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    <title>Science for Environment Policy: Latest Alert</title>
    <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/index_en.htm</link>
    <description>Science for Environment Policy Latest Alert news feed</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
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      <title>Science for Environment Policy: Latest Alert</title>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/index_en.htm</link>
      <url>http://hls.uwe.ac.uk/rss-test/header.jpg</url>
      <width>734</width>
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      <title>Improved fisheries management needed to maintain tuna stocks</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 15:24:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/285na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Stricter management of fisheries is needed to prevent overexploitation and decline of tuna and their mackerel relatives, according to an international study. The researchers say fisheries managers have wrongly treated upper limits for catches as target levels for fishing, contributing to global declines and the threatened status of some species. ]]></description>
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      <title>Europe’s rural landscapes classified using new approach</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 15:23:50 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/285na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study recommends a new approach to classifying Europe’s rural landscapes that accounts for their diversity and provides better consistency across EU rural policies. This framework can be used to analyse past and present trends in landscapes, and to make future projections.]]></description>
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      <title>Clearer bills could help reduce demand for water</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 15:23:17 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/285na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Confusing water bills and complex water tariffs could be making it more difficult for consumers to monitor and manage their own water use, according to a survey of householders on the Portuguese island of Madeira.]]></description>
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      <title>New climate change adaptation tool to manage water</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 15:22:43 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/285na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To identify the best policies to help Mediterranean communities adapt to the effects of climate change on water supply, a team of Spanish researchers have created a methodology that links science outputs to water management policy options.]]></description>
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      <title>Fuel options for greening public transport compared</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 15:21:55 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/285na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent assessment of fuels used in public transport in Kaunas, Lithuania, has found that buses powered with locally-produced biogas and trolleybuses powered with electricity generated from natural gas cause the least environmental damage for the city.]]></description>
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      <title>Kitchen sink study points the way to water conservation</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 11:14:27 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/284na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Dishwashing is responsible for over half of tap water used in the kitchen, according to the results of a new study, which also suggest that people who live alone consume double the water per person that those that live in a four or five-person household. Although relatively few households were studied, this research could prove useful in helping develop consumer advice for saving water.]]></description>
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      <title>More than economic incentives needed to reduce pesticide use</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 11:13:02 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/284na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has explored how cities can create a low carbon future by presenting an approach to stakeholder engagement that develops scenarios of an ideal city. Rather than projecting towards a low carbon target for the future, the study suggests that ‘backcasting’ to the present day from these scenarios may provide a useful goal-orientated approach to environmental planning in cities. ]]></description>
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      <title>New approach to developing scenarios for future of low carbon cities</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 11:12:31 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/284na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has explored how cities can create a low carbon future by presenting an approach to stakeholder engagement that develops scenarios of an ideal city. Rather than projecting towards a low carbon target for the future, the study suggests that ‘backcasting’ to the present day from these scenarios may provide a useful goal-orientated approach to environmental planning in cities. ]]></description>
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      <title>Weeds important for restoring biodiversity in farmland environments</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 11:11:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/284na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The way in which agricultural land is managed can cause environmental changes that affect biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems. A new study suggests agri-environmental schemes that focus on restoring common weeds, such as thistles, buttercups and clover, could have wide-ranging benefits as these plants appear to help stabilise the supportive links between different species found in farmlands. ]]></description>
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      <title>Complete our survey - What do you think of Science for Environment Policy?</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 12:11:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WTQRGG2</link>
      <description><![CDATA[What do you think of Science for Environment Policy? Tell us your thoughts with our online survey. The survey aims to assess how the service has diversified and responded to audience needs. Many thanks for your valuable feedback.]]></description>
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      <title>Evolution of the electronic waste management system in Spain</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:07:06 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/283na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Vastly increasing amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are being produced in Europe. Researchers have taken an in-depth look at how Spain has dealt with its electronic waste over recent years, and provide some guidance to other countries developing their own management practices.]]></description>
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      <title>Harmonising regional environmental data within a European framework</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:05:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/283na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Standardised methods of categorising environmental data are needed at European and international levels for effective international policies. A recent study has concluded that a European framework that harmonises environmental data at the continental scale corresponds well with national classification systems, although some modifications may be needed to capture small-scale regional variations. ]]></description>
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      <title>Coordinated efforts needed to ensure safety of nanotechnologies</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:05:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/283na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The potential effects of nanotechnologies on health are considered in a report by the European Academies Science Advisory Council and European Commission Joint Research Center. The report makes recommendations to help scientists and policymakers coordinate their efforts in maximising the benefits – and minimising any negative health effects – of rapidly developing nanotechnologies, across a wide range of applications.]]></description>
