Australia
to ban plastic bags Australia has announced plans
to end plastic bag use in supermarkets and shops, with
its new Environment Minister, Mr Peter Garrett, saying
he wants a phase-out to start by the end of this year.
This move was followed by China’s plan which involved
cracking down on plastic bags on 8 Jan and banning their
use in shops from 1 Jun.
India unveils world's
cheapest car India Tata Motors Ltd unveiled
the world's cheapest car - a four-seater Nano, with
a 625cc engine, costing 100,000 rupees (S$3,650). The
Nano will go on sale later this year, but the company
has plans to focus on local market before considering
exporting it overseas. This brings car ownership closer
to millions of poor consumers but also raises environmental
concerns.
Thirty-nine
nominees for the LKY Water Prize The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
– an award to recognise outstanding contributions
in solving water issues, has received 39 nominations
from over 15 countries. The award will be the highlight
of the inaugural Singapore International Water week
happening from 23 to 27 Jun, where the winner will receive
S$300,000, a certificate and a gold medallion.
The event will bring together international policy makers,
industry leaders and experts to address challenges in
water management and conservation.
China's closure of
11,000 coal mines The Chinese government has reported
the closure of more than 11,000 small coal mines, as
part of a two-year-old safety crackdown, to curb the
high death toll in the Chinese mining industry, which
claimed 3,786 lives last year. Reasons cited for closure
include failure to obtain proper permits or safety equipment,
causing undue damage to the environment, and exclusion
from government economic plans.
