NewzIntel.com

Category: Environment

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Chief Information Officer Announces the State’s First Chief Privacy Officer

    Source: US State of Oregon

    regon Chief Information Officer Terrence Woods, Director of Enterprise Information Services (EIS), has appointed Nik Blosser as the state of Oregon’s first Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategist. The CPO will be charged with crafting the strategic vision for the state of Oregon relating to privacy, data protection, and AI. As the first-of-a-kind position in Oregon state government, the CPO must make strategic judgements and decisions relating to developing policy and as the AI Strategist, Nik will play a pivotal role in shaping Oregon’s AI landscape.

    “Adding a Chief Privacy Officer and AI Strategist to the team at EIS has been a goal of mine for a few years and I am excited to bring Nik onboard,” said Woods. “Nik will significantly enhance our ability to safeguard data, ensure compliance with privacy regulations, prioritize workforce AI literacy, and lead efforts to promote a culture of awareness across all state agencies, ultimately making Oregon a leader in data protection, privacy management, and AI Governance.”

    Blosser brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished career to his new role. A Stanford University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Aeronautical Engineering and English, he has a diverse educational background.

    He has worked in both private and public sectors, with his career highlights including serving as Chair and Board Member of Sokol Blosser Winery for 22 years, one of the oldest family-owned and operated wineries in Oregon. Blosser also held significant roles in the Executive Office of the President, Portland General Electric, The White House, and served as Chief of Staff for Oregon Governor Kate Brown.

    Blosser co-founded Celilo Group Media, Inc., a company focused on sustainable products and services, and has been actively involved in numerous volunteer roles, including board memberships with Literary Arts, Oregon Business & Industry, and the Oregon Environmental Council.

    Nik Blosser’s leadership and dedication to public service and sustainability make him an invaluable asset to EIS and the state of Oregon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Delivers Floor Speech on Need for Bipartisan Permitting Reform Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s floor remarks, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, delivered remarks on Senate Floor outlining the need for comprehensive, bipartisan reforms to our nation’s environmental review and permitting processes.

    “The opportunity is here, this is right in front of us, and I can guarantee you that I will be at the forefront of these efforts to make sure that these reforms can become a reality. I encourage my colleagues to heed the importance of this moment,”Chairman Capito said.

    Below are the floor remarks of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

    “As we both know, for too long, critical projects central to American energy development, infrastructure improvement, and economic development have been trapped in a cycle of redundant reviews, shifting goalposts, endless red tape, and regulatory uncertainty.

    “Businesses large and small, looking to build things in our country again, really need certainty that is necessary for long-term investments, and projects needed to deploy new energy technologies, and efforts to restore the environment, have been caught in the same regulatory swamp as well.

    “This has been loaded on for years. Years of changes in guidance have created a complex web of ever-expanding, duplicative, and contradictory requirements, while Congress has not stepped in to provide the clarifications that our country needs. All this has led to lost jobs, missed economic opportunities, and higher prices across America, underpinning the importance of comprehensive reform to our environmental review and permitting processes. I can tell you, I get asked about this consistently, every day, more than a few times a day.

    “So, let me talk a little bit about my home state of West Virginia. I’ve seen firsthand how projects that our communities rely on face needless delays and how costs are then shifted to our families who pay more for energy, housing, transportation, and basic goods as a result.

    “These types of delays nearly stopped what will become one of the most environmentally friendly steel production facilities in the world that will employ over a thousand people in Mason County.

    “Top highway projects, like Corridor H that would improve both safety, mobility, and create economic development, have encountered multiple permitting delays and uncertainty under a litany of environmental statutes. Even West Virginia water extensions, broadband deployments, and bridge replacements have all faced delays from the federal permitting process.

    “If you’ve spent time in my state, visited our communities, or traveled across our mountains, it’s obvious how important these projects are to our state of West Virginia. They impact everything from how we heat our homes, to how we connect our schools with internet, and maintain the roads and bridges that our residents travel on every single day.

    “Point blank, these delays are holding our state and every state back from reaching our full potential, robbing our people of investments and economic development that would improve the quality of their lives. I believe it is time for Congress act.

    “Clearly, I am no stranger to the ever-illusive topic of permitting reform. Throughout my time in the Senate, I have introduced multiple bills on the subject and have been involved in the regulations on this topic, and while we were able to include some reforms in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, it is very clear that much more needs to be done.

    “The fact of the matter is, each one of us in this chamber has a critical need in our state that could be addressed by improving our permitting and environmental processes. Like building more housing, we always hear about a housing shortage, or bringing energy projects online, we hear about the expansions of nuclear, that are going to be held in the permitting process, or improving the conditions of surface transportation infrastructure, just to name a few. No matter what our constituents need, we all know that permitting reform is needed to deliver projects more quickly and more efficiently.

    “In my role as the Chair of the EPW Committee, where we have jurisdiction over the laws that set the framework for our environmental review and permitting processes, I could not be more earnest in my desire to lead this effort with our Ranking Member. Our Committee’s involvement on this issue remains apparent by the delivery of not just this speech we’re doing together, but as we continue to work together with the goal of crafting bipartisan legislation.

    “Together, we started bipartisan conversations in our Committee in February, when we held a hearing to gain the perspectives of leaders who are directly involved with navigating these processes.

    “To ensure that we would gather a complete look at all of the issues, we kept the hearing record open for over a month to give all stakeholders the opportunity to share their experience with these existing environmental review and permitting processes, and identify challenges and recommend possible solutions to this Congress.

    “From this record, we garnered 107 submissions representing 146 individual organizations, and an additional 854 individual requests on how to improve the federal environmental review and permitting process.

    “These responses have helped the EPW Committee identify the challenges that persist across the wide variety of projects and to identify consensus on the potential solutions to address these challenges.

    “While we’ve talked about the issue of permitting for a number of years in Congress, it’s important that we currently find ourselves, I think, in like-thought all across the spectrum. Each branch of the federal government, from the Executive, to Congress, and the Judiciary, are united in our dissatisfaction with the current permitting and environmental review processes.

    “The Trump Administration has taken numerous actions to cut red tape and to put the United States in the best possible position to grow our economy and create jobs.

    “The Supreme Court delivered a unanimous decision in the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition case in May that validated what many of my colleagues and I have long been saying, and that is the responsibilities of federal agencies under the [National Environmental Policy Act] have evolved beyond what Congress intended, creating roadblocks instead of considering the environment in federal decision-making.

    “Right now, we have the momentum, I believe, needed to deliver meaningful and lasting reforms to the environmental review and permitting process, and I believe this is an unprecedented opportunity and something we can truly accomplish.

    “I do believe, and we know this well, Senator Whitehouse and I know this well, that there are areas of strong disagreement in this area between the two of us, and what we’re going to try to do is to find those areas of like-thinking, that moves the process along. No matter how difficult it might be, this is the only way we get a permanent solution, so we don’t see the swings of the environmental process that we’ve seen over the last few years.

    “To start, durable and implementable reforms need to be successful, they have to be bipartisan. Legislation that the Senate crafts must take into account all types of projects, not just politically favored projects no matter who is favoring them, or projects that will support the infrastructure needs of some Americans but not others. We must provide clarity and transparency in these processes, and be thoughtful in the way we craft the legislation.

    “We need to address every stage of these processes to find efficiencies while balancing public health, the environment, and the needs of our economy, and our legislation must establish guardrails that cease the endless amounts of agency delays and litigation that stunts the development of our projects. I’ve seen investments in my state collapse under the weight of legal challenges, denying benefits to those that needed it the most.

    “I want to stress that modernizing these processes does not mean cutting corners or weakening our environmental and public health protections, and this is exceedingly important to all of us and to the process. It means focusing the government on meeting the needs of the American people, ensuring the quality of our environment for generations to come, and making the processes more efficient, predictable, and transparent so that they’re not stuck in a bureaucratic purgatory of endless litigation.

    “The reality is this, hardworking Americans want a government that works for them, not one that keeps them waiting for the benefits that many of these projects promise to their communities. What happens when you wait, if the project still goes forward? It gets more and more and more expensive with time.

    “I was encouraged to see bipartisan efforts from our colleagues in the House of Representatives, as last week, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman and Representative Jared Golden announced a proposal to address many of the concerns I just laid out.

    “As negotiations continue in the Senate, we must remember that it will take the collaboration of both chambers [of Congress] and the Administration to get impactful legislation across the finish line.

    “The opportunity is here, this is right in front of us, and I can guarantee you that I will be at the forefront of these efforts to make sure that these reforms can become a reality. I encourage my colleagues to heed the importance of this moment, and many of our colleagues are talking about this and have great expertise in this area, and we need your help.

    “With that, I yield the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 30th, 2025 Heinrich Votes Against Advancing Trump’s Nominees for DOI and DOE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted no on the nominations of Lanny Erdos to be the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Audrey Robertson to be the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Timothy Walsh to be DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management, citing Trump’s nominees’ history of ignoring the will of Congress.

    VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) votes no on Trump Administration DOI and DOE nominees during a hearing on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, July 30, 2025.

    Explaining his no votes to Trump’s nominees, Ranking Member Heinrich blasted previous nominees’ promises to respect the will of Congress during hearings, “then, after they are confirmed, they have withheld funds that we have appropriated, they have canceled programs that we have established, they have closed offices that we have created, and they pursued policies that we have never approved.”

    A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks is here.

    A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

    Turning now to today’s agenda item, let me simply say that, under the first Trump Administration, I would have been able to support all three of these nominees.

    But we have had nominee after nominee come before this Committee and assure us that they would follow the law and respect the will of Congress.

    Then, after they are confirmed, they have withheld funds that we have appropriated, they have canceled programs that we have established, they have closed offices that we have created, and they pursued policies that we have never approved.

    Until this Administration respects the will of Congress, I am unable to support its nominees, and I will vote no on all three as a result.

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 30th, 2025 Heinrich Votes Against Advancing Trump’s Nominees for DOI and DOE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted no on the nominations of Lanny Erdos to be the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Audrey Robertson to be the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Timothy Walsh to be DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management, citing Trump’s nominees’ history of ignoring the will of Congress.

    VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) votes no on Trump Administration DOI and DOE nominees during a hearing on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, July 30, 2025.

    Explaining his no votes to Trump’s nominees, Ranking Member Heinrich blasted previous nominees’ promises to respect the will of Congress during hearings, “then, after they are confirmed, they have withheld funds that we have appropriated, they have canceled programs that we have established, they have closed offices that we have created, and they pursued policies that we have never approved.”

    A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks is here.

    A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

    Turning now to today’s agenda item, let me simply say that, under the first Trump Administration, I would have been able to support all three of these nominees.

    But we have had nominee after nominee come before this Committee and assure us that they would follow the law and respect the will of Congress.

    Then, after they are confirmed, they have withheld funds that we have appropriated, they have canceled programs that we have established, they have closed offices that we have created, and they pursued policies that we have never approved.

    Until this Administration respects the will of Congress, I am unable to support its nominees, and I will vote no on all three as a result.

