This is to ensure that negotiations are concluded in time to avoid any gap between the first phase and the second phase beginning in 2013.
· A Five Year Plan of Action on Adaptation addresses concrete steps to identify climate change impacts and measures to adapt to it --mainly for developing countries. A one-year process to define how the Adaptation Fund will be managed and operated was approved.
· COP requested the Global Environmental Facility to consider adding carbon capture and storage technologies to those areas receiving financial support. International cooperation in developing, adopting, and transferring green technologies was a theme heard throughout the meetings.
· Agreement was achieved to launch a dialogue and series of workshops in 2006 on strategic approaches for long-term global cooperative action to address climate change that might result in a more inclusive UN climate pact (including the U.S. and China). The U.S. agreed to join talks in the future, as long as mandatory emissions targets were not on the agenda.

Approximately 2,800 government officials and 5,800 representatives of UN organizations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations attended this comprehensive overview of the world's state in addressing climate change, witnessed by 817 accredited members of the media. More than 120 ministers and other high-level government officials delivered statements, along with senior representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, UN bodies and specialized agencies, and other relevant groups. The reports of 140 NGO "side" sessions can be found at http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop11/enbots/.
Sources:
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 11 and COP/MOP 1) http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/items/3394.php
Summary Of The Eleventh Conference Of The Parties To The UN Framework Convention On Climate Change And First Conference Of The Parties Serving As The Meeting Of The Parties To The Kyoto Protocol: 28 November - 10 December 2005 (The report begins on the third page of this source at the heading "REPORT OF COP 11 AND COP/MOP 1") http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12291e.html
UN conference agrees on future steps to tackle climate change http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16889&Cr=climate&Cr1=change
Climate change: successful conclusion of UN Conference in Montreal - statement by Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/473&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

UN Creates Peacebuilding Commission for Post-Conflict Situations

The UN established a Peacebuilding Commission to prevent countries emerging from conflict from falling back into conflict. The 31-member new Commission will be an intergovernmental advisory organization with membership composed of seven Security Council members (including the five permanent members), seven members of ECOSOC, five top financial contributors to the UN, five top providers of military personnel and civilian police to UN missions, and an additional seven members elected by the General Assembly, with special consideration for States that have experienced post-conflict recovery. The Commission will act by consensus, proposing integrated strategies for improving the UN actions of stabilization and recovery in post-conflict situations. The UN reports that about half of all conflicts over the past 20 years were "re-conflicts" - conflicts that recurred within five years after peace accords.
Sources:
UN establishes new body to prevent countries from sliding back into war http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16990&Cr=reform
Secretary-General's remarks on the General Assembly endorsement of the Peacebuilding Commission-- New York, 20 December 2005 http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=1846
The Peacebuilding Commission--Draft resolution submitted by the President of the General Assembly. A/60/L.40, 14 December 2005 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/gaab3717.doc.htm

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

Very Low Cost Chemical Sensors for Environmental Monitoring
Electrical engineering Prof. Vivek Subramanian at the University of California, Berkeley, has developed a technique for inexpensively producing arrays of chemical sensors, using organic semiconductors and ink-jet printing. Based on organic transistors, the array of sensors mimics the behavior of the human nose, differentiating among toxins in air or water. This approach would cut the cost of such sensors from several hundred dollars per unit to about 30¢. As a result, more nearly ubiquitous toxin monitoring will be possible.
Source:
Cheap Chemical Sensors. Electronic "noses" made from printed electronics could detect toxic chemicals inexpensively
By Kevin Bullis, MIT Technology Review, December 1, 2005 http://technologyreview.com/NanoTech-Devices/wtr_15947,303,p1.html

Small Robotic Helicopters for Reconnaissance
Scientists from the University of South Florida have been surveying hurricane damage with a miniature battery-powered robot helicopter developed by iSENSYS, a spin-off from like90 LLC. This unit can operate by radio control at altitudes up to 300', over a quarter-mile radius.
Sources:
USF mini-helicopters go "Back to Katrina" http://usfnews.usf.edu/page.cfm?link=article&aid=1111
Robotics Researchers Return to Examine Katrina Devastation With Small Unmanned Helicopters http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=105603
Isensys website http://www.isensys.com

Phthalates May Trigger Lupus
A new study at Indiana State University provides some evidence, in a mouse model, that phthalates may trigger lupus. In the study, only a certain strain of mice developed fatal cases of lupus after injection with a phthalate compound; much work remains to be done to clarify the possible connection.
Source:
Phthalate Linked to Lupus in Mice http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/113-12/forum.html#phtl

Gulf Environmental Group Planned

Kuwait hosted a meeting on December 17-18 to establish a regional body to assess environmental damage and coordinate cleanup projects in the Gulf, including in Iraq. The meeting followed previous talks between officials from five countries: Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The chairman of Kuwait's authority for assessing compensation for damages from Iraq's 1990 invasion and occupation has announced that among the goals of the meeting is the establishment of a regional environmental rehabilitation advisory group, its objectives and scope, and to establish a program for regional cooperation. [Note: at the time of this writing, the results of the closed-door, three-day meeting were not yet available.]
Sources:
Kuwait to host talks on clean-up http://www.tradearabia.com/tanews/newsdetails_snENV_article97493.html
Kuwait to host talks on Gulf environment clean-up. Reuters, 06 Dec 2005 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0660604.htm

Two Viral Diseases Lie in Wait

A new genus, Henipavirus, has been created for the Hendra and Nipah viruses, causes of serious disease outbreaks in humans and livestock in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh. Like avian flu, so far these diseases have not shown human-to-human transmission (the primary vector is the fruit bat; an immediate one is swine), and they do not appear to be as contagious in animal-human contacts, but the human death rate was 40% in a Nipah epidemic in Malaysia.
Source:
Deadly New Virus Draws Experts to "Hot Zones".
Bijal P. Trivedi, National Geographic Today, January 21, 2003 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/0121_030121_tvvirushunter.html
Hendra and Nipah viruses: different and dangerous. Nature Reviews Microbiology 4, 23-35 (January 2006) | doi:10.1038/nrmicro1323
http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n1/abs/nrmicro1323.html (abstract; full article by subscription only)

Chinese Popular and Government Support for Environmental Concerns

Environmental awareness and anger seem to be increasing among the Chinese people, and even certain segments of the government are taking up environmental causes. Pocha (Dec 2005) writes, "A growing section of the Chinese leadership, led by Deputy Environment Minister Pan Yue, has been vocal in calling for China to make its economic policies more environmentally sensitive… Earlier this year, China's State Environmental Protection Administration took the unprecedented step of suspending work on 30 projects, worth more than $10 billion collectively, after they failed to meet environmental standards." There are now more than 2,000 grass-roots environmental NGOs in the country, many of which are now learning how to organize and empower themselves. Although the government is still focusing on high economic growth with little regard to environmental impacts, there are signs that this situation is changing. China recently announced that it would begin monitoring energy efficiency and encouraging cleaner energy production and use as its national income surges. Its National Bureau of Statistics is compiling an index to show each region's energy consumption per unit of GDP for publication every six months.
Source:
Environmental awareness and anger grow in China. Poisoned river had affected many directly
By Jehangir S. Pocha, Globe Correspondent. December 4, 2005 http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/12/04/environmental_awareness_and_anger_grow_in_china/
China to Monitor Economy-Wide Energy Efficiency http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34254/story.htm
Army Strategy on the Environment https://www.asaie.army.mil/Public/ESOH/doc/ArmyEnvStrategy.pdf

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Climate Change
Melting Permafrost Releases Methane Twenty Times More Dangerous for Global Warming than CO2
Permafrost covers much of Russia, Canada, and Alaska. As it melts, trapped methane gas is released, which is twenty times more effective in creating the greenhouse effect than is CO2. Scientists disagree about how much permafrost will be melted over what period of time; however, the phenomenon has not been properly factored into global warming forecasts. With less snow and ice, solar radiation that used to be reflected off the earth is now absorbed, which furthers the warming impact. New climate simulations using the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Climate System Model (CCSM) show that global warming may thaw over half of Northern Hemisphere's permafrost by 2050 and as much as 90% by 2100. This would alter ecosystems across the northern latitudes and might increase runoff to the Arctic Ocean and release vast amounts of carbon as well as methane into the atmosphere in greater volume than now released by fossil fuel usage. Canadian Arctic sea-ice cover has been reduced by about 24% in extent and about up to 50% in thickness since 1978, remarks Louis Fortier, chief scientist aboard the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Amundsen and director of several Arctic research programs. Even more alarming, he notes, since 2004 there are indications that the melting has begun to accelerate, with 2005 an all-time record minimum for sea ice cover. In discussing opening of the Northwest Passage for commercial navigation, besides the ecological implications, he warns about risks linked to pollution, as well as major problems of sovereignty and security for Canada.
The Year 2005 Hits the Record Books for Climate Extremes
Data from climatologists around the world show that 2005 is the record year on many counts: warmest year on record; worst Atlantic hurricane season for intensity, number, and consequences; hottest Caribbean waters ever; worst drought; and least perennial Arctic sea ice cover. The global mean surface temperature in 2005 is currently estimated to be +0.48 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14 degrees C, according to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) records.
First People Displaced Due to Rising Sea Levels
Over 100 villagers of the Pacific island Tegua, in Vanuatu, were relocated to higher ground to be protected from aggressive storms and waves considered consequence of climate change. The move, done under a project entitled Capacity Building for the Development of Adaptation in Pacific Island Countries, might represent a first example of formal mass-displacement as a result of climate change.
EU Not On Track Meeting Kyoto Requirements
A new study by the UK Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Britain and Sweden are the only countries in Europe that seem to be on target to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Of the 15 European countries that ratified the Protocol, 10 would miss their targets unless they take urgent action, while France, Greece, and Germany could fulfill their obligations only if planned polices were successfully implemented.
Sources:
Most of Arctic's Near-Surface Permafrost May Thaw by 2100. National Center for Atmospheric Research, December 19, 2005 http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2005/permafrost.shtml
Arctic Feels the Heat from Climate Change http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/33854/story.htm
2005 - A year of record climate extremes http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/kyoto/2005_record.html
2005 on the way to becoming second warmest year ever http://www.wmo.int/web/Press/Press743_E1.doc
Vanuatu Villagers May Be First Climate Change 'Refugees' http://www.news.vu/en/news/environment/051221-Vanuatu-Villagers-May-Be-First-Climate-Change-Refugees.shtml
Tuesday 06 December 2005-Pacific Island villagers may be first climate change refugees: UNEP http://radio.un.org/story.asp?NewsID=3513 (Audio)
UK study warns on Kyoto targets. Business Day, December 28, 2005 http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A131870

Codes of Conduct for Scientists to Strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention
States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention met this month in Geneva to conclude a three-year process designed to enhance the implementation of the Convention by adopting a set of principles to guide the development of codes of conduct concerning sensitive biological research. In view of present and future threats posed by biological and toxin weapons, States Parties agreed on a range of different approaches for addressing the codes of conduct function of national specifics and using existing mechanisms and frameworks whenever possible without impeding scientific discovery, or placing unnecessary constraints on research or peaceful international cooperation. Also, it was agreed that the codes and their underlying principles should be widely known and understood, and developed in cooperation with those concerned. States Parties to the BWC will meet again in Geneva, April 26-28 2006 for the Preparatory Committee and then November 20-December 8, 2006 for the Review Conference. [See also Time to Strengthen the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention in December 2004 environmental security report.]
Source:
States Parties To Biological Weapons Convention Conclude Meeting After Discussing Scientific Codes Of Conduct. UN News, 9 December 2005
http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/3BBAC5D174CFA3EFC12570D1005C756C?OpenDocument

Seventh Conference Of The Parties To The Vienna Convention For The Protection Of The Ozone Layer and Seventeenth Meeting Of The Parties To The Montreal Protocol On Substances That Deplete The Ozone Layer
The 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 17th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (COP-7/MOP-17) took place in Dakar, Senegal, from 12-16 December 2005. Over 400 representatives from governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental and NGOs, academia, industry, and the agricultural sector participated. More than 50 decisions were adopted on a wide range of issues concerning phaseout of ozone-depleting substances, budgets, target years, and reducing illegal trafficking in CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and other substances. Under the Protocol, developing countries have until 2010 to phase out CFCs and halons, and until 2015 to phase out methyl bromide. (The CFC phaseout year for developed countries was 1996.) Even if all targets of the Montreal Protocol are achieved, the ozone layer will not fully recover until 2065, according to research presented at the conference. This is 15 years later than initially estimated. A new report "Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System" of the Protocol's Technology and Economics Assessment Panel and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change demonstrated the interlinkages between ozone and global warming. Parties also agreed to defer until 2006 consideration of a U.S. proposal on multi-year exemptions for methyl bromide, and a European Community (EC) proposal for an amendment to the Protocol that would include an expedited procedure for adding new chemicals. The Eighteenth Meeting of The Parties To The Montreal Protocol: MOP-18 is scheduled to take place in late 2006. [See also First Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol Gives One Year Extension to Ban on Methyl Bromide to 11 Developed Countries in March 2004 environmental security report.]
Sources:
Report of the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
http://hq.unep.org/ozone/Meeting_Documents/mop/17mop/17mop-11.e.pdf
Summary Of The Seventh Conference Of The Parties To The Vienna Convention For The Protection Of The Ozone Layer And Seventeenth Meeting Of The Parties To The Montreal Protocol On Substances That Deplete The Ozone Layer: 12-16 December 2005 http://www.iisd.ca/vol19/enb1947e.htmlLINE
With ozone layer as fragile as ever, governments agree sharp cuts in methyl bromide plus $470 million package for phasing out harmful chemicals (Press release)
http://hq.unep.org/ozone/Public_Information/press_releases/cop7mop17_press_release161205.e.pdf
Montreal Protocol Web site http://www.unep.org/ozone/Treaties_and_Ratification/2B_montreal%20protocol.asp

Integration of Chemical Regulations (REACH) Approved by European Council
With minor modifications, the EU ministers have approved the proposed Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The Council's position should be formally approved in May 2006, followed by a second reading by the European Parliament, and final decision expected in autumn 2006, for entry into force in spring 2007. Operational requirements of REACH are expected to start to be applied from 2008 onwards. REACH creates a single system for all chemicals (replacing about 40 existing legal acts) and will establish a new European Chemicals Agency headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, to manage the evaluation, authorization, and registration of the substances database. REACH will require manufacturers and importers of chemicals produced or imported in volumes over 1 metric tonne per year to submit a registration dossier to the European chemicals agency with comprehensive information concerning the safe use of those substances. Failure to register will prohibit manufacture or import to the EU. [See also REACH Draft Voted by the European Parliament and other related items listed in November 2005 environmental security report.]
Sources:
REACH: Commission welcomes Council's agreement on new EU chemical legislation
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1583&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
REACH http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/chemicals/reach.htm
Stavros Dimas, Member of the European Commission, Responsible for Environment policy
Speaking notes - political agreement on REACH http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/787&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EU New Strategy on Waste Recycling
The European Commission proposed a new strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste, part of the seven thematic strategies considered under the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme (6EAP). The new strategy includes consolidating and updating existing legislation (including the 1975 Waste Framework Directive) and minimizing waste by using it as a resource. It will set recycling standards and will include an obligation for all 25 member states to develop national waste prevention programs. The new regulations and a first set of standards for waste recycling are expected to enter into force in 2008. National governments will then have three years to finalize their own waste action programs. [See also New EU Environmental Strategies in the September 2005, and Recycling Regulations in the EU in August 2005 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/strategy.htm
EU Waste Policy - The Story behind the Strategy
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/pdf/story_book.pdf [Note: the parts of the document that might be of most interest: 6.6. Simplification: fine tuning to improve implementation--Box 13. Changes to the regulation structure. (Pp. 22), Box 14. How the "end of waste" criteria work. (pp. 23), and 6.6.3. The distinction between recovery and disposal--Box 15. How to distinguish between recovery and disposal (pg 24)]

Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean
One year after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a Consolidated Report for Countries Affected by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami was released that addresses capacity building requirements at regional, national, and community levels in 16 countries. It identifies the achievements, gaps, and specific actions still needed and the responsible authorities for those actions for building an effective warning and mitigation system for the Indian Ocean countries. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that a telecommunications network to provide a tsunami early warning system in the Indian Ocean is on track for completion by the middle of 2006. However, as of December 2005, there is no agreement on the establishment of a single alert center and the countries that have been conferring are going ahead with plans for purely national systems. [See also Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System to be Operational by the End of 2005 in August 2005, and Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean and Beyond in January 2005 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Assessment of Capacity Building Requirements or an Effective and Durable Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean: Consolidated Report for Countries Affected by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami
http://ioc3.unesco.org/indotsunami/nationalassessments.htm
WMO Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation http://www.wmo.int/disasters/tsunamiprojects.htm
Tsunami Warning System on Track For Mid-2006 - UN http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/34228/story.htm
A year on from the Asian tsunami, satellites are aiding regional rebuilding http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMF2J8A9HE_environment_0.html
Asian Nations Fail to Agree on Regional Tsunami Warning Alerts http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=ajwWayeTVxTs&refer=asia
Researchers Warn of More Quakes in Southeast Asia
By Axel Bojanowski, Spiegel online, December 23, 2005 http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,392020,00.html

Satellite Technology Use for Environmental-related Issues Expands
Following the adoption of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) Declaration by the ESA Ministerial Council, December 5-6 2005, new EU Member States can now be formally involved in the program. The ESA Council also reinforced full support for the GMES Program, which aims to provide the public and policy- and decision-makers essential strategic environmental and civil security information based on operational and integrated space, air, ground, and sea observations. The possible applications would include-but not be limited to-environmental monitoring, risk management and early warning, and climate and weather forecasting. GMES should deliver its first operational Service Elements in 2008. As pointed out at the UN Climate Change Conference in Montreal, satellite technology could also play an increasing role in the efforts for monitoring greenhouse gas emission and developing new mechanisms to combat global warming. [See also Space Technology to Help Enforce Environmental Regulations in November and Climate Change--Improved Satellite Climate Change Monitoring in June 2005 and other related items on the same issue in previous environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Integration Of New EU Member Countries Into GMES Programme Commences http://www.spacedaily.com/news/disaster-management-05zzzzzm.html
Providing GMES services at the ends of the Earth - interview with Dr Charles Randell http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMGHVVLWFE_index_0.html
ESA Council meeting at ministerial level http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTNPULWFE_index_0.html
Montreal outcomes: forest focus could enhance role of space in combating climate change http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMZC68A9HE_environment_0.html

Nanotechnology
UK Launches $8.5M Nanotech Risk Research
As a follow-up to the 2004 study into the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, the UK government's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced an $8.5 million research plan to identify long-term environmental and health risks from the technology. The new program should lead to a framework for containing any "unacceptable risks" associated with nanotechnology. The study had three foci, to: 1) understand the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles; 2) determine the avenues of exposure to them; and 3) assess their possible human health impacts. The report describing the effort identifies 19 research objectives and describes ways in which they could be funded. [See also Progress on Establishing Frameworks for Responsible Nanotechnologies in October 2005, Nanotechnology Assessment Reports in March 2005, and New UK Study on Future Impacts of Nanotechnology in August 2004 environmental security reports.]
New Database of Nanotechnology Risk Studies
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington has just established an on-line database intended to provide information on nanotech risk projects worldwide. Although it currently contains U.S government-sponsored research, it is planned to be international and comprehensive.
Buckyballs Could Damage DNA
Using computer simulations, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University found that buckyballs bind strongly to DNA, distorting the strands, which could interfere with the DNA's function, disrupting replication and repair and increasing mutation rates. However, the researchers admit that only actual experiments could determine buckyballs' impact on DNA in the real world.
EPA Nanotechnology White Paper
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft paper that identifies gaps and research needed for better understanding the environmental and health implications of nanotechnology and for designing appropriate regulatory safeguards. After presenting the current state of nanotech, the paper suggests recommendations on next steps for addressing science policy issues and research needs and even indicates that the complexities of nanotechnology are too much for a single government agency to handle.
Sources:
Nanotech risks: UK launches US$8.5m research plan http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/nanotech-risks-uk-launches-us85m-research-plan.cfm
Nanotechnology. Health and Environmental Implications. An inventory of current research http://www.nanotechproject.com/index.php?id=18
Too Tiny for Trouble? Scientists Take a Look
By Barnaby J. Feder, New York Times, November 29, 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/29/science/29nano.html (by subscription only)
Buckyballs could disrupt functioning of DNA
NewScientist.com News Service Dec. 9, 2005 http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8439
External Review Draft Nanotechnology White Paper http://www.epa.gov/OSA/nanotech.htm

Reports to Review

Latest Reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series
Ecosystems & Human Well-being: Wetlands & Water Synthesis, the fifth synthesis report by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), was launched at the opening ceremony of COP9 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The report assesses the current situation of wetlands in view of strengthening the link between scientific knowledge and decision-making for the conservation and wise use of wetlands, and setting future agendas for Ramsar. The report found that the degradation and loss of wetlands, as well as the status of both freshwater and coastal wetland species is deteriorating faster than those of other ecosystems.

Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Health Synthesis, a report by WHO, is the sixth (last) in the series of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reports. Examining the complex interdependence between the ecosystems and human health, the report assesses the current state of affaires, as well as the critical factors that might trigger future changes in ecosystems and the possible health implications. Pointing out the benefits reached over the past 50 years in adapting the natural ecosystems to benefit the human condition, the report notes that not all regions and groups of people have benefited equally from this process. Continued ecosystem degradation, with already serious consequences to human health, could grow worse over the next 50 years. Regions facing the greatest risks include sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, parts of Latin America, and certain areas in South and Southeast Asia, points out the report. [See also Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report in March 2005, Biodiversity Synthesis Report (MA report 2) in May, Desertification Synthesis (MA report 3) in June, and Environmental concerns increase opportunities and challenges for business (MA report 4) in July environmental security monthly reports.]
Note: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) won the 2005 Zayed International Prize for the Environment, awarded for 'scientific and or technological achievement in environment'.
Sources:
"Ecosystems & Human Well-being: Wetlands & Water Synthesis" launched at Ramsar COP9 http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/article.aspx?id=71
Ecosystems & Human Well-being: Wetlands & Water Synthesis http://www.maweb.org/proxy/Document.358.aspx
Ecosystems and Human Well-being: General Synthesis http://www.millenniumassessment.org//proxy/Document.357.aspx
Human Health Under Threat from Ecosystem Degradation: WHO releases "Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Health Synthesis" http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/article.aspx?id=72
Human Health Under Threat from Ecosystem Degradation WHO Media Release http://www.millenniumassessment.org/proxy/Document.764.aspx
Ecosystem assessment wins top environment award http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2561&language=1

European environment - State and outlooks 2005
The European environment - State and outlooks 2005 report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) analyzes the European ecological footprint. Revealing that it takes 2.1 times the biological capacity of Europe to support Europe, the authors emphasize that Europe should reassess its consuming patterns and consider new policies that would take into account the disproportionate impact European present behavior has on the rest of the world's environment. With rich graphs and data, the report shows a comprehensive regional analysis as well as detailed analysis by country and sectors over time. For example, while in 1961, Europeans represented over 12% of global population with a demand on global ecological capacity of less than 10%, by 2002, Europe's population represented only 7% of the world total but its demand on global ecological capacity increased to nearly 20%. The report outlines some economic, technological, and policy strategies for addressing Europeans' ecological footprints without jeopardizing their quality of life. More detailed sub-reports on specific sectors and policies are to come next year.
Source:
The European environment - State and outlook 2005 http://reports.eea.eu.int/state_of_environment_report_2005_1/en

Prospects for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Prospects for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, a study by the IEA, assesses the present state of affairs in research and potentials of hydrogen and fuel cells, and investigates several aspects related to future energy markets, innovative technologies and policies needed to promote the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel cells as motive devices in transportation and energy distribution systems for the next half century. Additionally to the analysis, it also provides four scenarios for a hydrogen and fuel cells transition, along with governance and decision-making suggestions for addressing the world's energy problems.
Source:
Prospects for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, 256 pages, ISBN 92-64-10957-9 (2005)
http://www.iea.org/bookshop/add.aspx?id=308 (Press releases and summaries; book available for purchase)

The Future of Technology Assessment
The Future of Technology Assessment is a collection of three essays published by The Foresight and Governance Project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. It explores the issue of science and technology assessment and related policymaking from multiple perspectives and with a look towards a future that will be fundamentally influenced by the way science and technology will evolve and be addressed. It highlights the importance of making a clear distinction between handling basic and applied science. The first essay, Back to the Future: Revisiting OTA Ten Years Later, by Michael Rodemeyer, reviews technology assessment issues in the U.S. after the dissolution of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), pointing out that the rate of change and globalization make policy- and decision-making difficult to assess and to react to all possible implications of new technologies. Concluding that there is no institutional arrangement for technology analysis, the author contemplates the eventual necessity of an internal or external technology assessment capability. The second essay, This Won't Hurt a Bit: Assessing and Governing Rapidly Advancing Technologies in a Democracy by Daniel Sarewitz, analyzes the transition from conventional to real time technology assessment in the condition of democracy, of complex social settings, when S&T should reflect and serve the system of values of the whole community. The third essay, Paddling Upstream: New Currents in European Technology Assessment, by James Wilsdon, analyzes the science-society relationship, outlining the need and process of public participation in decision-making concerning science.
Source:
The Future of Technology Assessment http://wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.item&news_id=161052

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November 2005

Human Security Proposed as Reorganizing Principle for the UN

The UN was organized 60 years ago around the principle of preventing national wars. Today it should be reorganized around the principle of addressing human security, which would reinvent global governance, proposes former Canadian foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy. A UN cohesive response system able to rapidly deploy aid when and where necessary is needed now to efficiently respond to current civil conflicts and disasters.
Source:
Former foreign minister wants to "re-wire" UN
By Fabian Schweyher, The Budapest Times, November 21, 2005 http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?art=1286 (article available for a limited time on the website)

International S&T Information System Proposed

To help resolve the conflict between protecting intellectual property rights and maximizing social benefits from public investments in research around the world, the International Council for Science's (ICSU's) Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) has proposed the Global Information Commons for Science Initiative. This initiative was launched at the World Summit on the Information Society held this month in Tunis, Tunisia, after being formulated at ICSU's annual meeting held in October, in Suzhou, China. The international S&T information system would help develop and implement "new policy guidelines and legal structures that will promote collaboration in a variety of research domains... [and could produce] a productive balance between private research and development, and publicly funded open science," says Paul David, an economist at Stanford University.
Sources:
Global project seeks to promote access to science
David Dickson, Source: SciDev.Net, 17 November 2005 http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2484&language=1
The Global Information Commons for Science Initiative http://www.codata.org/wsis/GlobalInfoCommonsInitiative.html
Global forum for free sharing of research data planned http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2435&language=1

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

New On-the-spot Test for Avian Flu and Other Influenza Strains
Scientists at the University of Colorado are perfecting a new "chip" that can test almost instantly for 11 different influenza strains, including avian flu. The test device was already developed and tested for accuracy by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and researchers are working now to develop it into a user-friendlier on-the-spot test for influenza. Currently available technologies either take a long time to get a diagnosis of specific influenza strains; or, if giving faster results, do not differentiate among influenza strains.
Source:
New "chip" could provide quick bird flu test
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=10190863&src=rss/technologyNews (article available for a limited time on the website)

Chinese Find 16 Native Toxin-absorbing Plants
Chinese scientists studied over 5,000 native plant species for their abilities to remove toxins (mainly heavy metals) from the environment. The five-year study identified 16 plants that could safely clean up pollutants such as arsenic or heavy metals, as well as techniques to process the resulting heavy-metal-absorbing plants so that they don't become another pollution problem. The study estimated that using these plants costs less than one-tenth as much as the current chemicals-based cleanup techniques. One of the scientists said that "genes from the species identified could be used to genetically modify other plants" and hence, could enlarge the scope and spectrum of pollution-cleaning plants.
Source:
China's five-year hunt for toxin-absorbing plants ends
http://www.scidev.net/dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=dossierReadItem&type=1&itemid=2485&language=1&dossier=11&CFID=5187246&CFTOKEN=73c840a863493c12-427E991D-B0D0-F03F-734651F39BDA904D

Possible Cure for Bird Flu
A scientist from the Laboratory of New Veterinary Drugs at the Lanzhou Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Drugs, part of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, declares that he has used traditional Chinese medicine to develop a plant extract-hypercine -that can effectively treat poultry infected with the bird flu virus H5N1. The extract proved efficient in all cases tried on poultry and is now in testing on rats for eventual efficacy for humans.
Source:
Plant extract 'protects chickens from bird flu' http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/plant-extract-protects-chickens-from-bird-flu.cfm

Genetically Engineered Vegetables as Vaccination System to Counter Bioterrorism
At a meeting of the G-7 and WHO to discuss weapons of mass destruction and avian flu threats, Italian researchers launched the idea of a "vegetable-vaccination" by incorporating pathogens' DNA into various vegetables' genetic strings (such as potatoes and carrots), which when eaten would help produce antibodies and boost the body's natural defense system against the pathogens.
Source:
G-7 and WHO Meet to Discuss WMD, Avian Flu Threats http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_11_18.html#D55B4003

New Promises for Flexible Solar Cells
Researchers at Wake Forest University's Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials have developed an organic solar cell technology (cells are as thin as a coat of paint) with almost 6% efficiency in turning sunlight into useful electrical power. The new technology might be available to consumers in about five years. [See related item Flexible Plastic Solar Cells Converting 30% of Sun's Power into Usable Energy in January 2005 environmental security report]
Source:
Nanotechnology Center Makes Flexible Solar Cell Breakthrough http://www.ecnasiamag.com/article.asp?id=5462

Infrared Radiation for Deicing Aircrafts Cuts Pollution
A system for cutting pollution by deicing aircraft with infrared radiation rather than chemicals is being further tested at the Oslo airport. This heat-inducing system replaces the present technique of spraying the aircraft with anti-freeze or glycol, which pollutes the environment. The InfraTek Radiant Energy Deicing System is built by the Radiant Energy Corp. of Port Colborne ON, and is already in use at Newark International Airport, and at Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, Wisconsin, with a hangar under construction at JFK.
Source:
Pollution-Cutting Infrared System for De-Icing Aircraft Tested at Oslo Airport http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=9124

Updates on Previously Identified Issues
Nanotech Health, Safety, and Environment Working Group Set Up by ISO/ANSI
A result of the inaugural meeting of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 229, Nanotechnologies, held in London, November 9-11, 2005, was the establishment of a working group on health, safety and the environment, to be convened by the United States within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) framework. The group will work on standards for environmental issues involving nanomaterials. [See also ISO to Establish Standardization in the Field of Nanotechnologies in the October 2005 environmental security report.]
Source:
ISO Nanotechnologies TC 229 Meets in London
U.S. to convene Working Group on Health, Safety, and the Environment http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=1084

Stockholm Convention Updates
The first meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC), held in Geneva on 7-11 November 2005, determined that all five chemicals proposed for inclusion in the Convention (pentabromodiphenyl ether, chlordecone, hexabromobiphenyl, lindane, and PFOS) fulfilled the screening criteria as stipulated in Annex D of the Convention and also adopted a draft outline of the risk profile for the new POP candidates. The first meeting of the Expert Group on Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices to comply with the Stockholm Convention will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, 28 November-2 December 2005. [See also Sweden Calls for World Ban on PFOS Chemical in June 2005, New Chemicals Proposed to be Added to Stockholm Convention on POPs in May 2005, and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in the April 2005 environmental security scanning reports.]
This month India has ratified the Stockholm Convention, considerably increasing environmental protection in that economically fast-growing Asian country.
Sources:
Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/poprc/
First meeting of the Expert Group on Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices, 28 November - 2 December 2005, Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.pops.int/documents/meetings/bat_bep/EGBATBEP1/participantinfo/default.htm
India ratifies Stockholm convention on POPs http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/120912/1/

REACH Draft Voted by the European Parliament
The draft REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) regulation passed the European Parliament on November 17th. Since just fewer than 300 out of more than 1,000 proposed amendments survived, the result pleased neither industrialists, nor environmentalists and the lobbying continues intensely on what might be one of the EU's most important pieces of legislation so far. As it stands now, the priority for screening potentially hazardous substances would be set by volume rather than by risk measures--as was the original plan. The British EU presidency is pushing to pass the regulation by the end of the year. However, that depends on the vote of the EU Council of Ministers due to meet on December 19th. If the Parliament's amendments are not accepted, than the bill might be sent back for a second reading and the debate would go on. [See also The REACH Debate Continues and other related listed items in October 2005 environmental security report.]
Sources:
No thanks, we're European
Nov 24th 2005, Frankfurt, From The Economist print edition http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displayStory.cfm?story_id=5218539&subjectID=348924&fsrc=nwl&emailauth=%2527%2529%2520667%255CSDUA%25294%250A (by subscription only)
European Parliament backs REACH http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/LegislationNews/200511/6624384b-eba7-4ca2-bfe8-53222f42d9f5.htm
FACTBOX - All about the EU Chemicals Reform Bill REACH http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/33530/story.htm

Global Environmentally Sound E-waste Disposal System is Needed
Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of Electronic and Electrical Wastes (e-waste) is a new program of action for the Asia-Pacific region aiming to achieve environmentally sound disposal of e-waste and to stop illegal trafficking of hazardous e-materials. The program is supported by UNEP Basel Convention Regional Centres in China, Indonesia, and the South Pacific (SPREP-Samoa) and focuses on capacity building at regional and national levels for best implementation of the Convention, assessment of the current situation and design of best strategies to cope with e-waste in the conditions of the region's rapid development. At the program's launch festivity, the need for developing an international e-waste recycling systems along with transparent information and monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability was highlighted.
A new study, The Digital Dump: Exporting Reuse and Abuse to Africa, by the Basel Action Network, based in Seattle, reports that most of the computer equipment sent from the United States to developing countries as "aid" are not usable, creating environmental problems in already challenged places. Local sources say that the port of Lagos, Nigeria, receives 400,000 used computers a month, 75% of which are junk that must be disposed of, raising environmental issues. [See related items Two E-waste laws entered into force in the European Union of February 2003, and E-waste Management Directive Came into Effect on August 13, 2005 of August 2005 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Roadmap Set for the Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic Waste in Asia-Pacific under the Basel Convention http://www.basel.int/press/pr251105.doc
The Digital Dump: Exporting Re-Use and Abuse to Africa Report http://www.ban.org/BANreports/10-24-05/index.htm
Technology; Poor Nations Are Littered With Old PC's, Report Says http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/technology/24junk.html?pagewanted=print (by subscription only)

Sunk Weapons Represent a Growing Health and Environmental Hazard
Tons of chemical weapons and ordnance abandoned at the end of World War II continue to litter the world's oceans, representing serious hazards to the environment and human health. There is no compulsory international legislation requiring full disclosure of dumping sites and long-term monitoring of those areas (the London Convention of 1972 is not retroactive and cannot affect acts that had already been executed). However, one would expect that the countries responsible would have moral obligations and common international customary law should demand action for cleanup and protection of humans and environment against the imminent hazards that those sites represent. [See also Chemical Munitions on San José Island, Panama in August 2004, and Ocean Dumping of Chemical Weapons a Continuous Threat in January 2004 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Decades Of Dumping Chemical Arms Leave A Risky Legacy
Special Report, Part 1: The Deadliness Below http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-02761sy0oct30,0,2199000.story
U.S. not legally bound to reveal dump sites
Contributed by: arch_Stanton, Infoshop News, October 31 2005 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20051031111213143 (article stored for a limited time on the website)

Climate Change Updates
Energy and environment ministers attending the G20 climate summit in London advocated more implementation of "clean technologies" than use of targets to tackle climate change. The 'G20' represents the nations that emit the most greenhouse gases. Global warming induced by human activities appears also to be responsible for rising global ocean levels twice as fast today as they did 150 years ago, according to a Rutgers (the State University of New Jersey) study. The ocean has been rising almost two millimeters per year in the last 200 years compared to a steady one millimeter annually for the previous 5,000 years. See also further in this report item 6.2 Climate Change Futures: Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions, a comprehensive report on the implications of climate change.
Note: The Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the first Meeting of the Parties (MOP 1) to the Kyoto Protocol, is currently going on, from 28 November to 9 December 2005 in Montreal, Canada. About 10,000 delegates from 189 nations are participating. The December environmental security report will report on the outcomes.
Sources:
G20 climate summit pushes technology not targets http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2454&language=1
Global Warming Appears to Double Rate of Sea Level Rise http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2005/2005-11-25-09.asp#anchor1
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 11 and COP/MOP 1) http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/items/3394.php

UN Tsunami Early Warning Systems Extended to Mediterranean, Northeast Atlantic
As part of a global tsunami warning and mitigation system, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) launched the plans for a system for the North-Eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean and connected seas. At the first meeting of the new system's Intergovernmental Coordination Group, experts from 23 Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic countries identified the key technical needs for the system and adopted an action plan for 2006-2007 with the aim of having an initial operational system in place by December 2007. Beyond those in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, planning is underway for one in the Caribbean. [See also Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System to be Operational by the End of 2005 in August 2005, and Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean and Beyond in January 2005 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Tsunami early warning system for the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic launched in Rome http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=30917&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
UN tsunami early warning systems extended to Mediterranean, Northeast Atlantic http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16657&Cr=tsunami&Cr1=