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      <title>End-of-life vehicles: influence of production costs on recycling rates</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:04:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/283na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[End-of-life-vehicles are a major stream of waste in the EU. A new study investigates the costs of landfill, advanced thermal treatment and incineration of waste from vehicle recycling factories and suggests that the factories are profitable, even while operating under strict conditions designed to meet the requirements of the EU’s Directive on End-of-Life vehicles. ]]></description>
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      <title>Cost-effective monitoring of Payments for Environmental Services (PES)</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:03:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/283na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To encourage protection of the environment, payments for environmental services (PES) schemes offer direct incentives to individuals and communities to maintain or improve the provision of environmental services. A recent study suggests indicators to monitor PES must be chosen very carefully to help ensure that monitoring does not cost more than the payments themselves.  ]]></description>
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      <title>European health experts warn of climate change’s effects on disease</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:02:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/283na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Climate change will affect the spread and risk of many infectious diseases in Europe, according to a recent survey of leading health experts. The results suggest that more needs to be done to prepare for the expected changes in infectious disease levels, such as improved monitoring of disease.]]></description>
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      <title>A mixture of urban tree species best for removing atmospheric ozone</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 3 May 2012 11:31:02 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/282na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Planting trees in urban areas has been recognised as a cost-effective means of reducing air pollution for several major cities worldwide. In a new study, the impact of tree species diversity on levels of ozone pollution in Rome was assessed. The results suggest that different species of tree complement each other in providing this important ecosystem service.]]></description>
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      <title>Invasive alien plants threaten Antarctic biodiversity</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 3 May 2012 11:30:10 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/282na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[According to new research, several areas of the Antarctic are at considerable risk from the establishment of ‘alien’ plants accidentally carried by visitors to the region. The findings demonstrate that invasive species pose risks even in remote areas and that these risks are likely to increase as the climate changes.]]></description>
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      <title>Landscape features can help to predict natural pest control</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 3 May 2012 11:29:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/282na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Natural predators of agricultural pests are influenced by the type and range of habitats within a farming landscape. A new study has developed an approach which predicts the risk of pest infestation and natural predation according to landscape features, to help land managers structure landscapes that encourage natural pest control.]]></description>
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      <title>The conservation effects of Chernobyl 25 years on</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 3 May 2012 11:28:37 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/282na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Chernobyl nuclear disaster is still having an impact on local biodiversity more than 25 years after the event, according to a new study. Researchers in France and the US suggest that rare bird species have been particularly affected by the accident and that genetic changes in plants and animals caused by radiation are being passed down the generations.]]></description>
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      <title>Airborne carbon nanoparticles over Mediterranean measured</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 3 May 2012 11:27:40 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/282na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have measured the presence of carbon nanoparticles in the air over the Mediterranean Sea. The results revealed that higher concentrations are found in air that has moved over areas of industrial activity, and that the lowest layers of the atmosphere are likely to be responsible for transporting the nanoparticles.]]></description>
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      <title>Improved management of phosphorus needed to conserve resources</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:11:14 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/281na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has found that improved management of phosphorus in the EU would reduce reliance on imported phosphorus, in addition to reducing damage from excess phosphorus in the environment. This could be achieved through the appropriate use of fertilisers and greater recovery and recycling of phosphorus from all waste sources. ]]></description>
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      <title>Farmers evaluate measures to reduce soil erosion and water pollution</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:10:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/281na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Farmers have collaborated with scientists in France to evaluate agri-environmental measures that reduce soil erosion and surface water pollution at a catchment level. The exercise helped the farmers understand the benefits of the measures and provides an example of how policymakers could engage with stakeholders under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).]]></description>
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      <title>Public’s political attitudes to environment are complex, says study</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:09:59 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/281na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Individuals’ willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental improvements is influenced by political affiliation.  However, the picture is more complex than previous studies suggest according to new research, which concludes that how an environmental programme is delivered, i.e. by private companies or by the government, is more important for right-wing voters than for left-leaning voters.]]></description>
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      <title>Less ‘charismatic’ species should not be forgotten in conservation</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:09:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/281na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Land-dwelling and charismatic animals, such as birds and mammals, receive greater attention in conservation research than other species. How does this bias affect those that are not so well known or loved? A new study suggests that African species in freshwater habitats may suffer as a result.]]></description>
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      <title>New sound insulation maps developed to aid noise reduction</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:08:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/281na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Major roads, railways, airports and industrial areas can be a major source of noise nuisance for local communities. To help city planners and architects determine the most appropriate sound insulation design for the exterior of buildings, Turkish researchers have developed a new method that transforms noise maps into insulation maps.