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City centre footbridge to close temporarily for flood defence works

    Source: City of Derby

    A city centre footbridge will be closed to pedestrians to enable work to begin on the demolition phase of Our City, Our River (OCOR), Derby’s multi-million pound river flood defence project.  

    The swing footbridge to Cathedral Green will be taken off river on Tuesday 12 August, and will remain closed while works are carried out on the left (east) bank of the River Derwent.  

    Pedestrian access across the river during this time will be by Exeter Bridge on Derwent Street, or St Mary’s Bridge. 

    This phase of OCOR, known as Derby Riverside, will see the construction of a new flood wall, floodgates, and a riverside green area that will provide a controlled corridor for flood waters to pass through the city. It will provide significant flood resilience to properties and highways between Exeter Bridge and Causey Bridge.  

    Several office buildings on Stuart Street and Phoenix Street will be removed to make way for the green space and new flood wall, with demolition work starting on Peat House in mid-August. Piling works will also be carried out near the swing bridge during this phase of construction. 

    These works will be carried out by John Sisk & Son on behalf of Derby City Council, who were formally awarded the contract for the scheme in May 2025.  

    While the swing bridge is off river, Derby City Council will be carrying out a full inspection with a view to programming essential maintenance and refurbishment work. The bridge will remain closed while flood defence works are carried out in the area and is expected to reopen in Winter 2026. 

    Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said: 

    Work is really starting in earnest on the Derby Riverside phase of Our City, Our River, which has already delivered enhanced flood protection to over 2,000 properties. This next stage will deliver greater flood protection to areas of the city that were badly affected by Storm Babet in 2023, when the river reached its highest level since records began 90 years ago. 

    As with all major construction works, there will be disruption, and we’re working with our contractor to keep this to a minimum and ensure the works proceed safely and as quickly as possible. This means we have to take the swing bridge off river for the safety of the public while they are in progress. The benefits of the new flood defence wall and riverside space for water will make it worthwhile in the long run.

    The Our City, Our River programme is one of the Environment Agency’s largest local authority-led projects and has already delivered enhanced flood protection to over 2000 properties. Derby Riverside will extend this protection to the east bank of the Derwent and unlock the potential for regeneration in this part of the city. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Secures Provisions to Reestablish NADBank Water Infrastructure Fund in Appropriations Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today celebrated the inclusion of his provisions on the 1944 Water Treaty in the Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026 to reestablish the North American Development Bank (NADBank)’s Water Infrastructure Fund and require a report on improving water storage and systems:

    “The South Texas agriculture community has suffered due to Mexico’s refusal to comply with the Water Treaty, and they deserve relief and solutions,” said Sen. Cornyn. “My provisions to reestablish NADBank’s Water Infrastructure Fund and require a water systems report are an important step in the right direction to make Texas whole, and I’m grateful to the committee for including this critical language in the appropriations bill.”

    Background:

    Sen. Cornyn has led the charge in Congress to boost Texas’ water supply and ensure Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water to South Texas farmers and ranchers. In addition to successfully securing more than $280 million in emergency assistance for Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers affected by the water shortage, he led a request earlier this year to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for renewed efforts to push Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty while also securing Secretary Rubio’s commitment to hold Mexico accountable for delays.

    Last year, Sen. Cornyn sent a letter to NADBank urging for the restoration of their Water Infrastructure Fund, raised alarms after a Rio Grande sugarcane mill closed due to acute water shortages, cosponsored a resolution supporting diplomacy, and sent a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State Blinken urging the Department to engage on Mexico’s violation of the intent of the treaty. Senator Cornyn also led a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State and Foreign Operations urging them to withhold designated funds from Mexico until they enter into an agreement with the U.S. to balance the deficit of the water deliveries, which the House Appropriations Committee included in their funding bill.

    Under the Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, Mexico is obligated to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually over a five-year cycle as its contribution to the Rio Grande’s water supply. However, Mexico has consistently delayed fulfilling its water obligation until the end of the five-year cycle, which hinders South Texas farmers’ ability to plan for and grow crops as well as ranchers’ ability to provide water to livestock. The current cycle ends in October and so far, Mexico has paid less than 700,000 acre-feet of water — less than half of what it owes, according to IBWC data.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Harmonic Radar on Tiny Travelers Means Smarter Crop Protection

    Source: US Agriculture Research Service

    Harmonic Radar on Tiny Travelers Means Smarter Crop Protection

    By: Todd Silver
    Email: Todd.Silver@usda.gov

    With their insatiable hunger for succulent fruits and vegetables, fruit flies from the Tephritidae family are the bane of farmers and consumers alike. But recent ARS findings suggest that wind could play a major factor in surveillance, containment, and eradication of this destructive pest. Advanced technology in tracking the effects of wind dispersal on tiny, winged creatures in the wild promises to refine fruit fly management strategies, identify outbreak sources, and help scientists anticipate their movement, feeding, and mating patterns.

    Several fruit flies from the Tephritidae fruit fly family are invasive to the U.S. and combine to cause millions, and during some seasons billions, in crop losses to American farmers. Beyond direct damage and control costs, if these pests were to become established on the U.S. mainland, they would become major barriers to international trade and prevent U.S. farmers from exporting to many of our trading partners. 

    Tephritid fruit fly with harmonic radar tag attached, marked with yellow fingernail polish.

    The key to managing these pests is to understand their flying behaviors. Matthew Siderhurst recognized and addressed the complexity of tracing flies and deciphering wind-based patterns and now leads a team of scientists at the Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo, HI, where their research will empower American farmers to protect their crops and reduce food waste. Groundbreaking research published in Environmental Entomology explains that harmonic radar tagging, initially developed for locating avalanche victims, can be used to study these fly pests. The method uses reflector tags that require no energy source of their own to bounce a signal back to a transceiver to map movement data.  

    Though attaching harmonic radar tags to the fruit flies requires painstaking precision, the mechanism is relatively simplistic: a superelastic 4-centimeter wire is connected to a diode, or one-way current semi-conductor, with an ultraviolet-activated adhesive. Next, electrical connections between the wires and diode contacts are secured with conductive silver paint. Check out the radar tags in this video. 

    Siderhurst said the study’s identification of outbreak patterns could predict environmental fluctuations influencing fruit fly behavior and enable farmers to adapt pest control methods. Contrary to historic consensus, this ARS-led research documented that fruit flies control their flight paths in response to wind cues as opposed to passive wind-driven movement. 

    “Most of us have seen a housefly buzz around a room and that movement appears random, but when we look at fruit flies, we see they show a fairly high degree of directional persistence,” Siderhurst said. “That is, they move in much straighter lines than expected, and individual flies appear to hold to a general heading when moving between trees.” 

    Tephritid fruit flies are about the size of a housefly and damage a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

    Further field testing with wild flies is warranted because the wind influenced the flies’ flight directionality, especially in movements between trees using lab-reared flies to avoid underestimating the flies’ natural movement abilities and overstate wind’s role in their flight. 

    Siderhurst acknowledged that most of the research thus far has proven the technique’s effectiveness, but work remains to answer further biological questions with the new tool. Further research, he said, will ideally reveal how habitat, vegetation density, and factors such as age, diet, and time of day affect insect flight patterns, with consideration of environmental influences like wind and open landscapes. 

    “Our approach is accessible and cost-effective,” Siderhurst said. “While you need good eyes and a steady hand, this technique is cost-effective and transceivers are available off the shelf, so there’s no need to build anything.” 

    For more information, visit the Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.

     ### 

    The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace: Governments must rise to the moment and vote in favour of a moratorium on deep sea mining

    Source: Greenpeace

    The 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has ended with Greenpeace saying governments are continuing to fall short in protecting the deep sea.
    While high-level representatives from Palau, France and Panama attended to rally the international community, Greenpeace is calling for greater efforts from more governments to put a legal barrier between mining machines and the deep ocean.
    Upcoming ISA meetings must secure a moratorium and leave no room for rushed attempts to adopt a Mining Code. Recent developments have made it clear that outstanding political and scientific concerns cannot be hastily resolved under industry-driven pressure.
    Louisa Casson, Campaigner, Greenpeace International who attended the meeting, says: “Governments have yet to rise to the moment. They remain disconnected from global concerns and the pressing need for courageous leadership to protect the deep ocean. We call on the international community to rise up and defend multilateralism against rogue actors like The Metals Company. Leaders must respond by establishing a moratorium and reaffirming that authority over the international seabed lies collectively with all States-for the benefit of humanity as a whole.”
    Juressa Lee, Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining campaigner, says: “Deep sea mining is the latest form of colonisation and extraction. Pacific civil society is overwhelmingly opposed to deep sea mining and must not be ignored in the rush by companies and states based in the Global North to start plundering the ocean.”
    While calls for a moratorium on deep sea mining have not yet gained global consensus, they continue to gain momentum, supported by compelling arguments from a diverse group of countries. Croatia has just become the 38th government calling for a precautionary pause, moratorium or ban on deep sea mining.
    On Tuesday His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, addressed the Assembly, drawing attention to persistent efforts and intense pressure from the industry to rush the negotiations and finalise a Mining Code. He stated: “Exploiting the seabed is not a necessity – it is a choice. And it is reckless. It is gambling with the future of Pacific Island children, who will inherit the dire consequences of decisions made far from their shores.”
    In the first meeting of the ISA since The Metals Company (TMC) submitted the world’s first-ever application to commercially mine the international seabed, governments at the ISA Council responded by launching an investigation into whether mining contractors, including TMC’s subsidiaries Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) and Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML), are complying with contractual obligations to act in accordance with the international legal framework.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Plastic Greenpeace report exposes petrochemical giants’ campaign to derail Global Plastics Treaty A report released today by Greenpeace UK reveals how the Global Plastics Treaty is under threat from some of the world’s largest petrochemical companies who have been systematically lobbying against… by Alexandra Sedgwick July 29, 2025

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    A report released today by Greenpeace UK reveals how the Global Plastics Treaty is under threat from some of the world’s largest petrochemical companies who have been systematically lobbying against cuts to plastic production while generating massive profits from their growing plastics business. The report reveals that since the treaty talks began in November 2022, seven companies alone have produced enough plastic to fill 6.3 million rubbish trucks – equivalent to five and a half trucks every minute. 

    The report – ‘Plastics, Profits and Power: How petrochemical companies are derailing the Global Plastics Treaty’ draws on data obtained from industry sources. It finds that that since the start of the treaty process, Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron Phillips, Shell, SABIC and INEOS have ramped up their plastic production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes and sent a combined total of 70 lobbyists to negotiations, where they have also been represented by powerful industry front groups.  

    Dow alone has sent at least 21 lobbyists to negotiations whilst earning an estimated £3.4 billion from plastics. The report also states that INEOS, the UK’s largest plastics producer, has raised production capacity by more than 20% and is investing £3.5 billion in Project ONE, set to become Europe’s biggest plastics plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

    The Greenpeace UK report comes just days before governments meet in Geneva, Switzerland, in the final round of treaty talks. The report reveals the tactics used by lobbyists to dominate negotiations, influence delegates, and block progress. It also highlights the lobbying by powerful trade associations at the talks, pushing industry-friendly positions while shielding corporate members from scrutiny.