Space Technology to Help Enforce Environmental Regulations
Space observations have become a major tool for monitoring environmental change, helping policy making, developing adequate strategies, and assisting enforcing environment-related regulations. The European Space Agency (ESA) is participating in the climate change summit in Montreal, to share results from satellite-based forest mapping services developed to support the Kyoto Protocol. Another ESA project, Globwetland, supports the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands by developing a global wetland information service using satellites. ESA's project called CONTRAILS is a satellite-based service to monitor daily contrail and cirrus cloud generation by airplanes over Europe and the North Atlantic for a detailed assessment of the greenhouse impact of aviation-induced contrails. The project results are expected at the beginning of 2006. ESA and the EC Joint Research Centre (JRC) signed an agreement of cooperation for using Earth Observation data in support of the information services of the EU. This will enhance the policy support role of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security system. [See also Climate Change--Improved Satellite Climate Change Monitoring in June 2005 and other related items on the same issue in previous environmental security reports.]
Sources:
ESA participating in UN's Montreal summit working for a better atmosphere http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEML8FULWFE_environment_0.html
Satellites support Kyoto Protocol through forest mapping service http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMV5V638FE_environment_0.html
Space service for wetlands protection on show at Ramsar COP http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMNUTJBWFE_environment_0.html
Implementing European Space Policy: Key ESA/EC agreement on Earth Observation data signed today http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMOGW538FE_index_0.html
Earth from Space: Contrails over the United States http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM8GGULWFE_index_0.html

Bird Flu Updates
Although much is going on worldwide on this issue, the following are some noteworthy activities and updates on avian flu: The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and UNEP are developing a bird flu early warning system based on mapping the different migratory birds' itineraries and timing. This would alert countries and communities and would provide advice on potential hot spot areas, increasing the possibility of preparedness and strategy development.
The number of H5N1 human infections is rising in Asia, and the disease seems to be spreading in animals in Asia. It has also been identified in parts of Europe and North America. World health officials from more than 100 nations met November 7-9 at WHO headquarters in Geneva, to design a concrete global action plan to counter the threat of a possible avian influenza pandemic among humans. The plan outlines a six-point global action plan for countering any eventual pandemic: improved control at source; rapid detection and response; rapid containment; building and strengthening national pandemic preparedness and response plans; integrated cross-sector country plans for coordinated technical and financial support; and factual and transparent communication.
Strategies for combating the avian flu were also on the agenda of the G-7 and WHO meeting on global health risks and threats of WMD, held in Rome.
The seven member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation agreed to create two regional centers to detect and respond to natural disasters and emerging health threats such as bird flu. A regional center for disaster preparation, emergency relief, and rehabilitation will be set up in India and the disease surveillance center will be in Bangladesh. Member countries will also develop a regional strategy for facing infectious diseases.
While these meetings and strategies are focusing mainly on human health, veterinarian and environmental scientists, emphasizing the interconnectedness between the nature of animal and human health, are advocating that maintaining healthy ecosystems is the best and most important strategy of defense against pathogens. [See also Avian Flu Update in October 2005 and other related items on the same issue in previous environmental security reports.]
See items New On-the-spot Test For Influenza and Chinese Might have Found Possible Cure for Bird Flu above for potential detection and cure.
Sources:
Bird flu: UN-sponsored conference draws up six-point action plan http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16500&Cr=bird&Cr1=flu
G-7 and WHO Meet to Discuss WMD, Avian Flu Threats http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_11_18.html#D55B4003
South Asia to set up disease and disaster centres http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2480&language=1
Pandemics Signal the Urgency of Achieving One Health http://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:263.156624355/rid:a7eb241b8ab0d130184acf8736e4445b
New Avian Flu Early Warning System Based on Migratory Bird Maps http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2005/2005-11-21-01.asp

GM Food Protein Revealed to Cause Allergic Lung Damage in Mice
A study in Australia has revealed that subtle structural changes may occur when genetic modification is used to transfer a protein from one species to another. An anti-pest pea protein, coded for by a gene introduced from a bean, caused unexpected immune effects in mice. It turns out that when the transferred gene is expressed in the new organism, slight modifications may occur in the resultant protein, which is then different enough to trigger an immune response. Mice who ate the pea seed and then were exposed to the new protein developed skin reactions and mild lung tissue damage not seen on exposure to the original bean form of the chemical. [See also GMOs Controversy Continues in July 2005 and other related items on the same issue in previous environmental security reports.]
Source:
GM pea protein causes allergic damage in mice http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8347

Reports to Review
Underwater Sounds from Human Sources Endangering Marine Life
A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sounding the Depths II: The Rising Toll of Sonar, Shipping and Industrial Ocean Noise on Marine Life, is a comprehensive overview of the scientific record on the impact of man-made underwater noise on marine life. It shows that increasing human marine activity-industrial, commercial, and military-became life threatening to whales, dolphins, fish, and other marine species. The report reviews worldwide incidents of mass whale strandings related to military activities, and the oil and gas industry; maps the "hotspots" affected by different human activities; presents the latest scientific findings on noise and whale strandings; and suggests several measures for reducing the impacts of human-made ocean noise. The recommendations include geographic and seasonal restrictions on intense noise from military sonar and seismic air guns; better monitoring and marine life research; stronger international regulations and enforcement concerning marine life protection; and technological improvements to reduce sonic damage.
Another report, produced by the Convention on Migratory Species and UNEP's Regional Seas Programme, estimates that noise pollution linked with underwater sonar and military maneuvers is putting at risk over 4% of marine species. [See also Coalition Urges UN to Consider Legislation to Curb Harmful Ocean Sounds in June 2005, Scientific Models Could Help Navy Avoid Whales During Sonar Tests in February 2005, European Parliament Resolution to Protect Whales From Sonar in October 2004, and Research Confirms Military and Industry Sonar Harms Whales of July 2004 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Sounding the Depths II. The Rising Toll of Sonar, Shipping and Industrial Ocean Noise on Marine Life http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/sound/contents.asp
Fishing Nets Major Risk for Small Cetaceans http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=457&ArticleID=5044&l=en

Climate Change Impact on Human Health
Climate Change Futures: Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions (CCF), a three-year study by the Climate Change Futures Project at Harvard Medical School's Centre for Health and the Global Environment, is a comprehensive analysis of trends and implications of global warming in several areas: economy (financial, and impact on developing nations), environment (including exacerbating freaky weather); health (spreading and intensifying diseases); and two potential scenarios to outline possible impacts of climate change. The novelty of this study is the analysis of the direct impact of climate change on human health in addition to environmental and economic impacts that are the focus of most other studies. The report concludes that global warming threatens humans and ecosystems alike, particularly if the frequency of extreme weather events increases. It also offers some recommendations of policies and measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the strategies of adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects.
Source:
Climate Change Futures: Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions http://www.climatechangefutures.org/report/index.html

Recent Reports on Energy Issues
Renewables 2005: Global Status Report
Renewables 2005: Global Status Report published by Worldwatch Institute, is a comprehensive overview of today's global renewable energy status and provides trends and estimations, as well as a look at emerging renewable energy technologies and policies. According to the report, government support for renewable energy is growing rapidly, with at least 48 countries (including 14 developing ones) already having some type of renewable energy promotion policy.
Source:
Renewable Energy Markets Show Strong Growth - REN21 Releases "Renewables 2005: Global Status Report" http://www.worldwatch.org/press/news/2005/11/06/

Target 2020: Policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU
Target 2020, a new report by the Wuppertal Institute in Germany, outlines concrete steps that would allow the EU to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to a third of their 1990 level, by 2020. The recommendations include adoption of comprehensive climate policy strategies at regional and national levels, consisting of mandatory regulations promoting energy efficiency and renewables. To illustrate the analysis, the report compares two scenarios over the period 1990-2020: The "Business-as-usual" scenario--to be avoided, and the recommended "The Policies and Measures (Target 2020)" scenario, which implies high energy-efficiency strategies and policies.
Source:
Target 2020: Policies & Measures to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU http://www.panda.org/news_facts/publications/index.cfm?uNewsID=24155

World Energy Outlook 2005 -- Middle East and North Africa Insights
The World Energy Outlook is accepted as the most comprehensive source of statistics, projections, and analysis in the energy sector. If energy trends follow the business as usual policy, Middle Eastern and North African oil and gas resources seem critical for meeting the world's future energy needs. This year's World Energy Outlook focuses on whether the energy production from these key regions will be able to satisfy global demand over the next 25 years. It assesses energy demand and supply trends for the entire regions; analyzes the implications of these trends for global energy markets, international oil and gas prices and energy security; presents a "Deferred Investment Scenario" and its consequences; and reviews the region's power and water desalination sectors.
Source:
World Energy Outlook 2005 -- Middle East and North Africa Insights http://www.iea.org/bookshop/add.aspx?id=200 (for purchase)

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October 2005

Progress on Establishing Frameworks for Responsible Nanotechnologies
ISO to Establish Standardization in the Field of Nanotechnologies
The International Organization for Standardization established in June 2005 the Technical Committee for Nanotechnologies (ISO/TC 229) with Chair and Secretariat in the UK. The scope of ISO/TC 229 is to produce standards for "classification, terminology and nomenclature, basic metrology, characterization, including calibration and certification, risk and environmental issues." The first meeting of the new Committee will be held on 9-11 November 2005 in London, organized by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
Sources:
Nanotechnologies - inaugural meeting http://www.iso.org/iso/en/commcentre/events/2005/nano.html
Committee participation http://www.iso.org/iso/en/stdsdevelopment/tc/tclist/TechnicalCommitteeParticipationListPage.TechnicalCommitteeParticipationList?COMMID=5932

New Nanotechnology Risk Assessment Efforts
Industry/Environmentalist Cooperative Effort on Nanotechnology Risks
DuPont and Environmental Defense recently agreed to collaborate on a framework for the responsible development, production, use and disposal of nanomaterials. According to a statement, its intent is "to define a systematic and disciplined process that can be used to identify, manage and reduce potential health, safety and environmental risks of nano-scale materials across all lifecycle stages. This framework will then be pilot-tested on specific nano-scale materials or applications of commercial interest to DuPont".

Low Environmental Risk from Nanomaterial Manufacturing
A new study from Rice University compares the environmental and health risks associated with the production of five nanomaterials--single-walled carbon nanotubes, buckyballs, zinc selenide quantum dots, alumoxane nanoparticles and titanium dioxide nanoparticles--with the risks of making six everyday products--silicon wafers, wine, high-density plastic, lead-acid car batteries, refined petroleum and aspirin. Using end-to-end analysis of the manufacturing processes, the research team concluded that they present environmental risks no greater than do the technologies in such industries as oil refining, or wine or aspirin production. It should be noted that this work dealt only with possible hazards in manufacturing nanomaterials, not in utilizing them in products. The study is planned for publication in the 15 November issue of Environmental Science and Technology.

Nanomaterials in Drinking Water May be Hazardous
Preliminary results from research at Arizona State University indicate that the presence of certain nanomaterials in drinking water may be hazardous to intestinal cells. A layer of colon cells was broken down when exposed to a simulated intestinal fluid containing titanium dioxide particles. Further, the experiment showed that such a breakdown would allow the particles to pass into other parts of the body. The next phase of the effort will examine the potential adverse effects of the nanomaterials inside cell tissue.

Roadmap for Characterizing Nanomaterial Health Effects
Principles for characterizing the potential human health effects from exposure to nanomaterials: elements of a screening strategy, a report sponsored by the EPA, details the various ways in which nanoparticles can be characterized (shape, size, electrical properties, etc.) and the kinds of tests that can be carried out to determine their effects, in different contact modes, on anatomical and physiological elements in the body.
Sources:
DuPont, Environmental Defense Create Framework for Nanotechnology http://www2.dupont.com/Media_Center/en_US/daily_news/article20051012b.html
Relative Risk Analysis of Several Manufactured Nanomaterials: An Insurance Industry Context http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/asap/abs/es0506509.html
Nanotech processing 'greener' than oil refining, study http://www.physorg.com/news6998.html
Nanomaterial hazard http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=6222
Experts Give Scientists Road Map on Nanotechnology Research http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/06/technology/07nano.ready.html
Principles for characterizing the potential human health effects from exposure to nanomaterials: elements of a screening strategy http://www.particleandfibretoxicology.com/content/2/1/8/abstract

EU to Improve Enforcement of Environmental Regulations

EC Legislation Reform First Targets Environment-related Rules
The European Commission has presented a three-year program to modernize EU legislation as part of its commitment to simplify the EU system of rules. About 250 basic pieces of legislation and 1,250 related legal acts would be updated by repeal, codification, or recasting. The main aims of the legislative reform are to: a) simplify the understanding and implementation of rules; b) transform directives into regulations for prompt and general application by all Member States; and c) improve enforcement. The program will be regularly updated. The process will start with the environment-related sector, since it's the most heavily regulated. The other sectors, as well as the administrative aspect, will follow shortly. The simplification process can be completed only if the European Parliament and Member States support it.
Source:
Better regulation continued: Commission wants to simplify over 1,400 legal acts http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1343&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EU Starts Legal Action Against Member States on Breaches of Environmental Law
The European Commission is enhancing its environmental law enforcement by initiating a series of legal actions against Member States for breaching EU environmental law. The Commission has decided to pursue legal action against Italy in eleven cases, including non-compliance with the EU directive on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and ten cases for lack of cooperation with the Commission (Article 10 of the Treaty) on issues involving nature protection (a military base enlargement on La Maddalena island); several cases on waste management aspects; water resources; and genetically modified organisms (GMO). Along with Italy, Spain and Greece were also sent final warnings for non-compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive.
Sources:
Italy: Commission takes legal action over 11 breaches of environmental law (IP/05/1303) http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1303&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Water policy: Commission takes legal action against Italy, Spain and Greece over key directive (IP/05/1302) http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1302&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Preparatory Process Started for the EfE 6th Ministerial Conference

The 6th Ministerial Conference "Environment For Europe" (EfE) will take place at Belgrade in October 2007. The international preparatory process started officially with the 1st session of the Working Group of Senior Officials (WGSO) held in Geneva, 12-13 October 2005. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Environmental Policy (CEP) proposed reviewing issues such as sustainable development, energy, EU enlargement, coordination and implementation of UNECE Conventions, and closer links to other international processes (environment and health, in particular). The European ECO-Forum (a pan-European coalition of more than 200 environmental citizens' organizations) suggested an "action-oriented" review of implementation of several strategies and protocols (including the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment, and the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers). The next meeting of the WGSO will be in June 2006.
Sources:
"Environment For Europe" Process, Meetings of the Working Group of Senior Officials http://www.unece.org/env/wgso/Belgrade/wgsoMeetings.htm
Towards Belgrade-2007. European Eco-Forum Newsletter, Special Issue, 21 Oct 2005 (e-mail newsletter)

African Countries are Vulnerable to Bioterrorism

African science policy should give higher importance to the threat posed by biological weapons, according to an international meeting of representatives from the fields of science, law, and security, held in Kampala, Uganda, this month. Africa is vulnerable to bioterrorism; it lacks the institutions, technology, and expertise to protect its citizens from biological terrorism. Science and technology policy of African countries should simultaneously enhance biological research for eradicating diseases and assure strict security measures to prevent access to material eventually usable in bioterrorism. Because there is little scientific awareness in both the political leadership and cultures of African countries, it will be necessary to improve public understanding of science. The meeting was organized by the Kampala-based International Law Institute (ILI) and the US-based International Consortium for Law and Strategic Security (ICLSS).
Source:
African science policy 'must address bioterror threat'
Peter Wamboga-Mugirya, SciDev.Net, 13 October 2005 http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2412&language=1

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

High Sensitivity Portable Chemical Detection Device
A research team led by R. Graham Cooks at Purdue University has developed a mass spectrometer for chemical detection and identification that has the twin advantages of high sensitivity (10-12 g) and portability/speed (no pre-treatment needed). The equipment uses desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), a technique that separates traces of material from a substrate so that they can be passed into the analytical instrument. The device has analyzed pharmaceuticals at three samples per second.
Source:
Fast, accurate detection of explosives on airport luggage possible http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2005/050930.Cooks.explosives.html

Promising Research for Emission-Free Car that Makes Its Own Fuel
A unique project in the incubator program of the Chief Scientist in Israel called Engineuity has put several technologies together to create a stable metal combustion system that avoids oil and pollution. The technique is based on a metal-steam combustor system that produces a continuous flow of hydrogen using water and common stable metals such as magnesium and aluminum. At high temperature and pressure, the metals combine with the oxygen from water forming an oxide and liberating the hydrogen to be used by the car. The metals can be recovered and recycled. The research leader in an audio recording referenced below claims that adapting conventional cars to run on the Engineuity technology should be easy and the overall running cost would be about the same as today's cars. Pending investments, a prototype car based on the new system could be demonstrated to commercial auto companies in three years.
Source:
The Car That Makes Its Own Fuel http://www.isracast.com/tech_news/231005_tech.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

ICSU Launched Global Disaster Research Program
At its 28th General Assembly, the International Council for Science (ICSU) launched a new program on Natural and Human-Induced Hazards to reduce their economic and social effects. The program will connect natural and social sciences to serve policymakers. It would research ways to improve disaster forecasts and human vulnerability, as well as develop the best policies to mitigate and respond to them. [See also Better Disaster Planning to Avoid Environmental Catastrophes in September 2004 environmental security report.]
Sources:
At Pivotal Event in China, the International Council for Science Releases New Strategy to Strengthen International Science for the Benefit of Society
Launching of a major polar research programme, a new interdisciplinary initiative on disaster mitigation, and long-term actions on other key challenges for science and society http://www.icsu.org/3_mediacentre/RELEASES/28thGA_Strategic_Plan_eng.pdf
Global disaster research programme launched http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2427&language=1

UN to Enhance Eco-Development Procedures
UNESCO and Italy began the procedure for establishing the Institute on a Partnership for Environmental Development (IPED) to provide capacity building to help expedite economic development while protecting the environment in developing countries. It will operate mostly by helping to set environmental targets for the UN's priority development projects, and providing necessary knowledge and training to developing countries on how to effectively integrate environmental dimensions into economic development. IPED will be located in Trieste, Italy.
A legal framework for the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment, a report just released by UNEP, addresses the issue of eventual "legal obligation" of institutional investors to consider environmental, social, and governance issues when choosing how to invest their resources. [See also Efforts for Increasing Corporate Eco-responsibility in July 2004 environmental security report.]
Sources:
Italy: Trieste Gets UN Eco-Development Agency http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/news/sections/generalnews/20051018151133679251.html
A legal framework for the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment http://unepfi.org/investor_law/
Global investors should consider environmental factors, UN-backed study argues http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16354&Cr=UNEP&Cr1=
UNESCO and Italy take first step towards creation of environmental institute http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=30252&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

UNU Calls for International Framework for Environmental Refugees
On UN Day for Disaster Reduction, October 12, the UNU warned that by 2010 the world might have to cope with as many as 50 million environmental refugees, while the international community is not presently equipped with an adequate international agreements system to deal with the situation. UN Under Secretary-General Hans van Ginkel, Rector of UNU, emphasized the need to prepare now "to define, accept and accommodate this new breed of 'refugee' within international frameworks," while Dr. Bogardi, Director of UNU's Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn, cautioned that the term 'environmental refugee' might sometimes hide the real cause of displacement, which might be bad policies and practices. [See also related item Implications of Environmental Migration to National Security in February 2004 monthly environmental security report.]
Sources:
As Ranks of "Environmental Refugees" Swell Worldwide, Calls Grow for Better Definition, Recognition, Support (UNU Press release) http://www.unu.edu/hq/rector_office/press2005/mre29-05.doc
U.N. University takes on environmental challenges. By HANS VAN GINKEL. Special to The Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?eo20051019a1.htm
50m environmental refugees by end of decade, UN warns. David Adam, environment correspondent. The Guardian, October 12, 2005 http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,7369,1589899,00.html

Network of Marine Protection Areas to be Adopted by 2012
The establishment of a network of marine parks to protect the world's oceans from growing pollution and marine environment devastation was proposed at the First International Marine Protected Areas Congress held in Geelong, Australia 23-28 October 2005, In the Conference opening speech, Achim Steiner, director-general of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) emphasized that although there is rising concern and scientific evidence about marine environmental degradation, less than one percent of it is under protection today. He suggested establishing a system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as decided at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The MPAs would be designed by 2008 through collaboration of all concerned parties--international organizations, sovereign states, fishery organizations, and conservationists, for adoption by world governments by 2012. [See also Marine Protection Issues in the March 2005 environmental security scanning report.]
Sources:
Interview - Scientists Draft Blueprint to Protect World Oceans http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/33162/story.htm
The First International Marine Protected Areas Congress, Geelong, Australia 23-28 Oct. 2005 http://www.impacongress.org/
Nations urged to "think as big as the oceans are vast" (IUCN Press release) http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/10/pr_impac_opening.pdf

EU Legislation Issues Updates
EU Committee Proposes Banning Fluorinated Gases
The European Parliament has voted to ban the use of fluorinated gases (F-gases) in certain products, including shoes, and car air conditioning systems. This is a much watered-down regulation compared to previous plans. The committee proposes to regulate the F-gases on an environmental basis and not on an internal market basis, which avoids countries having to adopt environmental standards higher than those of the EU's, thereby making themselves subject to trade sanctions. [See also EU Environment Ministers Propose post-Kyoto Protocol Climate Policies in October 2004 and Europe to Reduce Fluorinated Gas Emission in March 2004 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
EU Lawmakers Back Cutting Greenhouse Gases in Cars http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/33186/story.htm
EU committee adopts ban on fluorinated gas http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=136808&n_date=20051014&cat=World

The REACH Debate Continues
The full assembly vote on REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), a regulation designed to reduce the impacts of hazardous chemicals on public health and the environment, is scheduled for November. However, the debate continues among different European parliamentary committees, industry lobbying groups, and environmental groups. The environment committee, which has the lead role in shepherding REACH, supported changes that would ease requirements for companies that deal with listed hazardous substances in volumes of 1-10 tonnes annually; but, would keep the registration rules for those handling over 10 tonnes annually, while another parliamentary committee recommended just requiring companies to replace hazardous substances with safe ones when substitutes are available. The European Eco-Forum pleads for strengthening REACH and extending it to the rest of the pan-European region, a suggestion that they want to include on the agenda of the Belgrade 2007 "Environment For Europe" Conference. [See also REACH Closer to Finale in August 2005, The REACH Program Closer to Entry Into Force in March 2005, Leading Cancer Specialists call for REACH Strengthening in May 2004, and EU Chemical Policy Reforms in January 2004 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
EU Lawmakers Ease Chemicals Rules, Fight Looms http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32806/story.htm
EU Likely to Reach Deal on Major Chemicals Bill http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32934/story.htm
Towards Belgrade-2007. European Eco-Forum Newsletter, 21 Oct 2005

Climate Change Updates
Second European Climate Change Program and post-Kyoto Negotiations
On Monday, 24 October, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas launched the second European Climate Change Program (ECCP II) at a stakeholder conference in Brussels. ECCP II will focus on strategies and technologies that would allow the EU to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon capture and storage) and to adapt to the effects of climate change. Commissioner Dimas outlined the Commission's views on the further development of EU climate change policy including after 2012 and called on all states to adhere to the eventual post-Kyoto measures. He underlined EU commitment to initiate a process that will lead to international negotiations on a global climate change regime. Global negotiations for post-2012 strategies will take place at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 11 and COP/MOP 1) to be held on November 28-December 9, 2005 in Montreal. [See also UN Meeting Fails to Agree on Post-Kyoto Strategy in May 2005 and other previous environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Stavros Dimas, Member of the European Commission, Responsible for Environment
Developing the European Climate Change Programme, Stakeholder conference launching the Second European Climate Change Programme, Brussels, 24 October 2005
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/635&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
EU Must do More to Fight Climate Change--Dimas http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/33141/story.htm

Increased Concerns over Rising Sea Level as Effect of Glaciers' Breakup and Melting
Recent studies show that breakup and melting of glaciers is happening faster than expected, increasing concerns over rising sea levels and threatening low-lying regions of the world. Sunlight previously reflected by ice will not be absorbed, hence furthering the warming effect. A new report by researchers from five U.S. and European institutes and universities analyzes the possible impacts of the rapid dynamic of glacial change in Greenland and Antarctica, warning that this could significantly speed up the melting of major ice sheets, worsening the present projections for the sea level's rise. Recent models by the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg show that the average global temperature could rise by as much as 4.1° Celsius by the end of the century, melting sea-ice in the Arctic and raising world sea levels by 30 centimeters (12 inches). During the conference of Antarctic climate experts held by the Royal Society in London, Dr. Tony Payne Monday, professor of glaciology at the University of Bristol and co-director of the UK's Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, warned that West Antarctica ice melting "would lead to a sea level rise of five or six meters (16 to 19 feet) around the world, or sufficient to cause effects such as the inundation of much of the state of Florida." Such research will influence the Fourth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is due to be published in 2007. [See also Melting of Permanent Frozen Areas Accelerates under Climate Change Issue in the August 2005 environmental security report.]
Sources:
Breakup Of Glaciers Raising Sea Level Concern http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051023122913.htm
Global Sea Level Rise Forecast to Flood Low-Lying Coastlines http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2005/2005-10-18-02.asp
Global sea levels could rise 30 cm by 2100- study http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30704966.htm

Avian Flu Update
Comprehensive roundups of the latest news on the spread of the bird flu virus and the threat to human health map the cases by countries, and identify actions to counter its spread and effects. Noteworthy actions are the UN Food and Agriculture Organization effort in assembling a 'task force' of health and veterinary specialists to help Indonesia face bird flu; efforts to find/test a vaccine that might be efficient both for birds and humans; the pledge of health ministers from 30 countries to coordinate efforts to fight an eventual influenza pandemic; and some countries (as the UK) commitment to have vaccine for every person in the country. [See also Worries over Avian Influenza Pandemic Increase in September, and Avian Influenza New Developments in April 2005 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Bird flu update: 24 October 2005. SciDev.Net 24 October 2005 http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2434&language=1
UN task forces battle misconceptions of avian flu, mount Indonesian campaign http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16342&Cr=bird&Cr1=flu
Woodrow Wilson center, Global Health Initiative. Emerging Pandemic: Costs and Consequences of an Avian Influenza Outbreak http://wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=116811&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=142787
Health Ministers Pledge Coordinated Fight Against Bird Flu http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2005/2005-10-27-02.asp
European scientists develop H7N1 avian flu vaccine http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1354&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Publication of Data Dangerous to the Environment
A recent article by futurist and inventor Ray Kurzweil reminds us of the question of how to weigh the need for free interchange of the results of scientific research against the possibility that those results would offer a recipe for an environment-destroying terrorist attack. The particular example cited was the publication in the GenBank database of the full genome of the 1918 influenza virus. This information could theoretically lead to the reconstruction of the virus, and its possible release in weaponized form. The threat to the environment from this kind of information dissemination has received relatively little attention so far outside of the nuclear field, but is certain to become a major topic for international discussions. [See also Control of Pathogenic Chimeras and GMOs under Study in January 2004, Bioweapons Are Already Possible to Make, Says New CIA Report and New Lethal Viruses Developed in November 2003 environmental security reports].
Source:
Ray Kurzweil calls for 1918 flu genome to be 'un-published' http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=news_single.html?id%3D4934

Reports to Review
Nordic Countries Suggest Actions to Cope with Global Warming
Conservation of Nordic Nature in a Changing Climate is a report commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers to analyze global warming causes and to address strategies concerning the Nordic Countries' abilities to cope with climate change effects. Experts from environmental research institutes in the five-country region affirm that climate changes are mainly caused by humans and urge the region's governments to take joint action against global warming as well as to design strategies to deal with more extreme weather patterns. The report identifies some concrete strategies and tools for adaptation to climate change effects--such as management and administration aspects, including some regarding "natures' goods and services."
Source:
Conservation of Nordic Nature in a Changing Climate (TemaNord 2005:572) http://www.norden.org/pub/sk/showpub.asp?pubnr=2005:572

Energy and Security: Toward a New Foreign Policy Strategy
Although focusing on America's energy dependency on oil, the book assesses the world's prospective on oil and gas, the key and most sensitive energy sources for the near future. A contribution of 36 top foreign policy and energy experts, sometimes with divergent opinion, Energy and Security: Toward a New Foreign Policy Strategy suggests new strategies and policy approaches that could mitigate the risks implied by continued dependence on oil.
Sources:
Energy and Security: Toward a New Foreign Policy Strategy. Edited by Jan H. Kalicki and David L. Goldwyn. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005, 640 pp. $65.00 (paper, $29.95)
Book Launch--Energy and Security: Toward a New Foreign Policy Strategy (video) http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1413&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=139630#
Economic, Social, and Environmental (Foreign Affairs review) http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20051101fabook84621/jan-h-kalicki-david-l-goldwyn/energy-and-security-toward-a-new-foreign-policy-strategy.html

Toxicogenomic Technologies and Risk Assessment of Environmental Carcinogens: A Workshop Summary
This report is a summary of the workshop organized by the National Research Council's Committee on How Toxicogenomics Could Inform Critical Issues in Carcinogenic Risk Assessment of Environmental Chemicals. Scientists, policymakers, and advisors participated in the workshop. They assessed how toxicogenomics could address critical knowledge gaps in risk assessments, including how toxicogenomic data could be applied to improve risk assessments, particularly cancer risk from environmental exposure to chemicals. After an overview of the types of data gaps that make regulatory risk assessment difficult, the workshop analyzed the types of toxicogenomics and their role in carcinogen risk assessment, and discussed the types of research that could move the field forward.
Source:
Toxicogenomic Technologies and Risk Assessment of Environmental Carcinogens: A Workshop Summary http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11335.html

Back to top

September 2005

Environmental Issues were not dominant in the UN Summit Speeches

Environment and global warming issues were mentioned in several speeches delivered by Heads of State and Governments at the UN Summit, however it was not a dominant theme. There were calls to ratify international treaties designed to tackle environmental and global warming problems, and agreement was reached to create a worldwide early warning system for all natural hazards and improve the Central Emergency Revolving Fund to ensure timely relief. Leaders of small island states warned that unless aggressive action is taken to deal with climate change to protect small island states, their people will become environmental refugees due to rising ocean levels. The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were recognized as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons. Environment was listed along with the International Criminal Court, human rights, and disarmament as an issue that was not addressed strongly enough in the 2005 World Summit Outcome.
Sources:
UN Summit 2005 http://www.un.org/summit2005/
Value of collective security through multilateralism stressed at UN Summit http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15811&Cr=world&Cr1=summit
National leaders at UN Summit call for stepped-up action to fight climate change http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15833&Cr=world&Cr1=summit

European Commission Enforces Environmental Pollution Legislation

The Court of Justice of the European Communities ruled that the European Commission (EC) would have the right to require Member States to impose criminal penalties on environmental polluters "in order to ensure that the rules which it [the EC] lays down on environmental protection are fully effective." Although EU countries will still be the ones to prosecute, the Commission could extend its powers by recommending the level of punishment. This ruling is consistent with the Community's environmental strategy underlined by the obligation of having environmental protection requirements "integrated into the definition and implementation of the Community's policies and activities."
Note: The EC began improving its whole system of regulations, by three main actions: withdrawal or modification of pending proposals; simplification of existing EU-law; and better quality of new Commission proposals.
Sources:
The European Community Has The Power To Require The Member States To Lay Down Criminal Penalties For The Purpose Of Protecting The Environment http://curia.eu.int/en/actu/communiques/cp05/aff/cp050075en.pdf
Better Regulation http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/340&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Asian Regional Forum on Combating Environmental Crime Formed

The "Asian Regional Forum" will be established to share information and expertise in policy, law, training, investigation and prosecution related to environmental crimes in Asia. The Forum is the result of a meeting in Bangkok on 25 August 2005 of the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO A/P), the regional office of INTERPOL, the World Conservation Union, TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring network), the World Customs Organization, the UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Thailand's Office of the National Implementation for Chemical Weapons Convention. The regionalization of the Green Customs Initiative was also discussed to share information and training materials for customs officials to combat illegal trade in commodities of environmental concern. It is estimated that environmental damage caused by illegal trade in hazardous wastes, smuggling proscribed hazardous materials, and exploiting and trafficking of protected natural resources worldwide is US$22-31 billion annually. The Forum will be facilitated by the United Nations Environmental Program's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
Source:
Regional Forum On Combating Environmental Crime Formed http://www.world-wire.com/news/0915050002.html

Better Disaster Planning to Avoid Environmental Catastrophes

Hurricane Katrina along the U.S. Gulf Coast has introduced a new term, "toxic gumbo", into the environmental vocabulary, referring to the liquid/sludge produced when storms cause flood waters to overrun populated areas, especially industrial tracts, picking up from storage facilities a hazardous mix of all sorts of chemicals, both end-products and precursors. As the flood recedes, it may deposit this nasty brew over an entire region, including wetlands, and/or carry it into previously unaffected waters. Katrina produced environmental damage and pollution of this kind on an unprecedented scale outside of full-scale war. President Bush has suggested a greater role for the military in post-national disaster management.
On the other side of the Atlantic, spurred by floods and fires in many places around the continent, the European Commission passed a resolution calling for better disaster planning coordination among its members.
The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Beijing, aims to assess disaster reduction progress across Asia and build a platform for cooperation on early warning, disaster prevention, reduction, and response in Asia.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, reviewing the statistics of 2004 natural disasters, called for more emphasis on actions to prevent and react to natural disasters, "because their incidence and severity is increasing due to climate change, environmental degradation, inappropriate development patterns and inadequate mitigation and preparedness systems."
Sources:
'Toxic Gumbo': Surprises for Chemicals Policy, Bart Mongoven
September 14 2005 22 48 GMT (by subscription only) https://www.stratfor.com/products/enhanced/read_article.php?selected=Analyses&id=255542
EU Parliament Calls for Better Disaster Responses http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32431/story.htm
Asian countries to enhance disaster reduction co-operation http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/28/content_3553846.htm
Annan urges global emphasis on disaster planning to mitigate death and destruction http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=16005&Cr=disaster&Cr1=

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

New Oil Remediation and Recovery Technique
A proprietary oil remediation and recovery application, using patented Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAMs) technology, has been announced by Interface Science Corp. Its treated material, produced using nanoscale techniques, absorbs about 40 times its weight in oil, and has the added advantage of allowing the absorbed oil to be recovered.
Relevant military personnel should follow the development of this new technology, and consider its eventual use in cleanup of both non-conflict and battlefield oil pollution.
Source:
Nanotechnology for Recovery and Reuse of Spilled Oil http://www.physorg.com/news6358.html

Hydrogen Tablets
Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have invented a hydrogen tablet that can efficiently and safely store and transport hydrogen in a solid form. The tablet consists solely of ammonia absorbed efficiently in sea-salt. When hydrogen is needed, ammonia is released through a catalyst that decomposes it back to free hydrogen. The tablet can be simply recharged just by a "shot" of ammonia. DTU and SeeD Capital Denmark have founded the company Amminex A/S to develop and commercialize the technology.
Source:
University of Denmark Scientists Develop Hydrogen Tablet http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/IndustryInformation/IndustryInformationExternal/NewsDisplayArticle/0,1602,6487,00.html

Tiny Batteries Offer Several Promises
mPhase Technologies, in collaboration with Rutgers Univ. and Bell Laboratories, is working on tiny batteries that can hold their charge much longer than today's cells, and could be integrated directly into a circuit board rather than connected by wires. "This is something small, less than postage-stamp size that could be integrated into the same piece of silicon that is housing the electronics," according to Ron Durando, CEO of mPhase. Foresight Institute believes that the work might lead to batteries with a 20-year shelf life. The technology is based on a material called "nanograss", developed at Bell Labs, which permits the control of the interaction of electrolytes within the battery.
Source:
Putting power into battery research http://smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=9942

Bacteria Used to Eliminate Perchlorate from Water
Perchlorate, an ingredient of rocket fuel and fireworks, and known to be dangerous to human health, has become present in drinking water in many parts of the world. Bruce Rittmann of the Center for Environmental Biotechnology at Arizona State University, Tempe, has discovered an efficient way to remove the chemical, by using a system of bacteria that feeds on hydrogen gas and perchlorate to produce water and chloride--a compound commonly found in salts and swimming pools. The advantage of this system over others for the same purpose is that it's very cost-effective and it doesn't appear to generate harmful waste by-products. The bacteria are grown on membranes that are wrapped into spaghetti-like strands that can be filled with hydrogen and bundled into cylinders through which flows the contaminated water. A 1.5-meter-tall system with 7,000 fibers can clean 4-8 liters a minute, says the researcher. The system was already tested on ground water from California's central valley, and in about 2 years its efficiency could be boosted enough to clean the waste water of a small city. [See also Firm Regulations for Perchlorates are Needed in October 2004, and Technology for Perchlorates Cleanup of August 2004 environmental security reports.]
Source:
Spaghetti filters cleanse water supplies. Chemists package bacteria to eliminate perchlorate.
By Andreas von Bubnoff. news@nature.com, 1 September 2005
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050829/full/050829-16.html (by subscription only; see alternative at: http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=1994)

Plastic Bags Taxed and/or Banned

Several jurisdictions, including Ireland, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and some Indian states are banning or taxing the use of plastic bags because of their potential as litter, their role in clogging flood control channels, and their threat to wildlife. Maharashtra blames them for floods that killed more than a thousand people.
Source:
Plastic Bags Banned, Blamed for West India Floods http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32217/story.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Nuclear Terrorism Convention Signed by 82 Countries at the UN Summit
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism was signed by 82 countries at the UN Summit, beginning with Russia, the U.S., and France. The Convention, proposed by Russia in 1998, was adopted by the UN General Assembly in April 2005. [See also UN Convention Against Nuclear Terrorism in April 2005 environmental security report]
Note: The newly released statistics of the IAEA's Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB) show a substantial increase in illicit trafficking and unauthorized activities with nuclear and other radioactive materials in 2003-2004. Although the majority of the incidents showed no evidence of criminal activity, the Agency warns of the danger that these materials could be used for malicious purposes, like 'dirty bombs.' [See also UN Agency to Intensify Tracking of Illicit Nuclear Trafficking issue in the September 2004 environmental security report.]
Sources:
Russia to be the first to sign nuclear terrorism convention http://en.rian.ru/russia/20050907/41321867.html (article available for a limited time on the website)
Heads of State sign convention on nuclear terrorism http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15807&Cr=world&Cr1=summit
Ninety-nine nations participate in UN treaty event during 2005 World Summit http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15898&Cr=world&Cr1=summit
Nuclear Trafficking Latest Statistics Released http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2005/traffickingstats.html