]]></description>
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      <title>Carbon storage of urban green space estimated</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:07:28 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/281na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For the first time, researchers have applied a carbon footprint analysis to calculate carbon sequestration by an urban green space. Their results indicate that urban green space can act as a carbon sink, but its design and maintenance influence the amount stored.

]]></description>
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      <title>How does drained peatland respond to wildfire?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:57:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/279na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wildfires could release up to nine times more stored carbon from drained peatland at high latitudes than from untouched peatland in the same region, according to a recent study. As climate change is expected to both dry out peatland and increase the frequency of wildfires, the results have serious implications for the role of northern peatlands as carbon sinks or sources.]]></description>
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      <title>Ocean acidification pushes coral reefs into decline</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:56:33 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/279na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Coral reef formation is already decreasing worldwide. A new study predicts that formation will drop to 60% of its natural rate if anthropogenic CO2 emissions continue to rise over the next century and keep acidifying the oceans.]]></description>
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      <title>Antibiotic contamination of soils mapped across Europe</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:56:03 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/279na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study provides an approach for estimating the risk of antibiotic contamination associated with different soils and different antimicrobial products. The researchers estimated and mapped soil contamination risk across Europe and suggest that their methods could be used to inform antibiotic resistance monitoring or policies designed to reduce contamination.]]></description>
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      <title>Crop yields largely unharmed in geoengineered climate</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:55:26 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/279na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Concerns about the negative impacts of ‘sunshade’ geoengineering on global food security are not supported by a recent modelling study, the first to simulate yield changes in a geoengineered climate. However, to mitigate climate change, the researchers suggest actions to reduce CO2 emissions are safer than introducing geoengineering projects, partly because some regions may actually suffer reduced crop yield in a geoengineered climate.]]></description>
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      <title>What next for effective emission and air quality targets?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:54:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/279na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[European policies have eliminated the most visible and harmful effects of air pollution, but current rates of emissions still pose a threat to the environment and to human health. A new study has assessed the policy scope to make further environmental improvements by applying the GAINS (Greenhouse gas-Air pollution Interactions and Synergies) model. ]]></description>
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      <title>Concentrating Solar Power’s potential for Europe</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:52:18 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/279na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has highlighted the potential of one form of solar power, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), to make a significant contribution to meeting future electricity demands from renewable sources in Europe.]]></description>
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      <title>Risk of sleeping sickness in Africa spreads under climate change</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:08:11 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/278na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[By 2090, up to 76.7 million more people in Africa could be at risk of infection by the parasite that causes sleeping sickness, according to recent research. The study predicted which areas of Africa would be at greatest risk in future. ]]></description>
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      <title>Titanium dioxide nanoparticles toxic to phytoplankton in sunlight</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:07:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/278na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are entering the environment in ever greater quantities as a result of their widespread use in consumer products and as a disinfectant of sewage. Researchers have recently discovered that titanium dioxide nanoparticles have a toxic effect on marine phytoplankton when exposed to normal levels of ultraviolet light found in natural sunlight. ]]></description>
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      <title>Antibiotic resistance in Salmonella: animals may not be major source </title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:07:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/278na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Contrary to some established views, the local animal population is unlikely to be the major source of resistance diversity for Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 in humans in Scotland, according to a study. The researchers suggest that a broader approach to fighting antibiotic resistance is needed, which goes beyond focusing solely on curbing the use of antibiotics in domestic animal populations.]]></description>
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      <title>Online calculator measures consumers’ ‘nitrogen footprint’</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:06:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/278na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Individuals can assess how their behaviour is affecting nitrogen pollution with a newly developed nitrogen footprint calculator, which was developed by a team from the University of Virginia (U.S.) and the Energy Research Centre (ECN, the Netherlands). For many people in wealthy countries, reducing protein consumption to the recommended levels and reducing the amount of red meat and energy they consume would significantly lower their nitrogen footprint.]]></description>
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      <title>Climate change impacts of aerosols may be underestimated</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:05:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/278na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Earth is now absorbing more energy from the Sun than it is radiating into space. A recent analysis indicates that most models of this energy imbalance underestimate the impacts of human-made aerosols and overestimate time lags in response to the climate. As such, the energy imbalance and future impacts on climate may be greater than predicted.]]></description>
