SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE UK

Michael Meacher, the Minister for Environment, has proposed that some of the major indicators of sustainable development, such as climate change, air quality, water quality, wildlife and countryside, resource consumption and waste, be reported as a set of headline indicators, alongside the traditional economic figures such as GDP, inflation or unemployment. Currently, commonly reported headline indicators do not take into account the effects of economic growth on the environment. Consequently, only 12% of people realise that the use of energy in their own homes could be a major contributor towards global warming.

Meacher also challenged the business sector to face up to its responsibilities, and embrace the concept of sustainable development as development which meets the needs of today’s population without compromising the needs of future generations or resulting in excessive environmental degradation.

Although the consultation process ended last month, copies of the accompanying reports, including Sustainable Development: Opportunities for Change. A Consultation Paper on a Revised UK Strategy, and Sustainable Development: Opportunities for Change. Sustainable Business, can be obtained from the DETR at Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU. Telephone: 0171-890 3000 or on the Internet at: www.detr.gov.uk/

Source: DETR News Releases, 18 May and 18 June, 1998.

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS MAY CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS GLOBAL WARMING.....

The report states that during the period 1990 to 1996 nitrous oxide emissions from mobile sources in the US increased by almost a half, and contributed more than 10% of the total growth in all greenhouse gases in the US over that period.

The EPA, however, recognises that considerable uncertainty surrounds the calculation of nitrous oxide emissions from mobile sources, and accept that more research in this field is required to refine the emissions estimation.

Source: Global Environmental Change Report, 12 June 1998.

.....WHILST NO₂ LEVELS UNCHANGED DESPITE INTRODUCTION OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS

Although by 1996, cars with catalytic converters accounted for 36% of total distance travelled annually, leading to a 17% drop in NO₂ emissions from transport, AEA Technology’s research reveals no general downward trend in the annual average concentrations of the pollutant between 1993 and 1996, as monitored at kerbside, intermediate and background sites.

Whilst the figures may indicate the beginning of the expected fall in concentrations, this year’s small drop (-1ppb) is unlikely to prove statistically significant. More than half of the kerbside monitoring sites in the UK currently exceed the proposed National Air Quality Strategy target of 21ppb annual average by 2005.

Source: ENDS Report, No. 280, May 1998

1998 CONTINUES WARMING TREND

Whilst NOAA scientists argue that it cannot be determined from current evidence whether El Niños are becoming more frequent or intense as a result of global warming, they note that the observed trend in temperatures through 1998 is not likely to occur in a stationary climate.

Satellite measurements of surface temperature, which so far have failed to reveal the warming trend detected by ground based instruments, for once appear to agree with the surface measurements.

The satellite temperature data, from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre, is located at:

www.ssl.msfc.nasa.gov/newhome/essd/essd_strat_temp.htm

Source: Global Environmental Change Report, 12 June 1998.

PROGRESS WITH UK INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTION IMPROVEMENTS

A recent independent audit of 50 local regulators to assess the progress in complying with the 1990 Environmental Protection Act has proved encouraging, with 90% of the required air pollution improvements surveyed having been completed before the specified deadline.

Source: DETR News Release, 21 May 1998.

NEW AIR QUALITY STANDARD FOR LEAD RECOMMENDED

Generally, ambient levels of lead in air fall below current standards, primarily due to the reduction in the maximum permissible lead content of petrol and the increasing use of unleaded petrol. The new recommended standard is exceeded in the vicinity of some industrial sources of lead, where concentrations during 1996 ranged from about 0.117 to 0.882 micrograms/m³.

Source: DETR News Release, 11 May 1998.

ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING COULD HELP UK MEET KYOTO TARGETS

Currently, electricity consumption accounts for almost a third of UK’s carbon dioxide emissions, with lighting responsible for 6.4% of emissions. These figures are likely to increase as the DETR has forecast substantial increases in the use of lighting in both the commercial and domestic sectors.

The UK’s revised emission reduction targets for the 15 EU member states (see story on page 1) identify a figure of a 12% cut in greenhouse gas emissions for the UK. According to BRECSU’s calculations, the removal of barriers to the adoption of energy efficient lighting could result in a saving of nearly 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (measured as weight of carbon) by 2010, or about a fifth of the 2008-2012 reduction target. Of this, about a third of the savings would be achieved within the domestic sector.

Currently, however, only 31% of households use energy efficient lighting. About a half of those which do not, suggest that high costs, bulb shapes and prolonged warm up periods were discouraging them from investing in the new environmentally friendly technology.

The report, "Energy Efficient UK Lighting" is available from BRECSU, Garston, Watford, WD2 7JR.

Source: ENDS Report, No. 280, May 1998

E.U. BEGINS TASK OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL

Whilst most member states face only limited changes to their "burdensharing", Portugal, Greece and Ireland are required to limit more stringently their increases in greenhouse gases which were allowed as part of the first agreement for less developed countries in the EU.

Unfortunately, reaching agreement on the proposed “burdensharing” of emissions reductions amongst member states this time will prove very difficult, as any agreement reached will become legally binding. Because a EU block reduction by 8% of greenhouse gas emissions requires the support of every member state, unanimous agreement will be required. Given that other member states remain critical of their allocated targets, it is far from certain that any deal will be reached.

Source: Global Environmental Change Report, 12 June 1998.

UK CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FALL FURTHER

Emissions of carbon dioxide have fallen almost 8% since 1990, despite an increase in road traffic, generating about a fifth to a quarter of all carbon dioxide emitted. Much of the fall in emissions is believed to be the result of the switch from coal to gas-fired power stations, which are more efficient.

Unfortunately, latest projections estimate that emissions will begin to rise again after 2000, although the effects of reduction strategies in response to the Kyoto Protocol have not been considered.

Source: ENDS Report, No. 280, May 1998

PROBLEMS FOR PM₁₀

Differences of as much as 35% were recorded between the two monitoring techniques in research carried out in Berlin and Birmingham, although no discrepancies were noticeable for monitoring in Madrid.

If such findings are substantiated, this could create major difficulties for the UK Government in meeting its 2005 targets for PM₁₀ exceedences as part of the National Air Quality Strategy.

Source: ENDS Report, No. 280, May 1998