New EU Environmental Strategies
EU Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution for the CAFE Programme
Under the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme (6EAP), as part of the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) strategy, the European Commission proposed the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution. The Strategy, which aims to improve human and ecosystem health, covers most major air pollutants, with accent on airborne particulates known as PM2.5 and ground-level ozone pollution, and sets a cap on concentrations in the most polluted areas. It aims by 2020 to cut the annual number of premature deaths from air pollution-related diseases by almost 40% from the 2000 level. The strategy also proposes changes to the current regulation system by merging existing legal instruments into a single Ambient Air Quality Directive (that would cut by 50% the existing legal texts) and improving reporting requirements. The proposed legislation still has to be approved by member states and the European Parliament. The other six Thematic Strategies that the Commission will present over the next few months cover Soil protection; Sustainable use of pesticides; Protect and conserve the marine environment; Waste prevention and recycling; Sustainable use of natural resources; and Urban environment. [See also The European Union Environmental Initiatives in January 2005 environmental security report]
Air Pollution and the new Ambient Air Quality Directive, and monitor the other Thematic Strategies and developments that could lead to new binding regulations.
Sources:
Commission proposes clean air strategy to protect human health and the environment http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1170&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
The CAFE Programme. Implementation of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/cafe/
Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice. The Sixth Environment Action Programme of the European Community http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/newprg/index.htm

EC Proposed Strategy to Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Air Travel
Considering the rapid increase of air travel and consequently its increased share in the overall EU greenhouse gas emissions undermining progress achieved through emission cuts in other areas of the economy, the EC proposed a strategy to tackle aviation emissions. It suggests bringing aircraft operators into the EU's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), as an incentive for airlines to minimize their emissions. The new regulation would apply to all flights departing from the EU, whether to another EU destination or not and all carriers (EU or non-EU) would be treated equally.
Source:
Climate change: Commission proposes strategy to curb greenhouse gas emissions from air travel
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1192&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Worries over Avian Influenza Pandemic Increase
Lee Jong-wook, the head of the World Health Organization, has predicted that the avian flu virus will mutate so as to make the disease transmissible from human to human, and says that the world has no time to waste to stop it becoming a pandemic. "The pandemic is likely to be like the seasonal influenza, which is much more infectious than the SARS virus," said Dr Hitoshi Oshitani, who ran the battle against SARS and now leads the fight against avian flu in Asia. The United States is working to rally states behind a new U.S. plan to fight the disease, and Canada will host a major international conference in October to discuss how ready the world is to combat a likely pandemic. Concerns are increasing even more as strains of the virus in Asia seem to be becoming resistant to amantadine, a widely used drug for human cases, possibly because farmers are giving it as a preventative to poultry. It has also been shown that strains less dangerous than H5N1 can be transmitted from birds to people. An important achievement is that scientists in Singapore have developed a test kit that can detect the gene specific to the H5N1 strain (so both in animals and humans) within four hours, compared to the several days that it takes with present lab tests. This might help a lot in controlling the spread of the virus. [See also Avian Influenza New Developments in April 2005 environmental security report.]
Sources:
UN Health Chief Sounds Alarm on Bird Flu http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32534/story.htm
Canada to host big October conference on avian flu http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N1538733.htm
Concern grows over drug resistance in bird flu strains http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/concern-grows-over-drug-resistance-in-bird-flu-strains.cfm
World has slim chance to stop bird flu pandemic http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD202011.htm
Global strategy to fight bird flu in animals faces serious funding gap http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/107804/index.html
Singapore Scientists Invent Quick Bird Flu Test http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32695/story.htm

Global Warming Could be the Cause of Significant Disasters
Several research papers published recently link the increasing numbers and intensity of powerful storms to increasing ocean temperatures, suggesting that global warming is the main cause. Most climate models indicate that the effects of climate change will be felt more intensely farther from the equator. ESA's CryoSat measurements of sea ice are expected to confirm or refute this theory and also help with better weather forecasting.
Dr. Nathan P. Gillett argues in an article published in Nature that the impact of global warming on European weather patterns has been underestimated. The Northern Hemisphere Circulation study compares the results of nine state-of-the-art climate models with real situation of Northern Hemisphere air pressure changes at sea level over the past 50 years. It concludes that the simulations underestimate the sea-level air pressure circulation trends, which questions their accuracy in showing changes of weather patterns or predicting regional climate changes.
A report by population health experts from Australia and New Zealand warns that even with action to reduce global warming, thousands of Australians are likely to die by the end of the century because of heat waves caused by human-induced climate change. It is estimated that by 2100 the annual average temperatures could increase by 1 to 6°C over most of Australia, with significantly larger changes in some regions. The report, Climate change health impacts in Australia, also addresses the danger of spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, as well as possible large-scale poverty and migration in the Asia-Pacific region, mainly in the Small Island States that are particularly susceptible to climate change.
Shishmaref, a whole community of 600 residents of NW Alaska, needs to be permanently relocated on the mainland to be protected from storm systems that are certain to arrive, as a consequence of global warming. Other communities from farther north might follow.
Sources:
Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/309/5742/1844?ijkey=iqoyPaiwaACR6&keytype=ref&siteid=sci
Global warming 'could create stronger hurricanes' http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2360&language=1
Northern exposure to greatest climate change? CryoSat should find out http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMA0R4Y3EE_planet_0.html
Climate modeling: Northern Hemisphere circulation http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v437/n7058/abs/437496a.html
No stopping deaths from climate change http://abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_1465428.htm
Shishmaref ponders next move as erosion continues http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7012209p-6914369c.html

Reports to Review

Asia's Water Security in Jeopardy
The Fall of Water report assesses the situation of Asia's mountain areas, including the Himalayas. It warns that rapid increase in infrastructure, overgrazing, and deforestation, are accelerating threats from highland glaciers shrinking, raising concerns related to the region's future water supplies, flooding, and drought. The report notes that presently about 50% of Asia's mountain region is affected by infrastructure development, which by 2030 could rise to over 70% if current practices continue unrestricted. Similarly, highland glaciers are shrinking by 7% annually, which means that by 2050, about 64% of China's glaciers would have vanished. The report argues that unsustainable local development and climate change accelerated by fossil fuel burning are likely to aggravate the problems. It points out that without fast implementation of sound environmental management policies for sustainable development, water security of about half the world's population could be in serious jeopardy. The outcomes are the results of collaborative work of UNEP, IUCN, Chinese Academy of Sciences, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. The report was released in preamble to the 2005 World Summit of mid-September.
Source:
Asia's Water Security Under Threat. Water for Near Half the World's Population under Threat at the Roof of the World http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=452&ArticleID=4916&l=en

Human and Environmental Security - An Agenda for Change
From the press release: "This ground-breaking book, authored by prominent international decision-makers, tackles the global human security problem across the range of core issues. The authors identify the causes of insecurity, articulate the linkages between the different elements of human security, and outline an agenda for engaging stakeholders from across the globe in building the foundations of genuine and lasting human security for all nations and all people." (The book is available for purchase)
Sources:
Press release, Network 2015 email list
Human and Environmental Security - An Agenda for Change Available through: http://www.stakeholderforum.org/StakeholderForumbooks3.pdf

World Resources 2005 -- The Wealth of the Poor: Managing Ecosystems to Fight Poverty
This joint report from UNEP, UNDP, the World Bank, and the World Resources Institute suggests an approach to addressing poverty by focusing on environment and local natural resources beyond the conventional aid projects, debt relief, and trade reform. It presents models on how natural resources--soils, forests, water, and fisheries--managed at the local level--could be the most effective means for the world's rural poor people to generate a better life. The report pleads for community stewardship of local resources as a critical element of any poverty-reduction activity. UNEP executive director Klaus Toepfer called the report, "essential reading for any world leader serious about defeating poverty." This is the 11th in a series of biennial reports on global environment and governance.
Sources:
World Resources 2005 -- The Wealth of the Poor: Managing ecosystems to fight poverty http://population.wri.org/pubs_description.cfm?PubID=4073
News Release: Major report stresses natural resources as path out of poverty http://population.wri.org/newsrelease_text.cfm?NewsReleaseID=336

Environment and Security-The Role of the United Nations
This comprehensive report summarizes the outcomes of a Roundtable Conference conducted by the UN Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Project. It assesses security by its links to population, water, resources, and climate change and makes recommendations to the UN for a better integration of environment with security issues. It recommends that "The UN Security Council should take a leadership role by making environmental security a priority and moving environmental issues from the technical to the security domain", and that the UN coordinate international efforts on environmental security in all fields, from trade to water, climate change, and integrated environmental perspective in all its projects. "By protecting the earth, the UN Security Council can help preserve the peace," concludes the report. [See also New Reports Stress the Link between Environment and Security in the January 2005 environmental security report.]
Source:
Environment and Security-The Role of the United Nations http://www.wilsoncenter.org/news/docs/ACF64A.pdf

Back to top

August 2005

Increasing Oil Demand in China and India Raise Security Concerns
The hunger for energy might become a driving force for some countries to disregard international security issues and accords to the point of jeopardizing international security. For example, there were international concerns expressed about the alleged Chinese offers of arms and other sensitive defense technology in return for oil and gas rights in certain countries. "Unprecedented political opposition" probably triggered by strategic concerns in the US Congress forced the withdrawal of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)'s bid for California's Unocal. Similar concerns may affect the rival bids of China and India to buy a Canadian firm with oil fields in Kazakhstan.
Source:
New rules in global rivalry for oil. The growing Asian demand for energy could alter US strategy.
By Mark Trumbull | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0804/p01s04-wogi.html
Giving China a bloody nose. The Economist, Aug 4th 2005
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4254062&subjectID=381586&fsrc=nwl&emailauth=%2527%252E%252573P%252CSK%25231%252A%2520%250A (by subscription only)
China Rationing Gasoline And Diesel Fuel http://www.terradaily.com/news/china-05zzzzzo.html
China and India Vie for Company With Oil Fields in Kazakhstan. By Keith Bradsher, NY Times, August 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/16/business/worldbusiness/16oil.html?pagewanted=all&oref=login (by subscription only)

Soviet-Era Anti-plague Institutes Still Pose Environmental Threat
The United States has an extensive program aimed at minimizing the possible transfer and misuse of Soviet WMD R&D. One area that has fallen through the proverbial crack, however, is the collection of more than 80 anti-plague institutes, which were not a formal part of the Russian biowarfare program and therefore are not covered by the DOD Threat Reduction effort. These establishments, located in all parts of the FSU, still work with extremely hazardous pathogens under totally inadequate physical and biological security. This incredibly dangerous situation is described in a draft report from a major investigation by scholars from the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Source:
Soviet Germ Factories Pose New Threat. By Joby Warrick, Washington Post, August 20, 2005; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/19/AR2005081901507.html (by subscription)

EU and Japan Respond to Risks from Low Dose Chemicals
A series of articles by Peter Waldman in the Wall Street Journal have brought to attention new scientific studies which have indicated that exposure to extremely low levels of certain industrial chemicals, even a few parts per trillion, can have harmful biological effects. Many of these results are controversial, and disputed by manufacturers and users. Compounds include bisphenol A, phthalates, and perchlorates. The EU and Japan are taking measures to impose stricter controls or outright prohibitions on such materials, and are conducting further investigations.
Sources:
Wall St. Journal series: "levels of risk" http://familiesagainstcancer.org/?id=229
Direct source (by subscription only): A Little Dab'll Do Ya In
Micro-exposure to common chemicals may cause big health problems
http://users1.wsj.com/lmda/do/checkLogin?a=t&d=wsj&sd=users1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle_print%2F0%2C%2CSB112224731634594459%2C00.html (by subscription only)

ASEAN Seeks East Asia's Cooperation on Environmental Issues
Senior environmental officials from ASEAN countries, Japan, China, and South Korea met in Malaysia's Penang state to discuss ways to improve regional cooperation and responses to ecological/environmental problems, such as the recent forest fires. Details of future cooperation, which are also expected to cover issues such as climate change and safeguarding biological diversity, will be discussed at a meeting to be held next month in Jakarta.
Source:
SE Asia Seeks Cooperation with China, Japan, South Korea on Environmental Protection
Associated Press, August 19, 2005 http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8560
Forest fires for commercial land clearing should stop http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/107399/index.html
Smoky Haze Chokes Southeast Asia http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2005/2005-08-16-06.asp

Taiwan Cracking Down on Environmental Violators
The prevalence of illegal toxic waste dumping has led Taiwan's Environmental Protection Agency to recruit a group of 70 volunteers to patrol industrial areas and report violations of the country's strict waste disposal and recycling rules. The effort is supported by emerging environmental activism among the populace at large.
Source:
Taiwan's Enviro-Spies. By Matt Kovac, The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/24/tech/main792375.shtml

India to Set Up Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance System by 2007
Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee recently declared that India's satellite-based Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SBS) System that was supposed to be operational this year, is now in an advanced stage of development and will begin functioning by 2007.
Sources:
India installs Satellite surveillance system http://news.indiainfo.com/2005/08/04/0408satellite-surveillance.html
India To Set Up Military SBS System By 2007 http://www.spacewar.com/news/india-05zq.html

UN Envisaging a Treaty for Multinational Corporations
The UN began a feasibility study and eventual steps for the implementation of an international treaty regulating multinational corporations' activities. One of those closely involved in the process is Harvard professor John Gerard Ruggie, appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as his special representative on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations. The special representative position was created for identification and clarification of "standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights." STRATFOR (Strategic Forecasting, Inc.) comments that the "appointment is important because it will galvanize a global social movement, which will in turn accelerate the changing systems of public policy development." It might take five years until a draft treaty will be drawn.
Source:
Multinational Business and New Policymaking Venues. By Bart Mongoven, Stratfor Strategic Forecastng, August 04 2005
http://www.stratfor.com/products/enhanced/read_article.php?id=253123&ref=050804 (by subscription only)

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications
Piggybacking Environmental Sensors on Communications Gear
Computer science graduate student R.J. Honicky and Prof. Richard Newton of the Univ. of California at Berkeley are working on inexpensive environmental sensors that can be incorporated into communications devices like cell phones, using the power, location (e.g. GPS), and communications facilities already present in those devices. This technique would greatly reduce the space and cost burden of providing environmental data coverage over a wide area.
Source:
Saving the World with Cell Phones. By Rachel Metz, Wired.com, August 11, 2005
http://www.wired.com/news/wireless/0,1382,68485,00.html

Micro-reactors Challenge Chemical Weapons Convention Effectiveness
A paper by Tuan Nguyen of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory calls attention to the erosion in effectiveness of the Chemical Weapons Convention caused by the advent of micro-reactors in the chemical industry. These devices, with sizes from a credit card to a notebook, replace large batch reaction vessels and make it much more difficult to monitor and verify compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. Hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, and methyl isocyanate have already been produced using this system, according to Nguyen. He also points out that chemical weapon precursors could be synthesized rather than purchased, making it more difficult to track down and discover the preparation of chemical weapons.
Source:
Technological advances could reduce effectiveness of Chemical Weapons Convention
http://www.llnl.gov/pao/news/news_releases/2005/NR-05-08-04.html

Urine-powered Battery
Ki Bang Lee and a team of researchers at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have developed a very inexpensive and miniaturized power source suitable for biochips used for healthcare testing and disease detection, as in a BW situation. The battery is formed by soaking a credit-card-sized piece of paper in copper chloride, sandwiching it between strips of magnesium and copper, and laminating it between transparent plastic films. When the paper is moistened with a drop of urine, the device generates 1.5 volts of electricity.
Source:
Scientists develop pee-powered battery. By Bjorn Carey, LiveScience, Aug. 16, 2005
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8973626/

Laser-tracked Honeybees Detect Landmines
Joseph A. Shaw at Montana State University and colleagues have developed an improved landmine detection system which first trained honeybees to sniff out explosive fumes leaking from buried landmines, and then tracks them with polarized laser scanning beams. The accuracy is better than 97% at a distance of 83 m, and there is no danger of setting off the landmines.
Source:
Lasers, landmines and honeybees. Ed Gerstner, Nature Physics On-line, 4 Aug 2005
http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/vaop/nprelaunch/full/nphys103.html

New Efficient Energy-free Technique for Oil Removal from Water
The Extended Gravity Oil Water Separation (EGOWS) concept developed by an engineering team from the University of New South Wales is an improvement on the industry-standard American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity separator that has been widely used for the last 60 years. The device is a simple tank-and-siphon system, entirely mechanical, that operates unattended and purifies water to oil content less than 10 ppm, the level often set by environmental regulations. A simple, innovative application of hydraulic principles results in residence times of days instead of minutes, as is common with API designs. Utility seems be limited to sources with episodic discharges, rather than steady flows.
Source:
New approach to oil-water separation http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/uns/uns100.html

Updates on Previously Identified Issues
Recycling Regulations in the EU
E-waste Management Directive Came into Effect on August 13, 2005
The EC directive for e-waste management, Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE), has come into effect, requiring that all 25 EU member states comply with the electrical and electronic appliances disposal framework in order to minimize the impacts of this kind of waste on the environment. Among other stipulations, the directive requires that all such devices manufactured in the EU bear a label requiring mandatory recycling. The related directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment was also updated, setting maximum concentration values for some substances that were previously supposed to be completely banned in manufacture after July 1, 2006: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). [See also Two E-waste laws entered into force in the European Union of February 2003, and E-waste Directives to be Enforced in the UK of July 2005 environmental security reports.]
Higher Targets for Packaging Recycling and Recovery
The EU updated and strengthened its 1994 Directive for packaging waste, setting higher recycling and recovery targets to further reduce the negative environmental impacts created by the landfilling and incineration of packaging waste and by the production of virgin materials. This type of waste includes packaging made from paper, glass, metals, plastics and wood.
Sources:
New recycling law takes effect in the European Union http://www.physorg.com/news5795.html
Commission Decision of 18 August 2005
amending Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council for the purpose of establishing the maximum concentration values for certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_214/l_21420050819en00650065.pdf
Packaging waste: higher recycling and recovery targets due to be implemented in EU Member States. Reference: IP/05/1057 Date: 18/08/2005
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1057&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

REACH Closer to Finale
The drafting of the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) legislation is in its final phases as it moves through committees in the European Parliament. The vote on it is scheduled for November. REACH provides a legal framework for controlling hazardous chemicals, requiring manufacturers and importers to register the physical, chemical and toxicological properties of substances with a central EU database, provide lifecycle safety and environmental risks information, and eventually get a special authorization for those of high concern. Britain, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, hopes that agreement on the program will be reached by the end of the year. [See also The REACH Program Closer to Entry Into Force in March 2005, Leading Cancer Specialists call for REACH Strengthening in May 2004, and EU Chemical Policy Reforms in January 2004 environmental security reports.]
Source:
Feature - Reaching Balance: Europe Weighs Health Verses Industry
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32150/story.htm

Climate Change Issues
New Computer Climate Models Reveal Threatening Conditions
New computer climate models reveal Earth's limits of CO2 intake. The computer climate models developed by scientists from Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado indicate that CO2 absorption by land and oceans can not keep up with the current trends of increasing fossil fuel emissions, accelerating climate warming after the critical point is reached. The process is increased by drought and other phenomena already present. The paper explaining the findings, Evolution of carbon sinks in a changing climate was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of August 9, 2005.
Another computer model, also developed by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, simulates Earth's climate at the time of the greatest mass extinction in history, at the end of the Permian Era. It reveals that an abrupt and dramatic rise in atmospheric levels of CO2 triggered the extinction of an estimated 90-95% of all marine species, and about 70% of all terrestrial species. "The results demonstrate how rapidly rising temperatures in the atmosphere can affect ocean circulation, cutting off oxygen to lower depths and extinguishing most life," says NCAR scientist and lead author, Jeffrey Kiehl.

New observations and climate model data confirm recent warming of tropical atmosphere
Results of state-of-the-art climate models by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are consistent with new observational estimates of temperature data obtained from satellites and weather balloons, providing compelling evidence that the tropical troposphere is warming since 1979. Human activity is considered as one important cause of the warming. [See also New Developments on Climate Change of January 2005 environmental security report.]

Melting of Permanent Frozen Areas Accelerates
Siberia's melting accelerates global warming. Scientists recently discovered that in the last three or four years the entire western Siberian sub-Arctic region has begun melting, transforming the world's largest frozen peat bog into a watery landscape of lakes. This could cause the release into the atmosphere of huge quantities of methane, 20 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide. Consequently, Siberia's melting, considered to be partially caused by global warming, becomes in its turn an accelerating factor of it. This finding follows a similar phenomenon of major expansion of lakes in Alaska's northern extreme, bordering the Arctic Ocean.
The Arctic Ocean could be seasonally ice-free within 100 years, concludes a new report by U.S. and Canadian scientists. Climate warming is causing thawing of Arctic glaciers and ice sheets, driving the Arctic system into an ice-free state for the first time in more than one million years. The researchers could find no natural processes that might slow or reverse the accelerating melting process. Indigenous people and animals of Alaska, Canada, Russia, Siberia, Scandinavia and Greenland, are already feeling the warming, but the consequences will be felt worldwide, mostly by the millions of people of coastal areas. The melting is an accelerating process. [See also Climate Change Updates; Antarctic glaciers shrinking accelerating, in April 2005 environmental security report]

Greenland Conference on Global Warming
Environmental ministers and other officials from 23 countries around the world and the EU met on the edge of a retreating glacier (110 Km in 45 years) in Greenland and agreed that nations must take action against global warming. The proceedings of the conference were not made public and although the group didn't make specific action recommendations, there was consensus that discussions need to be urgently replaced by action.
Sources:
Evolution of carbon sinks in a changing climate. Inez Y. Fung, Scott C. Doney, Keith Lindsay, and Jasmin John
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0504949102v1
Climate Model Links Warmer Temperatures to Permian Extinction
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=104368
New observations and climate model data confirm recent warming of tropical atmosphere
http://www.llnl.gov/pao/news/news_releases/2005/NR-05-08-05.html
Heat and light. An unexplained anomaly in the climate seems to have been the result of bad data
The Economist print edition, Science & Technology, Climate change, Aug 11th 2005
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4269858&subjectID=348924&fsrc=nwl&emailauth=%2527%25290617L%2527BUQ%2526%255C%250A (by subscription only)
Climate warning as Siberia melts. From issue 2512 of New Scientist magazine, 11 August 2005, page 12
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg18725124.500 (by subscription only)
Arctic Ocean Could Be Ice-Free in Summer Within 100 Years, Scientists Say
http://uanews.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/9/wa/SRStoryDetails?ArticleID=11532
Officials at Global Conference Say It's Time to Take Action on Global Warming. By Jan M. Olsen, Associated Press, August 19, 2005
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8564

Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System to be Operational by the End of 2005
Further on the efforts to prevent a recurrence of the December 2004 tsunami catastrophe, the Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) ended its first meeting in Perth, Australia, concluding that the network of 23 stations for real-time sea-level observation covering the whole Indian Ocean basin is expected to be established by the end of 2005. Six stations are already operational. The network is the first element of the system; the other two are an improved seismographic network, and the deployment of deep-sea pressure sensors capable of detecting the tsunami signal as it travels over the deep ocean. The entire system is expected to be fully operational by next July. The next ICG meeting is scheduled for December 12-16, in Hyderabad, India. However, the UN oceanographic body warns that the system will be useless without adequate regional and national emergency and preparedness plans. [See also Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean and Beyond in January 2005 environmental security report]
Sources:
UN-backed Indian Ocean tsunami early warning system begins to take shape
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15309&Cr=tsunami&Cr1=
Simple tsunami alert system now in place - U.N.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP103959.htm (article stored for a limited time on the website)
Interview - Tsunami Warning Useless without Plans, Says UN Body
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31918/story.htm

Pacific Islands Forum Summit in October
The Pacific Islands Forum Summit will be held on October 27, in Papua New Guinea. It will be preceded by the Small Island States Summit and the Pacific ACP (African Caribbean Pacific) Leaders Summit, and the Pacific leaders' retreat on October 25-26, and followed by a post-forum dialogue meeting on the 28th and 29th. The Forum's topics will include Pacific regional security, aid, policing, peacekeeping, money laundering, arms trading, HIV-AIDS, resource management of commodities and fish stocks, and regionalized governance. It will be attended by the prime ministers of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, PNG, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Nauru, French Caledonia, and other islands states, as well as representatives of the EU, the UN, United States of America, China and Japan. Parallel with the official forum will be meetings of NGOs representing stakeholder groups and lobbyists. [See also Asia and Pacific Countries Adopt Declarations on the Environment of March 2005 environmental security report]
Sources:
NZ Election Postpones Pacific Forum Until October http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00411.htm
Pacific Islands Forum: www.forumsec.org.fj

Iraq's Marshes Recovering
Iraq's Mesopotamian marshes, which almost vanished during Saddam Hussein's rule, are rapidly recovering to their former 1970s state, according to the findings of the Iraqi Marshlands Observation System. The system is the latest component of the UNEP marshlands project based on the use of a variety of environmentally sound technologies and technical training. However, the funding of the project might be in jeopardy for the moment, since Japan has postponed the donors' conference due to the ongoing controversies over Iraq's constitution. The marshes, reputed to be the biblical Garden of Eden, are a major source of fish and freshwater for local people, as well as an important habitat for wildlife. [See also UN to Help Tackle Iraq Pollution in September 2004 and Iraq Marshlands Restorations Could be Dangerous if not Preceded by Cleanup in October 2003 environmental security reports]
Sources:
UNEP Press Release. Iraqi Marshlands: On the road to recovery
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=449&ArticleID=4902&l=en
Japan scrubs Iraq marshland donor conference amid constitution negotiations
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050825-0205-iraq-marshlanddonors.html

Reports to Review
Fluctuations of Glaciers VIII 1995-2000 Report
The latest report by the World Glacier Monitoring Service, Fluctuations of Glaciers (FoG) VIII, examining glaciers' situation over the period 1995-2000, warns of a possible complete deglaciation due to the greenhouse effect in the next few decades. This would be a phenomenon "without precedent in the history of the Earth" notes the report. The conclusion is based on the direct proportionality observed between the losses of average annual ice thickness and accelerated global warming over the last two decades of the 20th century. The FoGs are published each five years since 1959, offering a comprehensive analysis and standardized information on changes in glaciers' conditions.
Sources:
Fluctuations of Glaciers VIII, 1995-2000 report http://www.geo.unizh.ch/wgms/fog/fog8.pdf
'Fluctuations of Glaciers' Report Launched http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=449&ArticleID=4896&l=en
World Glacier Monitoring Service: http://www.geo.unizh.ch/wgms/

UK Defense Ministry released its first Sustainable Development Report
Ministry of Defense of the UK released its first stand-alone report that aims to provide an overview of the Department's work on Sustainable Development issues. MoD's program for the coming years includes improved data collection systems and the continued integration of sustainable development considerations into procurement. MoD intends to produce an interim report for 2004/2005 and a full report each financial year thereafter.
Source:
Ministry of Defense Sustainable Development Report October 2003 - October 2004 http://www.mod.uk/linked_files/dsc/env/mod_sd_report_03_04.pdf

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Libya Initiates International Conference on Environmental Security for Seas and Oceans
Building on the "Ocean Security Conference" held in the US Congress in May 1997 and the "Towards Enhancement of Ocean Security in the Third Millennium" conference held in the Swedish Parliament in January 1998, the International Conference for the Initiative of Environmental Security of Seas and Oceans was held in Tripoli, Libya, 23-25 July 2005 as the first of three international conferences on the Ocean Security Initiative. It was organized by the Advisory Committee on Protection of Seas and Oceans (ACOPS) under the patronage of the Gadhafi International Foundation for Charities Associations and the Environmental General Authority of Great Jamahiriya. Ocean environment and security experts from 26 countries representing governments, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector participated. The conference addressed the environmental security issues relating to the seas and oceans from a broad perspective ranging from illegal immigration to transnational organized crime. Participants stressed that international and trans-institutional collective action was required to assure compliance with international terms and standards for improved ocean environmental security.
Sources:
Tripoli Declaration on Ocean Security (non-negotiated statement) http://www.acops.org/Tripoli%20Declaration%20240705%20final%20final.doc
Opening of the First International Conference for the Initiative of Environmental Security of Seas and Oceans http://en.ljbc.net/online/news_details.php?id=987

Nuclear Theft, Smuggling, and Sabotage Countermeasures
The recent conference on strengthening nuclear security held in Vienna, Austria, 4-8 July, 2005 adopted Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM). The original CPPNM applied only to nuclear material in international transport. The amendments substantially strengthen the Convention by providing an expanded system for preventing, combating and punishing nuclear material theft, smuggling and sabotage. The amendments also request expanded cooperation among States regarding rapid measures to locate and recover stolen or smuggled nuclear material, to mitigate any radiological consequences of sabotage, and to prevent and combat relevant offences. The new rules will come into effect once they have been ratified by two-thirds of the 112 States Parties of the Convention. This is expected to take several years.
Source:
States Agree on Stronger Physical Protection Regime http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2005/prn200503.html

UNESCO Draft Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
UNESCO has issued a draft declaration that sets universal ethical guidelines for governments to consider ethical and human rights in science and technology (S&T) policymaking. It covers aspects of human rights, biodiversity, rights of indigenous people, and respect for traditional local resources and knowledge systems. The declaration suggests setting up ethics committees at different levels to assess scientific developments and encourage transparency and public participation in bioethics issues discussions. The draft declaration will be submitted for approval by all 192 UNESCO member states in October.
Sources:
Towards a declaration on universal norms on bioethics http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=1883&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Ethics, science and human rights come together http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2218&language=1
JSCOPE Home Page http://atlas.usafa.af.mil/jscope/

Russia to Destroy All Chemical Weapons Arsenal by 2012
The Russian government approved a plan to destroy its chemical weapons arsenal by 2012, reported Agence France-Presse in Moscow. Under the proposal, 20% of Russia's 40,000 ton chemical weapons stockpile would be destroyed by 2007, 45% by 2009, and all of it by 2012, meeting its commitment under the Chemical Weapons Convention. "Even though it has the biggest chemical weapons stockpile in the world, Russia has also come up with the safest technologies for disarmament," said Viktor Khristenko, Russia's Industry and Energy Minister. Out of the $6 billion program, foreign countries are expected to cover $385 million. Final approval by the Russian government of the chemical weapons disarmament plan is expected before August 15.
Source:
Russia to Destroy Chemical Weapons Arsenal
By Agence France-Presse, Moscow http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=987059&C=europe

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications
Nanobarcodes for Multiple Pathogen Detection
Scientists in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University have developed a rapid, low cost, multiplexed, sensitive and specific molecular detection technique for pathogen DNA that uses fluorescence nanobarcodes to identify the individual potential reactants. A single element in the system comprises a section sensitive to the DNA of a particular target and one containing a bar code identifying it. Multiple elements can be placed on a single test probe. Results can be obtained in 30 minutes.
Source
Multiplexed detection of pathogen DNA with DNA-based fluorescence nanobarcodes
Yougen Li, Yen Thi Hong Cu & Dan Luo. Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-5701, USA http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v23/n7/abs/nbt1106.html

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Inspectors Use Satellite Feeds to Track Sensitive Nuclear Materials
IAEA is building a global network for monitoring nuclear facilities by using direct satellite information. This will enhance the possibility of real-time tracking of sensitive nuclear materials and checking that they are not being diverted for non-peaceful use. The first field trial connecting a nuclear power plant in Slovakia to IAEA headquarters started in April this year and the results of the feasibility study for a prospective global system are expected by the end of the year. IAEA will be working with the European Space Agency on the system.
Source:
IAEA Inspectors Use Satellite Feeds To Track Sensitive Nuclear Materials http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2005/satellitefeeds.html

New Techniques May Help Solve Wind farm/Radar Problem (update)
A previous item in these reports [Wind Power vs. Air Defense Radar, March 2004] reported on the problem arising when return signals from wind farm fans interfered with military aircraft control radar systems. Two new developments offer some hope of solutions to this conflict. BAE Systems in the UK has produced a signal-processing algorithm, which uses fuzzy logic to filter out the returns from the rotating blades, leaving only genuine aircraft tracks. The system will be tested this summer and may be ready in a year. Stealth technology for the moving surfaces is also being investigated as a possible way of hiding the blades from the radar beam.
Another approach is being taken by Grimshaw Architects in association with Windpower Ltd, whose Aerogenerator is a Darius-principle wind turbine with a vertical axis that can be operated at ground level (or rather, sea level, since it's planned for off-shore use.).
Sources:
BAE Uses Fuzzy Logic to Make Wind Farms Vanish http://www.enn.com/biz.html?id=757
A turn for the better. Wind turbines are ugly and no one wants to live near one. Right? Wrong. By Steve Rose, Guardian, Monday July 18, 2005 http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5241315-103605,00.html

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes to be Made More Effective
The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal might be strengthened by new proposals prepared for the biannual ministerial conference to be held in late 2006. Issues on the Open Ended Working Group's agenda include used mobile phones, obsolete ships dismantling, furthering the ratification and implementation of the Protocol on Liability and Compensation, mobilizing funds and empowering the Convention's Regional Centers, and drafting technical guidelines for promoting the environmentally sound management of various kinds of hazardous wastes. [See also Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes of October 2004 and previous environmental security scanning reports on the Basel Convention.]
Sources:
Press advisory for the OEWG4 - Basel Convention talks to address mobile phones, obsolete ships and new guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes http://www.basel.int/press/paOEWG4.doc
Secretariat of the Basel Convention http://www.basel.int/

New Protected Ecological Sites
Seven New Sites Added to World Heritage List
The UN World Heritage Committee included 7 more natural sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, expanded 2, and removed 3. The 7 new sites inscribed are: South Africa - Vredefort Dome; Egypt - Wadi Al-Hitan Whale Valley; Japan - Shiretoko; Norway - West Norwegian Fjords Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord; Mexico - Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California dolphins; Thailand - Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex; Panama - Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection. The two extensions are: India - Valley of Flowers National Park; and UK--St Kilda. The sites removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger List are: Sangay National Park in Ecuador, Timbuktu in Mali, and Butrint in Albania. Altogether, UNESCO World Heritage List numbers 160 natural sites and 24 mixed sites --both natural and cultural.
UN Ecological Reserves Network Adds 22 New Sites
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves, under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO, added 23 ecosystems to its list, for a total of 482 sites in 102 countries. At these reserves, communities promote sustainable development while also conserving biodiversity. The community members also contribute to governance, management, research, education, training and monitoring at the sites.
[See also Nine New Hotspots Added to World's Protected Areas in February 2005, Intensified Efforts Needed to Save Biodiversity in January 2005, and related items on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in November and June 2004, and October 2003 environmental security monthly reports.]
Sources:
Seven Natural Wonders Inscribed on World Heritage List http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-15-06.asp
Twenty-three New Biosphere Reserves Added to UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Network http://portal.unesco.org/unesco/ev.php?URL_ID=28229&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1120062522

Progress on Efforts to Tackle Climate Change
G8 Environmental Results Are Limited to Post-2012 Concerns
Although the Gleneagles meeting of the G8 industrialized nations did not generate measurable targets and timetables for tackling greenhouse gas emissions, the heads of government of the world's eight wealthiest nations agreed that "climate change is happening now, that human activity is contributing to it, and that it could affect every part of the globe." They also set the stage for dialogues for post-Kyoto regulations that would include the US and other high-emitting countries such as China and India. The dialogues are planned to start with a meeting in London in November to be organized by the British government.
Sources:
More than hot air. The G8 summit made quiet progress on climate change
The Economist, Science & Technology, Global warming. Jul 14th 2005 http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displayStory.cfm?amp;emailauth=%2527%25290%253A04%255COOV1%25254%250A&fsrc=nwl&subjectid=348924&story_id=4174286&login=Y (by subscription only)
Investment in Forests, Rivers and Wetlands Will Pay Dividends, UN Environment Chief Tells G8 Leaders http://www.enn.com/aff_PF.html?id=739
G8 Climate Plan Of Action Delivers Little Change http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-08-02.asp

U.S., Australia, and Asia-Pacific Countries Coalition for Clean Development
The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate founded by the U.S., Australia, China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, aims to address energy security, air pollution, and climate change issues based on cooperation in the development, implementation, and exchange of new, clean technologies. The joint Vision Statement was issued at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' annual ministerial meetings in Vientiane, Laos. The six countries combined represent more than half of the world's economy, population, and energy use, and are responsible for half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative is "a complement, not an alternative," to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick.
Sources:
Australia Joins New Asia-Pacific, Partnership On Clean Development And Climate http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_Releases/media_Release1482.html
Asia-Pacific Countries Join U.S., Australia to Control Climate http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-28-04.asp

New Developments for Addressing Natural Disasters
The UN will be organizing the 3rd International Early Warning Conference in Bonn from 27 to 29 March 2006. Guided by the motto 'From Concept to Action,' the conference aims to implement the 'Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,' (adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan, January 2005) and set short- and long-term early warning projects and address high priority needs mostly in critical countries and regions. The conference is expected to be attended by over 600 representatives of governments, parliaments and international organizations, as well as practitioners and members of the scientific community.
Meantime, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) decided to increase its role in natural disaster mitigation, particularly for helping the world's least developed countries. The program will be mainly based on better implementation and use of latest the S&T in the domain of weather forecast, climate and water, and cooperation with other international organizations that work in disaster risk and preparedness area.
Sources:
Welcome to the website of the Third International Conference on Early Warning (EWC III) http://www.ewc3.org/
UN announces new conference on early warning systems against natural hazards http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15150&Cr=early&Cr1=warning
UN weather agency outlines ambitious programme in natural disaster mitigation http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15036&Cr=climate&Cr1=change