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      <title>Changes in rainfall a consequence of clean fossil fuel energy</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:05:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/278na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Implementation of technology to clean the flue gases of coal-fired power plants has significantly reduced sulphur and fine particle emissions that cause environmental damage. However, recent research suggests that plants applying this technology would emit more ultrafine particles (1-10 nanometer (nm) diameter) that affect the formation of clouds, with the unintended consequence of changing the amount and intensity of rainfall downwind of fossil fuel power installations.]]></description>
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      <title>Plant biodiversity boosts ecosystem services in drylands</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:46:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/277na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Plant biodiversity is crucial to the functioning of natural ecosystems in drylands across the world, according to recent research. Preserving plant diversity will be particularly important for maintaining the quantity and quality of services provided by ecosystems found in drylands that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and desertification.  ]]></description>
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      <title>Action on air pollution benefits both climate and health</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:46:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/277na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Measures designed to reduce levels of methane and black carbon in the atmosphere could help bring climate change under control more quickly than CO2 targeting measures alone, according to a new study. The researchers also predict wider benefits for human health and food security from methane-targeted measures.]]></description>
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      <title>Road dust: an overlooked urban pollutant</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:45:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/277na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Particles from vehicle emissions are not the only traffic-related factor that causes deterioration of air quality in cities. Suspended road dust, caused by studded tyres, road salt and sand used in winter, may be at least as important in contributing to mortality rates, according to a new study in Stockholm, which suggests that these coarse particles should be controlled separately to fine particles.]]></description>
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      <title>Urban planning and water management need integrating</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:44:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/277na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has investigated the combined impact of climate change and land cover change on external household water consumption and local night-time temperatures. It estimates that a 3ºC rise in temperature combined with a high degree of urban sprawl would increase water consumption by 4,061 litres per household for the month of August due to increases in evaporation from ground surface. The study recommends full integration of land use planning and water management.]]></description>
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      <title>Jobs in a green economy: trade union perspectives</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:43:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/277na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has analysed trade unions’ understanding of the relationship between environmental protection and jobs. It identified four reoccurring themes from interviews with union representatives, which provide insight into how trade union environmental agendas could develop under a greener economy.]]></description>
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      <title>Birds and butterflies fail to follow climate change temperature rise</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:42:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/277na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As the climate changes, animal species are predicted to adapt by moving northwards so they can remain within their preferred temperature range. Now, researchers have found that bird and butterfly populations are not keeping up with changing temperatures and, on average, European bird and butterfly species lag around 212km and 135km, respectively, behind climate changes.]]></description>
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      <title>Green Infrastructure can promote economic development</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:41:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/276na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has concluded that the green infrastructure concept has been successful in integrating green space policy with economic development policies in the north-west region of the UK, by emphasising the links between the economic benefits of green spaces and growth policies. ]]></description>
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      <title>Shoppers in favour of carbon footprint labels on food</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:40:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/276na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The majority of respondents to a UK survey would like to see labels explaining the carbon footprint of the food they buy. 72% of the supermarket shoppers questioned were in favour of carbon labels on food. The survey also found that 42% had changed their shopping habits in the last 10 years in response to environmental concerns]]></description>
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      <title>Sustainable tourism: new methods to aid planning</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:39:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/276na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Methods for assessing the sustainability of tourist destinations have been developed. In a new Spanish study, researchers describe a framework for analysing sustainability that is designed for policymakers and tourism managers, and, as a case study, apply it to the region of Andalusia.]]></description>