    Anna Diski, the report’s author and Senior Plastics Campaigner with Greenpeace UK, said:

    “We all want to see a strong Global Plastics Treaty that turns the tide on plastic pollution. Our research shows that those with the most to lose from meaningful regulation are working hardest to obstruct it. We can’t allow the corporations who profit from plastic pollution to write the rules or we’ll end up with a toothless Treaty. It’s time to ban lobbyists from the Talks and for UN Member States to stand firm and support a strong Treaty.”

    According to CIEL, 220 fossil fuels lobbyists attended the fifth round of treaty negotiations in 2024 held in Busan, South Korea which ended without agreement. This made lobbyists the single largest delegation at the talks – more than the EU and its member states combined, outnumbering the delegates from the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty by three to one. 

    Greenpeace is calling for at least a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040 and is demanding that a strong conflict of interest policy be embedded in the treaty to prevent undue influence; negotiations must also prioritise those most affected by the plastics crisis, with space guaranteed for independent scientists, Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities and civil society groups, all of whom should all be able to play a role in shaping and implementing the treaty.  

    Ends.

    Contact:

    Greenpeace UK Press Office – press.uk@greenpeace.org or +44 7377 730878 / +44 20 7865 8255

    The report is available here 

    A photo gallery of images associated with the report is available in the Greenpeace Media Library

    Notes: 

    The INC5.2 summit to agree a Global Plastics Treaty will run from 5-14 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. Greenpeace will be present with an international delegation of 30 people representing Africa, Southeast and East Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Canada, Colombia and the US.  The delegation will use its extensive policy and legal experience and government relationships to push for greater ambition in the treaty process, particularly on the critical issue of delivering legally binding cuts to plastic production. 

    Greenpeace UK’s analysis is based on estimated global production figures for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) for November/December 2022, 2023 and 2024 financial years, for Dow, ExxonMobil, BASF, Chevron, Shell, SABIC and INEOS, produced by Market Research Future (data available on request). This estimate covers two of the world’s most widely-used polymers, commonly found in packaging and consumer goods. It excludes other major plastic types such as PET and polystyrene, and excludes 2025 production data even as treaty talks continue into this year. As such, the final figure is presented as an underestimate of total plastic production during this time. To calculate the plastic volume in rubbish truck equivalents, Greenpeace UK used the standard capacity of a UK refuse truck, which holds approximately 12 metric tonnes of plastic waste.

    All of the companies mentioned in this report were given the opportunity to reply to the findings, none responded.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 29 July 2025 Departmental update WHO urges urgent action ahead of COP30 at global climate and health conference in Brasília

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Government of Brazil and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), will host the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health in Brasília, Brazil, from 29– 31 July 2025. This critical event is an official pre-COP30 meeting and comes at a pivotal time as climate change increasingly threatens global health. It offers a key platform for advancing bold and equitable climate-health solutions. The Conference is also the second meeting of the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and health (ATACH).

    For over 25 years, WHO has warned that climate change poses a direct threat to human health,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at WHO. “The danger is no longer theoretical –  it is a lived reality. Climate change is fuelling a health crisis and threatens to undo decades of global health progress.

    Conference goals

    The Brasília Conference will help chart a clear course toward COP30 and beyond. 

    Main expected outcomes include:

    • concrete inputs to the draft Belém Health Action Plan, a roadmap for embedding health into global climate policy;
    • national commitments under ATACH to support the implementation of the Belém Health Action Plan;
    • defined pathways for promoting health as a core pillar of climate action in the lead-up to COP30; and
    • scientific deliverables to support health-informed climate policies and implementation.

    “The impacts of climate change affect primarily the most vulnerable, who are an absolute priority for the Brazilian government. That’s why we are building concrete solutions, with social participation and a commitment to the planet’s future” said Alexandre Padilha, Minister of Health, Brazil. “This conference is a response to the call from the COP30 Presidency for a major global task force that brings together different sectors to formulate the health action plan that Brazil will present in Belém, proving that it is possible to integrate health and climate with real, innovative solutions that have a direct impact on people’s lives.”  

    WHO is working closely with the COP30 Presidency to ensure that health remains central to all climate negotiations. The Conference will spotlight strategies for building resilient health systems, promoting sustainable and low-carbon health systems, and reinforcing the link between climate, biodiversity, air quality, and public health.

    After years of commitments, the moment for action is now. WHO is calling on all countries to dramatically scale up investments in climate-health mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

    Attendance at the event is by invitation only. More details can be found on the event page. 

    “To address the consequences of climate change and promote health and well-being for all, it is essential to place populations and territories in situations of vulnerability at the centre of our actions, since they bear the brunt of climate impacts but are the least responsible for it,” said Dr Gerry Eijkemans, Director of PAHO’s Department of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity.

    High-level participants from across the globe

    The Conference will bring together ministers, scientists, civil society, and international organizations from around the world, and will also serve as the annual in-person meeting of the WHO-hosted Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), the largest platform bringing together over 90 countries and partners aiming to advance climate change and health implementation at country level. It will be held in-person in Brasília, with main plenary sessions live-streamed for global participation. 

    WHO emphasizes that human health, the environment, and the climate are inseparably connected, and failure to act decisively on climate change could lead to widespread health catastrophes. Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and worsening air pollution already cause millions of deaths and undermine global health systems. But coordinated action can still reverse this trajectory.

    The WHO will launch its 7th Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) report – focused on the health of migrants in the context of climate change – on Tuesday, 28 July.

    Join the online launch event

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 29 July 2025 Departmental update Community innovation leads the way at 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health through “Ideas Labs”

    Source: World Health Organisation

    As the world braces for increasingly complex climate and health challenges, local innovations, Indigenous knowledge, and community-rooted practices take centre stage at the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health, co-hosted by the Government of Brazil, WHO, and PAHO, from 29 to 31 July in Brasília. 

    A key feature of the Conference, the Ideas Lab, spotlights a bold new wave of thinking and doing, showcasing pioneering efforts that span from predictive malaria mapping and clean air advocacy to artificial intelligence and sustainable healthcare. Designed to complement the official programme, the Ideas Lab serves as a platform to amplify innovative local and Indigenous knowledge, youth-led and technological solutions, and cross-sector policy approaches that link climate action with better health outcomes. 

    Over three days, participants are presenting replicable solutions that will inform and bolster the forthcoming Belém Health Action Plan across three key tracks: 1) Health Surveillance and Monitoring, 2) Evidence-Based Policy and Capacity Building, and 3) Innovation and Production.  

    “The Ideas Lab is about more than showcasing innovations. It’s about equity, participation, and policy relevance,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization. “These sessions create space for communities to speak for themselves, to be heard, and to input into the COP30 process to put health at the heart of climate decisions.” 

    Ideas Lab contributors span Community-Based Organizations to universities, specialist networks to NGOs, with representation from across the globe.  

    Sessions include, among others:  

    • Mapping Toxic Transfers in Uganda: A cross-disciplinary project using geospatial tools, water testing, and health data to trace the impacts of climate-induced flooding on community health, while informing safe water and infrastructure policy. 
    • Predictive Modelling for climate-driven malaria dynamics: A predictive malaria system combining climate and health data to trigger targeted community interventions, co-led by women’s groups and rooted in local knowledge for urbanizing African Regions. 
    • Innovative Financing for Health Resilience: From Brazil to Indonesia, examples of blended capital solutions offer a roadmap to close the climate-health financing gap, especially critical for countries facing dwindling development aid. 
    • Adapting Health Supply Chains: A dialogue on how to future-proof the multitrillion-dollar health supply chain for climate resilience, equity, and sustainability. 
    • The Right to Clean Air: From Brazil to Australia and the pacific, inviting solidarity between communities experiencing escalating threats to air quality, health and cultural survival.  
    • AI for Climate-Resilient Health Systems: Showcasing how the Global South is pioneering artificial intelligence to strengthen pandemic preparedness and deliver culturally relevant, sustainable health interventions across 20 countries. 
    • Intergenerational dialogue plays a key role in transforming One Health ideas into concrete, sustainable actions and real-time solutions, where mechanisms for youth engagement in One Health can be adjusted to the needs and wants of each setting and context.

    Equity is at the heart of the Global Conference and equitable solutions are highlighted throughout the Ideas Lab, with sessions exploring how climate change disproportionately impacts women, migrants, Indigenous peoples, and youth, and how these groups are also leading in climate and health action. Examples include the Emerge Study which examines the relationship between climate extremes, forced migration, and health in Latin America, and how migration can be supported as an adaptive strategy, and Youth for One Health, a proposal that is grounded in intergenerational justice and builds on youth councils globally to advocate for biodiversity, planetary health, and green cities. 

    Towards COP30: From dialogue to delivery 

    The Ideas Lab will feed directly into conference outcomes and COP30 preparations, helping generate actionable tools and knowledge products that can be adapted by countries, particularly through the Belém Health Action Plan. By fostering participation across regions and sectors, it aims to seed long-term collaboration across and between climate change action and human health. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Saving Birds in Wind Farms With AI: Boulder Imaging and Oikon Launch IdentiFlight in Croatia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Pročitajte ovu objavu na hrvatskom na www.identiflight.com/blog/oikon.

    LOUISVILLE, Colo., July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boulder Imaging has partnered with Oikon Ltd., Croatia’s leading environmental consultancy, to bring AI-powered bird protection technology to wind farms across Southeast Europe. Through the deployment of Boulder Imaging’s IdentiFlight system, the partnership supports the growing demand for sustainable wind development while also protecting biodiversity.

    As Croatia ramps up renewable energy under the European Green Deal, strict permitting requirements now mandate detailed environmental impact assessments, particularly for wind farms near Natura 2000 sites. IdentiFlight’s real-time bird detection and automated turbine curtailment capabilities help developers meet these standards, reducing permitting risk while protecting high-concern species such as Eurasian griffons, honey buzzards, short-toed snake eagles, golden eagles, and kestrels.

    “IdentiFlight is a proven solution that aligns with our mission to harmonize development with nature conservation,” said Dalibor Hatić, general manager of Oikon Ltd. “We’re excited to bring this cutting-edge technology to Croatia and the broader Southeast European region where wind energy is expanding and biodiversity protection is critical. Our goal is to ensure that wind development can thrive without compromising our common natural heritage.”

    “Partnering with Oikon Ltd. enhances our ability to deliver conservation-driven technology where it’s most needed,” said Don Mills, President and Chief Operating Officer of Boulder Imaging. “Together, we’re advancing the role of AI in biodiversity protection and accelerating responsible wind energy growth in Croatia and beyond.”

    With more than 520 systems deployed across five continents, IdentiFlight has reduced bird fatalities by over 85% while maintaining a power generation loss of less than 1% in wind farms. The first systems in Croatia are planned for 2026, with an initial focus on sensitive migratory corridors and ecologically valuable terrain.

    AI that protects biodiversity. Ecology that drives progress.
    To learn more about IdentiFlight’s AI-powered bird protection technology, visit www.identiflight.com.
    To explore Oikon’s environmental expertise, visit www.oikon.hr.

