Alongside wind, solar and hydro, biomass is expected to play a large
role in delivering the EU’s ambitious target of generating 20% of the
energy it uses from renewable sources by 2020, European experts believe.

When thinking of Europe’s energy sector in 2020, most people picture
wind turbines. And while it is true that onshore, and increasingly
offshore, wind power will be an important part of Europe’s conversion
to low-carbon electricity generation, other low-carbon energy solutions
are also needed, and biomass is one of them.
Danube cleanup plan adopted by 14 nations
VIENNA — Fourteen countries and the European Commission have adopted a
cleanup plan for the Danube River and its tributaries.
The Danube flows 2,857 kilometers (1,775 miles) from southern Germany's
Black Forest to the Black Sea and is polluted in some parts. Some 83
million people in 19 countries live in its basin.
The Danube River Basin Management Plan adopted Tuesday aims, among
other things, to reduce organic and nutrient pollution from settlements
and agriculture. It also includes measures to protect and reconnect
wetlands.
Participating countries are Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, the
Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Moldova, Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
The plan calls for the cleanup measures to be in place by 2015.
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On the Net:
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River:
http://www.icpdr.org/
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Polish Government Gets new Environment minister

Andrzej Kraszewski, a professor of environmental engineering was
appointed the new environment minister on Monday.


After the post has remained empty for over two months it is thought
that Kraszewski will initially concentrate his efforts on negotiating a
sale of the existing surplus of carbon credits.