E-waste Directives to be Enforced in the UK
The two EU directives on E-waste will be enforced by UK legislation. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is expected to be enforced by UK law on August 13, 2005. The WEEE Directive of the EC sets a recycling framework for electrical and electronic equipment in order to minimize the impacts of this kind of waste on the environment. The related directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment bans the use in manufacture after July 1, 2006 of certain hazardous substances (lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PDBEs)). The two directives on E-waste are already in force at EU level and were supposed to be added to EU Members legal system with rules for monitoring compliance by August 2004. [See Two E-waste laws entered into force in the European Union (EU) in February 2003 environmental security report.]
Sources:
The WEEE Legislation http://www.weeedirectory.com/the+weee+legislation.aspx
Directive on Restrictions of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) http://www.weeedirectory.com/Portals/0/Reports/finalrohs_directive.pdf

Conclusions on Health and Environmental Impact of 1990-1991 Gulf War
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) revealed the findings of Phase I of their study on the implications on the health of Kuwaiti civilians who remained in Kuwait during Iraq's 1990 invasion and occupation. The investigations followed for 14 years the health condition of 5,000 Kuwaitis over the age of 50 to assess likely mortality impacts of exposure to smoke from the oil fires and also reviewed trends in morbidity and mortality data from Kuwait's Ministry of Health. The conclusions show that an average individual risk on the order of 2/10,000 may be attributable to exposure to smoke from the oil fires. Screening assessing risks connected to other contaminants -- such as volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals from the oil lakes and marine oil spills; and depleted uranium - also indicated low risks to public health. [See also item 8.2 Study by Sandia on Depleted Uranium further in this report]
The fifty-sixth session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) concluded the assessment of compensations related to Iraqi 1990 invasion. Some argue that the denial of billions of dollars in compensation to some countries for adverse health and environmental effects of the 1990-1991 Gulf War sets a dangerous precedent to discourage future targeting of natural resources and the environment in future wars.
Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to note that the fifth (and last) installment under category "F4"--environmental claims--involved 19 claims filed by six Governments, out of which eight claims filed by four Governments were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of over $252 million.
Sources:
Public health impact of 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=26891
A summary of the report and list of contributing scientists is available at: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/press/releases/kuwait/kuwait.doc
UN Denial of Billions in Gulf War Health Compensation Denounced http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-25-01.asp
Governing Council Of United Nations Compensation Commission Has Concluded Its Fifty-Sixth Session http://www2.unog.ch/uncc/pressrel/pr_56c.pdf

GMOs Controversy Continues
FAO calls for an international framework for GM trees
Genetic modification activities in forestry are taking place in some 35 countries and a commercial phase has already started without full scrutiny of potential benefits and risks. FAO says it is essential that environmental risk assessment studies be conducted with protocols and methodologies agreed upon at national and international levels.
Sources:
UN body urges caution over GM Trees http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/un-body-urges-caution-over-gm-trees.cfm
Biotechnology in forestry gaining ground http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/104906/index.html

GM Crops Created Superweed
Scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in the UK argue that there is a potential that modified genes from GM crops could transfer into local wild plants, creating herbicide-resistant "superweeds." The findings of their four-year study were recently made public. The phenomenon was observed in a trial where cross-fertilization between GM oilseed rape, brassica, and a distantly related plant, charlock, created a new form of charlock that didn't react to lethal herbicide. The same was demonstrated in the lab for other weeds that became herbicide resistant. Although they consider that the potential of such cross-fertilization in the field is likely to be very low, they add that "this unusual occurrence merits further study in order to adequately assess any potential risk of gene transfer." [See also The Controversies over GMO Bans Continue in June 2005 and other previous environmental security reports.]
Sources:
GM crops created superweed, say scientists
Paul Brown, environment correspondent. Guardian, Monday July 25, 2005 http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5246601-103528,00.html
Monitoring movement of herbicide resistant genes from farm-scale evaluation field sites to populations of wild crop relatives, July 26th 2005 http://www.ceh.ac.uk/news/index.html#fse

Discussions over World War II Japanese Warfare Program in China not Settled Yet
The chemical weapons left over by the Japanese invading army during World War II are still realistic threats to the Chinese people and environmental security, say Chinese officials urging Japan to take more measures to accelerate the process of destroying them. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao demands that the Japanese government follow the Convention on the Banning of Chemical Weapons and the memorandum on the destruction of chemical weapons reached between the two governments.
Recently, Japan rejected China's demands for apology and compensation for damages caused by the Japanese germ warfare program during World War II. Chinese Foreign Ministry said, "Germ warfare was one of the serious crimes of the Japanese militarist period during World War II… The Japanese government should properly deal with this problem by using an honest attitude, undertaking its full responsibilities and handling conscientiously the reasonable demands of the injured people." The lawsuit has uncovered information about Japan's biological warfare program kept secret by Japan's government and the United States following World War II, says the Associated Press. For instance, the Unit 731 base near the Chinese city of Harbin may be responsible for as many as 250,000 deaths in the 1930s and '40s during the Japanese occupation of China. [See also China: Japan to Pay $2.7 Million for War Gas Leak in October 2003 and Effects of Poison Gas Used in WWII by Japan in May 2003 environmental scanning reports]
Sources:
China urges Japan to accelerate process of destroying abandoned chemical weapons (Xinhua) http://english.people.com.cn/200506/28/eng20050628_192893.html
China Wants Japan to Respond to Germ Warfare Victims http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_7_20.html#A28FCD5A

Europe to Harmonize Marine Pollution Legislation
Regulations on marine pollution from ships will be harmonized for all 25 EU member states. The new Directive, considers pollution discharging from ships in coastal waters or the high seas a crime, whether by intention or by negligence. The European Council of Ministers was expected to adopt legislation this month that defines both marine pollution crimes and harmonizes the level of penalties. However, these were not yet adopted at the time of this writing. Penalties for these crimes will be much higher than current fines. Enforcement will be through countries' collaboration in identifying pollution cases and synergies among enforcement authorities, including national coast guards and criminal justice organizations.
Source:
Europe Unites Against Marine Polluters http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-11-04.asp

Reports to Review

Environmental concerns increase opportunities and challenges for business (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report 4)
Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Opportunities and Challenges for Business and Industry, the fourth Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) report, synthesizes and integrates findings related to the interdependence between ecosystems and the private sector. "The Millennium Assessment is a user's guide to the planet for long-term thinkers… an invaluable resource for business leaders who think long term and seek to understand the threats and opportunities that will shape the economies of the future." said Jane Lubchenco, co-chair of the Synthesis Team. [See also items Biodiversity Synthesis Report (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2) of May, Human Footprint on Earth Ecosystem at Critical Stage and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report of March 2005, and Desertification Synthesis of June 2005 environmental security monthly reports.]
Sources:
Environmental concerns increase opportunities and challenges for business http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/Article.aspx?id=70
Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Opportunities and Challenges for Business and Industry http://www.millenniumassessment.org//proxy/document.353.aspx
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.aspx

Study by Sandia on Depleted Uranium (DU)
Sandia National Laboratories has completed a study assessing health risks associated with accidental exposure to depleted uranium (DU), using as a case study the 1991 Gulf War. The two-year study, An Analysis of Uranium Dispersal and Health Effects Using a Gulf War Case Study, used mathematical modeling to estimate eventual health risks both on troops and civilians. The study's findings are consistent with other U.S. studies on the same issue: there are no proofs of serious health risks implied from use of DU in combat. Closer exposure might enhance some risks, but at low level of probability. The report recommends monitoring of those exposed in close proximity or by handling DU, as well as considering conservative guidelines for uranium workers. [See also Claims of Radioactive Battlefields in Iraq need more scientific ground in August 2003, Depleted Uranium Controversy Continues in July 2003, and Health Research Updates on Depleted Uranium Inconclusive in June 2003 environmental security reports.]
Sources:
An Analysis of Uranium. Dispersal and Health Effects. Using a Gulf War Case Study
By Albert C. Marshall, Sandia National Laboratories http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2005/all/snl-dusand.pdf
Sandia completes depleted uranium study-Press Release http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2005/all/depleted-uranium.html

IAEA Annual Report for 2004
The annual report of the UN atomic watchdog calls for global cooperation on all nuclear issues--from countering the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism to preventing nuclear weapons proliferation, and meeting a growing energy demand. The report is a comprehensive overview of the Agency's work in 2004 in its three main domains: technology, safety and verification, also presenting prospects for future developments. It highlights that although attention to security of nuclear and other radioactive material and associated technologies increased significantly in recent years, international cooperation is essential to strengthen all countries' preparedness to respond properly to the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism and to build regional and global networks for combating transnational threats. The report notes that out of the over 650 confirmed incidents of trafficking in nuclear or other radioactive material recorded since 1993, the highest number of incidents--121 (of which 11 involved nuclear material) were in 2004. The report will be presented at the IAEA General Conference to be held in Vienna beginning 26 September. Other IAEA reports and documents prepared for the Conference will be made available as they are published.
Sources:
IAEA Annual Report for 2004 http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Reports/Anrep2004/index.html
IAEA Issues Annual Report for 2004 http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2005/annual_report2004.html

Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions
According to a review in US National Institute of Health's (NIH) Environmental Health Perspectives, this new book "gives an excellent summary of traditional environmental pollution issues", but "may disappoint those who expect dramatic revelations about nanoparticles as pollutants". One chapter gives a good summary of the production and applications of nanomaterials, but in general the work is wanting in nano-specific information, except, to some extent, in the section on air pollution (albeit with several errors).
Sources:
Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions. Book Review http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/113-7/newbooks.html
Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions
By Louis Theodore and Robert G. Kunz Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2005. 378 pp. ISBN: 0-471-69976-4, $99.95 cloth

Update on more efficient vehicles: Program of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership
Copies of "Review of the Research Program of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership" will be available this fall from the National Academies Press (202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or order on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu)
Source:
Clear Vehicle Research Initiative, National Academy of Sciences http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309097304?OpenDocument

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June 2005

First International Research Center for "Creeping" Environmental Issues
The world's first international research center dedicated to 'creeping environmental problems' has been established in the northwestern Chinese city of Lanzhou. These are the slow and cumulative problems, like global warming and desertification. The Center's vice-president, Ye Qian, is from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research. There will be more than 20 scientists from various countries working on the center's projects.
Source:
Chinese centre to study 'creeping' environment issues http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2128&language=1

WHO Project to Minimize Risks of Radon
The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching the International Radon Project to help countries reduce the health risks associated with radon gas. Radon, a radioactive gas emanating from soil, is estimated to be the cause of 6-15% of lung cancer cases. The first phase of the project is designed to run for three years, 2005-07. It will assess risk levels, and exposure measurements and guidelines. It will also increase public and political awareness about the consequences of exposure to radon. It will also identify and promote effective strategies and policies useful to countries for mitigating health impacts of radon. Radon is present worldwide, in air and water, but its concentration is highly dependent on the content of uranium in soil.
Sources:
WHO launches project to minimize risks of radon http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2005/np15/en/index.html
General information about radon: http://www.epa.gov/radon

New Israeli Venture Capital Fund for "Clean Tech" Enterprises
Israeli entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are fueling a burgeoning new crop of "clean technology" enterprises devoted to cleaning up the environment. A "cleantech" venture capital (VC) fund is being formed by the Millennium VC firm. Water management is a central element of many of these efforts. The fund's manager says that, "In five years it [Israel] will be the only country to use all of its wastewater, mainly for agriculture."
Source
Israeli Start-Ups Work on Environmental Technology http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=31333

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications
Sandia researchers develop unique 'surfactant' material
Sandia National Laboratories has developed a new class of surfactants (surface active agents) that are thermally degradable and easily removable in an inexpensive and environmentally friendly manner. These thermally cleavable (easily broken molecules) surfactants could have very large applicability in any field requiring modification of surface properties and where biodegradability is a primary concern.
Source:
Sandia researchers develop unique 'surfactant' material
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2005/all/cleavable-surfactant.html

New Technique to Convert Liquids to Semi-solids and Back Again
Chemist Takeshi Naota, at Kyoto University in Japan, has developed a technique able to convert fuels, lubricants and paints into gelatinous semi-solids by adding a palladium-based compound and applying ultrasound. The process can be reversed by heat or more ultrasound to produce liquids.
Source:
Blast of sound turns liquid to jelly
NewScientist.com news service, Celeste Biever, 25 June 2005 http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18625055.800

New Antibacterial and Antitoxin Textiles
Researchers from North Carolina State University and textile scientists from Egypt have created a fabric that is up to 90% effective against three commonly occurring microorganisms: Lactobacillus planterum, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Unlike conventional methods of coating, this plasma-based process eliminates chemical wastes, making it a more environmentally sound investment. The antimicrobial agents are attached to the molecular structure of fibers, creating a permanent bond between the fibers and the agent so that washing and wearing do not reduce the efficacy.
Using nanotechnology, researchers from North Carolina State University and University of Puerto Rico have developed "smart textiles" by attaching nanolayers to natural fibers. These layers can be customized for different chemicals and can block agents such as mustard or nerve gas while keeping the fabric breathable. Nanolayers can be attached to a fiber without undermining its comfort or usability, providing very high levels of protection.
Sources:
Scientists to Develop Textiles with Permanent Antibacterial Properties http://www.physorg.com/news4631.html
Nanotech Researchers Develop High-Tech 'Smart Textile' http://www.physorg.com/news4246.html

Nanotechnology's Bottom-up Approach Gets a Boost
Foresight Nanotech Institute and Battelle Memorial Institute will lead a broadly based project to create a nanotechnology roadmap to help investment become more strategic and help set goals. The roadmap will focus on a bottom-up approach to nanotechnology based on productive nanosystems, using molecular machines to make larger products, scaling up to desktop manufacturing systems. The current approach mostly focuses on the reverse: large machines making smaller things like nanotubes, and other arrangements of molecules and atoms. The roadmap will describe a step-by-step development process starting with today's laboratory capabilities and providing useful products at every stage. Creating a roadmap that includes a broader range of approaches to nanotechnology will make cost, benefits, and time-to-impact judgments more clear for all. Such a roadmap may also assist future developers of international agreements on nanotechnology standards and trade.
Source:
News Release: Foresight Nanotech Institute Launches Nanotechnology Roadmap http://www.foresight.org/cms/press_center/128

Nanotechnology Protest
A group of environmental protesters disrobed in front of a high-end Madison Avenue clothing store in New York City to bring media attention against nanotech clothing that has stain-resistant nanotechnology-treated fabrics. This may be an early incident in a new anti-nanotech campaign that could grow into a major movement condemning uses of these new techniques. The situation is exacerbated by the very real lack of comprehensive scientific research on nanotechnology risks, and certainly by lack of public
Source:
When Nanopants Attack http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,67626,00.html?tw=rss.TOP

Russia Accepts London Convention on Dumping of Radioactive Wastes
The Russian Federation announced its acceptance of the regulations that ban dumping radioactive wastes in seawater, as stipulated under Resolution LC.51(16) to the London Convention. Adopted in 1993, Resolution LC.51(16) to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, "London Convention", prohibits all forms of radioactive wastes dumping into seas (including incineration at sea of industrial wastes). The resolution is now in force for all 81 Parties to the London Convention.
Source:
Russian Federation accepts ban on dumping of radioactive wastes under 1972 London Convention http://www.imo.org/home.asp
The London Convention http://www.londonconvention.org/main.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Climate Change
Joint Science Academies' Statement on Climate Change
The heads of eleven national academies of sciences (all G8 countries plus Brazil, China, and India) issued a joint statement: "Climate change is real". Documented with scientific and statistical data, the statement makes clear that global warming is occurring and all nations should engage in sustained long-term actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the inevitable consequences of climate change. Since the most affected would be those in developing nations, poverty and migration are likely to increase. Although global collaboration will be necessary, the statement also calls on G8 nations to show leadership in addressing climate change and assisting developing nations to meet the challenges of adaptation and mitigation. [See also 8.4 Climate Change Updates in April 2005 and other previous environmental security monthly reports.]
Source:
Text and signatures of the Joint science academies' statement:
Global response to climate change: Climate change is real http://nationalacademies.org/onpi/06072005.pdf

Improved Satellite Climate Change Monitoring
The UK's National Physical Laboratory designed the first unmanned probe able to calibrate its instruments in orbit, Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial and Helio Studies (TRUTHS). This will reduce the margin of error and be able to supply more accurate satellite data, thus improving climate change parameter monitoring and helping settle international disputes over greenhouse gas emissions and strategies to curb global warming; e.g., carbon trading. [See also Global Earth Observing System of Systems {GEOSS} Gets 10-Year Mandate in February 2005, and Improved coordination of global Earth observation in August 2003 environmental security reports.]
Source:
New probe may silence climate skeptics
NewScientist.com news service, Duncan Graham-Rowe, 01 June 2005 http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18625023.600

World's Mayors Sign Municipal Version of the Kyoto Protocol
Mayors from 70 of the world's largest cities signed the Urban Environmental Accords aiming to tackle global warming by implementing ecologically sustainable policies. The agreement specifies 21 actions that mayors should implement to improve their cities' environment, covering the domains of energy; waste; urban design; urban nature; transportation; environmental health; and water. It is expected that at least three actions will be implemented each year until World Environment Day 2012. The "Green Cities" event occurred in San Francisco, June 1-5, 2005.
Source:
Urban Environmental Accords. Green Cities Declaration http://www.wed2005.org/pdfs/Accords_v5.25.pdf?PHPSESSID=ace872ed53a0d9fa5677c21935e59549

North America's CEC Ministerial Statement
At the 12th Regular Session of the Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), the environment ministers of Canada, Mexico and the United States adopted the Strategic Plan 2005-2010, which sets the priorities and strategies to achieve the goals. This takes into account the recommendations of the Ten-year Review and Assessment Committee, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), and key stakeholders. The priorities for the coming years are: the development of Information for Decision Making (based on high quality environmental information that is integrated and comparable); support for Capacity Building; Trade and Environment issues that help promote environmental protection and improve enforcement of environmental law; and Expand Partnerships for Environmental Stewardship. [See also Review of NAFTA's Environmental Side Accord in October 2003 environmental security report.]
Source:
CEC Ministerial Statement http://www.cec.org/news/details/index.cfm?varlan=english&ID=2675

Sweden Calls for World Ban on PFOS Chemical
Sweden proposes a global ban on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a chemical used by a number of industries including semiconductor makers, and which might be harmful to human and animal health. Sweden would propose the ban under the Stockholm Convention. Sweden hopes that if the approval of the regulation takes a long time, the scientific evidence will convince countries to take independent advance actions to phase out PFOS. [See also Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in the April 2005, and 8.2 New Chemicals Proposed to be Added to Stockholm Convention on POPs in May 2005 environmental security scanning reports.]
Source:
Sweden Calls for World Ban on PFOS Chemical http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31243/story.htm

EU Sets 2011 Deadline to Ban Mercury Exports
EU Environment ministers decided to ban mercury exports by 2011. Europe is the world largest mercury exporter, supplying about one-third of global demand. It also proposed the phase-out of mercury in some products such as thermometers, and improved global efforts on mercury waste management. [See also Governments Call for Global Assessment and Control of Mercury Pollution in February 2005 environmental security report.]
Source:
EU sets 2011 deadline to ban mercury exports http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24190898.htm

EU Commission Sets Long-term Energy Goals
In April the EU Parliament's Industry Committee approved raising the 2006-2015 energy reduction goal from 10% to 11.5%. This month the EU Executive Commission set an objective of 20% reduction by 2020, saving €60B per year in fuel costs. New EU laws requiring efficient buildings and appliances may achieve half the goal, but additional measures will be needed. A group of legislators went further, calling for a goal of 23% reduction. [See EU to Set Higher Targets for Cuts in Energy Consumption in April 2005 environmental security report.]
Source
EU Wants 20 Percent Cut in Energy Use by 2020 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31375/story.htm

Russian Green Party Formally Organized
The Green Russia party (now its official name) has now been formally organized with Alexei Yablokov as its chairman and Alexander Nikitin, the former naval officer, and nuclear safety activist, as one of its principal figures. The party's major present goal is to achieve the 50,000 member level necessary for participation in elections. [See also Russia's Green Movement Plans to Become a Political Party of October, 2004 environmental security monthly report]
Sources:
Veteran Russian ecologists form Green Russia party http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050605/sc_afp/russiapoliticsgreens_050605172821
Head of Russia's New Green Party Outlines Tasks, Problems http://www.rednova.com/news/science/154757/head_of_russias_new_green_party_outlines_tasks_problems/

Coalition Urges UN to Consider Legislation to Curb Harmful Ocean Sounds
The Ocean Noise Coalition urges the international community to pass regulations to curb harmful sound waves used by the oil and gas industry, and navies to detect submarines. Marine scientists state that there is increased evidence that these sounds are harmful to whales, dolphins and other marine life. The Coalition aimed to convince delegates from 148 nations to take action on the issue during their forthcoming consultations on oceans and marine law. [See also Scientific Models Could Help Navy Avoid Whales During Sonar Tests in February 2005, European Parliament Resolution to Protect Whales From Sonar in October 2004, and Research Confirms Military and Industry Sonar Harms Whales of July 2004 environmental security reports.]
Source:
Coalition Urges UN Curbs on Harmful Ocean Sounds http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7912

The Controversies over GMO Bans Continue
The EU is still divided over GMO bans. At the recent European Environment Council meeting, five European countries, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, and Luxembourg got majority support for rejecting the European Commission's proposal to lift the bans on transgenic varieties of maize and oilseed rape, under the justification that they present risks to human health and the environment. Meanwhile, Italy requested that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conduct its own independent scientific research to assess possible health risks associated with GMO rather than rely on data provided by the biotech industry. [See also EU Commission Seeks to Increase Biotech Food Safety in January 2004 and The EU Ended its Ban on Genetically Modified Foods in May 2004 environmental security reports.]
Japan, after finding a U.S. corn cargo infected with the unapproved Bt-10 biotech corn variety, decided to test every U.S. cargo entering the country. In China, genetically modified rice illegal cultivation and commercialization is spreading, increasing concerns that the non-approved variety could enter markets overseas.
Source:
EU Environment Ministers Let Five States Keep GM Crop Bans http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2005/2005-06-27-03.asp
Italy Calls for Independent EU Research on GMOs http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31035/story.htm
Japan Finds US Biotech Corn, now to Test all Imports http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31062/story.htm
Illegal GMO Rice Spreads across China - Greenpeace http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31219/story.htm

Ratification began for the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments
Australia is the first country to sign the international agreement regulating ships' ballast water, adopted in February 2004 by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO), and began the ratification procedures. The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments stipulates a series of measures aiming to prevent potential marine hazards caused by aquatic organisms carried by ships' ballast water. It will come into force 12 months after ratification by 30
Sources:
Australia Signs Treaty to Limit Hitchhikers in Ballast Water http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2005/2005-06-02-03.asp
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments adopted in 2004 http://www.imo.org/Environment/mainframe.asp?topic_id=548

Reports to Review
Lux Report Addressing Nanotech Health, Environmental, and Safety Risks
Nanotechnology's environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks can be addressed responsibly today, states a new Lux Research report, A Prudent Approach to Nanotech Environmental, Health, and Safety Risks. Explaining different types of risks associated with nanotechnology, Lux estimates that of $8 trillion projected manufacturing output using some nanotechnology through 2014, 25% is exposed to real risk at manufacturing (which should be easiest to mitigate), 7% is exposed to real risk at use, 14% is exposed to risk at end-of-life, while 40% is exposed to perceptual risk. The report states that risks can be effectively addressed today by using well-established risk management techniques, and it also suggests that specific actions from corporations, start-ups, investors, and governments are needed to address nanotech EHS risks. It comments that U.S. government funding for nanotech EHS risk assessment should be increased from the present earmarked 3.7% of the $1.05 billion U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative budget for 2006. [See also item 9.4 Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions in May 2005 environmental security monthly report.]
Note: on June 29, 2005 Lux Research released Nanotechnology: Where Does the U.S. Stand? "assessing how U.S. research and business activities in nanotech measure up to those of international competitors." (Report available only to Lux Research clients)
Source:
Nanotechnology's Environmental, Health, And Safety Risks Can Be Addressed Responsibly Today http://www.nanoinvestornews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4380
Lux Research information: http://www.luxresearchinc.com

European Nanotechnology Action Plan
The European Commission has announced its Action Plan to improve European competitiveness in nanotechnology. The plan outlines European-wide and national measures to strengthen nanotechnology research and implementation in a safe and responsible way. The measures in the action plan include: boosting funding--including research to assess possible impact on human health and the environment; respect of ethical principles and citizens' concerns and expectations; building risk assessment into the research and developing guidelines for such risk assessment (including reassessment of existing EU legislation); full access of the public to research; strengthening international dialogue on common issues; and improved infrastructure. The plan also calls for a legislative
Sources:
The Nanotechnology Service of the European Commission (EU Nanotech latest news) http://www.cordis.lu/nanotechnology
Looking small, thinking big - keeping Europe at the forefront of nanotechnology http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/717&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Desertification Synthesis (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 3)
The Desertification Synthesis report was launched on June 17, to mark World Day to Combat Desertification. It represents a synthesis and integration of the findings of the assessment of ecosystem change-mainly desertification-due to human activity, as well as the consequences of these changes on future human wellbeing. It provides scientific evidence for sustainable living policies. "Growing desertification worldwide threatens to swell by millions the number of poor forced to seek new homes and livelihoods," according to the report. The Desertification Synthesis is part of a series of six MA synthesis reports. [See also items Biodiversity Synthesis Report (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2) of May and Human Footprint on Earth Ecosystem at Critical Stage and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report of March 2005 environmental security monthly reports.]
Source:
MA launches Desertification Synthesis Report on "World Day to Combat Desertification" http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/Article.aspx?id=67
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.aspx

One Planet Many People-Atlas of our Changing Environment
UNEP launched the One Planet Many People Atlas to mark World Environment Day 2005. Using satellite images that compare and contrast images of critical parts of the planet from a few decades ago with contemporary ones, the Atlas shows grave damaging environmental changes, addressing a variety of key environmental issues such as urbanization, deforestation, and melting glaciers.
Source:
One Planet Many People-Atlas of our Changing Environment http://www.na.unep.net/OnePlanetManyPeople/index.php

Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint
Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint is a report launched at the European Parliament, by WWF and Global Footprint Network, analyzing the impact of Europe's lifestyle on the ecosystem. It reveals that Europe's ecological footprint is 2.2 times larger than its own biological capacity. With just 7% of world population, Europe consumes 17% of the world resources supply--a figure that has risen nearly 70% since 1961. The report shows that innovation and addressing ecological deficits are fundamental to maintaining Europe's competitiveness and wellbeing. Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint is based on Global Footprint Network's National Footprint Accounts and analysis (specifically France, Germany, Greece, Poland, and the UK), as well as a comparison of the footprints of 25 European nations. [See also items Biodiversity Synthesis Report (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2) of May and Human Footprint on Earth Ecosystem at Critical Stage and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report of March 2005 environmental security monthly reports.]
Sources:
Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint (the report) http://www.wwf.fi/wwf/www/uploads/pdf/ekologinen_jalanjalki_june05.pdf
Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint (press release) http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=europe2005

UNU Report Urges the Need For a New Treaty on Deep-Sea Research
A new international treaty is needed to regulate the search for new products from species in deep international waters, the Institute for Advanced Studies of the United Nations University warns in a report. Compounds found in marine organisms can be used in medicines, and commercial exploration lured by potential profits threatens unique deep-sea ecosystem. The report urges the need for a new treaty to regulate exploitation so that benefits from the research are shared fairly and helps humanity as a whole. [See also Could large-scale ocean zoning prevent conflicts? of March 2005 environmental security monthly report.]
Sources:
Bioprospecting of Genetic Resources in the Deep Seabed: Scientific, Legal and Policy Aspects http://www.ias.unu.edu/binaries2/DeepSeabed.pdf
Tapping the oceans' treasures: Bioprospecting in the Deep Seabed http://www.ias.unu.edu/news/details.cfm/ArticleID/680/search/yes
'Treaty needed' to regulate deep-sea bioprospecting http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2151&language=1

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May 2005

World Health Assembly adopts new International Health Regulations
The new International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Organization's annual assembly on May 23, 2005, will increase security against global epidemics of deadly diseases by improving national and international capacity for preventing and responding to disease outbreaks. The new regulations include comprehensive assessment, reporting, and response standards mandatory for each country and to be implemented within a specific timeframe; operational mechanisms; increased collaboration between countries' health offices and with the WHO; and a better coordinated international reporting and response system. The regulations stipulate the increased roles of countries and WHO in identifying, preventing, and responding to public health emergencies of international concern. WHO should be quickly informed of any outbreak of four diseases--SARS, bird flu, smallpox and polio--as well as any outbreaks of "potential international public health concern" from known or unknown causes or sources. The new regulations will formally come into force two years after approved by the Assembly. [See also UN Report Recommends New Powers to Combat Bioterrorism and Epidemics in the February 2005 environmental security scanning report.]
Sources:
World Health Assembly adopts new International Health Regulations http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2005/pr_wha03/en/index.html
Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2005/wha58/en/index.html
Resolution containing the revised International Health Regulations http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA58/A58_55-en.pdf

New Tools to Monitor Environmental Pollution
Software "Toolkit" for Control of Hazardous Chemicals
The Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous and Other Wastes developed a software "toolkit" that would greatly help assessing and managing the hazardous chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The PCB Inventory and Management Decision Supportive Tool (DST) will help collect and organize PCB data, and support planning for PCB disposal and transboundary movement. In addition to falling under the scope of the Basel Convention, PCBs are to be phased out of use by 2025 under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Source:
Secretariat of the Basel Convention http://www.basel.int/
Launch of a PCB Inventory and Management Decision Supportive Tool http://www.basel.int/press/PCB_Toolkit.doc

New Web Site on Biomonitoring Technology
The Environmental Health Research Foundation (EHRF) launched a new web site that is providing comprehensive information on Biomonitoring," the scientific technique for assessing human exposure to natural and synthetic chemicals http://www.biomonitoringinfo.org. [Note: the website is just now being populated.]
Source:
Biomonitoring Info http://www.biomonitoringinfo.org/

Fostering Environment and Security Connection
International Conference on Environment, Peace and the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures
The International Conference on Environment, Peace and the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures, held May 9-10 in Tehran, Iran, was organized by UNEP, Iranian Department of Environment, the United Nations University (UNU), and UNESCO. It discussed and reaffirmed the interaction between environment and conflict, environment and human security, and the role of dialogue in reducing international conflict and protecting the environment. Other issues discussed were: the efficiency of the current international regulations relating to environmental protection during armed conflict; the status of environmental treaties after parties go to war; the applicability of international law to non-international armed conflicts; and UNEP's possible role in assessing liability for damages. UNEP representative noted the potential of a future UN Peacebuilding Commission to address these issues. The delegates adopted the Tehran Communiqué that provides nine recommendations and conclusions arising from the Conference: to create a culture of universal peace and solidarity; to deepen and broaden the process of dialogue among civilizations and cultures; UNEP should continue its initiative on environment, peace and dialogue and consider holding annual international meetings; improve understanding and correlation between security and environment; enlarge the dialogue to include all segments of society; the proposed UN Peacebuilding Commission should contribute to the objectives of the Conference; development of fora for preventive dialogue and post-conflict restitution; and cultural, ethical and spiritual values must be fully integrated into strategies of dialogue for peace, security and development. The Communiqué will be formally submitted to the UN Secretary-General as a message to the September UN General Assembly.
Sources:
International Conference on Environment, Peace, and the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures, 9-10 May 2005, Tehran, Iran http://www.iisd.ca/sd/sdter/
Dialogue Among Civilizations Bulletin http://www.iisd.ca/sd/sdter/ymbvol108num1e.html

Call for Legally Binding Agreement for Forests' Conservation
UN Forum on Forests 5th Session, held 16-27 May 2005, reviewed the effectiveness of the International Arrangement on Forests and determined that better international regulations, management mechanisms, and long-term political commitments are needed to improve forest conservation. Several officials called for a legally binding instrument and quantifiable targets eventually linked to the Millennium Development Goals. [These goals will be reviewed for possible modification at the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2005.] The delegates failed to reach agreement on future international arrangements and improving international regulations on forests. The next UNFF is planned for February 13, 2006.
During the Forum, the World Wildlife Federation and the World Bank renewed their World Bank/WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use and announced their new forest protection goal to cut global deforestation 10% by 2010.
Sources:
UN Forum of Forests: http://www.un.org/esa/forests/index.html
WWF, World Bank Would Trim Global Deforestation 10 Percent by 2010 http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2005/2005-05-26-04.asp
UN Forest Forum Concludes Two-Week Session At UN Headquarters; Fails to reach full agreement on future global plan
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/envdev859.doc.htm

New Resolution on Victims' International Human Rights
The latest Session of the UN Human Rights Commission approved the "Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law." This comprehensive Resolution doesn't introduce new international obligations, but identifies "mechanisms, modalities, procedures and methods for the implementation of existing legal obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law" and reinforces the obligation of all States to respect the international legal obligations and adapt their respective national legal systems to the international laws and regulations on human rights. The Resolution will come into effect after adoption by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, which could occur at the next meeting this September.
Source:
Basic principles and guidelines on the right to a remedy and reparation for victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law. Human Rights Resolution 2005/35
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/CHR/resolutions/E-CN_4-RES-2005-35.doc

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications
Nano-engineered Powders Tackle Toxic Chemicals
FAST-ACT is a new family of nano-engineered powders that can clean up hazardous substances such as VX nerve gas and sulfuric acid. This toxic-chemical cleaner composed of magnesium, titanium, and oxygen was developed by Kansas State University chemist Kenneth Klabunde and will be produced by NanoScale Materials Inc.
Source:
Nano-engineered Powders Tackle Toxic Chemicals
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=104102

New Environmental-friendly Lighting Based on Gallium Nitride
Prof. Colin Humphreys from Cambridge University, UK, is developing gallium nitride-based light bulbs that could last 100 times longer than light bulbs used today. Scientists agree that using gallium nitride in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) could help cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 15%. While different nitride-based LED applications could soon materialize, it might take 5-10 years to develop the technology to produce gallium nitride LEDs with an acceptably white light for home and office lighting. Since lighting accounts for 20% of electricity use in developed countries and 40% in developing ones, the financial and environmental savings could be considerable.
Source:
UK Scientist's Bright Idea to Fight Global Warming
PlanetArk, Story by Patricia Reaney, 2/5/2005 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30647/story.htm

Enviromatics could contribute to Environmental Security
MIT introduces and explains the emergence of a new field, enviromatics, born from the convergence of information technology and environmental research. Unlike environmental modeling based on statistical data, enviromatics uses real-time ecosystems-status database, Internet tools, and ubiquitous computers. Improved continuous sensing, simulation, and mapping tools make the predictions more reliable than previously. Instantaneous ecosystem analysis and short-term forecasting of ecosystems' conditions is accessible to anybody interested. Possible applications of the new field range from farmers who could avoid eventual damages to their crops, to protection of endangered species that need special habitat conditions. Enviromatics could impact decisionmaking for improving forecasting implications of different action options, as well as increasing public awareness to foster more environmentally friendly practices.
Source:
Enviromatics. Computer forecasts enhance farm production and species diversity
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/05/issue/feature_emerging.asp?p=8

Nets of Agents Probe the Environment
An important branch of Enviromatics [See previous item 5.3] is concerned with the acquisition of environmental data. Several current projects (Univ. of Wyoming, Univ. of Pennsylvania, UCLA) are developing variations of advanced data acquisition techniques. These are based on large networks of small intercommunicating devices (agents), incorporating sensors, which can monitor wide areas for environmental data, process it, and transmit results back to a central point. These devices may be stationary--laid out in a grid pattern over the region of concern--or they can be a band of mobile robots swarming over a large area in an internally controlled search for sites and information of interest. Individual units might be specialized; e.g., for radiation, biological weapons, or chemical weapons. The key element here is the combination of individual autonomy, in which each device "runs itself", and intercommunication, which permits low-power wireless transmission of data and plans around the network. In this way the assemblage of units can behave in a seemingly intelligent manner, adjusting its behavior to changing conditions or surroundings. A flight of migratory birds, maintaining its V-shape, is the classic example of this kind of emergent behavior, demonstrating that, in fact, the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. [See also On-chip Antenna to Solve Communication Problems among Microscopic Sensors in May 2004, and Robot Swarms in June 2004 environmental security monthly scanning reports.]
Source:
Couple Receive Grant to Develop Robots
http://www.forbes.com/business/healthcare/feeds/ap/2005/05/16/ap2032031.html

Progress on Self-replicating Robots
A team of engineers from Cornell University in Ithaca NY, has created robots that can self-replicate similarly to biological cloning. At this stage, they are just simple sets of 4 modular robot cubes, "molecubes", which are able to assemble copies of themselves, when provided a supply of pre-made cubes. Yet, they represent an important step forward compared to previous self-replicating robots, due to their flexibility, "memory", and three-dimension movement possibility.
Source:
Stuff of sci-fi nightmares? An army of robots that reproduce
By Steve Connor, Science Editor, 12 May 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=637672 (by subscription only)
Robotics: Self-reproducing machines
Nature 435, 163-164 (12 May 2005) Brief Communication
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v435/n7039/abs/435163a.html (by subscription only)
Robots master reproduction
Andreas von Bubnoff http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050509/full/050509-6.html

Buckyballs Might Affect the Environment
Scientists have found that buckyballs (the C60 hollow molecule nanospheres), envisioned for use in a wide variety of applications, are soluble in water, and influence the functioning of bacteria. So far, research shows that the particles at a concentration of 0.5 parts per million inhibited bacterial growth and respiration. Several features influence their behavior, including water's Ph. Thus, buckyballs are not biologically inert. This reveals that more research is necessary to understand buckyballs' behaviors and influences on the environment, and to guide the development of any eventual regulations concerning nanotechnology applications.
Sources:
New research raises questions about buckyballs and the environment
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/acs-nrr050905.php
C60 in Water: Nanocrystal Formation and Microbial Response
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/asap/abs/es048099n.html