    About Boulder Imaging
    Founded in 1995, Boulder Imaging develops and delivers innovative machine vision and artificial intelligence solutions that redefine quality assurance. With unmatched speed, accuracy, and scalability, its inspection systems address complex challenges in industries such as renewable energy, automotive, architectural products, and security paper. Headquartered in Colorado, Boulder Imaging is dedicated to advancing machine vision technology to meet global inspection needs.

    For more information, visit www.boulderimaging.com.

    About Oikon Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology
    Oikon Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology is Croatia’s leading licensed environmental consultancy, offering integrated solutions in environmental protection, nature protection, natural resource management, environmental law and legislation, and sustainability services. Since 1997, Oikon has supported public institutions, developers, development banks and conservation organizations in aligning economic development with ecological sustainability, in line with Croatian legislation and EU directives. In addition to its leadership in Croatia, Oikon provides expert services across Southeast Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Cyprus and Turkey, delivering regional solutions that reflect global environmental standards.

    For more information, visit www.oikon.hr.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aab070b8-b89d-4704-b2f7-5de9fccb55f6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, African youth design green projects at Beijing dialogue

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Young people from China and 12 African countries designed environmental projects during a dialogue in Beijing on Monday, as both sides seek to deepen cooperation on climate and sustainability issues.

    The 5th China-Africa Future Leaders’ Dialogue Achievements Report Meeting and China-Africa Future Leaders’ Dialogue Symposium on Green Development was held at Beijing Library, where Chinese and African participants formed seven working groups to develop what organizers called “small but beautiful” green public welfare projects.

    Representatives from African nations also joined faculty and students from Tsinghua University and environmental experts from the Beijing Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Center for discussions on sustainable development practices.

    The initiative aims to transform young people from passive observers into active champions of environmental cooperation between China and Africa, organizers said.

    Organizers said promising projects identified during the meeting would receive continued support to help convert ideas into tangible results.

    African participants said Beijing’s green development practices provided valuable examples for their home countries, expressing hope that the projects designed during the dialogue would lead to concrete environmental initiatives.

    The event was hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and co-organized by the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Beijing Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Center, and the People’s Government of Tongzhou District.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKAEA’s RACE2Mars team wins UKSEDS Olympus Rover Trials

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UKAEA’s RACE2Mars team wins UKSEDS Olympus Rover Trials

    A team of engineering apprentices and graduates from UKAEA won first prize in the UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Olympus Rover Trials

    RACE2Mars team with their rover design – Image credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    A team of engineering apprentices and graduates from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has claimed first place in the prestigious Olympus Rover Trials.

    The Trials, organised by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS), were held recently at Airbus Defence and Space’s Mars Yard.

    The winning team, RACE2Mars, work in UKAEA’s Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE). The skills developed through UKAEA’s work for fusion energy – remote handling and control systems in extreme environments – are directly applicable to the challenges of space exploration.

    RACE2Mars was tasked with designing, building, and then operating the rover within a simulated Mars exploration mission at the Mars Yard, a specially designed environment mimicking Martian terrain.

    The Olympus Rover Trials involved navigating the rover through rough terrain and scanning QR codes.

    RACE2Mars was one of only twelve teams across the UK to qualify for the final competition day, following a rigorous selection process that included a preliminary design review and critical design review by a panel of engineers.

    Dean Gooding, Graduate Control Systems and Software Engineer, UKAEA, said:

    The Olympus Rover Trials has been a fantastic opportunity to lead an ambitious project and strengthen my leadership, organisational, and technical skills. As a team, we tackled challenging mechanical and electrical engineering constraints, refined our programming skills, learned to write effective design documents, and developed solid testing strategies – gaining a huge amount of experience along the way.

    Rhiannon Jones, Electrical Engineering Apprentice, UKAEA, added:

    The project has been a great opportunity to learn and develop. It’s rare to see all aspects of a project due to how long-term they can be. It’s also been excellent to be part of a team of developing engineers—I’ve really enjoyed working on this.

    Nick Sykes, Director of RACE, UKAEA, commented:

    This achievement is a testament to the talent, creativity, and dedication of our early-career engineers. The RACE2Mars team not only demonstrated technical excellence but also embodied the spirit of collaboration and innovation that UKAEA is proud to foster.

    This win highlights the exciting crossover between fusion energy and the space sector.

    Oliver Lee, Olympic Rover Trials Co-lead at UKSEDS, said:

    The RACE2Mars from UKAEA should be very proud of what they have achieved. Their hard work and enthusiasm was reflected by their performance across the board, from their outstanding Mars Yard demonstration to their impressive outreach efforts. We very much look forward to seeing what’s next for the upcoming competition year.

    RACE2Mars team’s rover design in The Mars Yard – Image credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: GDS Releases 2024 ESG Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, China, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS Holdings”, “GDS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698), a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, today announced the release of its 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) report, detailing the Company’s ongoing sustainability efforts and its ESG performance.

    In 2024, we achieved renewable energy usage rate of 40% through a comprehensive renewable energy transition strategy. Out of all the renewable energy sources, 64% came from directly purchased green power, representing more than 100% increase over 2023. In addition, 87% of our self-developed data centers are designed, constructed, and operated in compliance with green building standards, with 42 data centers now been certified as green data centers. Furthermore, through continuous operational excellence and upgrades on the basis of state-of-the-art design, we have improved our average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) from 1.28 in 2023 to 1.24 this year. All these initiatives have led to a notable reduction in our carbon intensity, resulting in a 15.8% decrease compared to 2023.

    We have also made breakthroughs in ESG ratings. Our MSCI ESG rating has been upgraded from BBB to A. We received a B rating in our first CDP assessment. We were included in the S&P CSA Rating 2024 Yearbook which recognizes our leadership in the industry. In collaboration with Moody’s Rating, we have obtained the NZA-2 (Net Zero Assessment) rating, which validates our performance in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Ambition, Implementation, and Governance, making us the only data center company in the world to successfully pass this assessment. These achievements not only enhance our ability to manage climate risks but also reinforce stakeholder trust.

    “Over the past year, we have continued to drive forward on our path to carbon neutrality by 2030,” said Mr. William Huang, Chairman and CEO of GDS. “We are dedicated to evolving into a green intelligent infrastructure platform that paves the way for a sustainable future. Our strategy is anchored in a deep commitment to ESG principles, which permeate every aspect of our operations and define our corporate ethos. By integrating sustainability into our core activities, we ensure that our approach not only enhances operational excellence but also upholds responsible corporate governance. I am excited about the future we are forging, and am confident that our innovative practices will foster enduring growth for our Company and continue to lead our industry forward.”

    To view the report in full, please visit the ESG section on the GDS corporate website or access the report at:
    https://c.gds-services.com/esg2024/docs/2024_ESG_Report_EN.pdf

    About GDS Holdings Limited

    GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) is a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China. The Company’s facilities are strategically located in and around primary economic hubs where demand for high-performance data center services is concentrated. The Company’s data centers have large net floor area, high power capacity, density and efficiency, and multiple redundancies across all critical systems. GDS is carrier and cloud-neutral, which enables its customers to access the major telecommunications networks, as well as the largest PRC and global public clouds, which are hosted in many of its facilities. The Company offers co-location and a suite of value-added services, including managed hybrid cloud services through direct private connection to leading public clouds, managed network services, and, where required, the resale of public cloud services. The Company has a 24-year track record of service delivery, successfully fulfilling the requirements of some of the largest and most demanding customers for outsourced data center services in China. The Company’s customer base consists predominantly of hyperscale cloud service providers, large internet companies, financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, IT service providers, and large domestic private sector and multinational corporations. The Company also holds a non-controlling 35.6% equity interest in DayOne Data Centers Limited which develops and operates data centers in International markets.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    GDS Holdings Limited
    Laura Chen
    Phone: +86 (21) 2029-2203
    Email: ir@gds-services.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Ross Warner
    Phone: +86 (10) 6508-0677
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    Brandi Piacente
    Phone: +1 (212) 481-2050
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    GDS Holdings Limited

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Residents face £200 fines for fox and gull-ravaged rubbish

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Residents face £200 fines for fox and gull-ravaged rubbish

    “We’ll be back.” That is not the infamous cry of Arnie but of Canterbury City Council’s Environmental Crime Officers after hitting two residents with £200 fines each.

    People living and running businesses in and around the area of Herne Bay High Street are tired of those who put out their domestic and commercial waste on the street to be attacked by foxes and seagulls. They leave it strewn across the roads and pavement.

    Last month, officers arrived at 4am on subsequent mornings to investigate what had been dumped overnight and by whom.

    Two residents were issued with fixed penalty notices for the offence of littering.

    Officers will be turning up unannounced in future weeks and months to catch any other culprits.

    Cllr Connie Nolan, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Safety and Enforcement, said: “When people don’t follow the rules around putting their rubbish out at the right time, everyone else suffers.

    “Being faced with putrid piles of waste every morning must be disheartening and affect your quality of life.

    “That is especially true for the crews from our waste contractor Canenco who have to clear it all up by hand day after day after day.

    “Our officers specialising in environmental crime are early birds and will be back – if they catch you in the act, you will also be fined £200 and rightly so.

    “For those businesses not disposing of their waste legitimately, we will be checking on them too.”

    The rules for people living near the High Street and businesses operating in the area are:

    • domestic waste should only be put out in council-issued purple sacks
    • domestic rubbish day in the High Street is on Tuesdays – rubbish should not be put out before 5pm on Mondays except on bank holidays when changes to the normal arrangements are heavily publicised
    • businesses need to arrange for a commercial waste contractor to take their rubbish away

    If residents are struggling to store their waste, they need to talk to their landlords.

    Residents can report a missed collection on the council’s website where they can also report littering and flytipping.

    Published: 29 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • India’s tiger reserves rise from 46 to 58 since 2014: Bhupender Yadav

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Tuesday announced that the number of tiger reserves in India has grown from 46 in 2014 to 58 as of 2025. The statement was made during the Global Tiger Day 2025 celebrations held at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.

    Presiding over the event, the Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining ecological balance, fostering conservation awareness among children, and cultivating gratitude towards nature. He praised the role of schools and teachers in educating the younger generation about wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation.

    Yadav highlighted that this expansion in tiger reserves is a reflection of the unwavering commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protecting India’s national animal. He noted that the government continues to prioritize environmental sustainability as part of its broader development agenda.

    Marking one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in the world, the Minister announced the launch of a massive nationwide tree plantation drive. Under this initiative, more than one lakh saplings will be planted across all 58 tiger reserves, with each reserve planting approximately 2,000 indigenous trees in degraded forest areas to support habitat restoration and ecological health.

    In a move to inspire public participation, the Minister encouraged citizens, especially children, to plant a tree in their mother’s name under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Describing the symbolic connection between motherhood and nature, Yadav said that just as a mother nurtures her child, Mother Earth offers shelter, food, and oxygen selflessly. He urged everyone to plant a tree in honor of their mothers and for the sake of the planet.

    Yadav also spotlighted India’s leadership in global big cat conservation through the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), an initiative launched by India to protect all seven big cat species worldwide. He informed that 24 countries have already joined the alliance, and its headquarters will be established in India, further positioning the country at the forefront of international wildlife conservation.

