Cutting Fossil Fuel Subsidies Can Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions Says UN Environment Report

Meanwhile New Assessment of Clean Development Mechanism Shows Climate-Friendly Energy Projects Achieving Lift-Off in Sub Sahara Africa

Accra/Nairobi, 26 August 2008 - Scrapping fossil fuel subsidies could play an important role in cutting greenhouse gases while giving a small but not insignificant boost to the global economy a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) says.

The report challenges the widely held view that such subsidies assist the poor arguing that many of these price support systems benefit the wealthier sections of society rather than those on low incomes.

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Netherlands Inaugurate New Mobile Laboratory to Support United Nations Environmental Emergency Response

Nairobi/Geneva, 18 August 2008 – An innovative mobile laboratory developed by the Netherlands to support international response to environmental emergencies was officially inaugurated by the Ministers of Environment and Development Cooperation in The Hague today.

The modular unit, known as the Environmental Assessment Module (EAM), can be rapidly deployed for disasters involving hazardous substances, together with the relevant technical expertise and two fully-equipped off-road vehicles.

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