Sunlight-powered System for Cleaning Water and Produce Electricity
Scientists from Aberdeen University of Scotland began a three-year research project for developing a "photoelectrocatalytic" fuel cell that would harness sunlight to break down various organic pollutants in water and produce electricity as a byproduct. [See also New More Efficient Microbial Fuel Cell Cleans Wastewater and produces Hydrogen in the April 2005 environmental security report.]
Source:
Harnessing the power of the sun to clean water
Frank Urquhart, The Scotsman: http://business.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=457072005

Conviction in Transborder Electromagnetic Pollution Case
Cardinal Roberto Tucci, former head of Vatican Radio's management committee, and the Rev. Pasquale Borgomeo, the station's director general, were convicted by a Rome cour for polluting the environment with electromagnetic waves from a transmission tower in the Rome suburb of Cesano, damaging the health of those living nearby. Although under the 1929 Treaty between the Holy See and Italy, Vatican is an independent city-state, Italy's Supreme Court ruled that the case could be tried.
Source:
Cardinal Convicted in Environmental Case
By Frances D'emilio, May 9, 2005 6:01 PM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4993374,00.html

New Developments for Climate Change
Earth is Absorbing an Excess of Solar Energy
A recent paper in Science by NASA scientists reports that Earth is absorbing much more heat than it is losing, a result that adds weight to the pessimistic forecasts on global warming. Their prediction shows a global rise of 1° F. this century even if greenhouse gases remained at their present level. Some of their new data comes from the Argo ocean sensing project and, combined with readings from other sources, indicates that the planet's surface has a solar energy imbalance of +0.85 watts/square meter.
Source:
Experts Say New Data Show Global Warming
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7640

Reversal of Global Dimming
Researchers found that the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface is increasing, and has been for at least the past ten years, reversing a dimming trend that extended over several prior decades. The reasons for these fluctuations are obscure, but it is likely that this brightening, and consequent increased warming, is at least partly due to a decrease in the emission into the atmosphere of particulates and other sunlight-shielding pollutants from industrial operations. If this trend persists, or even stabilizes, it raises doubts as to whether the current forecasts of global warming are pessimistic enough.
Source
Earth Lightens Up
http://www.arm.gov/science/research/show.php?id=R00077
From Dimming to Brightening: Decadal Changes in Solar Radiation at Earth's Surface
Science, Vol 308, Issue 5723, 847-850, 6 May 2005
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/308/5723/847?rbfvrToken=d8502253205de84408e9ca3802db700a416cf35b (full article by subscription only)

UN Meeting Fails to Agree on Post-Kyoto Strategy
The UN meeting in Bonn trying to extend the spectrum of the Kyoto Protocol after 2012 failed to agree on an international post-Kyoto framework mainly because of EU-US disagreements and major emerging economies that are reluctant to curb their surging greenhouse gas emissions. This two-day seminar attended by delegates from 190 nations, was the first formal UN climate meeting since the Kyoto Protocol entered into force. The next negotiations will be at a meeting of environment ministers in Montreal, Canada, in December. [See also items 8.4 Ambitious Post-Kyoto EU Emissions Goals in March 2005 and 7.1 Kyoto Protocol Came into Force on February 16, 2005 in February 2005 environmental security reports.]
A recent World Bank study shows that trade in carbon dioxide permits surged this year since the Kyoto Protocol came into force and as the EU launched its "cap and trade" scheme.
Sources:
Bonn Talks To Promote Progress On Climate Change Convention
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/envdev849.doc.htm
Post-2012 climate talks stalled at UN conference
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/envdev849.doc.htm
Greenhouse Gas Trade Growing Sharply - World Bank
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30772/story.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues
Gothenburg Air Pollution Protocol Entered into Force on May 17, 2005
The Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone entered into force on 17 May 2005. The Protocol was originally adopted on 30 November 1999 in Gothenburg (Sweden) and signed by 31 countries. It is the eighth to take effect under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Protocol sets targets for emission cuts for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia, and sets limit values for specific emission sources (e.g. combustion plants, electricity production, dry cleaning, cars and lorries) and requires best available techniques to be used to keep emissions down. [See also item 8.1 The Gothenburg Protocol on Air Pollution to Enter into Force on May 17 of March 2005, and item 9.2 Changes to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of December 2004 environmental security scanning reports.]
Source:
New Air Pollution Protocol to take effect on 17 May 2005
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2005/05env_p02e.htm

New Chemicals Proposed to be Added to Stockholm Convention on POPs
The Punta del Este meeting of the parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) established a POPs Review Committee that will be responsible for evaluating additional chemicals that can be added to the current list of 12. Four candidate chemicals were given to the Committee, whose first meeting will be held in Geneva later this year, with its recommendations forwarded to future annual meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. The four candidates for phaseout are: the flame retardant pentabromodiphenyl; the hexachlorocyclohexanes, including the pesticide lindane; the pesticide chlordecone; and the flame retardant hexabromobiphenyl. [See also Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in the April 2005, and Stockholm Convention on POPs Came Into Force this Month in the May 2004 environmental security scanning reports.]
Sources:
Governments to take decisive action to implement UN-backed treaty against organic pollutants
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=14200&Cr=pollut&Cr1=
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants http://www.pops.int/

Meeting of the Parties (MOP-2) to the Aarhus Convention
The second meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention--UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters--took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 25-27 May 2005. It reviewed progress so far and improvement of its mechanism to increase performance of the Convention's implementation in all regions. It assessed the application of principle 10 [access to environmental information at all levels] of the Rio Declaration at both global and regional levels. Agreement was reached on an amendment to the Convention for extending the role of the public in decisions involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The declaration adopted by the Ministerial segment of the meeting was not yet available at the time of this writing. [See also related items Aarhus Clearing House Launched in September 2004, Full Application of the Aarhus Convention in November 2003, The Aarhus Convention and GMOs in October 2003 environmental security scanning reports.]
Source:
Aarhus Convention; Second Meeting of the Parties
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/mop2.htm

Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty
In spite of all the current discussions on different forms of nuclear threats, the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended its month-long meeting without adopting any significant decisions to improve the NPT and its mechanisms. The three working committees were organized on the main topics of the Treaty: disarmament, verification of safeguards on national nuclear programs, and the peaceful use of atomic energy. No consensus was achieved on any of them and the final document has no "recommendations" section. Yet, many delegates attested their nations' continuous commitment to push for nuclear disarmament, entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and other measures to promote nuclear safety. Ambassador Sérgio de Queiroz Duarte (Brazil), President of the Conference, acknowledged, however, that the ways in which the issues have been discussed, the interest of the delegations, the documents presented, and the debates were an important step forward and a great opportunity for the delegations to put forth their nations' views on how to improve the system of the Treaty. Canadian Ambassador Paul Meyer suggested that annual conferences be held to accelerate progress of the negotiations. Among the positive outcomes of the Conference is the agreement on "indicators of noncompliance" and possible consequences for withdrawal from the treaty.
Meantime, addressing the "Mayors for Peace" conference, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the world's mayors to revitalize their view for a global ban on nuclear weapons by 2020 and advance the organization's Programme to Promote Solidarity of Cities toward the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons.
Sources:
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 2005 Review Conference
http://www.un.org/events/npt2005/
NPT Conference to Deadlock
http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_5_27.html#D7AE4A63
Nuclear Weapon Ban only Guarantee They Will Never again Be Used, Says Secretary-General in Remarks to Mayors for Peace
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2005/sgsm9853.html

Reports to Review
Biodiversity Synthesis Report (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2)
The second Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report, Biodiversity and Human Well-being: A Synthesis Report for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was released on May 22 to mark the International Day of Biodiversity. [See the March 2005 ES Report, Item 8.7, for the first in this series of seven similar Millennium Assessment papers] In response to requests for information received through the CBD, the report synthesizes and integrates findings related to biological diversity from the four MA Working Groups: Conditions and Trends, Scenarios, Responses and Sub-global Assessments. The key findings of the report are: in the last 50 years, human actions have changed the diversity of life on the planet more than at any other time in human history; biodiversity is the foundation for human well-being; human activities are leading to the loss of the variety of life; in the past, actions and programs that promoted conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity limited biodiversity loss; the size of the task ahead of us is so great that the 2010 biodiversity target will only realistically be achieved in certain areas and regions if we engage in substantial efforts.
Sources:
MA releases second report: Biodiversity and Human Well-being (news release)
http://www.maweb.org/en/index.aspx
Biodiversity and Human Well-being (report downloadable)
http://www.maweb.org/proxy/document.aspx?source=database&TableName=Documents&IdField=DocumentID&Id=354&ContentField=Document&ContentTypeField=ContentType&TitleField=Title&FileName=CBDSynthesisFINAL.pdf&Log=True

Reforming International Environmental Governance: From Institutional Limits to Innovative Reforms
Reforming International Environmental Governance: From Institutional Limits to Innovative Reforms by the UNU addresses the international institutional framework that would best serve global environmental governance. The ad hoc nature of the current over 500 international agreements and institutions dealing with environmental issues around the world complicates the implementation and compliance process of environmental regulations. The contributors suggest institutional reform of the current international environmental governance system and evaluate three potential models: enforcement, centralization, and cooperation through increased coordination and collaboration. They examine the possibilities of improving international environmental governance by strengthening UNEP and clustering the existent international regulations; a potential World Environment Organization; and the prospect of a World Environment Court; as well as UN reforms.
Source:
Reforming International Environmental Governance: From Institutional Limits to Innovative Reforms. Edited by W. Bradnee Chambers and Jessica F. Green. UN University, May 2005
http://www.unu.edu/unupress/2005/reforming-ieg.html

Vital Signs 2005
Worldwatch Institute Vital Signs 2005 report discusses 35 economic, social, and ecological trends that have crucial impacts on the world's future. It raises awareness and a warning signal on the ecological and social costs of today's unsustainable growth and consumption. The report notes that if present tends and patterns continue, environmental refugees could reach 50 million by 2010.
Source:
Vital Signs 2005, Worldwatch Institute
http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/vs/2005/

Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions
Although the book review in Small Times says that the title is overstated--the book not offering "solutions"--it presents a comprehensive overview of today's environmental regulations and their current status, addresses pollution issues including control techniques, and does an assessment of nanotechnology referring to its potential health risks, risk communication, and ethical issues. The book appears to be a good source of information both for environmentalists--explaining nanotechnology - and for nanotech scientists--informing about environmental policies and procedures.
Source:
Book Review: Eco-Friendly And Nano Smart, In Theory
By Candace Stuart, Small Times Editor-in-Chief
http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?section_id=76&document_id=9139

Back to Top

April 2005

UN Convention against Nuclear Terrorism

The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism was adopted by the General Assembly on April 13, 2005 and will be open for signature on 14 September at the high-level plenary meeting scheduled for the 60th session of the UN General Assembly. The Convention creates an enforced legal framework to counter nuclear terrorism. It will provide for a definition of acts of nuclear terrorism, and covers nuclear safety, crisis and post-crisis situations in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. Under its provisions, States are supposed to cooperate by sharing information and assisting each other in preventing terrorist attacks, and the alleged offenders must be prosecuted or extradited.

Sources:
General Assembly Adopts Convention On Nuclear Terrorism; Will Open For Signature At Headquarters 14 September
Also Adopts 16 Budget Committee Texts; Peacekeeping Finance, Reform of UN Justice System among Issues Addressed
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/ga10340.doc.htm
New Convention Against Nuclear Terrorism Bolsters Global Framework
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2005/conv_nuclterror.html

International Conference on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement

Participants from over 60 countries and 125 organizations explored strategies to improve compliance with domestic and international environmental law at the 7th International Conference of the International Network on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 10-15 April 2005. Papers from the conference stressed the relationship of compliance and enforcement to the rule of law to help achieve a system of good governance and ultimately meet sustainable development objectives. Supporting materials are available on the interactive INECE website.
INECE is the only global network of independent experts dedicated to pursuing the rule of law, good environmental governance, and sustainable development at all levels of governance. It links the environmental compliance and enforcement efforts of more than 4,000 practitioners - inspectors, prosecutors, regulators, parliamentarians, judges, and NGOs - from over 120 countries, through training and capacity building programs, raising awareness, and enhancing enforcement cooperation.

Sources:
INECE Conference Program with interactive feature of draft results available by clicking on the relevant section http://inece.org/conference/7/program.html and conference proceedings at:
http://www.inece.org/conference/7/vol1/index.html
Marrakech Statement (Co-Chair and Executive Planning Committee Final Conference Statement) http://www.inece.org/conference/7/statement.html

International Water Policies Needed

Gorbachev Calls for a Treaty to Declare Clean Water Access as a Human Right
Mikhail Gorbachev wants the UN World Summit in September to declare that access to safe water is a human right and embody this right in a new international treaty. His speech at the 13th meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development called for a legally binding treaty with adequate implementation mechanisms to guarantee the right to clean water and sanitation to all. This former head of the Soviet Union declared that providing clean water for everyone is a bigger challenge than ending the nuclear arms race during the Cold War.

Sources:
Commission on Sustainable Development, 13th meeting
Mikhail Gorbachev statement under Topic: Turning Political Commitments into Action: Interactive Discussions with UN organizations, Thursday, 21 April 2005
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd13/csd13.htm
Gorbachev Urges Water Treaty; Criticizes U.S. Nuclear Policy
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200504/200504220004.html (article stored for a limited time on the website)
Sustainable Development Commission Fails to Sustain Enthusiasm
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/2005-04-26-03.asp (by subscription only)

Two Reports Stress Water Management to Avoid Conflict
Water, Conflict, and Cooperation, a "policy brief" featured in the latest Woodrow Wilson Center Environmental Change and Security Project Report (10), argues that water scarcity issues are both a threat and an opportunity for the UN system. Effective UN water policies and management could enhance cooperation and reduce the potential for conflict. The authors suggest the creation of a "one-stop shop" - pooling the many UN organizations that work on water issues - so that nations and organizations would get the best synergies of personnel, technologies, and advice to improve their water improvement systems.
Another report, Making Water a Part of Economic Development: The Economic Benefits of Improved Water Management and Services, by the Stockholm International Water Institute and WHO, argues that efficient water management for human security could accelerate economic growth, sustainable development, and improving health. The report demonstrates that economic benefits far outweigh the costs and suggests three major investment priorities: access to safe water and basic sanitation; protection of the integrity of aquatic and water-related terrestrial ecosystems; and water-resource management. The report was released at the UN headquarters in conjunction with the 13th Meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

Sources:
Water, Conflict, and Cooperation
Policy Brief by Alexander Carius, Geoffrey Dabelko, and Aaron Wolf
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ecspr10_unf-caribelko.pdf
Making Water a Part of Economic Development: The Economic Benefits of Improved Water Management and Services
http://www.siwi.org/downloads/Reports/CSD_Economics.pdf

China River Basin Issues
Promoting Sustainable River Basin Governance?Crafting Japan-U.S. Water Partnerships in China, a publication by the Woodrow Wilson Center's China Environment Forum and Japan Institute of Developing Economies, is the result of cooperation between Chinese, U.S., and Japanese water experts on improving Chinese river basin management. The report explores areas of collaboration between the three countries on three central issues: (1) river basin management institutions, (2) financing, and (3) public participation.
Meanwhile, the lower Min River, which is one of the Yangtze's major tributaries, is essentially dry as a result of dams built in its upper section; consequently, the downstream communities do not get water for domestic use and irrigation for millions of hectares of farmland, causing food and water shortage in a heavily populated area. [See also Prospects for Conflict over Water Rise in Several Regions in the March 2005 environmental security scanning report]

Sources:
Promoting Sustainable River Basin Governance?Crafting Japan-U.S. Water Partnerships in China http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Spot/28.html
CEF and Japanese partner Institute of Developing Economies publish book on promoting river basin governance in China
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1421&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=117302
Major Yangtze tributary drying up due to dams, environmental group says
http://www.terradaily.com/2005/050423031949.iz5t0ynm.html

EU to Set Higher Targets for Cuts in Energy Consumption

The European Parliament's Industry Committee approved a proposal for raising energy consumption cuts from the earlier target of 10% to 11.5% over the period 2006-2015. The new schedule is to cut 3% from 2006 to 2009, 4% from 2009 to 2012, and an additional 4.5% from 2012 to 2015. During the Brussels European Council Summit at the end of March, the EU heads of state and government reiterated the importance of implementing the Lisbon Strategy for growth, competitiveness and social cohesion in today's knowledge-based world, and addressed climate change and sustainable development. They also emphasized EU preparations for the September UN Summit and its substantial role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Sources:
EU Lawmakers Want Higher Energy Use Cut in 2006-15 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30512/story.htm
Presidency conclusions of the Brussels European Council http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_4505_en.htm

Nanobacteria in Clouds could Spread Disease

Nanobacteria in clouds could become pathogenic airborne contaminants. They could play a crucial role in the spread of disease and in the formation of rain drops, according to Dr Andrei P. Sommer of the University of Ulm, Germany, and Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe of Cardiff University, UK. Nanobacteria are microorganisms 100 times smaller than ordinary bacteria and can self-replicate. The wind can blow disease-carrying nanobacteria from the ground all the way to the stratosphere where they can oscillate between dormant and active states, as they move between high and low-humidity regions in clouds and then return to different areas on the earth via rain.

Sources:
Nanobacteria in clouds could spread disease, scientists claim. EurekAlert, 6-Apr-2005
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/cu-nic040605.php
Nanobacteria in Clouds May Spread Diseases Around the World
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/2005-04-11-03.asp (by subscription only)

New Nanotechnology Forecasting and Assessment Programs
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies launched by the Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) and the Pew Charitable Trusts will assess possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology and potential nanotechnology risk management strategies. It will be a reliable source of information for businesses, governments, and the public through reports, analyses and regular meetings with leaders in the field.
The Institute of Nanotechnology, a global leader in nanotechnology matters, will officially launch the European Nanotechnology Trade Association (ENTA), on June 1, 2005, to act as an interface between nanotechnology businesses across Europe and: governments, science and industry policy makers; and the public and watchdog organizations 'to ensure transparency and that new nanotechnologies are developed in a safe and responsible manner.'

Sources:
Wilson Center Launches New Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies http://wwics.si.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.item&news_id=120312
European Nanotechnology Trade Association Established http://www.nano.org.uk/enta/press_release_300305.htm

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

New and Improved Land Mine Destruction Technique
A British de-mining specialist corporation, Disarmco, in partnership with ordnance and explosive experts at Cranfield University at Shrivenham, have developed a new environmentally friendly and low-cost mine destruction device, codenamed "Dragon". The device is based on a high-temperature pyrotechnic torch, which burns the explosive material in the mine rather than detonating it, a technique that can cause destruction and contamination over a substantial area. According to the university, "The torches are made in situ in … [a] portable unit and do not require any specialist knowledge or expensive training in order to be used safely by local communities employed in decontamination efforts."

Sources:
Cranfield Leads The Development Of Next Generation Anti-Land Mine Device http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/university/press/2005/29032005.cfm
Next Generation Anti-Land Mine Device, March 29 http://www.physorg.com/news3531.html

Degradable Plastic Could Reduce Environment Footprint
David R. Tyler, a chemist at the University of Oregon, and his colleagues have developed a molybdenum/chlorine-containing plastic which degrades to dust in three days under exposure to light. Items made from this material would, of course, have to be limited to those concealed from illumination until used, and then be required to function for only a short time. However, this disintegration property would offer a simple, environmentally friendly solution to disposal of used devices meeting the above constraint.

Source:
Clues to Breaking Down Plastics
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23499-2005Apr3.html?referrer=email (article stored for a limited time on the website)

New More Efficient Microbial Fuel Cell Cleans Wastewater and produces Hydrogen
The BioElectrochemically-Assisted Microbial Reactor (BEAMR) is an anaerobic, electrically-assisted microbial fuel cell (MFC). It produces four times the amount of hydrogen from dissolved organic matter such as human, agricultural, and industrial waste and simultaneously cleans the wastewater used as its feedstock than bacteria achieve in normal fermentation. It uses 0.25 volts of electrical boost, about one-tenth the voltage needed for electrolysis of water, which helps it surmount the fermentation energy barrier limit. This form of decentralized renewable energy production could make fuel-cell-based transportation and wastewater treatment more efficient, but further study will be needed for commercialization. The National Science Foundation and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture supported this Pennsylvania State University research.

Source:
Microbial fuel cell: High yield hydrogen source and wastewater cleaner http://live.psu.edu/story/11709

Nanotechnology Used to Produce Hydrogen for Fuel Cell Cars
Using nanotechnology, scientists from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Laboratory for Surface Modification, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, might have found an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for the hydrogen fuel cell-powered car industry. The nanostructured catalyst-based hydrogen production technology seems also to provide solutions for safe and easy distribution by "binding hydrogen with atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia molecules," so that the "resulting liquid could be handled like gasoline and diesel fuel", thus avoiding the high costs involved in building a new infrastructure for fuel cells. Using this technology, "pure hydrogen could be extracted under the vehicle's hood on demand, as needed by the fuel cell, and the remaining nitrogen released back into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is normally four-fifths nitrogen, so the nitrogen emissions are not viewed as polluting" comments an Environment News Service article.

Sources:
Nanotechnology Used to Produce Hydrogen for Fuel Cell Cars
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/2005-04-11-09.asp#anchor7 (by subscription only)
Decomposition of Ammonia and Hydrogen on Ir Surfaces: Structure Sensitivity and Nanometer-Scale Size Effects. J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 127, No. 14: April 13, 2005
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jacsat/2005/127/i14/abs/ja042617c.html (abstract; full article by subscription only)

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Single-hull Oil Tanker Phase-out Entered into Force
Single-hull oil tanker phase-out--implementation of MARPOL Annex I regulations 13G and 13H--entered into force on April 5, 2005 for all States Party to the MARPOL Convention. [See also UN Maritime Agency to Accelerate Phase-Out Of Single-Hull Tankers in December 2003 and French Create 90-mile Mediterranean Ecological Zone in April 2003 environmental security scanning reports]. On May 19, 2005, Annex VI of MARPOL on regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships will be effective.

Source:
Single-hull oil tanker phase-out - implementation of MARPOL Annex I regulations 13G and 13H
http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1052

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
The First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) will be held in Punta del Este, Uruguay from 2-6 May, 2005 and is anticipated to be attended by 800 government officials and observers from 130 countries. The Conference is expected to establish a process for evaluating future POPs candidates to add to the list, and to discuss best policies and strategies for implementing the Convention's requirements with Guidelines on Best Available Techniques and Environmental Practices.
The Stockholm Convention came into force on May 17, 2004 and the 12 POPs covered so far by the Convention are: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene, dioxins and furans. [See also Stockholm Convention on POPs Came Into Force this Month in the May 2004 environmental security scanning report]

Source:
Governments Meet to Launch Global Campaign to Eliminate 12 Most Hazardous Chemicals
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=431&ArticleID=4784&l=en

Avian Influenza New Developments
New Worldwide Avian Influenza Network (OFFLU)
At the recent international conference on bird flu held in Paris, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the new Worldwide Avian Influenza Network (OFFLU) to improve health security by a better collaboration between veterinary and public health services at local, regional and global levels. Reference laboratories specializing in avian influenza in animals will be coordinated by OIE and FAO, and laboratory networks focusing on human influenza will be coordinated by WHO. Also at the conference, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has formally requested assistance from the international community for fighting avian influenza. On April 25th, it was announced that the outbreak has been successfully contained.
Europe Drafts New Law To Control Bird Flu Epidemics
The European Commission adopted a draft Directive for a law to control bird flu viruses. The new legislation will require EU states to introduce and reinforce surveillance and control measures against low pathogenicity viruses, in order to prevent mutation into a more harmful strain, mostly one that would be transmissible between humans. The new law is expected to enter into force January 1, 2007, replacing the existing one.
Bird Flu less Deadly but more Infectious
The human mortality rate from bird flu in Vietnam dropped considerably over the past year, from about 70% of the people with confirmed cases, to about 20%. The good news is that avian influenza seems to be less deadly than was thought. The downside of the news is that the virus might be more infectious, increasing the probability of an outbreak in Southeast Asia and, hence, worldwide. The fact that people can be infected/carry the virus without even showing symptoms further aggravates the situation and alarms international health organizations. [See also 7.2 Avian Flu Danger at Rise in the February 2005 and other related items in the previous months' environmental security scanning reports]

Source:
Bird flu: North Korea appeals for assistance http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/101678/index.html
Bird flu outbreak in North Korea contained http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/102016/index.html
Europe Drafts New Law to Prevent Bird Flu Epidemics http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/2005-04-28-04.asp (by subscription only)
In Vietnam, A Dark Side To Good News On Bird Flu
By Alan Sipress, Washington Post Foreign Service, Saturday, April 23, 2005; Page A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10548-2005Apr22.html?referrer=email (article stored for a limited time on the website)
Avian Influenza: Outbreak in Northern Vietnam Baffles Experts
Dennis Normile, Science, Vol 308, Issue 5721, 477, 22 April 2005
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/308/5721/477a?ijkey=7uqp2RtTZsqj6&keytype=ref&siteid=sci (by subscription only)

Climate Change Updates
UN Secretary-General calls for an inclusive regulatory framework to combat global warming
In a recent article in Foreign Affairs, UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, listed environmental degradation and infectious disease among today's greatest threats undermining "states as the basic units of the international system". Referring to the post-Kyoto period, he called for a new international regulatory framework that would include all countries to fight global warming.
Decrease of Himalayas' Snowfall Threatens Arabian Sea Marine Life and Aggravates Climate Change
Research conducted by a team of the U.S. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences concludes that decreased winter snowfall in the Himalayas is threatening marine life in the distant Arabian Sea and could also aggravate global warming by augmented phytoplankton that produces nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Antarctic glaciers shrinking accelerating
A joint study by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reveals that in Antarctica 87% of 244 glaciers studied are in retreat due to global warming, and that average retreat rates have accelerated over the past years. Antarctica contains more than 90% of the world's ice. Antarctic melting could dangerously raise sea levels, thus drowning low-lying island states and regions. [See also item 9.2 New Developments on Climate Change in January 2005 and 8.7 Human Footprint on Earth Ecosystem at Critical Stage and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report of March 2005 and other items on global warming in previous environmental security reports.]

Source:
Warming of the Eurasian Landmass Is Making the Arabian Sea More Productive
Joaquim I. Goes, Prasad G. Thoppil, Helga do R Gomes, John T. Fasullo
Science, Vol 308, Issue 5721, 545-547, 22 April 2005
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/308/5721/545?ijkey=qjxryXn.ioKxY&keytype=ref&siteid=sci (by subscription only)
"In Larger Freedom": Decision Time at the UN. By Kofi A. Annan. Foreign Affairs, Monday 25 April 2005 http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/sg-25apr2005.htm
Antarctic Peninsula glaciers in widespread retreat. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Press release No: 7/2005, 21 Apr 2005
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/News_and_Information/Press_Releases/story.php?id=163

European Geosciences Union General Assembly
The annual European Geosciences Union General Assembly took place in Vienna from 24 to 29 April 2005 with about 8,000 scientists presenting over 3,000 papers from the fields of Earth and planetary sciences. Space science has become essential for monitoring climate change effects, geophysical changes and pollution, and for enhancing natural hazard awareness and management. [See also Increasing Capacity of Space Technology to Assist Environmental Security in July 2004 and other related items in previous environmental security scanning reports]

Sources:
ESA Press Release: http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMCEANQS7E_planet_0.html
EGU 2005 http://www.copernicus.org/EGU/ga/egu05/index.htm
Planetary Science Archive http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=PSA

Reports and books to review

New reports from the National Academy of Sciences on Nuclear Safety
Monitoring Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear-Explosive Materials, a new report by the Committee on International Security and Arms (CISAC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), outlines technical and collaborative approaches that could help policy-makers minimize the proliferation of nuclear weapons, prevent terrorists from acquiring them, and reduce risks posed by existing nuclear arsenals. The report emphasizes that transparency, monitoring, and verification of all categories of nuclear weapons and material are crucial. It also addresses some of the institutional and technical approaches related to these issues. However, it doesn't make recommendations on policy or action priorities. There are 30,000 existing nuclear weapons in the world of which the U.S. and Russia possess 95%. Nevertheless, the report notes "enough additional nuclear-explosive material exists in military and civil nuclear facilities worldwide to make something like 100,000 additional nuclear weapons", possibly by non-nuclear weapon states and/or terrorist groups.
Another NAS report, Safety and Security of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage: Public Report addresses the safety issues of spent nuclear fuel storage at commercial nuclear reactors. It makes recommendations to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on measures to reduce terrorist attack possibilities, as well as implementation of these measures. It calls for plant-by-plant vulnerability analyses and prompt communication of the results for timely implementation of the measures to reduce potential risks.
Policy-makers, industry representatives, and experts representing the world's nonproliferation and nuclear power communities gathered for the 14th International Security Conference organized by Sandia National Laboratories on April 4-6 near Washington, D.C. to bolster discussions about the nuclear fuel cycle and strategies to reduce proliferation risks involving civilian nuclear fuels.
Meantime, the menace of poor safety conditions at nuclear sites around the world persists. Recent massive landslides in Kyrgyzstan in an area with 20 neglected spent nuclear fuel depositories threaten the whole of Central Asia with nuclear ecological disaster. Furthermore, UN officials and non-proliferation experts are concerned that nuclear materials smugglers could be using the drug trafficking routes in Central Asia, exploiting the present instability in the region--such as the political turmoil in Kyrgyzstan. According to the IAEA, the disappearance of radioactive material from facilities in Central Asia after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a "widespread phenomenon."

Sources:
Monitoring Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear-Explosive Materials: An Assessment of Methods and Capabilities
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11265.html
Safety and Security of Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage: Public Report
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11263.html?onpi_newsdoc04062005
Nonproliferation, nuclear industry experts to discuss fuel cycle issues at conference near D.C. April 4-6
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2005/all/isc05.html
Massive landslides to sweep away spent nuclear fuel depositories in Kyrgyzstan http://english.pravda.ru/printed.html?news_id=15293
Heightened security concerns about an old trade route
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/news/68634.php

New nanotechnology report from the Institute of Medicine
Implications of Nanotechnology for Environmental Health Research comprises the results of a workshop by the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine, aiming to assesses promises and implications of nanotechnology in order to develop a research agenda to address critical issues related to the impact of nanotechnology on heath and the environment. In addressing priorities, policy, and government implications, the report concludes that for efficient assessment of potential hazards of nanotechnology, the following are required: an adequate nomenclature; an effective risk-benefit analysis; and both a research framework and strong leadership.

Source:
Implications of Nanotechnology for Environmental Health Research
Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine.
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309095778/html/
Agenda. Technology and Environmental Health: Implication on Nanotechnology
http://www.iom.edu/subpage.asp?id=19612

The Little Green Data Book, 2005
"The Little Green Data Book 2005," a joint product of the World Bank's Development Data Group and Environment Department is a quick reference on key environmental data for over 200 countries (one country per page). It presents 47 environment indicators and data, structured under the headings of agriculture, forests, biodiversity, energy, emissions and pollution, water and sanitation, and 'greener' national accounts. Unfortunately the current book's data are only through 2003; nevertheless, it helps the reader get the big picture in a small resource. It can be ordered by sending a email to eadvisor@worldbank.org or it can be downloaded at: http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/envext.nsf/44ByDocName/TheLittleGreenDayaBook2005/$FILE/2005Littlegreendatabook.pdf

Source:
The Little Green Data Book, 2005
http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/envext.nsf/44ByDocName/EnvironmentalIndicatorsCurrentInitiativesTheLittleGreenDataBook2005

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March 2005

New UN Reform Report Stresses Environmental Issues

The UN Secretary General has issued an extensive report on UN reform entitled In Larger Freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all, with environmental issues cited in all sections. It states that 'threats to peace and security in the twenty-first century include not just international war and conflict but […] also include poverty, deadly infectious disease and environmental degradation since these can have equally catastrophic consequences.' [para.78] It proposes that the Secretariat include better responses to, "humanitarian emergencies and its handling of environmental issues", that, "National investment and policy priorities" improve environmental management and policy reforms, and calls on countries to adopt time-bound environmental targets. "Ensuring environmental sustainability", should be one of the global actions priorities. It specifically requires [para.212] a more coherent framework of global environmental governance, for effective implementation, coordination and monitoring of the over 400 international environmental treaties already in force. This is reiterated in the Annex-For decision by Heads of State and Government calling for a, "more integrated structure for environmental standard-setting, scientific discussion and monitoring, and treaty compliance." The Reform Report will be discussed and adopted at the summit of world leaders in September 2005 at the UN.

Sources:
The Secretary-General Statement To The General Assembly
New York, 21 March 2005 http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/sg-statement.html
In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all
Report of the Secretary-General http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/contents.htm [see: Secretariat, System-wide coherence, i]

Marine Protection Issues

Could large-scale ocean zoning prevent conflicts?
Increasing numbers of environmental lawyers and environmentalists believe that future conflicts could be prevented by large-scale ocean zoning for oil, fishing and wind farms, as well as that there is an immediate need for regulations to protect the oceans' natural resources. "We're now able to do on the open ocean what we once did on our western frontier-eradicate the wildlife, extract the minerals and alter or pollute the habitat," says David Helvarg, president of the Blue Frontier Campaign. Many variations of coastal zoning have been established around the world, which may one day lead to new large-scale ocean zoning within a more comprehensive integrated planning mechanism for local, regional and international standards and regulations for 'pro-active rather than re-active' ocean management.

Source:
Zoning Rules to Protect Marine Resources. by Daniel Hendrick http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2300 (by subscription only)

Improved Cooperation Among International Organizations to Fight Marine Pollution
The fight against marine pollution gained strength with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, and the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. The effort is designed to implement environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes in order to prevent coastal and marine pollution. It is based on collaboration of the 13 Basel Convention Regional Centres (BCRCs) with the various Regional Seas Programmes, and reciprocal technical and legal training support. [The Basel Convention regulates the movement of hazardous waste; it covers toxic, poisonous, explosive, corrosive, flammable, ecotoxic, and infectious wastes that are being moved from one country to another.]

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos and the European Commissioner responsible for the environment, Stavros Dimas, also had a meeting this month focusing on better collaboration between the two organizations to enhance marine environmental protection from pollution from ships and related activities. They agreed on the need for ratification, by as many States as possible, of the newest IMO conventions such as the Ballast Water Management Convention and the Convention on Anti-fouling Systems, to enable them to come into force soon.

The amendments to the MARPOL Convention-including the revised phase-out schedule for single-hull tankers and a new regulation on the carriage of heavy grades of oil-will enter into force on April 5, 2005; and, on May 19, 2005, Annex VI of MARPOL on regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships will be effective.

Sources:
Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes and UNEP Regional Seas Programme to fight coastal pollution together
http://www.basel.int/press/presrel010305.doc
Secretary-General Mitropoulos and EC Commissioner Dimas focus on marine pollution issues at a productive meeting
http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1018&doc_id=4775

Water-related Issues

Decade "Water for Life" Launched
The International Decade for Action "Water for Life" was officially launched on World Water Day, March 22, 2005. This is intended to focus world attention on improving policies and strategies to achieve the international commitments and targets concerning water-related issues by 2015. The actual debates and policy recommendation issuance are expected to occur next month at the 13th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

Sources:
Water for Life website: http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/index.html
UN News: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13724&Cr=water&Cr1=

Prospects for Conflict over Water Rise in Several Regions
Rapidly melting glaciers in the Himalayas could cause vast flooding followed by long-term, severe water shortages in the region, according to World Wildlife Fund's report, An Overview of Glaciers, Glacier Retreat, and Subsequent Impacts in Nepal, India and China. Water from the Himalayas feeds into seven great Asian rivers, ensuring the water supply of hundreds of millions of people. Flooding and then water shortage will inevitably cause mass migration.
The reduced capacity of the Jordan River and the ecological disaster caused by its over-exploitation triggered discussions between Israel and Jordan. However, no agreement has been reached. The problems are worsened by Jordan's plan to construct a new dam on the Yarmuk River, the largest tributary of the Jordan. Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) tries to mitigate the situation by organizing discussions and joint activities; it also launched the idea of placing the Jordan river on UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its tremendous ecological and cultural significance.
The risk of conflict over water for countries along the river Nile or its tributaries increases as the 1929 treaty is being increasingly contested. The treaty allows Egypt to use Nile water only for irrigation or power generation. Meantime, under the umbrella of the Nile Basin Initiative launched by the Nile riparian states in 1999, Italy is funding a new project to improve water management among the ten Nile Basin countries. Implemented with assistance from FAO, the project will integrate technical water resource and water use data with demographic, socio-economic and environmental information to examine how specific policies and projected water use patterns will affect water resources in the region.