    Addressing the youth, the Minister urged them to lead lives marked by humility, patience, and determination. He called on them to actively contribute to sustainable living and conservation efforts under the government’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which promotes environmentally conscious behavior.

    The Global Tiger Day celebrations also included the virtual inauguration of plantation drives across all tiger reserves, as well as the opening of forest nurseries in three locations across the Aravalli landscape. These nurseries will serve as a sustainable source of native plant species for afforestation and ecological restoration. Another key initiative launched during the event was the ‘Plastic-Free Tiger Reserves’ campaign, aimed at phasing out single-use plastics within all tiger reserves across India.

    The event featured the release of four important publications under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). These included a report on the “Status of Small Cats in the Tiger Landscape of India”, the Global Tiger Day special edition of STRIPES Magazine, and two books titled Waterfalls of Tiger Reserves in India and Water Bodies Inside Tiger Reserves of India, authored by Bharat Lal and Dr. S.P. Yadav.

    As part of recognizing contributions to wildlife protection, Yadav presented NTCA awards across seven categories. These included awards for individuals and groups who demonstrated excellence in wildlife crime investigation, habitat management, anti-poaching efforts, public engagement, voluntary relocation, and posthumous recognition for those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

    (with ANI inputs)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation opens into Rathlin Energy permit draft decision

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Consultation opens into Rathlin Energy permit draft decision

    The Environment Agency has opened a consultation into its ‘minded to’ decision to grant a permit variation to a Yorkshire company.

    Rathlin Energy UK Ltd, which has operated at West Newton in East Yorkshire since 2013, has an environmental permit for drilling wells and long-term oil and gas production.

    It has applied to vary the permit for West Newton A well site (WNA) at Fosham Road in High Fosham.

    After reviewing comments and evidence from the original consultation at the end of last year, the Environment Agency is ‘minded to’ issue the permit variation.

    This means after exploring the issues and concerns that have been raised, it can’t find any reason to refuse the application, but is yet to make a final decision.

    A draft permit document and draft decision document can be found on the Environment Agency’s Citizen Space page.

    The draft decision document explains the Environment Agency’s decision-making and outlines how it has considered the comments from the original consultation. The draft permit outlines the conditions would need to meet if the permit is granted.

    The consultation into the ‘minded to’ decision documents will close at the end of 9 September, 2025.

    Public encouraged to send comments

    Kathryn Richardson, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said:

    We have carefully considered all the documents, as well as the consultation comments, and currently can’t find any reason to refuse the variation application.  

    I’d encourage interested parties to view the decision document and send us their comments.

    We will make our final decision once we have reviewed the responses to this consultation.

    The original consultation into this application started on 19 November last year and ran until 24 January.

    The Environment Agency may only refuse a permit application if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have an unacceptable impact on the environment or harm human health.

    If all the requirements are met, it is legally obliged to issue a permit. 

    Rathlin Energy has applied to carry out ‘well stimulation’ (or ‘proppant squeeze’) on the existing WNA-2 well. This is a process used by the oil and gas industry, which is designed to improve the efficiency of the flow of oil or gas through the reservoir rock and into the well.

    Mining and extractive industries must have an environmental permit to operate. Issued by the Environment Agency, environmental permits detail the conditions that an operator is required to meet to ensure its activities minimise the risk of harm to people and the environment.  

    People can respond to the consultation directly on the website or alternatively by email to pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk

    Those unable to access this information online should contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506.  

    Background

    Consultation  

    • The reservoir stimulation will result in some extractive waste – waste produced by the extraction, treatment and storage of minerals – being retained in the ground. Therefore the operator has also applied for a ‘mining waste facility’ to authorise this.  
    • Changes are also proposed to the surface water discharge process, and the location of the already permitted crude oil storage facility. 
    • Responses to the consultation can be made electronically. To access the relevant documentation, visit our consultation website on the Environment Agency’s Citizen Space page.
    • Information on the website explains how you can view the consultation documents and how you can make your comments. We also explain what we can and can’t take into account when deciding on the application.  
    • Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals is urged to read the documentation online before responding directly on the website or by email to pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk  
    • Those unable to make representation via the consultation website or by email should contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506.    

    Environment Agency regulation of onshore gas and oil  

    • The Environment Agency’s regulatory controls for the onshore oil and gas industry are designed to protect people and the environment.  We do not permit activities that pose an unacceptable risk  
    • Our regulatory process – permitting, inspecting, monitoring and enforcement – is designed to protect our water, land and air, and the people and wildlife that depend on them. 
    • We will not allow any activity that could pollute water (rivers and streams, surface water, groundwater, drinking water) or any removal of water if it could affect the public water supply or damage the environment. 
    • We ensure waste material is minimised, stored, and disposed of safely so it doesn’t harm the soil or the wider environment. 
    • We protect the air by requiring that any waste gas is burnt in a safe and controlled way, and that any emissions are minimised and monitored. 

    Environmental permits 

    • Environmental permits set out strict legal conditions by which an operator must comply in order to protect people and the environment. Should an environmental permit be issued, the Environment Agency has responsibility for enforcing its conditions. 
    • Our powers include enforcement notices, suspension and revocation of permits, fines and ultimately criminal sanctions, including prosecution. 
    • We may only refuse a permit if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have a significant impact on the environment or harm human health. If all the requirements are met, we are legally required to issue a permit.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Deep sea talks end as govts. urged to act on moratorium

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Kingston, Jamaica, 25 July 2025  – The 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) ends today with governments continuing to fall short in protecting the deep sea. While high-level representatives from Palau, France and Panama attended to rally the international community, greater efforts are needed from more governments to put a legal barrier between mining machines and the deep ocean. Upcoming ISA meetings must secure a moratorium and leave no room for rushed attempts to adopt a Mining Code. Recent developments have made it clear that outstanding political and scientific concerns cannot be hastily resolved under industry-driven pressure. 

    Louisa Casson,  Campaigner, Greenpeace International who attended the meeting, said: “Governments have yet to rise to the moment. They remain disconnected from global concerns and the pressing need for courageous leadership to protect the deep ocean.  We call on the international community to rise up and defend multilateralism against rogue actors like The Metals Company. Leaders must respond by establishing a moratorium and reaffirming that authority over the international seabed lies collectively with all States—for the benefit of humanity as a whole.”

    While calls for a moratorium on deep sea mining have not yet gained global consensus, they continue to gain momentum, supported by compelling arguments from a diverse group of countries. Croatia became the 38th government calling for a precautionary pause, moratorium or ban on deep sea mining. 

    On Tuesday His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, addressed the Assembly, drawing attention to persistent efforts and intense pressure from the industry to rush the negotiations and finalise a Mining Code. He stated: “Exploiting the seabed is not a necessity – it is a choice. And it is reckless. It is gambling with the future of Pacific Island children, who will inherit the dire consequences of decisions made far from their shores.”

    In the first meeting of the ISA since The Metals Company (TMC) submitted the world’s first-ever application to commercially mine the international seabed, governments at the ISA Council responded by launching an investigation into whether mining contractors, including TMC’s subsidiaries Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) and Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML), are complying with contractual obligations to act in accordance with the international legal framework.

    — ENDS —

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Barnaby Joyce wants Australia to abandon net zero – but his 4 central claims don’t stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Vines, Post-doctoral researcher, Green Lab, Monash University

    One-time Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce sought to dominate the first sitting week of the current federal parliament by proposing a divisive plan to reverse Australia’s net zero emissions target.

    The campaign, backed by fellow former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, aims to repeal what Joyce calls Australia’s “lunatic crusade” of net zero by 2050. It comes as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley convenes a working group to set a way forward on climate and energy policy following the Coalition’s historic election defeat.

    Meanwhile, the Albanese government is considering Australia’s next round of emissions reduction targets. And scientists warn just three years remain for the world to keep global warming below the vital 1.5°C threshold.

    If Australia is to take meaningful climate action, federal parliament must engage with the facts honestly and without distortion. So let’s take a closer look at whether Joyce and McCormack’s latest claims withstand scrutiny.

    Claim 1: Australia’s net zero policy will not address climate change

    Joyce describes as “perverse” the notion that Australia’s net zero goal can meaningfully help address global climate change.

    This claim is not backed by science.

    Every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions adds to global warming. What’s more, Joyce’s claim ignores the near-universal agreement of nations signed up to the Paris Agreement – including Australia – to pursue efforts (including domestic measures) to limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

    It’s true that collective national efforts to curb warming have so far been insufficient. But that doesn’t mean they should be abandoned.

    Claim 2: Global support for net zero is waning

    McCormack claims there is a growing global shift against net zero, and Joyce describes it as “a peculiar minority position”.

    This statement is not backed by evidence.

    In fact, the number of countries, cities, businesses and other institutions pledging to get to net-zero is growing.

    In the United States, President Donald Trump has dismantled climate policy, damaging that nation’s progress towards net zero. But many US states have retained the target, and global climate action will continue regardless of Trump’s actions.

    A landmark court ruling this week is likely to further strengthen global pressure for nations to ramp up emissions reduction. The advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice observed countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change – including by regulating the fossil fuel industry.

    As others have noted, Australia must now reconsider its stance on approving new fossil fuel projects – including those geared to export markets.

    the International Court of Justice said countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change.
    JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

    Claims 3: the net zero goal is a security threat

    Joyce claims a net zero policy agenda is “treacherous” for Australia’s security and will “inflame our incapacity” to contend with geopolitical threats.

    But evidence suggests the opposite is true. There is a significant link between climate change and certain types of military conflicts.

    Research predicts the Australian Defence Force will become involved in more wars as the climate crisis escalates, and respond to more frequent climate-related disasters inside our borders.

    Claim 4: net zero is bad for regional Australia

    Both Joyce and McCormack say the net zero target and associated renewable energy rollout is devastating regional Australia. The Institute of Public Affairs, a prominent right-wing think tank, this week launched a documentary making similar claims.

    Joyce cited division in rural communities over renewable energy. In reality, there is significant support in regional Australia for such technology. A poll last year by Farmers for Climate Action found 70% of regional Australians in renewable energy zones support the development of renewable energy projects on local farmland.

    Joyce also pointed to “the removal of agricultural land from production” to support his stance. However, analysis shows very little farmland is required for the clean energy transition.

    What’s more, the cost of inaction is high. Climate change is disproportionately affecting cost of living for regional households – for example, due to higher insurance premiums.

    Joyce also appears deaf to the myriad regional voices calling for stronger climate action.

    The Mackay Conservation Group, for example, is challenging Whitehaven’s Winchester South coal mine in Queensland’s Land Court. Similarly, an environment group based in the NSW Hunter Valley this week successfully appealed the expansion of MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine.

    Only facts can stop a new wave of climate wars

    Clearly, the efforts of Joyce and McCormack to undermine Australia’s net zero goal are not backed by evidence.

    The Coalition must heed the facts – not backbench pressure – as it weighs its climate and energy policy. Only then can Australia avoid reigniting the divisive climate wars that stalled progress and positioned Australia as a global laggard.