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      <title>&lt;new&gt;</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:39:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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      <title>Oil shale is not a viable fuel source, study says</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:39:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/276na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scientists’ best estimates of the Energy Return on Investment (EROI) of oil shale suggest it is very inefficient compared to conventional fuel and emits up to 75% more greenhouse gases (GHGs. However, differences in the way energy efficiency is calculated can cause confusion over its potential use, according to the US study.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Combined ecological and carbon footprints effective in regional policy</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:38:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/276na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has recommended using both ecological and carbon footprints to assess the impact of environmental policies and strategies at a regional level. The combination can provide an evidence-based means of evaluating policies to help achieve environmental targets.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comparing costs of estuary restoration with biodiversity benefits</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 11:44:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/276na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has investigated the restoration of a damaged estuary in Spain by comparing the costs of installing sewage systems with the associated benefits for water quality and biodiversity in the area. Long-term benefits, particularly in the inner part of the estuary, increased with investment in sewage treatment schemes.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Evidence mounts for effects of PCBs on baby weight</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/273na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Studies investigating the effects of pregnant women’s low level exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the weight of their newborn babies have produced conflicting results. However, new research, which involved 8000 pregnant women across Europe, adds to the mounting body of evidence that PCB exposure does in fact reduce birth weight.  ]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>Households responsible for 25% of EU GHG emissions, says report</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/273na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A different picture of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be achieved if responsibility for emissions from different economic sectors is placed with the end energy users, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This approach makes sectors such as households responsible for many emissions that would otherwise be attributed to the energy industry. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Data on alien species in need of standardisation</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/273na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has identified several differences between two major European databases on alien species, which could be communicating mixed messages for biodiversity policymakers. Researchers recommend creating a single pan-European database to address these differences. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Green attitudes help overcome costs of domestic renewable energy</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/273na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new survey from 2010 reveals that upfront costs of up to €14,000 and lengthy payback times can discourage even the most environmentally conscious citizens from installing domestic renewable technology, such as solar panels and wind generators. However, people signing up to a ‘climate pledging’ scheme were still at least 11 times more likely to install these technologies than the average person in the UK. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Microalgae: a low-cost, sustainable solution to plastic production?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/273na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scientists have discovered a novel way to produce bioplastic, which could be more cost-effective on a commercial scale than current techniques. The new technique, which uses microscopic algae to synthesise a widely used polyester, has the potential to revolutionise plastic production, say the researchers.]]></description>
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      <title>Rivers are slow to recover from nutrient overload</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/273na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In recent years, strict legislation was introduced to control the amount of nitrate and phosphate that runs into the sea from European rivers. However, new research reveals that water quality has not improved as much as expected. Policymakers need to take into account a time lag in the system that could be up to 40 years, say the researchers.]]></description>
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      <title>Climate and land use change to affect malaria spread in tropical Africa</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:34:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/268na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has projected changes in the spread of malaria caused by climate change and climate variability in Africa by including the effect of variations in land use on local climate. It concludes that the risk of malaria epidemics is likely to shift from the north to the south of the Sahel, and to highland areas previously free of the disease.]]></description>
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      <title>What effect will the Water Framework Directive have on local planners?</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:33:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/268na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For successful implementation of the Water Framework Directive, local planners will need specific targets, guidance on interpretation, and adequate resources to monitor progress, according to a recent study from Sweden.]]></description>
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      <title>Distillery sludge used to treat radioactive sites</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:32:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/268na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Mining uranium ore leaves sites contaminated with toxic, radioactive material. According to a new study, contaminated sites can be treated with sludge from the treatment of distillery wastewater in bioreactors. The study demonstrates an efficient method for decontamination of groundwater based on bacteria in sludge that naturally convert uranium into an insoluble form that can be more easily removed.]]></description>
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      <title>Soil POP concentrations in decline</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:32:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/268na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Overall concentrations of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil have declined, according to research conducted in Norway and the UK.  The researchers suggest that there has been a reduced influence of primary sources of some POPs on soils for these two countries in recent years. ]]></description>
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      <title>L’Aquila earthquake of 2009 offers lessons in disaster response</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:31:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/268na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[By analysing previous disasters, lessons learnt can be incorporated into policies and plans to manage the effects of future disasters. A recent study examining the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy suggests that although the national response effectively dealt with the emergency, longer-term measures to help local populations cope with the aftermath of the disaster need to be set out more clearly.]]></description>