Sources:
An Overview of Glaciers, Glacier Retreat, and Subsequent Impacts in Nepal, India and China.
http://www.panda.org/downloads/climate_change/himalayaglaciersreport2005.pdf
Once mighty Jordan reduced to a trickle http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1433272,00.html (article stored for a limited time on the website)
Risk of armed conflict over Nile water http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleid=199809# (article stored for a limited time on the website)
Promoting equitable and sustainable use of Nile water resources http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/90101/index.html

New Reports on Water-related Issues
The Environment, Development, and Sustainable Peace Initiative, a joint project of Adelphi Research, the WWICS Environmental Change and Security Project, and the National University of Costa Rica, has recently published two papers analyzing the role of water for security: Regional Water Cooperation as Confidence Building: Water Management as a Strategy for Peace, by Aaron T. Wolf
The report analyzes the shift of the "environmental security" concept from a presumed causal relationship between environmental stress and violent conflict to a more intricate framework of "human security" that considers a complex set of relationships between environment and society. Water has been identified as the most critical factor in many areas-from political to economic, social, and environmental. While looking at 'Indicators of Tension,' the paper also suggests some opportunities and types of policy recommendations to mitigate possible water-related disputes: the new technologies for water negotiation and management (including modeling and monitoring tools); watershed commissions developed for those basins that do not have them, and strengthened for those that do; improved water-related funding assistance; and better involvement and focus of civil society, private industry and research organizations.
Environmental Conflicts and Regional Cooperation in the Lempa River Basin: The Role of Central America's Plan Trifinio, by Alexander López
Assessing current environmental trends in the Central American context, the report focuses on the region's international river basins and uses the Lempa example to analyze areas of conflict and cooperation; factors that could reduce conflict potential; and the effectiveness of the Trifinio Plan and its role in facilitating post-conflict dialogue and confidence building among the three signatory countries: Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
The U.S. National Academies have created the Water Information Center, a new Web site that provides free access to more than 100 Academies reports on water-related issues http://water.nationalacademies.org/

Sources:
Regional Water Cooperation as Confidence Building: Water Management as a Strategy for Peace, by Aaron T. Wolf
http://www.sustainable-peace.org//download/EDSP_Papers/Water_Management_as_a_Strategy_for_Peace_72.pdf
Environmental Conflicts and Regional Cooperation in the Lempa River Basin: The Role of Central Americ's Plan Trifinio, by Alexander López
http://www.sustainable-peace.org//download/EDSP_Papers/Environmental_Conflicts_and_Regional_Cooperation_in_the-Lempa_River_Basin_72dpi.pdf
Water Information Center of the NAS: http://water.nationalacademies.org/

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

Self-Assembling Robots
The M-TRAN II robot, developed by the Japanese Distributed Systems Design Research Group, represents a new generation of modular robots, with a flexible design able to rearrange itself into countless different shapes and create dramatically different patterns of movement. [See also 5.2 Scorpion Robot for Complex Roving Missions item in the February 2005 environmental security report]

Source:
Self-Assembling Robots http://www.discover.com/issues/apr-05/departments/emerging-technology/

Microbes Can Help Build Nanodevices for Detection
University of Wisconsin scientists have electrically stimulated bacteria to self-assemble into nano-bio-electrical circuits that could detect toxins like anthrax in near real-time. These circuits have the potential to make building atomic-scale machines far easier than current methods, and create a new class of biological sensors. This ability to a) manipulate individual bacteria by electrical means, b) form them into nanostructures, and c) use their biochemical properties for useful applications, such as the detection of toxins, provides an alternative to the painstaking manufacture and assembly of nano systems by larger more costly systems. Nanotechnology self-assembly to create larger devices (bottom up construction) has been seen as a more distant future possibility. This breakthrough brings the promise of low-cost, precision mass production a step closer to reality.

Source:
Harnessing microbes, one by one, to build a better nanoworld http://www.news.wisc.edu/10831.html

Russian Discovery of New Bacterial Cleanup Technique
Scientists from the G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Pushchino have discovered that the bacterium Pseudomonas putida can transform the toxic by-products contained in reaction masses (RMs) that arise when mustard gas residue is destroyed by chemical detoxification. This technology, if extended to other hazardous materials and brought to the point of practical application, could be an alternative to incineration or a process called bituminization for the final cleanup of CW sites. Both those methods are expensive and environmentally risky.

Source:
Could Microbes Solve Russia's Chemical Weapons Conundrum? http://cwwg.org/nw03.04.05.html

Nanotechnology Issues

Nanotechnology Assessment Reports
Scientific Forward Look on Nanomedicine is a foresight study by the European Science Foundation, assessing the application of nanotechnology to medicine. This study included over 100 international experts from academia, industry, private foundations and governmental agencies, who reviewed future developments, opportunities and challenges facing this emerging field worldwide. The study analyzes the current state-of-the-art in nanomedicine, identifies Europe's strengths and weaknesses, and provides recommendations on future research priorities and organizational matters.
Response To The Royal Society And Royal Academy Of Engineering Report: 'Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties' is a 'response report' to the independent study conducted by the UK Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering (published in July 2004) on the opportunities and uncertainties concerning nanotechnology to ensure that England has an adequate regulatory system for responsible nanotechnology development. This 'response report' sets out the UK Government's agenda on nanotechnologies; and will be reviewed by an independent body after two and five years.
Potential Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards Resulting from Possible Military Uses of Nanotechnology with Implications for Research Priorities Helpful to Prevent and/or Reduce Such Pollution and Hazards is the result of a two-round Delphi by the Millennium Project of the American Council for the UNU that assembled a 25-member expert panel to identify and rate these issues.
Sources:
European Science Foundation Publishes Forward Look Report on Nanomedicine ESF news release - issued 28/02/2005 -
http://www.esf.org/esf_pressarea_page.php?section=6&language=0&newsrelease=83
Response To The Royal Society And Royal Academy Of Engineering Report: 'Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties' www.ost.gov.uk/policy/issues/nanotech_final.pdf
Potential Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards Resulting from Possible Military Uses of Nanotechnology with Implications for Research Priorities Helpful to Prevent and/or Reduce Such Pollution and Hazards is available on request from the Millennium Project via email to jglenn@igc.org

China Creates World's First National Standards for Nanotechnology
The first national standards for nanomaterial in the world will come into effect in China on April 1st. Research on 15 nanomaterials standards is underway, but, so far, seven items are included: a Glossary, four standards for nanoproducts (nickel powder, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and calcium carbonate), as well as two for testing of gas adsorption BET and the granularity of nanopowder.

Source:
World's first national standard for nanotech to be effective in China
People's Daily Online, March 2, 2005 http://english.people.com.cn/200503/02/eng20050302_175299.html

Asia and Pacific Countries Adopt Declarations on the Environment

At the Fifth Ministerial Conference On Environment And Development in Asia and the Pacific that took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 24-29 March 2005, ministers and senior officials from 52 Asian and Pacific countries pledged green-friendly approaches to development in the region. The delegates adopted the Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (2005), the Regional Implementation Plan for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (2006-2010) and the Seoul Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Economic Growth. These instruments set clear implementation actions to promote environmentally friendly economic policies, including promoting partnerships and economic tools to improve ecological efficiency, reviewing national laws and identifying, assessing, monitoring, and capacity building to manage disaster risks.
The leaders' group from the Pacific Islands Forum held its first meeting on the Pacific Plan, a Forum initiative. One of the four areas of concern is sustainable development and environmental security. The Pacific Islands Forum is the association of the 16 independent island states of the Pacific. Its objective is, "to enhance the economic and social well-being of the people of the South Pacific". The Plan lays out how the region can improve cooperation in the four areas; it will be further developed during the coming months.

Sources:
Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific http://www.mced2005seoul.org
Delegates at UN meeting pledge green-friendly approach to development in Asia and the Pacific http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13787&Cr=Asia&Cr1=development
PM and Pacific leaders to meet http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0503/S00443.htm
Regionalism Yes - Federalism Going Too Far Says PM http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0503/S00238.htm
Pacific Islands Forum www.forumsec.org.fj

Liberia's First Environment Center Opened

The UNHCR has opened an environmental protection agency in Liberia to ensure that the repatriation of thousands of refugees will not have a negative impact on the environment already devastated by 14 years of war. The agency will educate the repatriates on how to use and revive the environment as they resume their daily activities.

Source:
UNHCR opens Liberia's first environment centre
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/+fwwBmerGhdeqxwwwwnwwwwwwwhFqnN0bItFqnDni5zFqnN0bIAFqnN0bIDzmxwwwwwww1FqnN0bI/opendoc.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

The Gothenburg Protocol on Air Pollution to Enter into Force on May 17
The Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol) will enter into force on 17 May 2005. The Protocol is the eighth to take effect under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Gothenburg Protocol controls several pollutants and their effects and sets targets for emission cuts by 2010 for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia, as well as specific emission sources (e.g. combustion plants, electricity production, dry cleaning, cars and trucks). [See also item 9.2 Changes to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of December 2004 environmental security scanning reports.]

Source:
New Air Pollution Protocol To Take Effect On 17 May 2005 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2005/05env_p02e.htm

The REACH Program Closer to Entry Into Force
The Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) legislation for controlling hazardous chemicals is likely to enter into effect in 2006 or shortly thereafter. It has already passed the legislative process, but the EU Commission has to approve it, and some modifications are possible. Manufacturers, importers and users who exceed the established threshold of 1,000 metric tons/yr will have to provide physical, chemical and toxicological data. Lifecycle safety and environmental risks for specific uses will have to be provided. "High concern" and "very high concern" are designations for chemicals that will need 1) tight management or possible substitution or 2) "are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMRs); persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBTs); very persistent and very bio-accumulative (vPvBs); persistent organic pollutants (POPs); or have equivalent properties", respectively. Owing to the EU's large trade volume, impacts of this legislation will be worldwide. Provision is made for an agency to securely handle proprietary information. Some 30,000 chemicals are expected to be controlled by this legislation/policy. Full registration of a given chemical must be completed within three years of final enactment of REACH, or manufacture, importation and use will have to cease. As with the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act, REACH supplements the Rotterdam Convention. [See also items related to the REACH program in the environmental security reports of May and January 2004, August and April 2003, and November 2002.]

Source:
Prepare now for REACH compliance
By Beth Sirull, Chemical Engineering Progress, March 2005 (by subscription only) www.cepmagazine.org

Interpol Creates Global Information Center to Combat Bioterror Threat
At a recent Interpol conference, police and health specialists decided to create a global information center to fight the threat of bioterrorism and asked for greater cooperation between law enforcement and health organizations. The health sector representatives called for an alert system that would allow quick response in case of an epidemic-whether of natural origin or from a bioterrorism source. Three training workshops are scheduled: the first in South Africa at the end of this year, the next two in 2006 in Chile and China. The information center on bioterrorism will be located at the Lyon Interpol headquarters and be available to all 182 members of the organization. [See also item 1.2 Interpol Warns World Unprepared for an Eventual Bio-terrorist Attack in February 2005 environmental security report.]

Source:
Interpol to Create Global Bioterror Information Hub http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_3_3.html#EC2010EC

Ambitious Post-Kyoto EU Emissions Goals
EU environmental ministers seek to push for more ambitious EU emissions targets after the current Kyoto target period, proposing a reduction of developed nations' greenhouse gases emissions of 15-30 percent by 2020 and 60-80 percent by 2050 relative to 1990. However, while keeping the 2020 target, the EU heads of state and government omitted the 2050 goal, with the provision to review it later in the light of future developments. The UN Secretary-General's UN reform report asks for a more inclusive international framework for mitigating climate change, and calls on all states for a better mobilization to develop tools for stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2012, with broader participation by all major emitters. [See also item 7.1 Kyoto Protocol Came into Force on February 16, 2005 in February 2005 environmental security report.]

Sources:
EU Ministers Want Tough Post-Kyoto Emissions Target http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29895/story.htm
EU Leaders Drop 2050 Emissions Reduction Target http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30074/story.htm
In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all
Report of the Secretary-General http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/contents.htm

The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005)
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies published summaries of the workshop held June 16-17, 2004, addressing the increased concern about the prospect of an influenza pandemic and exploring the issues that must be resolved to prepare and protect the global community. The summary report, The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? outlines lessons learned from previous influenza pandemics; the avian influenza outbreak in Asia and its implications for human health; influenza pandemic preparedness strategies and planning opportunities and obstacles in different domains and geographical levels.
This month a Vietnamese family of five was infected by Asia's bird flu epidemic, which has killed 49 people since the end of 2003.
Although North Korea has confirmed initial cases of bird flu, South Korean officials suspect that it is far more widespread and is taking steps to protect its boarder with its northern neighbor.
[See also 7.2 Avian Flu Danger at Rise in February and 9.3 Bird Flu Outbreak Urge World Readiness in January 2005 environmental security reports]

Source:
The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005) http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11150.html
Vietnam Family of Five Confirmed With Bird Flu http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30138/story.htm
South Korea Suspects North's Bird Flu Outbreak Extensive http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30137/story.htm
[HIO-UPDATE] Health Information Operations Update, (Dated Weekly) http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/Hioupdate/

Regional Governance Key for Tsunami Early Warning and Recovery
The first Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development Summit was held at Lake Toba, Indonesia, March 10-12, 2005, under the theme "Global Partnership on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Post-Disaster Settlements." The Lake Toba Call declaration summarizes the agreements reached by the participants, mainly focusing on creating partnerships at the regional level within the UN system for disaster early warning systems and post-disaster rehabilitation, and to guarantee that the local governments could work properly in a network of regional governments to ensure sustainable development not only at local, but also at regional and international levels. [See also 9.1 Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean and Beyond in January 2005 environmental security report]

Sources:
Lake Toba Call Emphasizes Coop Among Regional Governments In Overcoming Tsunami http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=1733
Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development Summit http://www.dambaintra.org/toba.html

Human Footprint on Earth Ecosystem at Critical Stage and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report
Two recent studies at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder Colorado have indicated that global warming will continue to increase even if its causative factors are brought under better control. The investigators, Gerald Meehl and Tom Wigley, used three computer simulations, two extremely detailed, to derive the predictions that, even assuming greenhouse gas content stayed at the 2000 level, there would still be a minimum 0.9° F rise in the global temperature, and a 4" ocean level elevation by 2100, causing severe dislocations. In the worst case, the temperature change could be as much as 6.3°F, with a one-foot rise in the ocean with no further input of greenhouse chemicals.
At the recent meeting in London, environment and energy ministers from 20 of the world's biggest polluters discussed the best policies for sustainable growing non-polluting economies. Britain emphasized that environment-centered economic policy and international cooperation are the only effective way to prevent a crisis caused by global warming.
The UN Secretary-General's report for the reform of the UN also lists climate change as one of the three major challenges for the international community that require particularly urgent action.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report, conducted by 1,300 experts from 95 countries, reveals that approximately 60 % of Earth's vital ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably. Without improved ecology-centered policies, revised consumption patterns, better education, and implementation of new eco-friendly technologies, the situation will worsen in the next 50 years, seriously endangering life on earth. This is the first report in a series of seven synthesis reports and four technical volumes that assess the state of global ecosystems and their impact on human well-being. It has been released together with a statement by the Millennium Ecosystem board of directors entitled "Living beyond Our Means: Natural Assets and Human Well-being."
[See also related item 9.2 New Developments on Climate Change in January 2005 and other items on global warming in previous environmental security reports.]

Sources:
No stopping rising sea levels, study says http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7225653/
Global Warming Threat Central To Policy - Britain
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29948/story.htm
In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all
Report of the Secretary-General http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/contents.htm
Millennium Ecosystem Synthesis reports http://www.millenniumassessment.org//en/Products.Synthesis.aspx
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report http://www.millenniumassessment.org//proxy/document.aspx?source=database&TableName=Documents&IdField=DocumentID&Id=356&ContentField=Document&ContentTypeField=ContentType&TitleField=Title&FileName=MA+General+Synthesis+-+Final+Draft.pdf&Log=True

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February 2005

Better International Cooperation to Combat Bioterrorism and Epidemics

UN Report Recommends New Powers to Combat Bioterrorism and Epidemics
The UN report A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility recommends expansion of the UN's capacity to investigate and intervene in a country when a suspicious disease outbreak occurs, whether the epidemic has a natural or terrorist origin. The Security Council should cooperate with the WHO to respond to and support international action including "cordon operations" for quarantine and international public health access. If existing International Health Regulations (IHR) "do not provide adequate access for WHO investigations and response coordination, the Security Council should be prepared to mandate greater compliance." The report's recommendations will be considered at the fall summit of Heads of State. The eventual changes required to IHR-the rules that govern the WHO-might get to a vote in May.
Note: The recommendations might get serious support, in light of governments' response times to cases of SARS in 2003 and recent avian flu outbreaks.

Sources:
Biowar: U.N. to expand bioterror powers?
By Dee Ann Divis, The Washington Times, January 27, 2005. http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050127-014400-9949r.htm
A more secure world: Our shared responsibility (relevant to this item: V.B.4. Better public health defences, 142- 144 pp. 44; and recommendation 37, pp. 82)
http://www.un.org/secureworld/

Interpol Warns World Unprepared for an Eventual Bio-terrorist Attack
Interpol chief Ronald Noble warns that there is substantial evidence of a possible biological attack by Al Qaeda, "which could cause contagious disease to be spread," and "no entity in the world is prepared for it." Some 400 police officers and health officials from around the world will attend a bio-terrorism conference organized by Interpol beginning March 1, in Lyons, France, to improve cooperation and information sharing between intelligence agencies and police departments to better combat bioterrorism threats.

Source:
Interpol sounds bio-terror alarm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4289485.stm (article available for a limited time on the website)

Russia No Longer Funding Bioterrorism Countermeasures Research
Lev Sandakhchiyev, Director General of the Vektor State Science Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Novosibirsk, announced that from 2005, Moscow would not fund any more research for biological terrorism countermeasures, Interfax reported on February 1, 2005. "Russia has effectively wound up its program to develop protection against pathogens" said the Russian scientist, and he added that there are no "real, constructive programs" among Russia, the U.S. and Europe for cooperating to counter the threat of biological terrorism.
Sources:
Russia No Longer Funding Bioterrorism Countermeasures Research, Scientist Says
http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005/2/2/0D1BAAD6-9B29-4295-BFAD-420A27EE7925.html
Russian General Describes Plan for Military, Civilian Bioterrorism Countermeasures
http://nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2004/11/18/41726158-5672-46b4-a697-51750e27c2d0.html

UNEP Report Warns of Increasing Changes in Infectious Disease Patterns due to Environmental Encroachments

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)'s Global Environment Outlook Year Book for 2004/2005 warns that the loss of forests, increasing construction of roads and dams, urban growth, agricultural expansion, mining, and pollution of coastal waters are causing major rises in the incidence of infectious diseases, including the appearance in humans of diseases such as Nipah, which had previously been found only in animals.
Source:
The Independent, Michael McCarthy, 22 Feb 2005 http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4391
GEO Year Book 2004/5 http://www.unep.org/geo/yearbook/

Governments Call for Global Assessment and Control of Mercury Pollution

As part of the effort towards a legally binding treaty to control mercury pollution, environment ministers attending UNEP's 23rd Governing Council and Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, requested UNEP to conduct a study on the amounts of mercury being traded and supplied around the world. The EU called for a clear framework with bans and deadlines, but the Governing Council was not ready to go that far at this time and decided instead on a partnership formula. The first pilot partnership projects should begin by September. The program will be reviewed in two years and assessed to determine whether further action (including a legally binding treaty) is needed. Similar global assessments were suggested for cadmium and lead to better understand the health and environment effects of these heavy metals and establish whether global action is needed to address them. [See also Senators Urge U.S. Support for Global Mercury Treaty of October 2004, EU Parliamentary Committee Moves to Strengthen Air Pollution Laws of January 2004, and UN Protocol to Restrict Heavy Metal Emissions in Europe Came Into Force in December 2003 environmental security reports.]
Note: the EU Executive Commission recently proposed a ban on mercury exports by 2011. Europe is the world's largest supplier of mercury.
Sources:
Summary of the 23rd session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum 21-25 February 2005
http://www.iisd.ca/vol16/enb1647e.html
Action on Heavy Metals Among Key GC Decisions
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=424&ArticleID=4735&l=en
EU Commission Proposes Ban on Mercury Exports
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29298/story.htm
Countries reject global mercury treaty
By Roxanne Khamsi, News@Nature.com, 28 February 2005
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050228/full/050228-2.html

New International Treaty to Protect African Rain Forest

At the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of Central Africa on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Central African Forest Ecosystems, on February 5th, Central African countries signed a landmark regional conservation treaty, establishing cross-border partnerships to help save the world's second largest rain forest. The treaty will make it easier for countries to jointly track and combat poachers, manage funds for training and conservation, and harmonize laws in different countries that regulate logging. In his message, Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed the linkage between forest ecosystems and security in the region.

Sources:
African leaders sign landmark forest treaty
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Environment/African-leaders-sign-landmark-forest-treaty/2005/02/06/1107625045175.html?oneclick=true (by subscription only)
Forests Central To Anti-Poverty, Sustainable Development Efforts, Says Secretary-General In Message To Brazzaville Summit
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sgsm9707.doc.htm

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

Scientific Models Could Help Navy Avoid Whales During Sonar Tests
Duke University biologists are developing scientific models based on sets of environmental parameters which could predict different marine species' presence in proximity to sonar testing areas, helping to prevent eventual harm to the animals. The research was triggered when several whales of three species beached in January near Oregon Inlet just after a Navy training exercise used sonar at 240 nautical miles from Oregon Inlet. Although the incident might be a coincidence, the new model might help rule out the possibility of such accidents.

Source:
Scientist Could Help Navy Avoid Whales During Sonar Tests
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2005/2005-02-01-09.asp#anchor5 (by subscription only)

Scorpion Robot for Complex Roving Missions
The Scorpion robot developed by Frank Kirchner from the University of Bremen, Germany, is able to access difficult terrains that are inaccessible to larger, wheeled vehicles. A prototype is currently being evaluated at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, CA. Although developed mostly for other planets' exploration, the Scorpion robot could also be used on Earth, to investigate difficult or dangerous territories inaccessible to humans or larger vehicles.

Sources:
Scorpion Robot Could Conquer Worlds
Walking machine may go where wheeled explorers cannot.
Jessica Ebert, 10 February 2005; news050207-14
http://info.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/eSAY0Gyeak0C30aCI0Ee
Robot Wars. Technology guru Ray Kurzweil offers a vision of future fighting machines.
Philip Ball, 08 February 2005 http://info.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/eSAY0Gyeak0C30aCS0Eo

Better Water Management to Safeguard Ecosystems

UN conference 'Water for Food and Ecosystems'
The recent UN conference 'Water for Food and Ecosystems,' attended by 26 ministers and more than 600 delegates from 140 countries, emphasized the need for "a true valuation of water" and called for better strategies for balancing water use between agriculture and environment. It called for better management of water, taking into account socio-economic and environmental concerns, basic human rights, and cultural factors, and adopted a list of actions to improve the efficient use of water, highlighting the importance of public/private partnerships in achieving the goals. Water policy and strategy issues were also discussed at the 23rd session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum held 21-25 February 2005, at Nairobi, Kenya.

Source:
Water for food and ecosystems conference http://www.fao.org/ag/wfe2005/index_en.htm
New strategies needed to secure food and safeguard ecosystems http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/89615/index.html
Summary of the 23rd session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum 21-25 February 2005
http://www.iisd.ca/vol16/enb1647e.html

Finally--A Project to Address the Aral Sea Disaster
The Government of Uzbekistan and the World Bank have instituted a Drainage, Irrigation and Wetlands Improvement Project, described as "the first meaningful intervention in the Aral Sea Basin to break a vicious cycle of high water applications, water logging and secondary soil salinisation", said Masood Ahmad, head of the World Bank team designing the project. According to a World Bank statement, the agreement hopes to improve the local economy, and the water quality of the Amu Darya River by safe disposal of drainage effluent and enhancing the quality of wetlands in the Amu Darya delta. The team leader added that the project would begin to address the problem by substantially improving drainage conditions and significantly improving water use efficiency in the irrigation sector.

Source:
Uzbekistan: World Bank funds water project in Aral Sea region
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39459&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=UZBEKISTAN

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Kyoto Protocol Came into Force on February 16, 2005
The UN Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into force on February 16, 2005. Under the Protocol, the industrialized Member States are bound to reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming to at least 5% of 1990 by 2012. The six major greenhouse gases covered by the Protocol are: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). So far the Protocol was ratified by 128 states. Plans for post-Kyoto climate change policies and strategies have already begun. A "G8 Plus" group (including key developing industrial countries China, India and Brazil) could emerge to advance Kyoto by helping emerging industrial nations to develop "clean" technologies based on G8 scientific advances. [See also EU Environment Ministers Propose post-Kyoto Protocol Climate Policies and Russian Vote Will Bring Kyoto Protocol Into Force in the October 2004 environmental security monthly reports.]

Sources:
UN's Kyoto treaty against global warming comes into force http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13359&Cr=global&Cr1=warm
The Kyoto Protocol Enters Into Force. UNEP article
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=425&ArticleID=4714&l=en
Climate change talks heat up as clean technology emerges
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1486338,00.html (article might be available for a limited time on the website without subscription)

Avian Flu Danger at Rise
According to CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, the avian flu is the "most important threat that we are facing right now." Recent evidence that the avian flu can move between species increases the concern that a large-scale human-to-human transmission is possible, and could lead to a pandemic if the virus mutates. A new National Academy of Science study of the 2003 bird flu outbreak in the confirmed that the avian influenza virus can spread from human to human. The study published in the January/February 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that both direct and indirect transmission of the virus are possible (over half of those who worked directly with infected birds, and nearly two-thirds of people who had direct contact with farmers tested positive for bird flu antibodies.) Japanese researchers found flies infected with H5N1 virus after the 2004 outbreak among chickens in Japan.
Veterinary officials from 28 countries participating to the recent international conference on avian influenza in Asia, also stressed the gravity of the situation and concluded by calling upon the governments in the region and the international community to make combating bird flu a top priority and examine the likelihood of an influenza pandemic and strategies for prevention and response. Shigeru Omi, chief of WHO Asia, warned "the world is now in the gravest possible danger of a pandemic." The conference was held on February 23-25 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, jointly organized by the UN FAO, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the WHO. [See also Bird Flu Outbreak Urge World Readiness in January 2005, and Birdflu Will be a Much Bigger Killer than SARS, According to WHO item of November 2004 environmental security reports.]

Sources:
Human Transmission of Avian Virus Documented http://www.nationalacademies.org/headlines/
Flu pandemic warning http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20050223/01 (by subscription only)
Leading veterinary experts of 28 countries call for more vigorous bird flu control
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html
Japan Says Found Bird Flu in Flies From 2004 Outbreak http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29667/story.htm
Avian Flu World's No. 1 Threat, CDC Head Says http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29651/story.htm

Multilateral Approach Needed To Keep Nuclear Arms from Terrorists
Multilateral Approaches to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, a study carried out by a group of experts from 26 countries at the request of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), concluded that multilateral cooperation is essential for curbing "burgeoning and alarmingly well organized nuclear supply networks, and from the increasing risk of acquisition of nuclear or other radioactive materials by terrorist and other non-State entities." The report suggests multilateral arrangements-by region or by continent-to strengthen controls over fuel manipulation, transparent fuel movement, enrichment, reprocessing and disposal and storage of spent fuel. The study is now widely circulated and will be discussed at the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May. International cooperation was also the call of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the 41st Conference on Security Policy held in Munich this month.
IAEA Director, Mohamed ElBaradei, warned that terrorist groups might have already obtained a nuclear weapon, or the material necessary to create one. He is proposing seven measures to strengthen the NPT, which will be presented at the May NPT Review Conference, including a five-year moratorium on construction of uranium enrichment facilities.
In the meantime, nuclear materials are moving around without control. Indian Police found weapons-grade uranium on two men who were arrested on suspicion of being drug peddlers. 253.6 grams (8.8 ounces) of substance was identified as 99% uranium by the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. The origin and destination of the uranium are currently being investigated. Russian police seized 40 kg of uranium-238 from a person who claimed to be using it as 'weight lifting equipment'. [See also Increasing Calls for Improved Management of Nuclear Materials and Nonproliferation in the January 2005 environmental security report.]

Sources:
UN panel says multilateral approach needed to keep nuclear arms from terrorists
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13424&Cr=nuclear&Cr1=proliferation
ElBaradei Warns Terrorists May Have Obtained Nuclear Weapon or Related Materials
http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_2_1.html#FD747EBA
Annan Seeks Overhaul of Security Measures
http://abcnews.go.com/International/print?id=496508 (article stored for a limited time on the website)
ElBaradei Proposes Measures to Strengthen NPT http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_2_2.html#C612551A
Two suspected Indian drug peddlers carried weapons-grade uranium: report http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050205055854.kge9z4b6.html
Russian Man Says Toxic Uranium for Weight Lifting http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29273/story.htm

Global Earth Observing System of Systems Gets 10-Year Mandate
At the Third Earth Observation Summit held in Brussels, February 16, representatives of 54 nations and over 40 international organizations formally adopted the 10-year plan for implementing the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS). The plan provides a framework and institutional mechanism to connect Earth observation tools used by different nations and agencies independently. GEOSS will facilitate environmental monitoring, a better understanding of the environment and trends of change, and building of an early warning system. Part of GEOSS, the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative jointly led by the European Commission and ESA is designed to collect and manage data and information for both environment and civil security purposes. [See also International Agreement on Earth Environmental Observing System of April 2004, and Improved coordination of global Earth observation in August 2003 environmental security reports.]

Source:
Earth and Space Week: Third Earth Observation Summit agrees ten-year GEOSS action plan http://www.esa.int/export/esaEO/SEMSABYEM4E_index_0.html
GMES, European Contribution To GOESS Initiative http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-05n.html
GMES Website http://www.gmes.info/

Nine New Hotspots Added to World's Protected Areas
The new report by Conservation International, Hotspots Revisited, the result of a four-year project by nearly 400 ecologists, reveals nine more crisis areas for biodiversity. The 34 identified 'hotspots' harbor half of the world's plant species, three-quarters of the most threatened mammals, birds, and amphibians, and 42% of land vertebrates. The new website launched by Conservation International (www.biodiversityhotspots.org) features complete and updated information on the 'hotspots' around the world. [See also Intensified Efforts Needed to Save Biodiversity in January 2005, and related items on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in November and June 2004, and October 2003 environmental security monthly reports.]

Sources:
Website with all the hotspots http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots
Nine more crisis areas for biodiversity. By Jessica Ebert, News@nature.Com, 2 February 2005
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050131/full/050131-10.html#B1 (article available free for a limited time)

UK Cooperation with India and Others on the Environment and Sustainable Development
As the result of a meeting between their ministers of environment, the UK and India have decided to enhance cooperation in dealing with issues related to sustainable development. These issues include emission of greenhouse gases, joint research on climate change, wildlife conservation, and reforestation. The UK Minister, Elliot Morley, also stated that this year, within the G8, the UK would focus on multifaceted and complex areas of climate change and Africa, and that these talks with India are the first in a series of dialogues that the UK will initiate with developing countries with rapidly growing economies, the next being China. [See also India Drafting New National Environment Policy in January 2005 environmental security report]

Sources:
India, UK to enhance cooperation on sustainable development. The Hindustan Times, February 4, 2005
http://www.hcilondon.net/cgi-bin/printnews.pl?NewsCode=1121
Britain and India to collaborate on climate research. By V. Padma, February 9, 2005, SciDev.Net
http://www.scidev.net/dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=dossierReadItem&type=1&itemid=1916&language=1&dossier=4

Back to Top

January 2005

Bioterrorism via smuggled Ebola-contaminated bushmeat from Africa

Underground networks of African poachers have been selling illegal bushmeat for decades. Might these networks be contacted one day by bioterrorists? Experts speculate that Ebola-contaminated bushmeat could be smuggled into a country by bioterrorists to trigger an Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are currently working in Gabon and the Congo with active cases of Ebola.

Sources:
Stop the Carnage http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues05/jan05/carnage.html
CONGO: MSF intervention for Ebola outbreak extended http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=24121

The European Union Environmental Initiatives

The European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
European Union (EU) Directive 2003/87/EC entered into force on 25 October 2003 to implement carbon dioxide allowance trading, which became formally active on January 1, 2005. Over-the-counter allowance trading had begun even before January 1, though formal markets will not be established until later in Spring 2005. Approximately 12,000 industrial plants and energy producers in the EU had to begin monitoring and reducing CO2 emissions to meet limits set for 2005 and 2007. The EU has agreed under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions by 8% compared to 1990 levels. Entities exceeding their assigned limits must either find methods to reduce them or to buy unused allowances from entities that are operating under their own limits. Plans for four nations have not been approved so far: Czech Republic, Greece, Italy and Poland. The EU Commission is empowered to accept or reject all or parts of any nation's plan. Transportation emissions are not included in the requirements, but could be added at some later time.

Sources:
The European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/emission.htm
EU Launches Pioneering Emissions Trading Scheme. By Stuart Pearson, Reuters News Service, January 4, 2005. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28777/story.htm
FACTBOX - EU Launches CO2 Emissions Trading on Jan 1. Reuters News Service, January 4, 2005. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28776/story.htm

EU Clean Air for Europe Initiative to Limit Air Pollution
Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) is an integrated action plan prepared by the EC to further improve the quality of the air for Europeans. An EU Directive of 1999 set limits for some air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 - airborne particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and lead. The limits are to be met by 1 January 2005, with the exception of nitrogen dioxide, which is 2010. The CAFE is the next step, and the Commission is expected to adopt it by mid-2005. European citizens were invited to comment by the end of January about the quality of the air they breathe and suggest measures to improve it.

Source:
Questions and Answers on new EU limits for air pollution http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/15&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Increasing Calls for Improved Management of Nuclear Materials and Nonproliferation

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei, concerned about terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear materials, urged the international community to reinforce the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and draw a concrete roadmap and timetable for irreversible nuclear disarmament. Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del.) introduced a bill this month that proposed to re-establish U.S. efforts to convert Russian nuclear weapons production sites to civilian use, as part of the counterterrorism bill, Targeting Terrorists More Effectively Act of 2005. Nuclear proliferation and threats top the discussions of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament that began on January 27. The May 2005 NPT Review Conference will further discuss nonproliferation initiatives and a new disarmament action plan.

Meanwhile, the Institute for War and Peace recently reported on a former Grozny chemical factory wrecked by war, poverty and lawlessness, where dangerous radioactive cobalt lies practically unguarded and already caused the death of several people. In Armenia, the Metsamor aging nuclear power station is a problem given its location and the need to fly in fuel on Russian planes through Georgian airspace-equivalent to "flying around a potential nuclear bomb" states Alexis Louber, head of the EU delegation in Armenia.

Intensified Efforts Needed to Save Biodiversity

The International Conference on Biodiversity, Science and Governance hosted by UNESCO in Paris, 24-28 January 2005, concluded that strong science and effective governance mechanisms, strategies, and concrete actions to curb the current trend of biodiversity loss are needed by the 2010 target date set at the 2001 World Summit on Sustainable Development. With more than 7,000 animal species and 60,000 plant species threatened, some scientists estimate that the current rate of extinction is a thousand times greater than at any other time in the course of human history. Biological diversity is the basis of environmental viability for all life support.

Sources:
International Conference "Biodiversity: Science And Governance" http://www.recherche.gouv.fr/biodiv2005paris/en/
Toepfer Calls for Strong Science and Effective Governance at Paris Conference http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=421&ArticleID=4709&l=en

Small Island States Adopt Position on Addressing Climate Change

The UN meeting of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) held in Mauritius, January 10?14, concluded with the adoption of the Mauritius Declaration and Strategy that emphasizes the need for developing robust global early warning systems to protect against natural disasters, and measures and strategies to cope with rising ocean levels and other consequences of climate change. As part of fighting pollution, the SIDS asked for regulation of radioactive wastes transported through their national waters.

Sources:
Small Island Nations Appeal for Help to Deal with Environmental and Economic Woes http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=6900
UN Small Island Conference Adopts Mauritius Declaration, Strategy; Recommits To Sustainable Development Of Most Vulnerable Nations (ENV/DEV/SIDS/6 14 January 2005)
http://www.un.org/smallislands2005/coverage/pressreleases/envdevsids6-eng.pdf
Rising Seas Threaten Islands, Cities, Coasts. Reuters News Service, Story by Alister Doyle, January 10, 2005 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28874/story.htm

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

Flexible Plastic Solar Cells Converting 30% of Sun's Power into Usable Energy
Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada have invented an infrared-sensitive material that could turn the sun's power into electrical energy at 5 times higher efficiency than present methods. This flexible plastic solar cell harnesses infrared light from the sun (half of the sun's spectrum not previously accessed) and forms a flexible film on the surface of cloth, paper or other materials, becoming a 'portable' energy source.

Sources:
Nanotechnologists' new plastic can see in the dark. University of Toronto, Press release, January 10, 2005. http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/050110-832.asp
Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough. Stefan Lovgren, for National Geographic News, January 14, 2005 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html

Nanoshells Dramatically Improve Sensing Capability
Research at Rice University's Nanophotonics Laboratory has shown that a class of nanoparticles known as nanoshells can enhance the sensitivity of chemical sensing by a factor as high as10 billion. This is accomplished by using them to produce "surface enhancement" in Raman scattering, an optical technique for chemical analysis. The nanoshells are a few hundreds of nanometers in diameter and consist of a glass sphere coated with a layer, typically gold or silver, whose thickness can be varied to "tune" the shell to a specific optical wavelength. According to Prof. Naomi Halas, the Laboratory Director, this "creates an opportunity to design all-optical nanoscale sensors-essentially new molecular-level diagnostic instruments-that could detect as little as a few molecules of a target substance, which could be anything from a drug molecule or a key disease protein to a deadly chemical agent."

Sources:
'Nanoshells' enhance sensitivity to chemical detection by factor of 10 billion http://www.physorg.com/news2644.html
Study shows nanoshells ideal as chemical nanosensors http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-01/ru-ssn011105.php

Iron Nanoparticles for Environmental Cleanup
A new study from Oregon Health & Science University's OGI School of Science & Engineering, in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNL) and the University of Minnesota, shows that some iron nanoparticles may be effective in cleaning up carbon tetrachloride in contaminated groundwater. The researchers studied two types of iron nanoparticles, one with a shell of sulfur-rich magnetite and the other with a coating of oxidized boron. When applied to carbon tetrachloride contamination, the former produced a mix of harmless chemicals while the latter yielded chloroform, a highly toxic material. These fundamental results should aid greatly in the development of nano-iron-based cleanup methods for contaminated sediments and soil as well as for groundwater, and for their application to a range of more complex organic pollutants.

Sources:
OHSU-Led Study Finds Advantages To Iron Nanoparticles For Environmental Cleanup. http://www.ogi.edu/about/news/dsp_news.cfm?news_id=87261996-0ECC-7C05-146A7FA533655B40
Study finds advantages to iron nanoparticles for environmental clean up http://www.physorg.com/news2686.html

Robots that Can "Recharge" by Eating
Researchers at the University of the West of England, Bristol, are working on creating robots with artificial digestive systems and corresponding metabolisms that would allow robots to 'eat' to recharge their electrical needs. The robots would collect bacteria from sewage sludge, break it down into sugars, and convert the biochemical energy into electricity that powers the robot.