    Likewise, the Albanese government must not be distracted from the climate action task. Australia’s next round of climate targets should be based on the best available science, and make a meaningful, credible contribution to the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

    Ella Vines does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Barnaby Joyce wants Australia to abandon net zero – but his 4 central claims don’t stack up – https://theconversation.com/barnaby-joyce-wants-australia-to-abandon-net-zero-but-his-4-central-claims-dont-stack-up-261837

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Barnaby Joyce wants Australia to abandon net zero – but his 5 central claims don’t stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Vines, Post-doctoral researcher, Green Lab, Monash University

    One-time Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce sought to dominate the first sitting week of the current federal parliament by proposing a divisive plan to reverse Australia’s net zero emissions target.

    The campaign, backed by fellow former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, aims to repeal what Joyce calls Australia’s “lunatic crusade” of net zero by 2050. It comes as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley convenes a working group to set a way forward on climate and energy policy following the Coalition’s historic election defeat.

    Meanwhile, the Albanese government is considering Australia’s next round of emissions reduction targets. And scientists warn just three years remain for the world to keep global warming below the vital 1.5°C threshold.

    If Australia is to take meaningful climate action, federal parliament must engage with the facts honestly and without distortion. So let’s take a closer look at whether Joyce and McCormack’s latest claims withstand scrutiny.

    Claim 1: Australia’s net zero policy will not address climate change

    Joyce describes as “perverse” the notion that Australia’s net zero goal can meaningfully help address global climate change.

    This claim is not backed by science.

    Every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions adds to global warming. What’s more, Joyce’s claim ignores the near-universal agreement of nations signed up to the Paris Agreement – including Australia – to pursue efforts (including domestic measures) to limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

    It’s true that collective national efforts to curb warming have so far been insufficient. But that doesn’t mean they should be abandoned.

    Claim 2: Global support for net zero is waning

    McCormack claims there is a growing global shift against net zero, and Joyce describes it as “a peculiar minority position”.

    This statement is not backed by evidence.

    In fact, the number of countries, cities, businesses and other institutions pledging to get to net-zero is growing.

    In the United States, President Donald Trump has dismantled climate policy, damaging that nation’s progress towards net zero. But many US states have retained the target, and global climate action will continue regardless of Trump’s actions.

    A landmark court ruling this week is likely to further strengthen global pressure for nations to ramp up emissions reduction. The advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice observed countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change – including by regulating the fossil fuel industry.

    As others have noted, Australia must now reconsider its stance on approving new fossil fuel projects – including those geared to export markets.

    the International Court of Justice said countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change.
    JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

    Claims 3: the net zero goal is a security threat

    Joyce claims a net zero policy agenda is “treacherous” for Australia’s security and will “inflame our incapacity” to contend with geopolitical threats.

    But evidence suggests the opposite is true. There is a significant link between climate change and certain types of military conflicts.

    Research predicts the Australian Defence Force will become involved in more wars as the climate crisis escalates, and respond to more frequent climate-related disasters inside our borders.

    Claim 4: net zero is bad for regional Australia

    Both Joyce and McCormack say the net zero target and associated renewable energy rollout is devastating regional Australia. The Institute of Public Affairs, a prominent right-wing think tank, this week launched a documentary making similar claims.

    Joyce cited division in rural communities over renewable energy. In reality, there is significant support in regional Australia for such technology. A poll last year by Farmers for Climate Action found 70% of regional Australians in renewable energy zones support the development of renewable energy projects on local farmland.

    Joyce also pointed to “the removal of agricultural land from production” to support his stance. However, analysis shows very little farmland is required for the clean energy transition.

    What’s more, the cost of inaction is high. Climate change is disproportionately affecting cost of living for regional households – for example, due to higher insurance premiums.

    Joyce also appears deaf to the myriad regional voices calling for stronger climate action.

    The Mackay Conservation Group, for example, is challenging Whitehaven’s Winchester South coal mine in Queensland’s Land Court. Similarly, an environment group based in the NSW Hunter Valley this week successfully appealed the expansion of MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine.

    Only facts can stop a new wave of climate wars

    Clearly, the efforts of Joyce and McCormack to undermine Australia’s net zero goal are not backed by evidence.

    The Coalition must heed the facts – not backbench pressure – as it weighs its climate and energy policy. Only then can Australia avoid reigniting the divisive climate wars that stalled progress and positioned Australia as a global laggard.

    Likewise, the Albanese government must not be distracted from the climate action task. Australia’s next round of climate targets should be based on the best available science, and make a meaningful, credible contribution to the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

    Ella Vines does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Barnaby Joyce wants Australia to abandon net zero – but his 5 central claims don’t stack up – https://theconversation.com/barnaby-joyce-wants-australia-to-abandon-net-zero-but-his-5-central-claims-dont-stack-up-261837

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Designs unveiled for Newcastle green energy precinct

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The final concept designs have been unveiled for the Port of Newcastle’s Clean Energy Precinct, which will establish the Hunter region as an industry leader in Australia’s transformation to net-zero.    

    Community members, prospective commercial partners and international investors attended a virtual-reality walk-through of the site today, where the future design of the precinct was brought to life.The Clean Energy Precinct will be located on a disused 220-hectare site on Kooragang Island, just north of Newcastle’s CBD and straddling the south channel of the Hunter River.

    With a $100 million investment from the Australian Government committed in the 22/23 Federal Budget, the Port of Newcastle site will be transformed into a burgeoning industrial hub enabling the production, storage, distribution and export of clean energy products, including green hydrogen and ammonia. The precinct will integrate clean energy production and storage with the Hunter’s Hydrogen Hub gateway projects, the New South Wales Renewable Energy Zones, and offshore wind developments – making it a vital cog in our net zero future.

    The Port of Newcastle has been progressing Front-End Engineering and Design and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) studies, backed by community consultation and industry engagement, and today’s release of designs allow the public and potential commercial partners to visualise the planned layout of the precinct infrastructure. 

    The precinct infrastructure includes electrical and water services, production facilities, storage, vehicle access, and pipelines for distribution and export.

    The EIS will be released publicly later this year, and construction of the precinct is expected to break ground in 2027. 

    For progress updates on the Clean Energy Precinct, visit the Port of Newcastle’s website. 

    Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “Australia’s largest coal port is diversifying its offering and preparing to accommodate new and growing industries on the shores of the Hunter River. 

    “Newcastle has always been one of the most productive industrial centres in Australia, and we’re ensuring its legacy continues with the Clean Energy Precinct. 

    “It’s crucial that we develop the infrastructure now to be prepared for Australia’s energy future, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here on Kooragang Island.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:

    “The Hunter has been an industrial and economic powerhouse for decades, making the Port of Newcastle an ideal location for a Clean Energy Precinct that can support decarbonisation of heavy industry and connect Australia’s renewable resources to the world.

    “The Albanese Labor Government is supporting industrial regions like the Hunter to take advantage of the economic and job opportunities that come with reliable renewable energy.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

    “The Clean Energy Precinct will be the jewel in the crown of Newcastle’s future. 

    “It will create thousands of secure and well-paid jobs for Novocastrians, and stimulate the economy of the CBD and surrounds thanks to its central location.

    “Being here today to see the plans first hand fills me with excitement for what the future holds for our city, it’s people, and the greater Hunter region.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mandai North Crematorium And Garden Of Serenity Will Commence Operations On 15 August 2025

    Source: Government of Singapore

    Singapore, 28 July 2025 – The new Mandai North Crematorium (MNC) and Garden of Serenity (GOS), operated by the National Environment Agency (NEA), will begin operations on 15 August 2025. MNC will start with four cremation services daily. Cremation services will be ramped up progressively over the coming months.

    2          The new facilities, spanning approximately 2.4 ha, have been built in anticipation of demographic changes and an ageing population in Singapore. Annual resident deaths are projected to increase from about 25,000 in 2024 to around 40,000 by 2040. The new crematorium will provide additional cremation capacity, and the GOS will provide an additional option for the inland scattering of ashes. They will enable us to continue serving the nation’s needs in the years ahead.

    Facility designed to create a healing environment for the bereaved by integrating greenery and natural lighting within the key spaces

    3          The MNC is designed to house six service halls with viewing halls, transfer halls, and 18 cremators. Currently, three service halls are equipped with nine cremators. The ash collection centre is also ready for operations. NEA will fit out the remaining halls and cremators to meet anticipated demand for cremations.

    Service hall

    4          The new cremation facility offers an innovative design and technological features to enhance operational efficiency, and provide a seamless experience for visitors [1]. Some key features include a layout where service halls and viewing halls are adjacent, reducing walking distances and improving accessibility for all users. Technology is also used to enhance the visitor experience, with automated guided vehicles for coffin transport, and a self-help system at the ash collection centre. A comprehensive process control monitoring system oversees the entire cremation and ash collection process, ensuring service reliability. 

    Layout is designed with key facilities positioned side by side on the same level or connected vertically via escalators and lifts, reducing walking distances for visitors.

    Automated guided vehicle will be used to transport a coffin from hearse drop off to the service hall

    Ash collection station with a self-help system to facilitate collection of cremated ashes

    5          The MNC has been awarded the Green Mark (Platinum) by the Building and Construction Authority for sustainability efforts in building design. The environmental features at the facility include greenery in and around the building, a green roof that reduces the heat island effect, efficient underfloor cooling systems, and adoption of low carbon concrete and sustainable building products [2] to reduce the carbon footprint of the building.

    6          The GOS, Singapore’s second inland ash scattering facility, is located next to the MNC building [3]. It adopts an open garden concept with designated lanes for walkways and ash scattering [4]. It also incorporates a stormwater detention pond designed as a natural pond. The new facility will enable us to meet increasing demands for inland ash scattering service [5].

     

    Garden of Serenity: Landscaping and greenery have been used to create a peaceful, serene garden setting, to provide a dignified and respectful environment for ash scattering

    7          NEA will continue to plan ahead to ensure sufficient government after-death facilities and services, and to provide these services in a way that allows bereaved families to come together to send off their loved ones with dignity and respect.

    ————————————————————

    [1] See Annex A for more details on the design inspiration for the facility

    [2] Certified by the Singapore Green Building Council or on the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme.

    [3] The Garden of Serenity occupies approximately 750 sqm within the new Mandai North facility.

    [4] See Annex Bfor more details on the features at Garden of Serenity.

    [5] Accumulated ash soil will periodically be transferred from the ash scattering lanes to a designated location within the Garden of Peace (located at the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery) due to limited available space at GOS, to ensure that its lanes remain available for continued use. 

     

    ~~ End ~~

    For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President El-Sisi Follows Up on Latest Developments in Industrial Projects

    Source: APO


    .

    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Engineer Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineer Karim Badawi, and CEO of the Environmental Affairs Agency Dr. Ali Hamid.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, said that during the meeting, the President reviewed the latest developments regarding the implementation of industrial projects, the provision of necessary raw materials for industrial operations, means for securing the required financing, and efforts to establish partnerships with major international specialized companies, in addition to plans for marketing the products both locally and globally.

    The President emphasized the importance of petrochemical and mining industries implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, given their role in maximizing the added value of Egypt’s natural and mineral resources, meeting domestic market needs, exporting to international markets, and therefore contributing to the expansion of related industries. These efforts shall create job opportunities and boost returns for the national economy.