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      <title>Carbon footprint of food adds up along the food chain</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:30:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/268na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study from Finland on the carbon footprint of food can help producers and consumers make choices that lower the food chain’s impact on climate change, by highlighting hotspots in the food chain for improvement and revealing food’s overall impact. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>What influences our commitment to the environment?</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:20:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/265na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have used the psychological concept of ‘commitment’, normally used to understand relationships between people, to investigate our relationship with the environment. The results indicate that an individual’s commitment to the environment is important in their ecological behaviour, for example, their willingness to use public transport and make sacrifices for the environment. ]]></description>
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      <title>Valuing ecosystem services can boost business profits</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:19:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/265na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new tool allows European businesses to see how, through informed decision-making, conserving the ecosystems they depend on is not only environmentally responsible, but can also increase profits, reduce risk and boost the value of their product or services. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>REDD+ can achieve both local and global sustainability goals</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:18:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/265na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[UN-REDD+ programmes that promote the sustainable use of forests may support local conservation and poverty alleviation goals, in addition to achieving global climate change benefits, according to a recent study. Existing multilateral funding schemes can provide important lessons for the development of UN-REDD+.]]></description>
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      <title>More than protected areas needed to stop biodiversity loss</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/263na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[One strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity has been to create protected areas in the sea and on land. However, a new study suggests that unless additional measures are taken, particularly those that tackle human population growth and the increased use of natural resources, even the development of new protected areas will be unable to reverse the trend of global biodiversity loss. ]]></description>
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      <title>Effects of international wood trade on forests: wealthier countries benefit  </title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/263na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[International trade in wood and wood products affects forest stocks around the world. A recent study examines the relationship between changes in forest cover and international timber trade at global level.  If finds that some wealthier nations with low population density can maintain forest areas while exporting wood; but other, usually poorer, nations, are losing forests through domestic and global demand for wood. ]]></description>
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      <title>‘Carbon spike’ caused by construction is considerable</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/263na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The greenhouse gas emissions from the construction of new houses are so high that they exceed the emissions from three decades of use, a Finnish study has found. The research is based on houses complying with recently introduced, energy efficient building regulations. According to the authors, as buildings become more efficient this ‘carbon spike’ associated with construction is more important than has been suggested by previous studies.]]></description>
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      <title>Social aspects of biodiversity: creating jobs and sustaining people</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/263na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new EU-commissioned report has investigated the social value of biodiversity conservation, particularly in terms of its links to employment. It estimates that 35% of jobs in developing countries and 7% of jobs in the EU are dependent on ecosystem services. ]]></description>
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      <title>Earthquakes as well as climate change responsible for sea-level rise</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/263na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Satellite data from the Torres Islands in the southwest Pacific suggest that rising sea-levels in the region widely attributed to climate change is also partly caused by sinking of the islands following earthquakes in the 1990s, according to recent research. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Seeded ryegrass feeds farmland birds throughout winter</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/263na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has found one means of complementing agricultural production with biodiversity protection by growing seeded ryegrass for silage. The seeds effectively feed many birds, such as the yellowhammer and reed bunting, throughout the winter, and the grass can still be cost-effectively used for silage if it is harvested at the right time. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Taxes on natural resources reduce use of raw materials</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:51:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has investigated how taxes on virgin raw materials used in construction, such as gravel and sand, have reduced the use of these resources, based on experiences in Denmark, Sweden and the UK.  However, greater incentives to recycle these materials are still needed, says the study.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>At what cost recovery? Estimating the cost of natural disasters</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:51:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When natural disasters, such as earthquakes, storms and hurricanes, are reported in the media, they are often accompanied by an assessment of the cost of the disaster. While such information can be useful to help governments and international organisations target aid and recovery efforts, the details of what is included in the assessment, and the methods used, are often unclear. ]]></description>