Source:
Ecobot Eats Dead Flies for Fuel. Wired. Com, by Lakshmi Sandhana. http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,66036,00.html

New Assertions on the Role of Environment in Global Security

Disputes over Water Continue to Threaten Security
In central Kenya, Kikuyu and Maasai tribal fighters clashed over scarce water supplies, killing at least 14 people in two days. Thousands fled the fighting site, some were injured, and dozens of houses were burned. Although officials stopped the fight, tensions remained high.
India and Pakistan talks over the Baglihar hydropower dam on the Chenab River failed. Pakistan is objecting to the construction of the dam that would affect the flow of the Chenab into its territory, and contravenes a 1960 water-sharing treaty negotiated by the World Bank. The long-running dispute threatens to cause another setback to an already fragile peace process.

Sources:
At Least 14 Killed as Kenyan Tribes Clash over Scarce Water Supplies. Associated Press, January 25, 2005. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=6991
India, Pakistan Hold Crucial Talks over River Row. Reuters, January 06, 2005. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=6875
Pakistan says water talks failure will affect peace with India. Islamabad (AFP) January 10, 2005. http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050110135746.m7x8ys5f.html

New Reports Stress the Link between Environment and Security
The 10th anniversary report of the Woodrow Wilson Center Environmental Change & Security Project highlights the fundamental role of the environment for global peace building. Top thinkers identified and analyzed key themes with crucial impact on conflict prevention over the next ten years: population, environment, and health. UNEP executive director, Klaus Toepfer, said that "Environmental security is the disarmament policy of the future."

World Watch Institute State of the World 2005: Redefining Global Security calls for new approaches to global security by addressing poverty, disease, and environmental decline, 'the true axis of evil' as stated by the Institute's president, Christopher Flavin.

The Optimist, Green Cross International's magazine (now available online), is highlighting current problems and opportunities for achieving sustainable and equitable development as the true path towards global peace and security. With articles ranging from the environmental legacy of the Cold War to cultural and poverty issues, it covers the wide landscape of security components.

Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures, the new book by Lester R. Brown, Founder and President of the Earth Policy Institute, investigates the impact of water shortage and climate change on food security and implicitly security in general. The book also suggests some practical steps to overcome food shortage and its implications.

Sources:
Can Securing the Environment Win the Peace? 10th Anniversary Report Examines the Next Steps for Environment, Population, and Security http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1413&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=104334
State of the World 2005: Redefining Global Security http://www.worldwatch.org/press/news/2005/01/12/
Optimist, Green Cross International http://www.optimistmag.org/gb/0003/one.php?id=256 (might require subscription)
Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/Out/index.htm

India Drafting New National Environment Policy

Having received inputs from the constituent states and others, the Ministry of Environment and Forests in India is about to begin preparing the final draft of the new National Environment Policy. This comprehensive new document will replace a variety of single-issue statements and will incorporate the concepts of sustainable development. The policy addresses all levels of concern, from local to global, and is based on seven objectives and 15 guiding principles.

Sources:
Current draft policy: http://envfor.nic.in/nep.htm
A policy of promise. By B.S. Padmanabhan, India's National Magazine, Vol. 21 - Issue 26 http://flonnet.com/fl2126/stories/20041231002310100.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean and Beyond
The Tsunami Warning System in the Indian Ocean, followed by a global one, toped the discussions of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan, January 18-22, 2005. [See also items Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean of December 2004, and Natural Disasters Raise the Environment on the Global Security Agenda of October 2004 environmental security report.] The tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean should be launched by June 2006 with the rest of the world to follow a year later, said Koichiro Matsuura, head of UNESCO. UNEP's Executive Director Klaus Toepfer stressed that such a system should be extended to all forms of natural and man-made disasters, including climate change. Grassroots groups were unhappy with the conference's outcomes, as it failed to set concrete plans of action and targets with political commitment and measures to hold nations accountable for their pledges. Germany plans to hold an international conference later this year on how to enhance early warning systems and limit the damage from natural disasters. It has already hosted two disaster early warning conferences in 1998 and 2003. The EU is considering setting up an international reaction force made up of about 5,000 experts identified by national governments, trained together and placed under central co-ordination in an emergency, with rapid reaction teams in different disaster situations.

Sources:
World Conference on Disaster Reduction http://www.unisdr.org/wcdr
UN Ready for Indian Ocean Tsunami Alert System by 2006 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28972/story.htm
Scientists Get To Work On Early Warning System After Tsunami Disaster http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tectonics-05k.html
NGOs say disasters summit dropped the ball. AlertNet, By Tim Large, 22 Jan 2005. http://www.alertnet.org/thefacts/reliefresources/11063809863.htm
Germany Plans Disaster Early Warning Conference http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28799/story.htm
EU Considers Creating Disaster Reaction Force http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28811/story.htm

New Developments on Climate Change
New scientific evidence shows that the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is decreasing. The decrease in the radiation is caused by the increase of particulate pollution in the atmosphere, which renders it more reflective, causing sunlight to produce less heat, apparently offsetting to some extent the greenhouse-gas-caused global warming tendency. However, considering that CO2 (the warming factor) levels are projected to rise over coming decades while the particles (the cooling factor) are fairly under control, scientists estimate that by 2100, there could be a temperature rise of 10ºC, rendering many parts of the world uninhabitable.

Similar results were generated by the biggest-ever climate-modeling experiment, which revealed that greenhouse gases could cause global temperatures rise some 11ºC (20º Fahrenheit) by 2100, which is more than double the amount predicted by the UN Panel on Climate Change. This ongoing exercise involves more than 95,000 people from 150 countries who download the 'climateprediction.net' climate model screen saver. Over four million model years were simulated. The project is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and coordinated by Oxford University.

Meeting The Climate Challenge, a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research in the UK, the Center for American Progress in the U.S., and the Australia Institute, has found that global warming is 10 years away from the point of no return. It states that the critical point will be when temperatures rise by two degrees centigrade above the average world temperature prior to the industrial era. Considering that global average temperature has already risen by 0.8 degrees since then, and the critical point will be when CO2 reaches 400 ppm, at the current level of 379 ppm and rising by more than 2 ppm annually, it means that the no-return point will be reached in about 10 years. The report suggests G8 countries should generate at least 25% of their energy from renewable sources by 2025, and double their research spending on low-carbon energy technologies by 2010.

Indian scientists say that global warming caused by pollution has affected the movement of the monsoon that is now difficult to predict and influences the life of millions of people.

In view of the latest evidences, Prime Minister Tony Blair promised to enhance climate change policy efforts during this year as he heads the G8 group and the European Union.
[See also UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in December 2004 and Global Warming Issues Get Momentum in November 2004 environmental security reports]

Sources:
Why the Sun seems to be 'dimming'. BBC News, by David Sington, 13 January, 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4171591.stm
Global warning "10 years from no return". BizWorld, Monday, January 24 http://www.businessworld.ie/livenews.htm?a=1091735;s=rollingnews.htm
Bleak first results from the world's largest climate change experiment http://climateprediction.net/science/pubs/climateprediction_press_release.pdf
Internet project forecasts global warming. News@nature.com, by Michael Hopkin, 26 January 2005 http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050124/full/050124-10.html
City pollution affecting weather and its forecast. Times News Network, January 17, 2005 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/993395.cms

Bird Flu Outbreak Urge World Readiness
The H5N1 virus has killed at least 42 people in Asia in the last year, including 30 in Vietnam. WHO warned at mid-January that the bird flu virus was endemic in Asia and it appeared to be evolving towards a possible human outbreak. The "New England Journal of Medicine" reported this month on the first documented human-to-human transmitted case of bird flu that occurred in Thailand last September. Infectious disease experts warn that the H5N1 virus could be more dangerous than SARS, as H5N1 infected victim could appear healthy even while carrying the virus. The outbreak of the deadly virus in Asia prompted the EU to check Europe's preparedness to cope with an eventual pandemic. [See also Birdflu Will be a Much Bigger Killer than SARS, According to WHO item of November 2004 environmental security report]

Sources:
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called on Friday for "all possible measures" to fight the emergence and spread of deadly bird flu that has appeared in Southeast Asia, Xinhua news agency reported.
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29266/story.htm
Asia Acts But Helpless if Deadly Bird Flu Occurs http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29239/story.htm
Asia Bird Flu Outbreak Spurs EU To Check Readiness http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29186/story.htm
First Person-to-Person Avian Flu Transmission Confirmed http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2005/2005-01-31-08.asp (by subscription only)

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December 2004

Tsunami Triggers an Early Warning System for Indian Ocean

If a system like the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific, headquartered in Hawaii, existed for the Indian Ocean, many lives would have been saved this December. This realization will lead to international agreements to create a Tsunami early warning system in the Indian Ocean (and possibly the Atlantic, leading to a global system). The Governments of Japan, India, and Australia announced that they will create such a system headquartered in India. This will be a top priority for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to be held in Kobe, Japan January 18-22, 2005. [See also item Natural Disasters Raise the Environment on the Global Security Agenda of October 2004 environmental security report.] The establishment of globally connected early warning for natural disasters seems inevitable.

Sources:
Experts Say Tsunami Warning System Would Have Saved Lives http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-12-28-voa5.cfm
Japan pledges $500 million in tsunami aid (includes technical support for Tsunami Early Warning System to be headquartered in India) http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Tsunami%20Japan
Australia Offers to Set Up Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000081&sid=auLhWSUbIhnU&refer=australia
India says will set up tsunami warning system http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL301680.htm
World Conference on Disaster Reduction http://www.unisdr.org/wcdr/
The Army Strategy for the Environment https://www.asaie.army.mil/Public/ESOH/doc/ArmyEnvStrategy.pdf

UN Report Recommends Basis for Global Security Consensus

It is not likely that all UN Member States will agree with all 101 recommendations in the UN report: A more secure world: Our shared responsibility. Report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change; however, it goes further than any UN report thus far to address the security challenges of the 21st century. Since no State can protect itself wholly by its own actions, the report provides an agenda to establish collective security. Both national security and human security are addressed. Environmental degradation, social equity, health, and transnational organized crime are raised to a par with threats from weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. The report also addresses UN reform, guidelines for the use of force, and defines terrorism (which reduces an impediment to creating better international agreements to address it).

Source:
A more secure world: Our shared responsibility http://www.un.org/secureworld/

Time to Strengthen the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention

Because the knowledge of how to weaponize diseases and alter their genetic properties is increasing, the sooner these capabilities are controlled, the safer the world will be. To this end, international experts met in Switzerland December 5-9 to strengthen the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention. Discussions focused on enhancing international surveillance capabilities for infectious diseases and improving national and international response to suspected use of biological or toxic weapons. In addition to a verification regime, Switzerland proposed more attention to biological weapon disarmament to prevent proliferation and terrorist access. Agreements necessary to manage these threats have not been achieved. An international code of conduct for scientists will be considered in 2005 at the Meeting of Experts (13?24 June) and the Meeting of States Parties (5?9 December). The Sixth Review Conference in 2006 will assess the Convention's operation and implementation.
Bioweapons Report 2004, produced by the Bioweapons Prevention Project, assesses the global state of technology that could be used to create biological weapons and the state of regulations addressing such efforts. It concludes that the BWC "lacks effective mechanisms for monitoring and verifying whether or not states parties are complying with their treaty obligations," and unless updated at its 2006 review conference, the BWC will become irrelevant. The report also forecasts scientific advances by 2011, indicating that a more responsive mechanism is needed for reviewing scientific developments other than the five-year review conferences. Australia and Indonesia have scheduled a February regional workshop in Melbourne on the BWC and strategies to reduce the possibility of bioterrorism in South Asia. Other countries of the region will also be invited.

Sources:
Swiss seek progress on biological weapons
swissinfo, Scott Capper, December 6, 2004 http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5384973
Official Documents of the BWC experts meeting http://disarmament2.un.org/wmd/bwc/annualmeetings/listofdocs-2004%20States%20Parties%20mtgs.html
Bioweapons Report 2004 report http://www.bwpp.org/documents/2004BWRFinal_000.pdf
Biological Weapons Convention Requires Updates to Match Technological Change, Group Says
By David Ruppe, Global Security Newswire http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2004_12_13.html#09F1B1D0
Australia to host bioterror workshop, News.com.au, December 22, 2004 http://www.news.com.au/common/printpage/0,6093,11760887,00.html

Chemical Weapons Convention Annual Conference

The ninth annual Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was held in The Hague, from 29 November to 3 December 2004, to re-enforce efforts to eliminate chemical weapons and their production facilities. Although this was the largest meeting thus far and countries representing 90% of the world's chemical industry are States Party to the Convention, some States of concern remain outside its control. An interesting precedent was created when Libya's request was approved to convert chemical weapons production facilities into a pharmaceuticals plant to produce low-cost treatments for AIDS/HIV, malaria and tuberculosis for the African market. The Chinese representative called on Japan to get rid of the chemical weapons it left in China during World War II. She noted that 2000 Chinese casualties were caused by these weapons since the end of the War, underlining the need to make the Convention more effective and timely for the destruction of such weapons, as well as creating the relevant facilities for preventing chemical weapons proliferation and acts of chemical terrorism.

Sources:
Chemical Weapons Ban Conference papers (see events from Nov. 26, to Dec. 2, 2004) http://www.opcw.org/html/global/ra_frameset.html
U.S. Chemical Weapons Convention website http://www.cwc.gov/
China urges Japan to destroy chemical weapons abandoned in China http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-11/29/content_2274747.htm

EU to Ban the use of Cadmium in Batteries

As part of its effort for reducing environmental pollution from heavy metals, the EU has decided to ban the use of cadmium in consumer batteries. Cordless power tools, medical equipment, emergency lighting, and alarm systems are exempted so far, but in 2008 when the law will be reviewed, the European Commission might propose a complete ban-as previously suggested by such countries as Sweden and Denmark. The environmental ministers also set collection targets for portable batteries. After adapting their national legislation to the new EU regulations, in the first four years, 25% of all used batteries should be collected on their territories; while after eight years, the rate rises to 45%. The new legislation is awaiting European Parliament approval.

Source:
Council agrees minimal ban on cadmium in batteries
EurActive, December 21, 2004 http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-133674-16&type=News

Microwave Frequencies used for Environment-sensing are in Jeopardy

Interference caused by increasing microwave activities from such applications as mobile phones, wireless computer communications, collision avoidance systems, and possible new military communications technologies are ruining the reliability of satellite data for weather forecasting and climate change. In a recent interview with the BBC, Dr Stephen English, manager of the Satellite Radiance Assimilation Group at the UK Met Office, called attention to the serious impact on climate change research of allowing various terrestrial radio services to use narrow bands in the microwave spectrum which are uniquely suited for making satellite-based meteorological observations that yield vital data for such research. He told the BBC, "Microwave observations are vital because they see through clouds--this is not possible in any other frequency band. We only need a few narrow-frequency bands for Earth remote-sensing, but most of these are unique, so there is no alternative. These bands are primarily used for temperature, water vapor, sea ice, clouds (ice and liquid), and rainfall and snowfall estimation." According to the BBC, a meteorologists' working group on frequency management says protecting key regions of the microwave spectrum for passive remote-sensing is "a dramatic challenge", because of "the huge pressure of the commercial and military telecoms".
Source:
Forecasters face losing key tools
By Alex Kirby, BBC News, December 17, 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4104355.stm

Technological Breakthroughs with Environmental Security Implications

"Designer" Bacteria could help Cleanup Pollution and Produce Hydrogen
Craig Venter (who led the Human Genome Project) and his colleague Hamilton Smith are trying to construct the entire genomes of living creatures to create organisms by design. The team first created a virus from its chemical elements in November 2003 and now is trying to create bacteria. The Department of Energy's "Genomes to Life" program coordinates the research and hopes to use future "designer" bacteria to create hydrogen and methane, and clean up nuclear waste. Although it is already known how to use bacteria for some forms of environmental cleanup, building bacteria from scratch would allow the design of very specific bacteria for very specific tasks, including prevention of the designer bacteria's ability to reproduce in the environment beyond the original intended purpose.

Source:
Let there be bacteria
By Geoffrey Carr. The Economist, 'The World in 2005' http://www.economist.com/theworldin/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3370790&d=2005 (by subscription only)

Korean Nanotechnology production techniques Cut Costs and Environment Impact
Prof. Taeghwan Hyeon and associates at Seoul National University's School of Chemical Engineering have announced the development of a safe and inexpensive way to directly produce a large amount of monodisperse (uniformly sized) nano-crystals using non-toxic salts. Hyeon said that these are truly revolutionary findings enabling large-scale production of nano-particles at low cost--just 250 won (about 25 cents) per gram. His team used metal salts as a reactant to regularly produce as much as 40 grams in a single reaction. Although the technique reduces the environmental impact in production, it does not mean it reduces the environmental impact of the nanomaterials after production and application.

Sources:
Green breakthrough for nanoscience: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/12/06/explorers.nano/
South Korean scientists report nano-technology breakthrough http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/041129085754.i9qj56tc.html

Flexible Solar Cells could be sewn in Clothing
A European Union research project called H-Alpha Solar has developed light, flexible solar panels that could be sewn on fabrics and placed on surfaces to charge objects such as cell phones. When in full production, it is estimated to cost about 1 euro ($1.34) per watt.
Sources:
Pliable solar cells are on a roll http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6802
Bendy Solar Panels Provide Portable Energy Supply http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=28621&newsdate=17-Dec-2004

Proposed T-Rays (TeraHertz) Devices Could Detect About Anything
New devices that use terahertz rays (T-rays have a 1000 times higher frequency than microwaves) to see through clothing and packaging can precisely identify chemical and biological weapons, explosives, or conventional weapons. Even hermetically sealed anthrax and plastic guns would be detected. The potential applications of T-rays are huge, ranging from military and security, to medical sector, and are even promising for nanotechnology. Research is preliminary, but T-ray palm devices might one day detect cancers in the body, determine from a distance the chemicals in a hazardous waste spill, or find victims trapped under rubble, says one of the researchers, Dr. James Kolodzey, of the University of Delaware. Scientists from America, Europe, Asia and Australia shared the latest advances in T-ray technology at the international workshop on TeraHertz for Defence and Security, at Adelaide University, Australia.
Source:
T-Rays Detect Chemical, Biological Weapons, Find Cancers
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2004/2004-12-14-02.asp (by subscription only)

Biodegradable Mobile Phones
Researchers at the University of Warwick, together with high tech materials company PVAXX Research and Development Ltd, and Motorola designed a mobile phone that can be turned into compost and even flower when discarded. The phones are made of a new high tech biodegradable material, which disintegrates in a few weeks when buried in compost, and grows a flower from a seed placed in the phone's cover.
Source:
Researchers compost old mobile phones & transform them into flowers http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-11/uow-rco112904.php

Automated Water Safety Sensor Units
Sandia National Laboratory teamed with CH2M Hill of Englewood, Colo., an engineering and construction firm, and Tenix Investments (Australia's largest defense and technology contractor) to develop a monitoring device that can detect currently unmonitored biological agents--such as germs, toxins and bacteria--in water systems. Initial commercial units and wider deployment are anticipated from late 2005 to mid 2007.
Source:
Sandia, Tenix, and CH2M Hill will develop automated water safety sensor units
Sandia National Laboratories, Press Release, December 6, 2004 http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2004/all/tenix.html

New Zealand's Largest Environmental Management Forum

The Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) will hold its annual Environmental Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, 29 March - 1 April 2005. This will be the largest Australasian environmental management event to be held in New Zealand; more than 300 specialists are expected to attend. According to the conference announcement, concurrent sessions will explore case studies in resource management, environmental management systems; integrated planning and systems-thinking; environmental assessment and reporting; and communication and environmental education. Field trips and technical tours will include the Living Streams restoration program, a Maori perspective of resource management at Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere; the Kowhai Organic Farm at Lincoln University and ecosystem protection in Canterbury's braided rivers. The meeting is designed to be environment-friendly; delegates can make their travel carbon-neutral by paying a CO2 carbon offset charge ranging from $3 to $26. These funds will be used for regeneration of native forest.
Sources:
EIANZ Conference 29 Mar - 1 Apr 2005, Christchurch, New Zealand http://www.conferenceteam.co.nz/eianz/
New Zealand to Host Major Environment Forum, EIANZ Press Release http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0412/S00042.htm

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference
About 6,000 scientists, decision-makers, and activists attended the Tenth Session of the Conference of Parties (COP 10) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (to which is attached the Kyoto Protocol) held in Buenos Aires, 6?17 December 2004. The conference discussed ways to reduce global warming and its effects. It also discussed post-Kyoto policy plans. Although no specific actions and/or regulations were adopted, progress was achieved on the issue of mitigation and adaptation to possible effects of climate change. The Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures adopted by the conference, includes further scientific assessments of vulnerabilities and options for adaptation, expert papers on various aspects of climate change risks, and recommendations for sustainable development planning. A seminar of governmental experts is planned for next May in Bonn to continue discussions on the issue.
Sources:
COP 10 Conference site: http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_10/items/2944.php
U.S. Waters Down Global Commitment to Curb Greenhouse Gases
New York Times, by Larry Rohter, December 19, 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/19/international/19climate.html (article available for a limited time)
EU Wants More Mandatory Emissions Cuts, US Opposed http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28619/story.htm
UN to look beyond Kyoto in climate change conference http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/041205083938.yektmfdt.html

Changes to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
U.S. ratification brought the Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone to just two ratifications away from its entry into force. This eighth Protocol to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) sets emission ceilings for 2010 for four pollutants: sulphur, NOx, VOCs, and ammonia, regulating emissions by sources (e.g. combustion plant, electricity production, dry cleaning, cars and trucks), and requiring the use of best available techniques to keep emissions down. In the meantime, an expert group is conducting work on fine particles; the results might lead to either amendment of the Gothenburg Protocol or a new protocol specifically on fine particles.
Two new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may be considered for addition to the Protocol on POPs, pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE) and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS).
As the 1979 Convention presently covers just Europe, the U.S., and Canada, efforts will increase to extend it towards the east, involving East European, Caucasian and Central Asian countries.
[See also the items Study Proposes an International Air Pollution Treaty and Protocol to Control Heavy Metals to Enter into Force of October 2003, and POP Protocol Comes into Force of August 2003 environmental security scanning reports.]

Sources:
Air Pollution Protocol Boosted by U.S. Ratification. Executive Body wraps up jubilee session http://www.unece.org/press/pr2004/04env_p21e.htm
Protocols to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/status/lrtap_s.htm

Fines for Oil Spills will Increase in 2005
Oil pollution damage compensation under the 1992 Civil Liability Convention will be substantially enhanced with the entry into force of the Supplementary Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage at the beginning of March 2005. Under the new Protocol, payments for an oil spill will be raised and capped at 750 million Special Drawing Rights (about $1.152 billion).
Meantime, the EU agreed on stronger measures against ships polluting European waters. Each EU country would be allowed to charge a minimum penalty for marine pollution. The fines are between 150,000 and 300,000 euros (about $398,500) for less serious cases, and between 750,000 and 1.5 million euros for more serious cases, although member states may set higher fines if they want. The new rule is pending approval by the European Parliament. The EU ambassadors will also seek agreement for proposing that ships' captains' personal liability be included in international maritime conventions. [See also International Maritime Organization (IMO) and EU Collaborate on Oil Spill Prevention of March 2003, and International Maritime Organization (IMO) wants global rather than many different local or regional rules of January 2003, and Europe Looks to Maritime Rules After Tanker Spill of November 2002 environmental security monthly reports.]

Sources:
New fund heralds better deal for oil pollution victims
Supplementary Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage to enter into force http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=848&doc_id=4531
EU Agrees Deal on Punishing Ship Pollution
Reuters News Service, December 10, 2004 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28516/story.htm

Europe Declares Thousands of Protected Natural Sites
The European Commission adopted a list of more than 7,000 nature sites in the Atlantic and Continental regions of the EU to become part of NATURA 2000, the network of protected sites with the objective of halting the decline of biodiversity by 2010.

Source:
Nature protection: Commission establishes largest ever list of protected areas in the EU
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1449&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Back to Top

November 2004

Birdflu Will be a Much Bigger Killer than SARS, According to WHO

WHO's director of their Western Pacific Regional Office said that the conservative estimate is that Birdflu (H5N1) could infect 30% of the world, killing 2-7 million people, but it could go as high as 50 million deaths. SARS killed 800 people last year with a mortality rate of around 15%, while H5N1 kills up to 33%. The Asian practice of selling live chickens and ducks, and slaughtering them in front of customers, should be stopped, and a central abattoir or restriction of slaughtering to a few areas should be substituted. Hong Kong scientists have been fighting to end the widespread practice of killing live chickens in markets since 1997, when the H5N1 virus first spread to humans and killed six people in the territory.
Although birdflu has killed 32 people in Thailand and Vietnam this year, and millions of chickens, ducks and other birds have been culled across Asia, the virus is expected to mutate, allowing it to infect human populations with no immunity. The next indicator of this possibility is expected to be increased infections among pigs. Clinical trials for a vaccine against H5N1 have begun, but even successful results might still have a time-lag of half a year, while many humans could be infected and killed.

Source:
Birdflu Far More Deadly than SARS, WHO Says
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28343/story.htm

International Issues of Managing Radioactive Materials
A Single set of International Standards is proposed for Nuclear Power Plants from Design to Decommissioning
The Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Safety, with 274 delegates from 37 countries held last month in Beijing, recommended that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) develop a single set of international standards for all nuclear installations from design to decommissioning. Given the growing diversification and globalization of the industry, the sooner these standards are developed and implemented the better.

Source:
Safety Experts Endorse Single Set of International Standards for Nuclear Power Plants
Recommendations from the Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Safety, Beijing, China
Staff Report, 4 November 2004 http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2004/topical_issues.html

Reducing Proliferation Risks by Converting 60 High- to Low-Enriched Uranium Research Reactors Could Take 10 Years
A key to lowering risks induced by the proliferation of weapons-grade uranium is converting civil nuclear research reactors to run on low-enriched uranium (LEU) instead of high-enriched uranium (HEU). So far 31 research reactors have been converted to low-enriched uranium and 7 have been partly converted. However, IAEA estimates it could take 10 years to convert some 60 civilian research reactors that are still running on HEU that are targeted for this conversion. Approximately 200 experts from across the globe discussed these conversion issues at the International Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) held in Vienna, November 8-11.

Source:
Curbing Potential Spread of Weapons-Grade Uranium Could Take 10 Years - IAEA
UN Press Release, New York, Nov 16 2004 11:00AM (email newsletter)
Progress Reported in Big Job to Convert Research Reactors from HEU Fuel
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2004/retr2004.html

International Cooperation to Address Radioactive Waste Emergent Disaster in Central Asia
"Radioactive waste in northern Tajikistan is the biggest human-made disaster in Central Asia," said an Environmental Officer of the OSCE at a two-day conference on radioactive waste disposal sites in northern Tajikistan and its consequences on the environment and health of the local population. During the Soviet era, nuclear waste in Tajikistan was not managed well. As a result, it is now claimed that 10 million people in the basin of the Syr-Darya River have been affected by nuclear waste. Over 200 participants from countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as representatives of the UN, the EU, the U.S., and Iran came to Dushanbe to share their expertise in addressing this problem, which has also been a cause of tension with neighboring states, namely Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The conference recommendations will be submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the OSCE Permanent Council for a further action plan.

Source:
First international conference on radioactive waste in Tajikistan opens in Dushanbe
http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=4512

Biosecurity Internet Tools

United Nations Upgrades Early Warning System for Health and Terror Alerts
The United Nations launched the Global Public Health Intelligence Network II (GPHIN II), an upgrade of the GPHIN emergency-preparedness system designed to alert national health agencies to imminent health and terror emergencies. This Internet-based "early warning" system will gather and disseminate preliminary reports of public health threats on a continuous basis to the WHO and public health officials worldwide, helping early detection of potential public health threats including infectious disease outbreaks around the world, whether they are naturally occurring or the result of an act of bioterrorism. The program was developed by Canada's Ministry of Health with support from Nuclear Threat Initiative's Global Health and Security Initiative.

Sources:
Will We Be Able to Identify and Prevent the Next Pandemic Before It is Too Late?
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=39820
Canada behind new health threat alert system
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1100648689967_96057889/?hub=TopStories
New Tool Launched in Fight Against Infectious Disease Outbreaks; Expanded Global System Will Help Detect Potential Public Health Threats
http://www.nti.org/c_press/release_gphin_111704.pdf

New NAS Website on Biosecurity
The Policy and Global Affairs division of the National Academy of Sciences launched a new website that is a collection of resources, studies and other activities at the National Academies related to biosecurity. So far, the categories are: biosecurity, publications, reports in preparation, and other activities.

Source:
Biosecurity @ the National Academies http://www7.nationalacademies.org/biosecurity/index.html

Technology Issues Relevant to Environmental Security

Arsenic-polluted Water Decontamination Using Sulphate
Detecting and detoxifying water contaminated with arsenic could become faster, easier, and cheaper according to recent research by the University of Illinois. Tests so far demonstrate that changing the chemical composition of water by adding sulphate to it, could stimulate the bacteria that control arsenic concentration, precipitating arsenic, which is then easily removable from the water. The research remains to be tested in the field.

Source:
A cheap fix for arsenic-polluted water?
http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=1702&language=1

Nanomaterials Help Stop Bullets
Bulletproof vests' performance could be improved by chemically attaching different nanoparticles to already well-known materials such as Kevlar, says Professor Victor Castano, of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Ceramic nanoparticles would make the material UV-shielded, and chemically functionalized nanoparticles linked to organic structures could be used for waterproofing.

Source:
Nanomaterials help stop bullets
By Alan Osborn 23/11/2004 http://www.prw.com/main/newsdetails.asp?id=3444

Future Computer-Human Interface Means Cyber Viruses Could Infect Humans
As the human-computer interface continues to evolve into a continuum, it is reasonable to assume cyber viruses will one day be able to transfer into electronic components that will have been added into the human nervous system, and so have biological effects. Kevin Warwick, professor of cybernetics at Reading University, and a cyborg pioneer, warned that the emergence of computer-human connection and the production of synthetic viruses comes with great advantages, but also a huge risk: computer viruses will be able to infect augmented humans as they do PCs.

Source:
Could future computer viruses infect humans? One ex-cyborg thinks they could...
Silicon.com, November 12 2004, by Jo Best http://networks.silicon.com/webwatch/0,39024667,39125887,00.htm

Recent Developments in Addressing Impacts of Nanotechnology

International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) Created
The International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) is a coalition of academic, industry, regulatory, and non-governmental organizations working together to ensure that nanotechnology benefits humanity without negative implications for health and the environment. ICON activities' categories include: science and engineering research into the potential environmental and health impacts of engineered nanostructures; social science research into public perceptions toward new technology, and the role that regulatory and other governmental policies can and should play in nanotechnology stewardship; collaborative policy activities that develop international standards for engineered nanostructure terminology and metrology, safety guidelines, and best laboratory practices; public communication and outreach that tracks all relevant technical data on nanotechnology's potential risks; and presentation of this information in terms and formats that are accessible by laypersons. ICON is located and coordinated by The Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) at Rice University.

Sources:
About ICON http://cohesion.rice.edu//centersandinst/icon/about.cfm
CBEN launches partnership for sustainable nanotechnology
Broad coalition will work together to ensure tiny tech benefits human health and the environment
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-10/ru-clp102804.php

Wise-Nano Project of the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
The Wise-Nano project of the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology is a collaborative website for researchers from around the world addressing the facts and implications of advanced nanotechnology and what to do about them.

Source:
Wise-Nano project http://wise-nano.org/w/Main_Page

Studies on Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnology
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded 12 grants to universities to investigate the potential health and environmental impacts of nanomaterials. Six of the grants awarded will investigate if manufactured nanomaterials could have any negative health effects or environmental impacts, while the other six grants will study the fate and transport of nanomaterials in the environment. The grants were awarded through EPA's Science to Achieve Results research grants program.
The National Toxicology Program, a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, will be conducting animal studies to investigate the effects of nanoparticles in the lungs and on the skin, and their uptake and distribution into and through the body.
Other U.S. agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, have also begun to pay attention to the field.

Source:
EPA Backs Nanomaterial Safety Research. Activists Say $4 Million Is Far Too Little for Studies
By Rick Weiss, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, November 12, 2004; Page A23
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43763-2004Nov11.html (free subscription required)
2003 Exploratory Research to Anticipate Future Environmental Issues: Impacts of Manufactured Nanomaterials on Human Health and the Environment. STAR Recipients
http://cfpub1.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipients.display/rfa_id/352

ETC Report on Nanotechnology Impact on Food and Agriculture
The ETC Group recently released a report, "Down on the Farm: The Impact of Nano-Scale Technologies on Food and Agriculture", that addresses nanotechnologies' impact on farmers, food and agriculture. The report recommends that until the clear implications of nanotechnology use in agriculture and food chain are known, its use be guided by the Precautionary Principle or even prohibited until a regulatory regime specifically designed to examine these nano-scale products finds them safe. The report also addresses the 'green goo' issue related to potential dangers associated with synthetic biology or nanobiotechnology and, given the extreme risks (that even mainstream scientists are beginning to acknowledge), calls for an immediate moratorium on laboratory experimentation and environmental release of these materials until there is thorough knowledge of their health, environmental and socio-economic implications.

Source:
Down on the Farm: The Impact of Nano-scale Technologies on Food and Agriculture (Summery) http://www.etcgroup.org/article.asp?newsid=485
Down on the Farm: The Impact of Nano-scale Technologies on Food and Agriculture (Full report) http://www.etcgroup.org/documents/ETC_DOTFarm2004.pdf

Global Warming Issues Get Momentum

Kyoto Protocol Will Enter Into Force on February 16, 2005
With the Russian Federation's ratification on November 18, the Kyoto Protocol will enter into force on February 16, 2005. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan characterizes the Treaty's entry into force as "a historic step forward in the world's efforts to combat a truly global threat." The Treaty commits participating industrial countries to reduce their combined emissions of six greenhouse gases by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. [See also October 2004 environmental security report.]

Sources:
UN Secretary-General receives Russia's Kyoto Protocol ratification http://unfccc.int/press/interviews_and_statements/items/3290.php
Kyoto ratification: pressure rises on US, China, India http://www.terradaily.com/2004/041118143923.nbe17rdb.html

Arctic Warming Much Faster Than Expected
The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report reveals that the Arctic is warming nearly twice as fast as the rest of the planet, with dramatic physical, ecological, social, and economic consequences for the whole planet. At least half of the summer sea ice in the Arctic is projected to melt by the end of this century, along with a portion of the Greenland Ice Sheet, possibly raising global sea levels by 1 meter by 2100 and 7 meters in the long-term, threatening millions of people living in coastal areas. The possible disappearance of summer sea ice endangers Arctic animal species such as ice-living seals and polar bears, with devastating consequences for local people for whom these animals are a primary food source.
Impacts of a Warming Arctic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment is the result of four years of research by an international team of about 250 scientists, and was commissioned by the Arctic Council-a ministerial intergovernmental forum comprising the eight Arctic countries and six Indigenous Peoples organizations-and the International Arctic Science Committee-a non-governmental organization for facilitating arctic research. At its Fourth Ministerial Meeting held in Reykjavik, November 24, the Arctic Council failed to devise a plan to address the problem, as the U.S. delegation opposed including any specific recommendations in the council's joint declaration. The Arctic peoples and tropical islanders plan to create an alliance to campaign against global warming and lobby industrial nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, even threatening to file official complaints against the U.S.

Sources:
Impacts of a Warming Arctic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Report http://www.acia.uaf.edu/ (Select "ACIA Overview Report")
Climate change is here, now, say scientists
North.cbc.ca, Nov 3 2004 http://north.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=climate-change-11032004
Rapid Arctic Warming Brings Sea Level Rise, Extinctions
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2004/2004-11-08-02.asp (by subscription only)
Arctic People Seek Tropical Team on Global Warming
November 26, 2004 - By Alister Doyle, Reuters http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=468
Arctic Nations Cool On How To Fight Global Warming http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2004/2004-11-30-11.asp (by subscription only)

A Sample of Counter Global Warming Activists around the World
Unless major actions to reduce greenhouse gases are taken worldwide, parts of Australia could become uninhabitable, warned participants at the recent International Climate Change Taskforce meeting. An Australian court has ordered that an expert planning panel assess the greenhouse gas pollution consequences before any extension of the Hazelwood power station in the Australian State of Victoria begins. Environmentalists petitioned that sites in Belize, Nepal and Peru be considered for UNESCO's World Heritage in Danger List in order to be protected from the effects of climate change. China and the European Commission of the European Union announced a five year, €42.9 million energy and environment program in Beijing to improve energy efficiency in China and combat climate change. Britain and Germany, whose greenhouse gas reductions are among the biggest in the world, are enhancing their fight against global warming through a new partnership backed by leading industrialists, businessmen, and scientists. A range of innovative recommendations for environment-friendly industry will be presented to the countries' leaders. The importance of the event was highlighted by its opening by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her State Visit to Germany.

Sources:
Parts of Australia could become uninhabitable, environment conference told http://www.terradaily.com/2004/041115064829.h743x5yh.html
Australia court rules that greenhouse gas emissions can't be ignored http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/other_news/news.cfm?uNewsID=16211
Melting Glaciers Said to Be Threatening Everest http://www.enn.com/ch_clim.html?id=25
EU-China energy and environment program launched
(Xinhua) Updated: 2004-11-04 00:32 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/04/content_388294.htm (article stored for a limited time on the website)
Global warming: Britain and Germany chart the way forward http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=412&ArticleID=4658&l=en

The U.S. Might Ratify the Law of the Sea

This month marked the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Law of the Sea. There are indications that the U.S. Senate is now ready to agree to the U.S. ratifying the law in order to keep its important place at the table of negotiations.