    President El-Sisi underscored the importance of accelerating the localization of related industries in Egypt and attracting investment to this vital sector.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: There’s enough natural hydrogen in the Earth’s crust to help power the green energy transition

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Omid Haeri Ardakani, Research scientist at Natural Resources Canada; Andjunct associate professor, University of Calgary

    Since their formation billions of years ago, the oldest parts of the Earth’s continental rocks have generated natural hydrogen in massive amounts. Some of this hydrogen may have accumulated within accessible traps and reservoirs under the Earth’s surface. This store has the potential to contribute to the global hydrogen economy for hundreds of years.

    This has been demonstrated by the production of near-pure hydrogen from a single gas field in Mali, attracting the attention of governments in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe.

    There is also interest from major venture capital investors and international resource companies. By the end of 2023, 40 companies were exploring natural hydrogen globally. That has likely doubled since 2024.



    Read more:
    Why green hydrogen — but not grey — could help solve climate change

    Hydrogen as a resource

    Hydrogen resources have long been a multi-billion-dollar market, even before recent interest in hydrogen as a contributor to the green energy transition. The environments and conditions that result in natural hydrogen accumulation occur globally. But one of the barriers to investment in many jurisdictions is regulatory, as hydrogen had not previously been considered as a resource.

    Natural hydrogen can be used to decarbonize hard-to-abate but globally critical industries. Industries that use hydrogen include fuel refining (about 44 per cent), ammonia and fertilizer production for food sustainability (about 34 per cent), and steel manufacturing (about five per cent).

    According to a recent British government policy briefing document, addressing this requires governments to include hydrogen as a listed natural resource. Future uses for hydrogen may include long-distance transportation and contributions to the decarbonization of the mining industry.

    High carbon footprint

    Most of the hydrogen used today is produced from fossil fuels. Because of this, hydrogen production contributes about 2.5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Efforts to produce low-carbon (green) hydrogen from renewable electricity and carbon capture and storage technologies remain expensive.

    Natural hydrogen has a carbon footprint comparable to or below that of green hydrogen. The two will likely be complementary, but estimates are uncertain as natural hydrogen is as yet an unproven resource.

    Developing strategies could determine whether hydrogen from any source is an economically viable resource. For natural hydrogen, exploration strategies have to be developed to find and extract natural deposits of hydrogen at an economically feasible cost. This also needs incentives that include natural hydrogen in exploration or production licenses.



    Read more:
    New plan shows Australia’s hydrogen dream is still alive. But are we betting on the right projects?

    Hydrogen and helium

    The U.S. Geological Survey recently estimated there’s enough accessible natural hydrogen to supply global hydrogen demand for about 200 years.

    Hydrogen forms in the Earth’s crust through two natural geological processes: chemical reactions between natural groundwaters and iron-rich minerals and water radiolysis. Water molecules are broken by natural background radioactivity in rocks releasing hydrogen — and helium, a valuable element included in Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy — as a byproduct.

    The search for helium began in Canada in the 1920s, but it is only recently that systematic commercial exploration for helium has restarted. By the 1980s, systematic studies of natural hydrogen began in Canada, Finland and parts of Africa as part of research on subsurface microbial life.

    Renewed interest

    An unusual coincidence sparked the current global interest in hydrogen. An accidental discovery of the small natural hydrogen gas field in Mali coincided with the publication of extensive historical data from the former Soviet Union, drawing attention to hydrogen’s immense potential as a clean power resource. Australia, France and the U.S. were among the first countries to re-investigate historical natural hydrogen.

    Natural hydrogen and helium systems have similarities to petroleum systems, requiring a source rock, a migration pathway and accumulation in a reservoir. The infrastructure for natural hydrogen wells would be comparable to hydrocarbon wells, albeit with changes in well completion and drilling methods.

    The footprint of a natural hydrogen production project would take up much less space to deliver the same amount of energy compared to a green hydrogen production facility, which requires solar or wind farms and electrolyzers.

    Similarly, natural hydrogen projects do not need to draw on surface water resources, which are scarce in many parts of the world.

    Surface release of hydrogen bubbles from the Canadian Shield.
    (Stable Isotope Lab/University of Toronto), CC BY

    Future policies

    Some jurisdictions lack policies regulating hydrogen exploration. In others, regulation falls under existing mining or hydrocarbon policies. The lack of clear regulations in areas with high potential for natural hydrogen exploration — such as the U.S., Canada, India and parts of Africa and Europe — is a major obstacle for exploration.

    An absence of regulation slows down exploration and land acquisition, and prevents the decision-making required for developing infrastructure. And critically, it means that no community consultations are undertaken to ensure the social acceptance essential for the success of such projects.

    A project in South Australia demonstrates what legislation can accomplish. Once regulation of natural hydrogen exploration and capture was implemented, the government received dozens of applications from companies interested in natural hydrogen exploration.

    The appetite for exploration is clearly there, but policy and regulatory solutions are required. New exploration projects will provide critical new data to understand natural hydrogen’s potential to provide green energy.

    Omid Haeri Ardakani has received funding from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

    Barbara Sherwood Lollar receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

    Chris Ballentine is founder of and owns shares in Snowfox Discovery Ltd, a hydrogen exploration company. He receives research funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (U.K.) and the National Science Foundation (U.S.), in a joint grant, as well as the Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organization and the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research.

    – ref. There’s enough natural hydrogen in the Earth’s crust to help power the green energy transition – https://theconversation.com/theres-enough-natural-hydrogen-in-the-earths-crust-to-help-power-the-green-energy-transition-256936

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Second Africa Climate Summit Takes Shape with Clear Focus on Real Outcomes and African Leadership

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GoE), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), is pleased to share key updates on preparations for the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), taking place 8-10 September 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

    The Government of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission are mobilizing the dignitaries at all levels: Heads of State, ministers, technical experts towards the successful summit that aims Africa’s priorities at the center of the global climate negotiations.     

    About ACS2
    The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) builds on the legacy of the inaugural 2023 Nairobi Summit (ACS1) and aims to position Africa as a leader and solutions provider in the global climate agenda under the theme: “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development”.  

    Building on the momentum of ACS1, the summit will highlight African-led solutions, track progress on commitments, and define a roadmap for implementation. It will also focus on strengthening systems and institutions to drive impacts, with sessions dedicated to climate finance, just transitions, adaptation, resilience, trade, innovation and technology.

    ACS2 is strategically timed between the G20, UNGA, and COP30, providing Africa with a platform to shape the global climate and finance agendas around its priorities and realities. The Summit will showcase successful initiatives, launch new partnerships, and align regional action with international processes.

    The Summit will feature high-level plenary sessions, ministerial roundtables, side events and exhibitions, youth forums, and regional pavilions, while spotlighting successful African initiatives in energy, food systems, innovation, and climate-smart infrastructure, among others.

    “The urgent need for global cooperation has never been clearer, as Africa strives to combat various climate-related challenges. “The ACS2 provides a pivotal moment for us to show leadership in climate actions and showcase the continent as a solution provider. I urge our partners to support us and our member states in building a climate-resilient and green development agenda for the Africa We Want”. H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission. 

    “Africa needs a platform that reflects its priorities and drives real outcomes. ACS2 is that platform. It brings voices together, builds alignment and alliances, and creates the space to turn ambition into action on our terms.” H.E Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Planning and Development, Ethiopia. 

    Key Highlights:

    Engagement with Major Stakeholders
    Over the past two weeks, the ACS2 teams have been successfully convening targeted roundtable and briefing sessions with key stakeholders; including, AU Member States, high-level diplomatic missions, UN agencies, philanthropies and foundations, Africa Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) member states, and non-state actors. These sessions have helped align expectations and deepen support for the summit’s collaborative approach.

    45+ African Heads of State and Government expected to attend:
    With this landmark summit, African and global climate leaders together with all stakeholders will gather to make an actionable climate dialogue, showcase proven African led Climate Solutions and decide the future of Africa in the global climate regime.   

    Overwhelming Response to Side Events
    The online portal has already received over 100 side event proposals, representing thematic diversity and regional balance across Africa. The organizing committee continues to process submissions and encourages early application to secure space.

    Pavilion Space in High Demand
    Of the dedicated thematic pavilions planned for the venue, more than 50% have already been secured. Governments, institutions, and partners are encouraged to express interest early, as availability is becoming limited.

    Continued call for Partnership 
    Ethiopia and the African Union Commission invite further financial and in-kind contributions from partners and stakeholders in support of the ACS2 delivery, visibility, and impact. Contributions will help scale innovations in logistics, technology, youth engagement, and sustainability. The GoE and AUC call upon all member States, stakeholders and partners to join forces in supporting for the preparations of the Summit from now to the Summit dates and prepare themselves for a meaningful engagement through the three days of the Summit.

    – on behalf of African Union (AU).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bougainville woman Cabinet minister battling nine men to hold her seat

    INTERVIEW: By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist

    One of the first women to hold an open seat in Bougainville, Theonila Roka Matbob, is confident she can win again.

    Bougainville goes to the polls in the first week of September, and Roka Matbob aims to hold on to her Ioro seat in central Bougainville, where she is up against nine men.

    The MP, who is also the Minister of Community Government, recently led the campaign that convinced multinational Rio Tinto to clean up the mess caused by the Panguna Mine.

    RNZ Pacific asked her if she is enjoying running for a second election campaign.

    THEONILA ROKA MATBOB: Very, very much, yes. I guess compared to 2020, it is because it was my first time. I had a lot of butterflies, I would say. But this time has been very different. So I am more relaxed, more focused, and also I am more aware of issues that I can actually concentrate on.

    DON WISEMAN: And one of those issues you’ve been concentrating on is the aftermath of the Panguna Mine and the destruction and so on caused both environmentally and socially. And I guess that sort of work is going to continue for you?

    TRM: Yes, so the work is continuing. I had three platforms when I was contesting in 2020: leadership, governance, institutional governance and the accountability on the issues, legacy issues of Panguna Mine. I thought that the third one was going to be very challenging, given that it involved international stakeholders.

    But I would say that the one that I thought was going to be very challenging was actually the one that got a lot of traction, and it’s already in motion while I’m like back on the trail, defending my seat.

    DW: In terms of the work that has been undertaken on an assessment of the environmental damage, the impact that the process had had, and the report that has come out, and the obligations that this now places on Rio Tinto?

    TRM: The recommendations that were made by the report was on a lot of like imminent survey areas that is like on infrastructure that were built by the company back then in the operation days that is now tearing down.

    And also a lot more than that, there was a call for more intrusive assessment to be done on health and bloodstreams as well for the people, but those other things and also now to into the remediation vehicle, what is it going to look like?

    These are clear responsibilities that are at the overarching highest level of engagement through the what we call this process, the CP process. It has put the responsibility on Rio Tinto to now tell us, what does the remediation vehicle look like.

    At the moment, Rio Tinto is looking into that to be able to engage expertise in communication with us, to see how the design for the remediation vehicle would look. It is from the report that the build-up is now coming up, and there is more tangible or visible presence on the ground as compared to the time we started.

