RTKnet: International

PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

Indian Court Convicts 7 in Bhopal Gas Tragedy (New York Times)

Seven Union Carbide India Ltd. officials were convicted today for failing to follow proper safety procedures prior to the 1984 methyl isocyanate gas leak. Local activists contend that the government has failed to properly clean up the toxic chemicals left at the Union Carbide-owned pesticide plant after its closing. This disaster drove the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to prevent similar occurrences in the United States and create the Toxic Release Inventory.

(07 Jun 2010)

25 Years After Bhopal, Senator Seeks Stronger Chemical Rules (Sen. Frank Lautenberg)

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) marked the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak disaster by calling for stronger security measures at chemical plants across the country. Lautenberg is currently working on a bill to ensure strong protections are in place to secure chemical facilities and to prevent chemical disasters or attacks within the United States.

(03 Dec 2009)

EU Requires Labeling of Nanomaterials in Cosmetics (Royal Society of Chemistry)

A new European regulation will require cosmetics manufacturers to list any nanoparticles contained in products marketed within the European Union. The regulation states that all nanomaterial ingredients should be clearly indicated in the list of ingredients by inserting the word 'nano' in brackets after the ingredient listing.

(01 Dec 2009)

Lessons of Bhopal: 25 Years Later, U.S. Chemical Laws Need Strengthening (OMB Watch)

Dec. 3 marks the 25th anniversary of the most catastrophic industrial accident in history: the leak of poisonous gas from a pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal. Twenty-five years after the tragedy, much progress has been made, but much remains to be done to provide a minimum level of protection against chemical releases.

(01 Dec 2009)

New Green Rankings for Top Companies

The Carbon Disclosure Project released its 2009 report, rating major corporations on their emissions and climate actions.
Newsweek also launched its own sustainability rating system.

(23 Sep 2009)

Nanotechnology Risks Downplayed, Benefits Unfounded - Toxics Groups (European Environmental Bureau)

The environmental risks of nanotechnologies are being ignored, according to a paper by a global coalition on toxics. Citing research studies that show a significant ecological footprint, the authors caution that more governance and better understanding of nanomaterials are needed before they spread even further. "Nanomaterials themselves constitute a new generation of toxic chemicals," the authors claim.

(01 Sep 2009)

"Carbon Chasm" - Companies' Voluntary GHG Reductions are Insufficient to Prevent Worst of Climate Change

Although many of the largest companies have set greenhouse gas reduction targets, these goals fall far short of what scientists say is necessary to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

(25 Aug 2009)

EPA Launches Protection Team to Explore Widespread Bee Deaths (U.S. EPA)

In response to the collapse of bee populations in the U.S. and other countries, EPA is expanding its investigations into the impact of pesticides on pollinators.

(03 Jul 2009)