Sources:
Oceans and Law of the Sea website http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm
The U.S. and the Law of the Sea
Jonathan Power, International Herald Tribune, Wednesday, November 3, 2004
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/11/02/news/edpower.html (article stored for a limited time on the website)

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

Europe Ratified the Stockholm Convention
EU ratified the Stockholm Convention that bans the use of POPs. The treaty entered into force on May 17, 2004. So far it has been ratified by 83 countries, among them 13 EU member states. As Party to the Treaty, the European Commission says that it has already prepared a list of nine additional POPs to propose to be banned under the Convention. [See also related items in May and February 2004, and October 2002 Millennium Project's environmental security monthly reports.]

Sources:
EU ratifies global accord against dangerous pollutants
http://www.terradaily.com/2004/041118182847.skpqzazj.html

Environmental Destruction During War Aggravates Instability
On the occasion of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, observed on November 6, UN officials highlighted again that environmental degradation, mostly destroying natural resources in wartime, worsens conflicts inside and between nations and re-launched the call for cleanup of the remnants of war. Although legal protections for the environment during war-time is covered by several existing international laws, there might be "need to go further than this piecemeal coverage, and develop clear standards, appropriate sanctions and credible enforcement mechanisms to ensure that environmental damage is avoided, deterred or punished. We may well need to add a 'green' chapter to the long established rules of war set out in the Geneva Conventions" said Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General. Klaus Toepfer, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, stressed that "Joint projects to clean up sites, agreements and treaties to better share resources such as rivers and forests, and strengthening cooperation between the different countries' ministries and institutions may hold the key to building trust, understanding and more stable relations." [See also item UN Secretary-General Wants Updated Laws Against Environmental Damage in War of November 2003 environmental security scanning report.]

Sources:
Statement by Mr. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General. Message On The International Day For Preventing The Exploitation Of The Environment In War And Armed Conflicts
http://www.unep.org/PDF/SG_message_conflict.pdf
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflicts. Statement by Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=413&ArticleID=4659&l=en

Nineteen new Biosphere Reserves Added to UNESCO's MAB Network
The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme have added 19 new sites in 13 countries to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The MAB Network now consists of 459 sites in 97 countries. The biosphere reserves are places recognized for promoting development in the service of both socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. [See related items on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in June 2004 and October 2003 environmental security monthly reports.]

Sources:
The MAB Programme. New Biosphere Reserves http://www.unesco.org/mab/news/newbr2004.htm
18th Session of the MAB International Co-ordinating Council http://www.unesco.org/mab/mabicc/2004/eng/docs.htm

NASA's Eyes in the Sky to Help Global Conservation
NASA and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) signed an agreement to use the space agency's satellite system to map the earth, monitor global environment change, and help conservation efforts. Although the focus will be to discover unknown species of plants and animals and pinpoint their habitats, this is an important project for international collaboration for biodiversity protection in general. [See also July 2004 item Increasing Capacity of Space Technology to Assist Environmental Security and other related items in previous environmental security monthly reports.]

Source:
NASA's Eyes in the Sky to Help Global Conservation
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28202/story.htm

Back to top

October 2004

EU Environment Ministers Propose post-Kyoto Protocol Climate Policies

Now that the Russian ratification will bring the Kyoto Protocol into force [see item 8.2 in this report], the European environment ministers are planning to initiate talks within the UN on climate policies that would follow after 2012 (when the Protocol's first commitment period ends). The next UN Climate Conference (COP10) will be this December in Buenos Aires and the European Council will meet next spring on its climate policy objectives. The EU's general climate objective is to pursue polices leading to temperatures that would not exceed pre-industrial levels by more than two degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the European Environmental Ministers are planning to ban the more destructive fluorinated gases in certain products, which European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said "have huge global warming potential - in some cases almost 24,000 times that of carbon dioxide." The Ministers also plan to regulate leakage of these gases prior to their complete phase-out. They propose to ban the use of fluorinated gases in double-glazing, fire extinguishers, car tires and recreational items. There was also a call for concrete action to reduce emissions from international aviation and shipping industries.

Source:
EU Environment Ministers Limit Most Destructive Climate Gases
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2004/2004-10-14-03.asp (by subscription only)

Natural Disasters Raise the Environment on the Global Security Agenda

Natural Disasters as an Environmental Security Issue
Recent natural disasters increased environmental security concerns. The last few years' storms, droughts, and heat waves increased poverty and migrations in regions already vulnerable to conflict. David Anderson, former Canadian Environment Minister, said that global warming posed a greater long-term threat to humanity than terrorism. Although natural hazards cannot be avoided, their dramatic consequences can be reduced by preparedness and risk reduction measures including early warning systems, environmental protection, land-use planning, technology development, and education. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says that early warning and advance planning, and building a "culture of prevention" could halve the rates of death and destruction in the decade following 2010 compared with this decade. To address these goals, the WMO has launched the Natural Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Programme. The new Early Warning Promotional Platform for natural disasters has been set up in Bonn, Germany, under the auspices of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). Several international organizations are working closely with the Secretariat for the ISDR in preparing the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to be held in Kobe, Japan, January 18-22, 2005.

Sources:
Timely Access And Response To Accurate Early Warnings Are Crucial For Minimizing Impacts Of Natural Disasters. WMO, International Day for Disaster Reduction, 13 October 2004
http://www.wmo.ch/web/Press/Press715_E.doc
Improve Chain Of Information, Decision-Making In Preparing For Recurring Hazards, Says Secretary-General In Disaster Reduction Day Message
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sgsm9520.doc.htm
World Disasters Report 2004
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2004/
Analysis - Global Warming Seen as Security Threat
http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=27838

Additional Environmental Security Role for the UN Security Council
Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP, said that the restructuring of the UN Security Council might be necessary to address the environment-conflict nexus more efficiently. He stated, "One of the options being discussed is to create a subdivision under the Security Council that focuses on environment-related security concerns." [See related item in September environmental security scanning report].

Sources:
"Solving the Environmental Problems of the 21st Century" lecture by Dr. Klaus Töpfer
Georgetown University, October 7, 2004
The United Nations Environment Programme's Klaus Toepfer Launches Understanding Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation
http://www.ems.org/nws/2004/10/04/the_united_natio

OSCE Workshop on Environmental Risks and Security in Earthquake Areas
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held an international workshop on environmental risks and security in earthquake-prone areas, as part of the preparations for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to be held in January in Kobe. More than 250 participants from 52 countries addressed such issues as raising public awareness, education and training on social consequences of earthquakes, preparedness, and risk and disaster reduction. Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan said that these issues are "closely linked with the provision of national security to the country and the region."

Source:
OSCE Office in Yerevan holds workshop on environmental risks and security in earthquake areas http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=4462

Technology Issues Relevant to Environmental Security

Bionanotech Particles Can Detect Bacteria in 20 Minutes
A team of researchers at the University of Florida created a bioconjugated nanoparticle that can detect single pathogenic bacteria in just 20 minutes. Although demonstrated just for E. coli, researchers say that by changing the antibodies employed, the ultrasensitive particles can be modified to detect a wide variety of bacteria. The team continues to work for enlarging the technique's scope by creating bioconjugated nanoparticles to detect multiple bacteria simultaneously. The new technique is a promising method for detecting bioagents in food, and clinical and environmental samples, and for early medical diagnosis. It could also prove important for assisting the enforcement of current and future international treaties that address organic transfers across national borders.

Sources:
A rapid bioassay for single bacterial cell quantitation using bioconjugated nanoparticles
National Academy of Sciences, 10.1073/pnas.0404806101
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/101/42/15027
Nanoparticles Enable Speedy E. coli Detection
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=0002FFA7-F4A6-1166-B4A683414B7F0000

Nanodevices for Biomolecules Detection
Two U.S. research teams designed nano-devices for virus detection. The nanoelectromechanical device by Cornell University can detect an insect baculovirus, while the nanowire field effect transistors developed by Harvard University can detect single influenza viruses. These techniques enlarge the capability to detect different viruses simultaneously.
Argonne National Laboratory scientists developed a magnetic sensor for bacteria and virus detection. The device relies on measuring the Brownian relaxation of magnetic nanoparticles when they are bound to target biomolecules. The team is now working to improve the sensitivity of the technique.
All three methods could be used in medicine and/or the detection of bacteria and viruses in the environment.

Sources:
Nanodevices target viruses http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/3/10/7
Electrical detection of single viruses, National Academy of Sciences, 10.1073/pnas.0406159101
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/101/39/14017.pdf
Magnetic sensors tackle viruses http://www.physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/10/11/1

Motion Detector Allows Naked Eye to See Motion of 10 Nanometers
Sandia National Laboratories have developed a motion detector 1,000 times more sensitive than any known so far. It has the ability to sense a motion of 10 nanometers with the naked eye. The device is based on a formerly unrecognized property of optics: light diffracted from very small gratings that move very small lateral distances undergoes a relatively big, and thus easily measurable, change in reflection. That change can be amplified for human visibility, or it can be fed to additional instruments for a variety of measurement and automated control and analysis functions. Such high sensitivity detectors would have extensive applications from improving earlier warnings of earthquakes to detecting future nanotech weapons and surveillance equipment.

Sources:
Device allows naked eye to see motion of 10 nanometers
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2004/all/nanomeasure.html

Low-cost, Non-polluting Sewage Treatment System
Nothing escapes into the ground or water supplies from BIPU (bio-remedial in field personnel unit), a low-cost, non-polluting, flush toilet sewerage system. It holds solids in a special plastic chamber where they break down, while the liquid content is removed and evaporates in an elevated absorption system. The system is produced by Tasmanian Environmental Solutions at George Town, Tasmania. It has been used in Tasmania for several years, and the UN used 150 BIPU systems during the East Timor peacekeeping operations.

Source:
Loo-loo of an idea breaks new ground, Sunday Tasmanian, by Mike Bingham, 26 Sep. 2004
http://www.themercury.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,10881610,00.html

Water Nanofilters
Carbon nanotube water filters might replace traditional filtration systems, which are difficult to clean and must be changed frequently. The new technology, developed by a team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, and the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, consists of a quartz tube filled with tightly packed radially oriented nanotubes. The water molecules can squeeze out through nanometer-sized gaps in the walls, but bacteria like E. coli and viruses like the 25-nanometer-wide poliovirus get stuck. The resistant structures can be cleaned repeatedly.
Source:
Nanofilters. By David Cotriss, Innovation News, November 2004
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/04/11/innovation61104.asp?p=1

Revival of Nuclear Power in Asia Poses Security Concerns

China is planning to build two large new nuclear reactors per year for the next 16 years. While much of the rest of the world is turning away from this energy source, 16 of the 27 nuclear power plants now being built worldwide are in China, India, Japan and South Korea. The political-military issues of this are addressed in the new edition of The Military Balance by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies.Source
Dyer: China syndrome: Asia leads in the revival of nuclear power http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_2432170
The Military Balance 2004-2005. International Institute of Strategic Studies, October 2004
Report buying information: http://www.iiss.org/conferencepage.php?confID=61
Editor's Foreword http://www.iiss.org/showdocument.php?docID=455
Think-tank warns of increased nuclear threat. By Peter Spiegel in London, Financial Times, October 19 2004 20:21
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/853207f0-2203-11d9-8c55-00000e2511c8.html (free registration required)

Russia's Green Movement Plans to Become a Political Party

The Green movement finally made a public appearance in Russia, with a press conference on 15 October, led by Alexei Yablokov. A major figure in their campaign to become a recognized political party is Alexander Nikitin, the former naval officer who was acquitted of espionage for revealing pollution hazards in Russia's submarine program. Yablokov claims that 50-60% of the population is concerned about a healthy environment and would support a trusted green party. It is unclear if this group can overcome the substantial bureaucratic obstacles to forming a new party to participate in the 2007 parliamentary election, but their efforts are certain to bring the environment much more strongly into the forum of public discussion in the country.
Source:
Russia looks to green alternative as political screws tighten http://www.terradaily.com/2004/041015154005.fsxt9d7v.html

Chinese Automobile Industry's Potential Environmental Emphases

China is the world's fastest-growing car market and may surprise the world at how fast it becomes a major automobile producer of next generation cars (as it surprised the world at how fast it became the world leader in mobile phone usage). 150 experimental and advanced-technology vehicles were on display at the Challenge Bibendum, an exhibition of eco-friendly cars held in Shanghai. The China Daily speculates that the rising cost of oil and the forthcoming Olympics (2008) and World Expo (2010) are strong incentives to make China a green car leader, rather than following the gasoline model.

Source:
Automakers unveil efficient cars in China http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/17/content_383067.htm

New Reports Relevant to Environmental Security

WWF The Living Planet Report 2004
World Wildlife Fund's The Living Planet Report 2004 examines humanity's ecological footprint, and the state of nature and resource use in 149 countries. It reveals that humanity is running an 'ecological debt,' consuming over 20 percent more natural resources than the Earth can produce, destroying ecological balance, depleting groundwater, and damaging biodiversity. The report urges us to live within the means of our planet, and adopt and implement policies to reverse the ecological debt trend: increase biocapacity; reduce world population; diminish per person consumption; and improve resource efficiency. The WWF is urging governments to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 and create national and regional targets for creating networks of protected areas to safeguard biodiversity, as agreed at several UN Summits.

Sources:
The Living Planet Report 2004 available online at: www.panda.org/livingplanet
WWF Press release, 21 Oct. 2004 http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/news.cfm?uNewsID=15976

Environmental Double-role in Southern Caucasus Conflicts
Environment and Security: Transforming Risks into Cooperation - The Case of the Southern Caucasus, highlights the link between environment and security in the Southern Caucasus, arguing that environmental degradation and competition for natural resources could worsen the situation in this area already vulnerable to conflicts. The report gives an overview of human security in the regional context and then looks at specifics for the three countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It examines both the negative effects of conflict in the region and the opportunities environmental issues present for cooperation and confidence building. The report is part of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) [see item OSCE-UN Launches Environmental Security Initiative in Southern Caucasus in the May 2004 environmental security scanning report].

Sources:
Environment and Security: Transforming Risks into Cooperation??The Case of the Southern Caucasus
Report downloadable http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2004/envsec_transforming_risk_en.pdf
Caucasus - Transforming Risks into Co-Operation
Joint OSCE/UNEP/UNDP News Release http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=409&ArticleID=4666&l=en

Technology and Biological Weapons: Future Threats
Technology and Biological Weapons: Future Threats, a report published by Bradford University, UK, is an overview of present biological warfare possibilities, with case studies and possible future threats involving the vulnerability of the immune system. The report analyses the possible dual use of research in the area in order to show potential misuses. It finally shows that all biotechnology and bioinformatics areas discussed in the paper are of particular concern for the future for both promoting and combating biological warfare. The authors warn that if governments do not act fast enough, then one day, "… it will be virtually impossible to defend ourselves."

Sources:
Science and Technology Report No. 2. Technology and Biological Weapons: Future Threats
By Kathryn Nixdorff, Neil Davison, Piers Millett, and Simon Whitby, Bradford University, UK
http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/sbtwc/ST_Reports/ST_Report_No_2.pdf
Scientists warn of growing bioweapons threat
USA Today, October 28, 2004, http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/biotech/2004-10-28-biothreat_x.htm (article stored for a limited time on the web site)

Blood and Soil: Land, Politics and Conflict Prevention in Zimbabwe and South Africa
Blood and Soil: Land, Politics and Conflict Prevention in Zimbabwe and South Africa by the International Crisis Group (ICG) analysis the link between land reform in the region and instability and violence, offering practical policy suggestions.
Source:
Blood and Soil: Land, Politics and Conflict Prevention in Zimbabwe and South Africa
Africa Report N°85 http://www.icg.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=2998

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

European Parliament Resolution to Protect Whales From Sonar
The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling on its 25 member states to halt the deployment of high-intensity active naval sonars until a global assessment of their cumulative environmental impact on marine mammals, fish and other marine life has been completed. The resolution also asks the European Commission to conduct an assessment study of current practices and their impact in European waters. The issue is expected to be on the agenda of two upcoming events: the second meeting of the Parties to a European regional cetacean conservation treaty November 9 to 12 that will vote on a resolution on the harmful effects of military sonar on marine life, and the final stakeholders meeting on the EU Marine Strategy, November 10-12. [See also items Research Confirms Military and Industry Sonar Harms Whales of July 2004, and US military waived in respecting environmental law of May 2004 environmental security reports.]
Source:
European Parliament Calls For Halt To High Intensity Naval Sonar Use
http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressreleases/041028a.asp

Russian Vote Will Bring Kyoto Protocol Into Force
The Kyoto Protocol will come into force 90 days after Russia deposits the formal instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the UN. Being ratified by the Russian State Duma on October 22, 2004 and by the Federation Council on October 27, it needs just Putin's stamp of approval. The Treaty commits participating industrial countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. The six greenhouse gases covered are: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). [See items on Kyoto Protocol in July and June 2003, and December 2002 Millennium Project environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Russian Duma ratifies Kyoto protocol http://www.esa.int/export/esaEO/SEM0IN0A90E_index_0.html
Russia forced to ratify Kyoto Protocol to become WTO member http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/354/14495_kyoto.html
China hails Russian State Duma's approval of Kyoto Protocol http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-10/28/content_2151090.htm

Open Skies Treaty may also Serve Environmental Agreements
Participants in the Seminar on the Environmental and Ecological Use of the Open Skies Regime discussed the possible use of the Treaty's system for ecological purposes, such as natural disaster cases, urbanization, and enforcement of international environmental regulations. The main purpose of the Open Skies Treaty is to enhance military transparency through observation flights, to facilitate the monitoring of compliance with existing or future arms control treaties, and to assist in conflict prevention and crisis management. The Treaty entered into force on January 1 2002, and currently has 31 States-Party, including the United States. [See also related items Increasing Capacity of Space Technology to Assist Environmental Security of July 2004, Better Use of Satellites to Monitor International Treaties of March 2003, Improved coordination of global Earth observation in August 2003 and International Agreement on Earth Environmental Observing System in the March and April 2004 environmental security monthly reports.]
Source:
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Forum for Security Co-operation, Press release, 15 October 2004 http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=4457
Open Skies Treaty-comprehensive overview
Federation of American Scientists http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/os/

Chemicals could be the Cause of 'Gulf Syndrome'
A new study by a federal panel of medical experts concluded that there is high probability that some '91 Gulf War veterans suffer from inexplicable illnesses due to exposure to neurotoxins such as sarin, (from an Iraqi weapons depot blown up by American forces in 1991); pyridostigmine bromide (a drug given to troops to protect against nerve gas); and pesticides used to protect soldiers in the region. This is a new view, inconsistent with previous panels' conclusions.
Sources:
Gulf War and Health: Updated Literature Review of Sarin (2004)
National Academy of Sciences, ISBN: 0-309-09294-9, 132 pages, 6 x 9, paperback (2004)
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11064.html
Chemicals Sickened '91 Gulf War Veterans, Latest Study Finds
By Scott Shane, October 15, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/15/politics/15gulf.html?oref=login&th (article stored for a limited time on the website)

Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
The COP7 of the Basel Convention on the Transboundary movements of hazardous wastes focused on increasing electronic waste issues, and disposal of old military vessels and decommissioned fishing boats. Under the theme 'Partnership for meeting the global waste challenge,' the participants agreed that partnership between governments; partnership with the private sector, international organizations and NGOs; and synergies with other chemical management conventions, such as the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, are key for environmentally sound wastes management policies. [See also: UN University Study Calls for Reducing Electronic Waste and Hazards of March 2004, Electronic Waste, and New and Stricter International Regulations for Electronic Waste of March 2003, and Electronic Waste is the Fastest Growing Waste Problem in the world of February 2003 monthly environmental security reports.]
Sources:
Conference of the Basel Convention on the Transboundary movements of hazardous wastes COP7 (25 - 29 October 2004)
http://www.basel.int/meetings/cop/cop7/index.html
Meeting the global waste challenge: Basel Convention conference to focus on priorities, partnerships and resources
http://www.basel.int/press/pr10-04COP7.doc

Senators Urge U.S. Support for Global Mercury Treaty
A bipartisan group of seven Senators introduced a resolution urging the U.S. to collaborate with international partners to prepare a comprehensive strategy for reducing global mercury pollution and mercury use. The Senators introducing the proposal include: Mark Dayton (D-MINN), Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). They suggest starting international negotiations for a binding international agreement to limit mercury use, trade, mining, and pollution, to be considered at the next UNEP Governing Council meeting in February 2005. [See related items: EU Parliamentary Committee Moves to Strengthen Air Pollution Laws of January 2004, UN Protocol to Restrict Heavy Metal Emissions in Europe Came Into Force of December 2003, and Protocol to Control Heavy Metals to Enter into Force of October 2003 environmental security monthly reports.]
Source:
Dayton urges Bush to support global mercury treaty
BusinessNorth, 10/8/2004 http://www.businessnorth.com/pr.asp?RID=1113

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September 2004

Congressman Leach Calls for New Actions to Address Asian Environmental Security Problems

Representative James A. Leach, chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the House International Relations Committee said before the committee September 22, 2004 that, "By almost any objective measure, it would appear the scale of the environmental challenges in Asia demands a more robust response from countries within the region as well as the international community," and he invited policy input.

Source:
Representative James A. Leach, Chairman, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Asia's Environmental Challenges, September 22, 2004
Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State http://usinfo.state.gov

OSCE Security Forum Urges Destruction of Thousands of Tons of Dangerous Ammunition and Weapons

In a special meeting held on September 29 in Vienna, the OSCE's Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) discussed the best strategies to secure and/or destroy the vast stocks of deteriorating weapons and munitions left over from the Cold War across Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The life-threatening stocks represent a huge problem because of their quantity (very large-Ukraine alone identified 120,000 tons on its territory overdue for destruction), placement (in populated areas and next to important infrastructures), composition (some are nuclear), and costs (their destruction or secure storage exceeds the countries' financial capabilities). Representing an imminent human and environmental hazard, and terrorism risk, it is critical to urgently deal with the situation.

Source:
OSCE security forum urges destruction of thousands of tonnes of dangerous ammunition and weapons
http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?id=4403

China Climate Change Organization Formed

China National Council of International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (CNC-IHDP) was launched by Chinese scientists and humanities researchers to increase Chinese involvement in international discussions on the impact of global climate change. The new organization run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences will coordinate the efforts of researchers in all fields to promote China's research on global climate and environmental changes, and to investigate the relationship between those changes and sustainable development, globalization and human safety, and global land change and urbanization.

Source:
China boosts research on impact of climate change
By Jia Hepeng, 3 September 2004
http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=1583&language=1

UN Agency to Intensify Tracking of Illicit Nuclear Trafficking

At its 48th General Conference, IAEA warned that nuclear and radiological terrorism didn't diminish in spite of the efforts to expand and accelerate preventive actions. The IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database includes about 600 illicit incidents involving unauthorized acquisition, possession, use, transfer, or disposal of nuclear material and/or other radioactive or dangerous material. Non-participating States are encouraged to join the 80 Member States to increase the program's efficiency.

Source:
IAEA Database Tracks Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear Material Worldwide
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2004/iaea_database.html

Technology Issues Relevant to Environmental Security

A Radioactive Element's Rate of Decay Has Been Speeded Up
Japanese scientists from Tohoku University in Sendai have decreased the half-life of beryllium-7 by about half a day, which represents almost 1%, the most dramatic result obtained so far. While this is a promising success, researchers admit that the possibility to significantly speed up the process remains "somewhat remote". However, Peter Möller, from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, says that re-creating conditions such as those found in the interior of a hot star (which we don't know yet), might considerably enhance the effect that the Japanese scientists have obtained.

Source:
Radioactivity gets fast-forward
By Philip Ball, news@nature.com, 17 September 2004
http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040913/full/040913-24.html

'On-Off Switch' for Buckyball (C60) Toxicity
Researchers at Rice University's Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) have demonstrated that adjusting the surface properties of buckyballs can control the nanoparticles' toxicity. They identified specific surface alterations that can reduce or augment buckyballs' toxicity depending on the purpose for which they are designed. Although just at the cytotoxicity level, these findings are important for buckyball toxicological risk assessment, and more extensive toxicological studies are already planned. However, this should not be confused with the concept of creating "off-switches" for future nanoweapons, a requirement in need of research and development.

Source:
Rice finds 'on-off switch' for buckyball toxicity
Public release date: 24-Sep-2004
Contact: Jade Boyd, jadeboyd@rice.edu, Rice University
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-09/ru-rf092404.php

Nanotubes that Detect and Kill Biological Agents
With funding from the U.S. Department of Defense's Army Research Office, University of Pittsburgh researchers have found a technology for developing nanotube structures that act both as biosensor and biocide. The objective is to produce a paint that would change color in contact with biological and/or chemical agents and also neutralize the toxic substances. The antimicrobial nanotube structures are the product of a single-step synthesis of a hydrocarbon and a salt compound (quaternary ammonium).

Source:
Nanotubes Made That Detect and Kill Biological Agents
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2004/2004-09-27-03.asp (by subscription only)

New Power Sources Needed for the Soldiers of the Future
At the request of the U.S. Army, the National Academies' Board on Army Science and Technology conducted research to assess the present and future technological needs for effective power systems for the "soldier of the future." The report presents a review of various technology options, suggests future design concepts, and makes recommendations for more energy-efficient technology development and system design.

Sources:
Meeting the Energy Needs of Future Warriors (full report) http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11065.html?onpi_newsdoc09102004
Press Release: New Power Sources Needed for Soldier of the Future http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309092612?OpenDocument

Small Disposable Nuclear Power Plants Raise Environmental Concerns
The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Lab is developing a "small sealed transportable autonomous reactor" (SSTAR) that can meet the energy needs of developing countries without the risk of diverting fissile material to weapons programs. The reactor will have partial breeder capability, and will incorporate a mechanical system to move a generation point along a linear fuel store. A satellite-based alarm system to guard against tampering is planned. The reactors can be transported to a location, and without needing refueling or maintenance, generate power in the 10-100 MW range for up to 30 years. A prototype is hoped for by 2015.

Source
US plans portable nuclear power plants
New Scientist, September 03, 2004 http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996344
Nuclear Energy to Go; A Self-Contained, Portable Reactor
Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos http://www.llnl.gov/str/JulAug04/Smith.html

New Ecological Network Has Environmental Implications

The National Science Foundation announced the formation of a Design Consortium and Project Office for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), field and lab instrumentation deployed across the United States and integrated via a cutting-edge information network into a continent-wide research platform designed to answer scientific questions at regional and continental scales to enable ecological forecasting. According to an NSF scientist, "It will … [bring] together ecologists, engineers, social, physical, computer, and earth scientists-to investigate ecological phenomena that span large geographical areas and long periods of time." NEON is important because of the significant role of ecological monitoring and evaluation in monitoring the state of the environment as it is protected by domestic law and international agreements.

Source:
NEON Design Consortium and Project Office to Coordinate Design of Ecological Observatories
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/newsroom/pr.cfm?ni=15100000000112

UN Annual Treaty Event Produced 93 Actions from 32 Countries

A special event was held this month at the UN to get countries to speed up the process of their acceptance of international agreements. The focus this year was on treaties that protect civilians, especially during times of armed conflicts. Some 32 countries participated by completing 93 actions??accessions, ratifications or signatures to treaties that protect the rights of civilians, covering subjects from armed conflicts to transnational crime, pesticides and chemicals.

Sources:
Annual treaty drive at UN brings 93 actions from 32 countries
UN Press Release, September 24, 2004 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12037&Cr=treaty&Cr1=
Press Briefing on Focus 2004 Treaty Event http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2004/KohonaBriefing_040924.doc.htm

New Reports Relevant to Environmental Security

High-Level Panel Recommends the UN Better Connect Environment and Security
Environment and Security-The Role of the United Nations is the summary report of a panel of experts in the fields of water, climate change, and natural resources who assessed the link between environment and security and how the UN could prevent environment-related conflict, and even use the environment to build peace between nations. The report suggests that the UN more efficiently integrate the environment into its security agenda and recommends that the "Security Council mainstream environmental issues into its security operations, add environmental conflict experts to its staff, and facilitate sharing conflict-related environmental data and analysis across UN agencies." The report is part of the UN Foundation's United Nations and Global Security Initiative.

Sources:
Protecting the Earth, Preserving Peace: Preventing Environmental Threats to Security
ECSP Contributes to the United Nations' High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change http://wwics.si.edu/index.cfm?topic_id=1413&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=76009
Environment and Security-The Role of the United Nations
Report of the Roundtable Conference, June 2, 2004 http://www.un-globalsecurity.org/pdf/reports/Environment_Security.pdf

UNEP Report Understanding Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation
UNEP's latest report, Understanding Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation was launched by Klaus Toepfer at the conference Environment, Development, and Sustainable Peace: Finding Paths to Environmental Peacemaking, held at Britain's Wilton Park, September 16-19. The report features papers by several environmental security experts, analyzing different aspects of the link between environment and conflict, institutional implications, early warning, and opportunities raised by environment and security initiatives.

Sources:
Environment, Development, and Sustainable Peace: Finding Paths to Environmental Peacemaking
September 16-19 at Wilton Park in the United Kingdom
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1413&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=87325
http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/web/welcome.html
Understanding Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation
UNEP report
http://mirror.unep.org/PDF/ECC.pdf

New WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality
World Health Organization (WHO) updated Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality recommends a completely new approach to water management, shifting from reactive action (responses to outbreaks), to preventive action, by managing drinking water quality in a holistic, systematic way: from source to tap.

Sources:
WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality, third edition http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/guidelines/en/
WHO issues revised drinking water guidelines to help prevent water-related outbreaks and disease
Press release, 21 September 2004 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2004/pr67/en/

Bioterrorism, Preparedness, Attack and Response 4
This new book edited by: John Blair, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas; Myron Fottler, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, and the Hon. Albert C. Zapanta , Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, reviews how bioterrorism could affect the healthcare system of the United States. The book gives one of the broadest overviews of the issues of bioterrorism preparedness thus far.

Contents:
Part I: Biological Agents and Terrorist Agents
The Bioterrorism Formula: Facing the Certainty of the Uncertain Future; The International Threat of Biological Weapons: Legal and Regulatory Perspectives; Cocktails, Deceptions and Force Multipliers in Bioterrorism; Modeling the Environmental Jolt of Terrorist Attacks: Configurations of Asymmetrical Warfare;

Part II: Chaos, Complexity and Change
Chaos and Complexity in a Bioterrorism Future; The Environmental Jolt of Likely Bioterrorism; Changing Organizations for Their Likely Mass-Casualties Future.

Part III: Organizations Respond?or Not
Multiprovider Systems as First Line Responders to Bioterrorism Events: Challenges and Strategies; Bioterrorism Visits the Physician's Office; Responding to Bioterrorism: A Lesson in Humility for Management Scholars; Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response: A Resource Guide for Health Care Managers.

Part IV: Defending the Homeland: Changes and Challenges
The Role of the Reserve Forces in Defending the Homeland; Civil-Military Relations in an Era of Bioterrorism: Crime and War in the Making of Modern Civil-Military Relations; Integration or Disintegration? An Examination of the Core Organization and Management Challenges at the Department of Homeland Security.
Source:
Bioterrorism, Preparedness, Attack and Response
ISBN: 0-7623-1105-3, 392 pages, publication date: 2004 Imprint: ELSEVIER Price: $95
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/702791/description

Former EPA Administrator Calls for US Leadership in Environmental Protection
At the conference on the Making of Environmental Law at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Russell E. Train, former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, presented his recent book, Politics, Pollution, and Pandas, and called for US leadership in this field. Although the U.S. was the world leader in environmental protection in the 1970s, he said, it is now widely viewed as a laggard or even as an impediment to progress. With other panelists at the conference, he urged the need for new US leadership in environmental protection.
Source:
WWICS Conference - The Making of Environmental Law: Past, Present, and Future
September 28, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event_summary&event_id=82498

Updates on Previously Identified Issues

First Conference of the Parties to Rotterdam Convention
The first Conference of the Parties to Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade was held in Geneva, 20-24 September 2004. The delegates approved 14 new hazardous substances to be added to the initial 27 substances already on the UN-backed treaty list. The conference also established a Chemical Review Committee to assess future proposals to add new chemicals and pesticides to the PIC list, as well as finalize other administrative procedures necessary for good operations. [See items of Rotterdam Convention in February 2004 and November 2003 Millennium Project environmental security reports.] The fourteen new additions are: binapacryl; toxaphene; ethylene dichloride; ethylene oxide; monocrotophos; DNOC and its salts; dustable powder containing a combination of benomyl at or above 7 per cent, carbofuran at or above 10 per cent and thiram at or above 15 per cent; amosite, actinolite, anthophyllite and tremolite asbestos; tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead; parathion; and chrysotile asbestos.

Sources:
COP 1. Documents of the Conference of the Parties at its First meeting (COP 1), Geneva, 20-24 September 2004 http://www.pic.int/en/ViewPage.asp?id=354
14 hazardous substances added to UN-backed treaty on pesticides
UN Press Release, September 24, 2004 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12028&Cr=pesticide&Cr1=

Aarhus Clearing House Launched
Aarhus Convention implementation is made more effective by the launch of a new clearinghouse http://aarhusclearinghouse.unece.org, which provides information on citizens' environmental rights. [See related item Full Application of the Aarhus Convention in November 2003 Millennium Project environmental scanning report.]

Source:
Environmental democracy clearing house launched to highlight progress under the Aarhus Convention
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2004/04env_p12e.htm
Aarhus Convention clearinghouse http://aarhusclearinghouse.unece.org

UN to Help Tackle Iraq Pollution
UNEP in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of the Environment will start a long-term, large-scale environmental clean-up process. The project will begin with an assessment across the country to determine the areas with highest threats and prioritize areas for cleaning. For the pilot project, five high priority sites are likely to be chosen out of more than 300 environmental 'hot spots'. [See related items in previous Millennium Project environmental security reports: Medact Report on Iraqi Environmental Health, November 2003; Iraq Marshlands Restorations Could be Dangerous if not Preceded by Cleanup, October 2003; Claims of Radioactive Battlefields in Iraq need more scientific ground, September 2003.]

Sources:
UNEP and Iraqi Environment Ministry to Assess Key Polluted Sites
Eric Falt, UNEP Press Release, 14 September 2004
http://postconflict.unep.ch/pressiraq14sep2004.htm

Antarctica Glaciers Could Melt Faster than Expected
Two recent reports warn that the glaciers in Antarctica are melting much faster than expected, and contain more ice than previously estimated, meaning considerable sea level rise in case they break up.

Source:
Thin Glaciers Get Thinner in Antarctica - Report
Story by Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent; 27/9/2004
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/27347/story.htm
Antarctic Glaciers Melting Faster This Year
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2004/2004-09-23-09.asp (by subscription only)
NASA Reports Show Antarctic Response to Global Warming - 23 September 2004 http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=September&x=20040923121122lcnirellep8.706301e-02&t=xarchives/xarchitem.html

Kyoto Protocol might Come Into Force
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked key ministers to sign the documents for the adherence of Russia to the Kyoto Protocol, in order to introduce it to the Russian Duma for ratification. On September 30th the Russian Cabinet approved this. However, the ministries have three months to submit implementation plans, before the final Duma votes on ratification. This would put the Russian Duma's vote after the U.S. election; hence, Russia would be making the Kyoto decision knowing if Kerry or Bush has been elected. Russia non-ratification may have been a bargaining chip with the Bush administration, but could have less leverage with a Kerry administration. [See items on Kyoto Protocol in July and June 2003, and December 2002 Millennium Project environmental security reports.]

Source:
Russian Cabinet backs Kyoto pact
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/09/30/russia.kyoto.ap/index.html
Russian Ministries Move to Approve Kyoto Treaty
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/27360/story.htm

Call for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Entry into Force
At the recent CTBT ministerial meeting, the participants issued a joint statement calling on all non-signatory States, particularly the 12 whose ratification is mandatory for the treaty's entry into force, to ratify the document. Representatives of Finland and Japan stressed that this is essential in view of the present threats to security emphasized by the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons technologies and knowledge that has not been adequately addressed. [See item Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization to be Restructured, in July 2004 Millennium Project environmental scanning report]

Sources:
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Press conference
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2004/CTBT_040923.doc.htm
Entry into force of nuclear-test-ban treaty would strengthen security of states, peoples everywhere, Secretary-General says at launch of ministerial statement
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sgsm9499.doc.htm

Overview of Explosive Remnants of War Protocol
The Arms Control Web site published a comprehensive overview of the current state of affairs of the abandoned ammunition and unexploded ordnance and the Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Protocol. The ERW is Protocol V to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), aiming to make governments clean up battlefields after armed conflicts end. [See Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in November 2003 Millennium Project environmental security report.]

Source:
Arms Control Today September 2004
Contending With Explosive Remnants of War
Ambassador Chris C. Sanders http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2004_09/Sanders.asp

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August 2004

Risks of Conflicts over Water are Increasing

World Water Week Warns of Wars over Water
Scientists at the World Water Week conference held in Stockholm, August 16-20, 2004, have stated that the risk of wars being fought over water is rising because of explosive global population growth and widespread complacency. A report prepared by the International Water Management Institute extrapolated present water consumption to a point of conflict over water. The conference called for increased water infrastructure investments. Water tables are falling on all continents. About 40% of humanity lives in the 260 major international water basins shared by more than two countries. According to the recently released joint WHO-UNICEF report, more than 1 billion people drink unsafe water and over 2.6 billion (40% of the world's population) have no access to basic sanitation.

Sources:
Scientists Say Risk of Water Wars Rising
Reuters, 23 Aug 2004 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/26728/story.htm
World meeting goals on safe drinking water, falling behind on sanitation: UN
Jonathan Fowler, Canadian Press, Thursday, August 26, 2004
http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=e69e9445-1621-47b9-92d0-aba5d040c3ff
One Billion People Still Drink Unsafe Water - UN
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/26800/story.htm
Generating Water from exhaust http://www.rdecom.army.mil/rdemagazine/200311/itf_tardec_water.html

Bangladesh Contests Indian River-Linking Project
At a recent regional meeting, Bangladesh and Nepal continued to object to India's plans to divert water from 37 rivers to its drought-prone areas by building reservoirs, dams, and canals. Bangladesh is claiming the plan would reduce its water levels, threaten the livelihoods of milli