    DW: So that process in terms of the removal of the old buildings that’s actually got underway, has it?

    TRM: That process is already underway, the demolition process is underway, and BCL [Bougainville Copper Limited] is the one that’s taking the lead. It has engaged our local expertise, who are actually working abroad, but they have hired them because under the process we have local content policy where we have to do shopping for experts from Bougainville, before we’ll look into experts from overseas.

    Apart from that as well, one of the things that I have seen is there is an increased interest from both international and national and local partners as well in understanding the areas where the report, assessment report has pointed out.

    There is quite a lot happening, as compared to the past years when, towards the end of our political phase in parliament, usually there is always silence and only campaigns go on. But for now, it has been different.

    A lot of people are more engaged, even participating on the policy programmes and projects.

    DW: Yes, your government wants to reopen the Panguna Mine and open it fairly soon. You must have misgivings about that?

    TRM: I have been getting a lot of questions around that, and I have been telling them my personal stance has never changed.

    But I can never come in between the government’s interest. What I have been doing recently as a way of responding and uniting people, both who are believers of reopening and those that do not believe in reopening, like myself.

    We have created a platform by registering a business entity that can actually work in between people and the government, so that there is more or less a participatory approach.

    The company that we have registered is the one that will be tasked to work more on the politics of economics around Panguna and all the other prospects that we have in other natural resources as well.

    I would say that whichever way the government points us, I can now, with conviction, say that I am ready with my office and the workforce that I have right now, I can comfortably say that we can be able to accommodate for both opinions, pro and against.

    DW: In your Ioro electorate seat it’s not the biggest lineup of candidates, but the thing about Bougainville politics is they can be fairly volatile. So how confident are you?

    TRM: I am confident, despite the long line up that we have about nine people who are against me — nine men, interestingly, were against me. I would say that, given the grasp that I have and also building up from 2020, I can clearly say that I am very confident.

    If I am not confident, then it will take the space of giving opportunity for other people and also on campaign strategies as well. I have learnt my way through in diversifying and understanding the different experiences that I have in the constituency as well.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bougainville woman Cabinet minister battling nine men to hold her seat

    INTERVIEW: By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist

    One of the first women to hold an open seat in Bougainville, Theonila Roka Matbob, is confident she can win again.

    Bougainville goes to the polls in the first week of September, and Roka Matbob aims to hold on to her Ioro seat in central Bougainville, where she is up against nine men.

    The MP, who is also the Minister of Community Government, recently led the campaign that convinced multinational Rio Tinto to clean up the mess caused by the Panguna Mine.

    RNZ Pacific asked her if she is enjoying running for a second election campaign.

    THEONILA ROKA MATBOB: Very, very much, yes. I guess compared to 2020, it is because it was my first time. I had a lot of butterflies, I would say. But this time has been very different. So I am more relaxed, more focused, and also I am more aware of issues that I can actually concentrate on.

    DON WISEMAN: And one of those issues you’ve been concentrating on is the aftermath of the Panguna Mine and the destruction and so on caused both environmentally and socially. And I guess that sort of work is going to continue for you?

    TRM: Yes, so the work is continuing. I had three platforms when I was contesting in 2020: leadership, governance, institutional governance and the accountability on the issues, legacy issues of Panguna Mine. I thought that the third one was going to be very challenging, given that it involved international stakeholders.

    But I would say that the one that I thought was going to be very challenging was actually the one that got a lot of traction, and it’s already in motion while I’m like back on the trail, defending my seat.

    DW: In terms of the work that has been undertaken on an assessment of the environmental damage, the impact that the process had had, and the report that has come out, and the obligations that this now places on Rio Tinto?

    TRM: The recommendations that were made by the report was on a lot of like imminent survey areas that is like on infrastructure that were built by the company back then in the operation days that is now tearing down.

    And also a lot more than that, there was a call for more intrusive assessment to be done on health and bloodstreams as well for the people, but those other things and also now to into the remediation vehicle, what is it going to look like?

    These are clear responsibilities that are at the overarching highest level of engagement through the what we call this process, the CP process. It has put the responsibility on Rio Tinto to now tell us, what does the remediation vehicle look like.

    At the moment, Rio Tinto is looking into that to be able to engage expertise in communication with us, to see how the design for the remediation vehicle would look. It is from the report that the build-up is now coming up, and there is more tangible or visible presence on the ground as compared to the time we started.

    DW: So that process in terms of the removal of the old buildings that’s actually got underway, has it?

    TRM: That process is already underway, the demolition process is underway, and BCL [Bougainville Copper Limited] is the one that’s taking the lead. It has engaged our local expertise, who are actually working abroad, but they have hired them because under the process we have local content policy where we have to do shopping for experts from Bougainville, before we’ll look into experts from overseas.

    Apart from that as well, one of the things that I have seen is there is an increased interest from both international and national and local partners as well in understanding the areas where the report, assessment report has pointed out.

    There is quite a lot happening, as compared to the past years when, towards the end of our political phase in parliament, usually there is always silence and only campaigns go on. But for now, it has been different.

    A lot of people are more engaged, even participating on the policy programmes and projects.

    DW: Yes, your government wants to reopen the Panguna Mine and open it fairly soon. You must have misgivings about that?

    TRM: I have been getting a lot of questions around that, and I have been telling them my personal stance has never changed.

    But I can never come in between the government’s interest. What I have been doing recently as a way of responding and uniting people, both who are believers of reopening and those that do not believe in reopening, like myself.

    We have created a platform by registering a business entity that can actually work in between people and the government, so that there is more or less a participatory approach.

    The company that we have registered is the one that will be tasked to work more on the politics of economics around Panguna and all the other prospects that we have in other natural resources as well.

    I would say that whichever way the government points us, I can now, with conviction, say that I am ready with my office and the workforce that I have right now, I can comfortably say that we can be able to accommodate for both opinions, pro and against.

    DW: In your Ioro electorate seat it’s not the biggest lineup of candidates, but the thing about Bougainville politics is they can be fairly volatile. So how confident are you?

    TRM: I am confident, despite the long line up that we have about nine people who are against me — nine men, interestingly, were against me. I would say that, given the grasp that I have and also building up from 2020, I can clearly say that I am very confident.

    If I am not confident, then it will take the space of giving opportunity for other people and also on campaign strategies as well. I have learnt my way through in diversifying and understanding the different experiences that I have in the constituency as well.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE attends district forum

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee today led 21 principal officials in attending the 2025 Policy Address District Forum to gather views and suggestions form members of the community ahead of the current-term Government’s fourth Policy Address.

     

    Held at Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School (Hung Hom Bay), the forum was attended by about 120 people from different backgrounds.

     

    The two-hour forum consisted of two sessions. In the first, the Chief Executive and principal officials listened to the views of members of the public. Matters raised straddled land and housing; transport; innovation and technology; financial services; culture and sports; education; youth issues, poverty alleviation; healthcare; and social welfare.

     

    In the second session, community participants, divided into four groups, focused on “pursuing development and economic growth” and “improving people’s livelihood and building our future together” as they engaged in extensive exchanges with the Chief Executive and the officials. Mr Lee also held discussions in turn with each of the groups and listened to their views.

     

    He said: “There are issues that members of the public care deeply about, so I attach great importance to district consultations.

     

    “These views will let me have a better grasp on formulating policies and allocation of resources when I prepare the Policy Address.”

     

    Principal Officials attending today’s event included Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki; Financial Secretary Paul Chan; Secretary for Justice Paul Lam; Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing; Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong; Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan; Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang; Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui; Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung; Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan; Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau; Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau; Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn; Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho; Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung; Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong; Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak; Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun; Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan; Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law; and Acting Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai.

     

    The Government said it will continue to gather input from a wide variety of organisations and individuals over the coming month through consultation sessions and district visits. Members of the public can also give their views via the Policy Address website, social media platforms, hotlines, email, fax and post.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: District governance: New approach to tackling air conditioner leaks

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Troubleshooting is key to uncovering the hidden culprit behind dripping air conditioners.

    In the scorching summer, people turn on their air conditioner for comfort. But if they are not maintained properly, this can lead to environmental problems such as dripping water, especially during the evening when most people are home. This not only causes noise but also poses potential health risks.

    Investigation-enhancing tool

    The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has recently introduced new technology using cameras with infrared night-vision function to assist teams in tracking down the source of the dripping during nighttime.

    Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Health Inspector Tam Yee-wan describes the challenges inspectors face during nighttime investigations:

    “When our team conduct investigations during the night, sometimes we face difficulties due to insufficient lighting or air conditioners being blocked by clothes drying racks. Our new series of infrared night-vision cameras can clearly capture the source of dripping water from high-rise buildings in dark environments, significantly improving the efficiency of nighttime investigations.”

    Currently, the FEHD has equipped all its 19 district offices with these devices, capable of detecting the source of dripping water up to 20 floors high. The newly introduced second-generation device can observe such problems up to 40 floors high.

    Widespread problem

    According to the data from the FEHD, complaints about dripping air conditioners have been on the rise in recent years, increasing from approximately 31,000 cases in 2023 to about 34,000 last year, especially in old urban districts like Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong.

    Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Ann Au stated that such areas face significant challenges due to ageing buildings and facilities. As there is no communal drainage system for many of these old buildings, wastewater from the air conditioners drips directly onto the streets below, which not only affects environmental hygiene but also causes nuisances to citizens.

    City-wide operation

     

    To step up the FEHD’s efforts to address this environmental issue, it has conducted a city-wide operation from May to September.

    Assistant Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene (Operations) Wan Chi-shun shared more information on how the operation works.

    “We have adopted a multipronged approach, including publicity and education as well as law enforcement. We have also selected 30 black spots of dripping air conditioners in various districts which are affecting citizens who queue up for buses on the streets. Our staff will conduct enforcement actions at these black spots at least once a week at different times of the day.”

    He highlighted that such stringent enforcement will be maintained throughout the summer and extra manpower will be deployed to support areas with more black spots.

    As of mid-July, the FEHD has issued about 700 nuisance notices in this targeted operation.

    Public education

    In addition to law enforcement, public education is also important. As such, the FEHD actively collaborates with the Home Affairs Department and district councillors to enhance awareness about the matter through community networks.

    Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Chung Chak-fai stressed that the district council is willing to serve as a bridge, co-ordinating residents, community organisations and the FEHD in tackling the issue.

    Industry participation

    For private housing estates, the FEHD has been working with property management agents, inviting them to participate in a scheme to assist in handling such complaints. If the property management agents cannot resolve the complaints, the FEHD will intervene by taking up the case for follow-up action.

    An average of more than 80 property management agents and over 200 private housing estates participate in the scheme each year. The scheme has successfully handled over 4,000 related complaints in five years.

    Property Management Services Authority Chairperson James Wong encourages the industry to actively participate in the scheme as there are clear advantages to having property management agents follow up on these key issues.

    “As property management agents thoroughly understand residential facilities, they can identify the issues quickly. Plus, their familiarity with the residents can enhance communication and reduce conflicts.”

    Preventive measures

    Mr Wong also pointed out that the property management agents should proactively conduct inspections, post notices and promote regular maintenance to prevent leaking air conditioners.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –