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Here are some frequently asked questions about Kyoto:

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WHAT IS THE KYOTO PROTOCOL?

It is a pact agreed by governments at a 1997 UN conference in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries by 5.2 percent of 1990 levels from 2008 to 2012. A total of 156 nations have ratified the pact.

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IS IT THE FIRST AGREEMENT OF ITS KIND?

Governments agreed to tackle climate change at an "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Kyoto is the follow-up and is the first legally binding global agreement to cut greenhouse gases.

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SO IT’S LEGALLY BINDING?

Kyoto has legal force from Feb. 16, 2005. It represents 61.6 percent of developed nations’ total emissions. The United States, the world’s biggest polluter, has pulled out, saying Kyoto is too expensive and wrongly omits developing nations.

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HOW WILL IT BE ENFORCED?

Countries overshooting their targets in 2012 will have to make both the promised cuts and 30 percent more in a second period from 2013.

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DO ALL COUNTRIES HAVE TO CUT EMISSIONS BY 5.2 PERCENT?

No, only 39 relatively developed countries have target levels for 2008-12 under a principle that richer countries are most to blame and so should take the lead.

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HOW ARE THEY DOING SO FAR?

Rich nations’ emissions were 5.9 percent below 1990 levels in 2003 but this was mainly due to a collapse of Soviet-era industries. Many other nations are above target — US emissions were up 13.1 percent.

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WHAT ARE THESE "GREENHOUSE GASES"?

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. The main one is carbon dioxide, most of which comes from burning fossil fuel. The protocol also covers methane, much of which comes from agriculture, and nitrous oxide, mostly from fertiliser use. Three industrial gases are also included.

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HOW WILL COUNTRIES COMPLY?

The European Union set up a market in January 2005 under which about 12,000 factories and power stations are given carbon dioxide quotas. If they overshoot they can buy extra allowances in the market or pay a financial penalty; if they undershoot they can sell them.

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WHAT OTHER MECHANISMS ARE THERE?

Developed countries can earn credits to offset against their targets by funding clean technologies, such as solar power, in poorer countries.

Statia de epurare din Soroca a fost data in exploatare in anul 1982. Atunci, s-a decis ca aceasta sa fie amplasata pe teritoriul Ucrainei, in satul Ţikinovka, pe malul stang al Nistrului, unde locul parea mai potrivit. Dar, cu doi ani in urma, statia a fost inchisa, deoarece ucrainenii au incetat sa-i mai furnizeze energie electrica, din cauza datoriilor ce cresteau necontenit. Nici utilajele statiei nu erau in starea cea mai buna, unele iesind din functiune.

Specialistii din Soroca au dus mai multe tratative cu guvernele de la Kiev si Chisinau, dar pana in prezent n-a fost luata nici o decizie constructiva. Desi o organizatie ecologica internationala si-a anuntat disponibilitatea de a acorda sorocenilor un grant in valoare de 300 mii de lei, acesti bani ajung doar pentru a schimba 250 m de tevi. Iar ca statia de epurare sa poata functiona, mai este nevoie de inca 1 mln. 100 mii de lei. Astfel, oameni din Chisinau si din cateva orase ale Ucrainei continua sa bea apa poluata care poate sa contina concentratii amenintatoare de diferite bacterii, virusuri, inclusiv ai hepatitei virale, dizenteriei, vibrioni de holera.

?Zilnic, in rau nimeresc 2,5 tone de deseuri care nu trec prin instalatiile de epurare. Aceasta problema trebuie sa fie solutionata de conducerea tarii, care nu intreprinde nimic pentru a-i proteja pe chisinauieni impotriva eventualelor boli si a riscului de a ramane fara apa?, a spus Serafim Urecheanu, primarul general al Chisinaului. Şi instalatiile de epurare din Chisinau au nevoie de reconstructie. Echipamentul este uzat in proportie de 90%, iar unitatile sunt exploatate la jumatate de capacitate. Instalatiile de epurare din Chisinau au fost construite in anii 1968-1984. Mirosul urat raspandit prin oras este ?un produs? al tehnologiilor uzate fizic si moral. Deseurile sunt aruncate pe un teren de 32 ha si se usuca acolo pentru a fi tratate ulterior. Constantin Becciev, directorul intreprinderii ?Apa-Canal?, a spus ca in anul 2004 pentru reparatia instalatiilor de epurare s-au investit 12 mln. de lei, ceea ce e foarte putin. ?Noi am incheiat, reparatia aerotancului care iesise din functiune. ?Apa-Canal? cauta eventuale cai de solutionare a problemei. Ca exemplu demn de urmat serveste statia de epurare din Iasi, unde, acum cativa ani, situatia privind asigurarea cu apa potabila era cu mult mai proasta decat cea in care s-a pomenit Chisinaul. Cu investitii de 60 mln. de euro, orasul Iasi si-a reconstruit sistemul de epurare a apei.

