[en] The climate action network worries about the weakness of the French policy in matter of greenhouse gases emissions reduction. These French environmental associations emphasize the following points: the government does not give a clear direction towards the car place reduction, in particular and road transport more generally. The government has not given a clear signal on the option of renewable energy sources. Situations and propositions (in ten points to succeed Tokyo) are detailed and discussed. (N.C.)

[en] During the investigation of the criticality accident at Tokai occurring on Sep. 30, 1999, the project team in Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS) carried out a questionnaire for the member on the accident and this paper summarized its results. The effective answer was obtained in 36% of members. Major questions (and frequent answers) were: media of information obtained (internet 33%, TV and radio 22%, and newspaper 19%); concerning actions done by Japanese and local governments, the recommendation on Sep. 30 at 15:00 of evacuation for people living in the area within the radius of 350 m (necessary 92%), timing of its release on Oct. 2 at 18:30 (appropriate 41% and too late 36%) and its information to the people (more information needed 60%) and the recommendation on Sep. 30 at 22:30 of in-door refuge within 10 km radius (unnecessary 43% and necessary 41%), timing of its release on Oct. 1 at 16:40 (too late 49%) and its information to the people (more information needed 63%); and safety declaration for food etc. on Oct. 2 at 18:30 (necessary 92%). Based on above results and free description on the questionnaire, JHPS considered the necessity of described systems of JHPS for emergency.(K.H.)

[en] It appears that Dutch energy companies are behind two years with respect to the use of electronic commercial services through the Internet. It is advised to study the different business models for E-commerce and to make a choice quick

[en] The Gothenburg Protocol concerns long-range air pollution and is a continuation of earlier protocols and agreements. Its recommendations are based on calculations of where the greatest possible health- and environmental impact is obtained per dollar invested. European countries have done much to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide. Norway and most other countries, however, have difficulties reducing their emissions of nitrogen oxides. In Norway, the emission of sulphur dioxide must also be substantially reduced, as the tolerance limit for SO2 in nature is low. It is socio-economically profitable for Norway to conform to the Gothenburg Protocol. One of the largest environmental problems in Norway is acid rain and death of fish. Although it is difficult to calculate the exact values of fishing-lakes and of reduced health injuries when the emissions of harmful waste gases are reduced, the profit is very high. 90% of the SO2 pollution in Norway is long-range transported from abroad. Yet Norway must reduce the domestic emissions from 30 000 to 22 000 tonnes the next 10 years. Most of the present emission of SO2 in Norway comes from the production of metals. The reduction goal can be achieved by a combination of improving industrial processes, SO2 cleaning, and reducing the sulphur content of oil. In many European countries, the greatest problem is the increasing emission of NOx and formation of ozone at the ground, which is largely due to the rapidly increasing motor traffic. In Norway, most of the NOx emission comes from the coastal traffic and the fishing fleet, followed by the motor traffic, the petroleum industry and the processing industry. The most cost-effective NOx reductions can be obtained in the North Sea by installing low-NOx gas turbines. In ships, catalytic cleaning of NOx and engine improvements will contribute. On land, the goods traffic can be made more efficient. Most of the emission of ammonia comes from agriculture, where special measures are taken. Volatile organic components (VOCs) come from the petroleum activities, notably in connection with loading and unloading, and several major projects have been initiated to reduce the emissions

[en] The interview with the prof. J. Niewodniczanski, the President of the National Atomic Agency in Poland has been published. The arguments for and against building of nuclear energetics in Poland have been performed and an official opinion of Governmental Authorities has been presented in that matter

[en] Local government in the Netherlands could play a greater role than they currently do in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the country. This fact formed the motivation for initiating the research project on Local Government and Climate Policy. Many local climate options are known in theory. Options for reduction that lie within the sphere of influence of Dutch local government are, for example, sustainable building or encouraging the utilisation of sustainable energy. But actual practice turns out to be rather refractory. If such options are to be implemented, then one has to overcome institutional barriers, such as the co-operation between different departments in the same local authority. The objective of this research is to improve the contribution that local government makes to climate policy

[en] The Cogema group hopes to find a second business, being awaiting the nuclear area starts again. It needs eighteen months to find it. It must have an empathy with its first business and does not be in competition with its customers. (N.C.)

[en] According to the Professor Pfaffenberger, the abandoning of nuclear energy, that would cost a lot to the country (Switzerland), would reduce in proportion the investments possibilities in renewable energies. (N.C.)

[en] The purpose of this article is to present an analysis of interfuel substitution in the industrial sector of seven major OECD countries (the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy) over the 1960-1993 period. Translog models are used to provide estimates of price elasticities from annual data for each country. Results outline the weakness of price elasticities and changes in behaviour over the last 35 years and show evidence of asymmetric effects. Since the collapse of oil prices in 1986, substitution has stopped, industrial energy demand and oil consumption have stagnated. Interfuel substitution is widely induced by events other than relative price changes: energy policy, political and institutional constraints, changes in economic activity, characteristics within individual country sectors. (author)

[en] This paper analyses progress and obstacles to gas sector reform in the most important CIS-Countries (Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan), taking a political economy perspective. This reform process is embedded in a very specific post-Soviet institutional framework stemming from the legacy of socialism. Firstly, we review the evolution of the gas sector for the period 1992-1998. The paper then identifies the post-Soviet specifies of gas sector restructuring, to which any reform strategy and technical assistance have to he adapted. We derive concrete, process-oriented policy conclusions to accelerate the reform process in a market-oriented way. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the perspectives of gas sector restructuring in this geopolitically strategic area of the world. (author)