Central to the achievement of the Agenda for Sustainable Development is an adequate, equitably distributed and fully supported health workforce. Nurses are the largest occupational group and represent an indispensable force with which to combat inequities in access to health services and progress towards health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while …
a report calling for widespread testing of chemicals to assess their health and environmental impact has been recently endorsed by the European Parliament. This move is being seen as a major step towards overhauling the outdated chemical policy of the European Union (eu). The report was approved by 242 votes …
What is the latest information on adverse health effects of diesel exhaust? Over 200 epidemiological studies conducted in different geographical locations of the world have shown a significant and consistent association between diesel emissions and increased deaths and cardio-respiratory illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes, allergies, asthma, bronchitis and …
a recent spurt has been witnessed in the demand for ultra low sulphur diesel (ulsd), with several European countries switching over to the green fuel (containing 50 parts per million of sulphur). The resultant shortage has pushed up ulsd prices on the Rotterdam (Netherlands) barge market by us $20 a …
globally, there are now 40 million adults and children suffering from aids, according to a new report by the World Health Organisation (who) and the Joint United Nations Programme on hiv/aids called unaids. The epidemic shows no signs of abating
The European Commission has recently adopted a plan for fostering biofuel production in Europe in a bid to ensure they account for two per cent of all fuels by 2005. The commission said the plan also aimed at a target of 20 per cent inclusion of biofuels by 2020. "This …
recently, a group of Kolkata-based taxi drivers did something quite unusual. They decided to tamper with the fuel in their taxis. They mixed 20 litres of diesel with one litre of mustard oil and ran their taxis on it. For them the doping made perfect economic sense. By default, researchers …
the European Union (eu) governments have recently approved a new directive on renewable energy. The directive seeks to achieve the Kyoto Protocol targets of the eu. As per the directive, eu's member states must ensure that renewable energy sources supply 12 per cent of gross internal energy consumption and 22.1 …
Air pollution in Asia has worsened since 2000, and is responsible for the death of thousands of people in Beijing, Jakarta, Seoul, Bangkok and Manila. This was revealed during a research conducted by the World Bank and the Stockholm Development Institute (sdi). The research states that air pollution in the …
the Philippines has recently passed a stringent law for labelling of products containing genetically modified organisms (gmos). In contrast, six European countries face trial for failing to protect their environment from the gmo threat. As per the new Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act of the Philippines, infringement can …
One of the most widely disseminated strains of an antibiotic-resistant bacterium responsible for hundreds of infections in European hospitals can be traced back to the 1950s, according to researchers at the Rockefeller University, USA. Using DNA fingerprinting they have shown that this persistent lineage of Staphylococcus aureus is an expert …
can detergents and ecosafety go hand in hand? Well, this might happen in Europe if the proposals of the European Commission's industry directorate are accepted. The proposals, aimed to amend the detergents legislation of the European Union (eu), include stringent standards for biodegradability and mandatory labelling of products causing skin …
while huge concessions have been given to the umbrella group countries under the Kyoto protocol for using forests as carbon sinks to meet their targets, latest research shows that planting forests to curb global warming could backfire. Planting trees across the snow-covered swathes of Siberia and North America will heat …
It's easier to recognise a face when its owner's race matches our own, is the controversial finding of a new study. An imaging study shows that greater activity in the brain's expert
The amount of solid waste generated in Buenos Aires has increased by 30 per cent in the last 10 years. This was found during the first-ever study on the city's solid waste. In 1991, the average daily production of waste in the city was 3,353 tonnes, which has now increased …
What is extended producers responsibility ( epr ) concept? Under epr producers bear a degree of responsibility for all the environmental impacts of their products. They must take their products back at the end of their useful life either directly or through a third party. The manufacturers are also responsible …
us companies operating in Europe have rejected a plan to introduce lower sales tax rates on ecolabelled products, saying it is "backward looking and innovation stifling.' Tax incentives for ecofriendly products were one of the many provisions of the European Commission's ( ec ) green plan on integrated product policy. …
More than a 100 million tonnes of plastic is produced world-wide each year. Though plastics have opened the way for a plethora of new inventions and devices it has also ended up clogging the drains and becoming a health hazard. Many countries, including India, are trying to increase the amount …