Premiul I, in valoare de 8.000 de dolari, a fost castigat de catre proiectul "Green Chemistry", care propune o noua tehnologie de producere pe scara industriala a combustibilului Biodiesel, utilizand ca materie prima uleiuri vegetale sau grasimi animale. Proiectul a fost initiat de catre Centrul de Chimie Organica "C. D. Nenitescu" din Bucuresti si cofinantat de Ford. In acest fel, "Green Chemistry" egaleaza recordul stabilit in urma cu trei ani de proiectul "Casa liliecilor" care a obtinut cea mai mare finantare Ford.

Locul al doilea a fost castigat de proiectul "SOS! Broastele in pericol!", implementat de "Societatea Romana de Herpetologie" si avand drept scop protejarea broastelor brune din regiunea Zalau.

Locul al treilea a fost adjudecat de doua proiecte – "Producerea hartiei din materiale neconventionale" si "Protejarea surselor de apa din mediul rural". Elevii Liceului "Ovidius" din Constanta au prezentat un procedeu ingenios de prelucrare a algelor marine si frunzelor pentru obtinerea hartiei, cartonului si chiar a unor jucarii, iar organizatia "Eco Alpex 024" isi propune sa utilizeze cei 2.000 dolari obtinuti ca premiu pentru a continua programul de protejare a 70 de surse de apa potabila din judetul Braila.

In cadrul concursului au fost acordate si patru mentiuni a cate 1.000 dolari.

Prin programul de protectie a mediului, Ford Motor Company incurajeaza, sustine si rasplateste initiativele remarcabile ale persoanelor sau grupurilor de persoane care isi dedica timpul si energia pentru a proteja mediul natural si patrimoniul cultural al Romaniei.

In acest an, la programul demarat de Romcar, reprezentant general Ford in Romania, au participat 64 de proiecte, din care juriul a acceptat in concurs 57.

Membrii juriului celei de-a VIII-a editii a Premiilor Ford sunt Jonathan Scheele, seful Delegatiei Comisiei Europene la Bucuresti, Ion Antonescu, secretar de stat la Ministerul Culturii si Cultelor, prof. univ. dr. Mircea Oprean, de la Universitatea Politehnica Bucuresti, Cristian Lascu, redactor-sef al revistei �National Geographic� si Cornel Ivanciuc, seful biroului de investigatii al "Academiei Catavencu".

Austria’s Tyrol region imposed a ban in 2003 on lorries of over 7.5 tonnes from carrying goods such as waste, stone, soil, cars, timber or cereals on a section of the A12 motorway, to protect human, animal and plant health.

But the European Court of Justice said in a statement on its ruling that such a sectoral ban obstructed the free movement, and especially the free transit, of goods.

"The measure concerns a road section of the utmost importance, constituting one of the main land routes between the south of Germany and the north of Italy," it said.

The court noted ?hat the area had exceeded the annual limit for nitrogen dioxide in 2002 and 2003, placing Austria under an obligation to bring the level down.

"However, the Tyrol sectoral ban and its legal basis, the Austrian law on air pollution … do not fulfil all the conditions necessary for the disputed ban to constitute a measure covered by those directives," it said.

"The sectoral traffic ban infringes the principle of proportionality," it added, saying Austria should have looked at less restrictive measures, did not study whether there were realistic alternative rail and road routes, and allowed only two months for implementing the ban.

La lucrarile reuniunii vor fi abordate probleme prioritare care vizeaza promovarea unor actiuni cu rezultat imediat in aplicarea diagramei de eliminare treptata din economie a substantelor care depreciaza stratul de ozon. Obiectivul reuniunii il constituie adoptarea unor decizii suplimentare, in vederea punerii in aplicare a prevederilor Protocolului de la Montreal si a Amendamentelor la Protocol adoptate la Londra, la Copenhaga, la Montreal si la Beijing.

In perioada 21 – 24 noiembrie 2004, vor avea loc reuniuni la nivel tehnic, zilele de 25 – 26 noiembrie fiind destinate reuniunii ministeriale, la care participa ministrii si sefii delegatiilor din peste 180 de tari, semnatare ale acestui acord multilateral de mediu. /

Below are several facts about the draft law:

WHAT IS REACH?

REACH is a new regulatory system proposed by the European Commission to make producers and importers of chemicals prove that the substances they put on the market in the European Union are safe for consumers to use.

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals. It applies to about 30,000 chemicals found in products as diverse as cars, computers and paint.

WHAT DOES THE COMMISSION’S PROPOSAL REQUIRE?

*All chemicals produced in or imported into the EU in quantities of at least one tonne per year must be registered with a central database. A series of tests is required to provide that information, varying according to the volume of the substances in question.

*Chemicals that are of "very high concern" such as those that can cause cancer, damag? genes or have an effect on fertility, and those that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) would have to go through an evaluation.

*Chemicals of greatest concern will need an authorisation for specific uses. Authorisation will be granted if the company shows that risks can be adequately controlled.

WHAT CHANGES HAS PARLIAMENT PROPOSED?

*The conservatives, socialists and liberals in the European Parliament agreed a compromise package on the subject of registration that reduces the number of substances in the low-tonnage category that would require tests.

That category applies to chemicals that are produced or imported in amounts of between 1 and 10 tonnes a year, estimated to be between 17,500 and 20,000 substances.

The package is expected to get broad support in Thursday’s vote.

*The Green party has produced an alternative to that compromise.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES?

*No agreement has been reached on the issue of mandatory substitution for hazardous chemicals.

*The amount of animal testing required by REACH remains a divisive subject.

HOW BIG IS THE EUROPEAN CHEMICALS SECTOR?

*According to industry group CEFIC, the EU’s chemical industry had sales of 586 billion euros in 2004, making it the leading chemical-producing area in the world, followed by Asia and the United States. Germany is Europe’s largest chemical producer with companies including BASF and Bayer.

*CEFIC says the EU chemical industry (excluding pharmaceuticals) is made up of roughly 27,000 companies, 96 percent of which have fewer than 250 employees, placing them in the category of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

WHAT ARE THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF REACH?

*The European Commission forecasts REACH will cost the chemical industry 2.3 billion euros ($2.8 billion) over 11 years. Total costs to industry — including sectors such as metals, textiles, electronics and cars — are estimated between 2.8 billion and 5.2 billion euros.

*The Commission says REACH would create health benefits worth 50 billion euros over 30 years.

WHAT DO THE CRITICS SAY?

*Environmental and health organisations say the bill has already been seriously watered down and want to make sure it stays true to its original goals. The chemical industry is worried that the costs of the new requirements will eat up profits, lead to the removal of chemicals from the market and shut down SMEs that cannot cope.

*Other countries have also pressured the EU about REACH. The United States has criticised it for trade reasons, and African nations have said its requirements could harm their mining industries and push them further into poverty.

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Potrivit RNP, in toamna acestui an se vor planta circa 20 de hectare cu specii de foioase, iar restul suprafetei, in primavara anului 2005, cu puieti de rasinoase, specii pentru care se recomanda ca plantarea sa se faca in acest sezon.

RNP a luat masura de regenerare a fondului forestier in aceasta zona, in urma viiturilor provocate de ploile abundente cazute in aceasta vara in raza judetului Bacau, care au afectat numeroase locuinte. Una dintre cauzele producerii acestor fenomene a fost defrisarea abuziva a padurilor private de pe Valea Trotusului.

Tighter rules on insulating houses to save energy will also be introduced, a step that could help to cut 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, said Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin at a climate presentation on Monday.

Villepin said France would also back moves to curb greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2008-2012, the first period covered by the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

"We will continue our efforts to convince all industrialized countries and the large emerging countries to join us," Villepin said.

His comments came as officials from 150 countries prepare to meet in Montreal, Canada on November 28 for a UN climate change summit to help shape the Kyoto Protocol post 2012.

The United States and Australia have declined to ratify the pact, and developing nations, such as China and India, are exempt from emissions caps that all four countries say threaten economic growth.

France aims to boost the use of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, to 21 percent of electricity output by 2010 from 15 percent now as part of its bid to curb emissions.

"Beyond this protocol, we wish to enter new engagements on CO2 emissions," Villepin said. The government said it planned to boost solar power producers by paying them substantially more for the electricity they produce.

Tariffs for supplies to homeowners would rise 50 percent next year, with prices for supply to businesses rising 100 percent, the government said.

At the same time tax credits for buying solar-fired heaters would be raised by 10 percentage points to 50 percent in 2006.

As private cars account for 60 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, a new law will make it obligatory to label new cars according to emissions by June 2006, the government said.

Precum informeaza agentia INFOTAG, el a mentionat ca deseurile de la sistemul de canalizare orasenesc se scurg direct in Nistru, din care sint alimentati cu apa chisinauenii.

"Zilnic, in riu nimeresc 2040 de tone de deseuri care nu trec prin instalatiile de epurare. Aceasta problema trebuie sa fie solutionata de conducerea tarii, care nu intreprinde nimic pentru a-i proteja pe chisinaueni impotriva eventualelor boli si riscului de a ramine fara apa", considera Urechean. El a recunoscut ca si instalatiile de epurare din capitala au nevoie de reconstructie. Echipamentul este uzat in proportie de 90%, unitatile sint exploatate la jumatate de capacitate.

Constantin Becciev, directorul intreprinderii "Apa-canal", a relevat ca in anul 2004 pentru reparatia instalatiilor de epurare s-au investit 12 mln. de lei, insa aceasta este insuficient.

"Noi am incheiat, practic, reparatia aerotancului, care a iesit din functiune. "Apa-canal" cauta eventuale cai de solutionare a problemei. Acum citiva ani, la Iasi, situatia in ceea ce priveste instalatiile de epurare era cu mult mai proasta decit este astazi la Chisinau. insa orasul a reusit sa gaseasca investitii de 60 mln. de euro si sa reconstruiasca sistemul", a spus Becciev.

INFOTAG precizeaza: Instalatiile de epurare din Chisinau au fost construite in anii 1968-1984. Mirosul specific raspindit in oras se datoreaza tehnologiei invechite de tratare a deseurilor, care sint aruncate pe un teren de 32 ha si se usuca acolo pentru a fi tratate ulterior.