Clear Skies Legislation introduced in Congress Proposal in the USA (July 29, 2002)

Clear Skies Legislation, which aims to cut down on power plant pollution by 70 percent and legally support Clear Skies initiative, was sent to Congress on July 29. Bush Administration announced Clear Skies initiative on Feb. 14 of this year, which introduced emission trading and set emission caps for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury.

According to this legislation, sulfur dioxide will be cut by 73 percent from current emission, nitrogen oxides by 67 percent and mercury by 69 percent by 2018. Bush administration expects this legislation will have significant environmental benefits such as diversifying fuel used in powerplants, improving emission reduction technologies and health benefits.

600 million USD needed for protecting ozone layer over next 3 years, UNEP reported (July 23, 2002)

A task force from UNEP's Technology and Economic Assessment Panel reported that 600 million USD will be needed for a three year replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

The Multilateral Fund has received in contributions from industrialized countries for helping developing countries meet the targets by adopting ozone-friendly chemicals and processes.

Under the Montreal Protocol, developing countries are committed to reducing their consumption and production of chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) and halons by 50%, and methyl bromide by 20% by 2005.