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      <title>Greater recognition of ecosystem services needed for food security</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:51:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Global food security under a changing climate is possible if the vital role of healthy ecosystems is recognised, according to a recent study. The researchers suggest that an ecosystem-based approach must be integrated with other measures to tackle food security under climate change, to protect ecosystems and supply the essential services on which humanity depends. ]]></description>
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      <title>Particle fragments: an overlooked hazard of oil and gas exploration</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:51:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Fragments of crushed rock released into the ocean during oil and gas exploration can physically bury organisms that live on the seafloor, accounting for 55% of offshore drilling’s environmental impact, according to a recent study. To allow more informed marine policy decisions, this physical impact must be recognised alongside the impact of chemicals released in drilling waste.]]></description>
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      <title>Water for microalgae cultivation has significant energy requirements</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:51:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A substantial amount of energy is needed to manage all the water used in the mass cultivation of microalgae for biodiesel. A recent study suggests that seven times more energy is required to manage the water, than is delivered by the biodiesel when it is used as fuel. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A new way to predict urban noise pollution</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:51:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Noise pollution in urban areas can harm our physical and mental wellbeing, and can have damaging effects on urban wildlife. Now, researchers from China have shown for the first time how a ‘land use regression method’ can be used to model urban noise and predict the effects of future planning decisions on noise levels.

]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Waste control to boost GHG reduction targets</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:17:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/262na7.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal waste in Europe could be reduced by 62 million tonnes, or 1.23% of total emissions in 2008, by 2020 if the diversion targets of the EU Landfill Directive are fully met, according to a recent report. This could be largely achieved through reducing methane emissions from landfill and increased recycling levels. 

]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Hypoxia becoming more widespread along Baltic Sea coastline</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hypoxia (low levels of oxygen) is widespread in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, according to recently published research. The trend of increasing hypoxia since the 1950 is alarming, although improvements can be seen in some areas as a result of measures to reduce inputs of organic material.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Animal-pollinated crops provide essential nutrients for humans</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Crop pollination is a vital ecosystem service, yet the numbers of animal pollinator species, such as bees, are in decline. Now, a team of German and American researchers have demonstrated how crops that provide the highest levels of vitamins and minerals essential to our diet globally depend heavily on animals for pollination. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>High atmospheric CO2 levels stimulate GHG emissions from soil</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is likely to cause some soils to release large quantities of two potent greenhouse gases (GHGs), nitrous oxide and methane, according to a recent analysis. The results suggest that the contribution of soils and terrestrial ecosystems to slow climate change has been overestimated.]]></description>
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      <title>Wind power reduces environmental impacts of desalination plants</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Desalination plants, powered by wind energy, offer the potential to produce freshwater using a renewable source of energy. A recent study has explored some of the challenges of integrating wind energy with desalination units, and suggests combining wind with other forms of renewable energy, or constructing a system that operates with variable energy input would help overcome problems with wind powered desalination.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Emissions from tropical deforestation neutralise large carbon sink</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study suggests that, although the global terrestrial carbon sink remained relatively stable from 1990 to 2007, the effects of tropical forests were virtually neutral because CO2 emissions from deforestation offset their carbon sink.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>What happens to chemical dispersants used in deepwater oil spills?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill saw the first ever use of chemical dispersants to reduce the impacts of an oil spill at a deepwater level. A new study has investigated the fate of these dispersants in deepwater and concluded that they do not biodegrade well.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles restrict wheat growth</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:15:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/261na7.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Nanoparticles (NPs) have unique physical and chemical properties, but their increasing use in technological innovations has raised concerns about possible risks to the environment and human health. A new Chinese study has assessed the effects of NPs on plants and ecosystems. The findings indicated that NPs restrict wheat growth and damage soil ecosystems, which may have implications for the environment, agricultural productivity and human health.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>More rigorous studies needed to evaluate impact of invasive birds</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:12:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/260na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Conservation researchers have warned against acting on the findings of a previous study that argued for the eradication of several invasive birds, including the Canada goose and sacred ibis, in Europe. They suggest the results are based on anecdotal rather than scientific evidence, and that detailed feasibility studies are needed before such management decisions are made.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>User-friendly tool to predict coastal storm hazards</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:12:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/260na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have developed a prototype system to predict the impact of storms on European coastlines. The MICORE Early Warning System aims to improve civil defence and coastal evacuation plans and could pave the way for an autonomous early warning system to save countless lives and protect infrastructure worldwide.]]></description>
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      <title>Five pressing issues to be addressed by agricultural development</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:12:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/260na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[International agricultural development must broaden its scope to address food security issues, according to a new study. The research recommends removing boundaries between sectors to allow agricultural policy to account for impacts of macroeconomic trends, climate change and links between malnutrition and infectious disease.]]></description>
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      <title>Community-led study engages public in science and environment</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:11:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/260na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A review of the community-led research programme Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) – a UK national programme that brings scientists and communities together to investigate environmental issues – concludes that it benefits both science and the public. The public’s involvement not only raises their awareness of their relationship with the environment, but also contributes to securing a sustainable future.]]></description>
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      <title>The central role of NGOs in sustainable fisheries</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:11:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/260na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The growing influence of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the seafood industry means that they now play a central role in setting standards for sustainable fisheries. In a new study, researchers used the Dutch Good Fish Guide to illustrate how NGOs can efficiently engage consumers, industry, fishermen and government.]]></description>
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      <title>Methods for estimating importance of chemicals in occupational health</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:32:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/259na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study examines different methods for assessing the health impacts of chemicals that people are exposed to at work. Combining two different approaches may help reduce the effect of the shortcomings of each approach and provide greater assurance that the most damaging chemicals are prioritised for regulatory action. ]]></description>
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      <title>New tools to predict toxicity of fire retardants</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:32:01 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/259na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have developed new tools to screen previously untested fire-retardant chemicals for potential toxicity. The tools – known as Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) models – could allow regulatory decisions to be made in the absence of experimental data, saving time and money by prioritising risk assessments for the most hazardous substances.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Increasing green infrastructure ecosystem services in urban areas</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:32:00 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/259na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new model has been developed that could help metropolitan areas adapt to climate change by increasing ecosystem services provided by green spaces and farmland through calculating the percentage of evapotranspiring surface for different types of land use and the degree of fragmentation between ecosystems. To demonstrate how it works, researchers have applied this ‘land use suitability strategy’ model to an Italian municipality.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Combating ‘cod fraud’ in Europe</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:31:59 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/259na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Higher public awareness of sustainable fishing practices, led by environmental NGOs, may have helped reduce the incidence of mislabelled fish in the UK, compared to Ireland, according to a recent study which assessed levels of fish fraudulently sold as ‘cod’ in these two countries. 

]]></description>
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      <title>Set-aside land improves farmland biodiversity in Hungary</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:31:51 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/259na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Setting aside agricultural land remains an important method of promoting biodiversity in Central Europe, according to new Hungarian research.  Results have indicated that, compared to winter cereal fields, set-aside land has greater plant and insect diversity. This supports the continuing use of set-aside policy in Central and Eastern Europe. ]]></description>
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      <title>Innovative ways to reduce CO2 emissions from the cement industry</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:54:59 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/258na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Technological advances in European cement production could reduce energy consumption by up to 10% and CO2 emissions by 4%, according to a new analysis. The research suggests that initial costs of some of the pending technological improvements could be recouped in as little as a year.]]></description>
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      <title>Range of chemicals pose risk of acute ecotoxicity in German rivers </title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:54:58 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/258na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Research in four German rivers indicates that several organic compounds pose a risk of acute toxic effects on invertebrates. Some of these compounds are already priority substances under the EU Water Framework Directive1 (WFD); others could warrant designation at least as river basin specific pollutants in the German River Basin Management Plans.
]]></description>
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      <title>Otters’ conservation reveals need to adapt to climate change</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:54:57 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/258na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a need for conservation strategies to consider the changing factors that threaten endangered species, such as climate change. Focusing on the European otter, new research has indicated that climate change will change this important freshwater species’ distribution, which may mean that existing conservation areas no longer offer protection.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Deepwater drilling: improve safety indicators to help prevent disasters</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/258na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Deepwater Horizon accident raised concerns about the safety of deepwater drilling. From an analysis of risk assessments in the Norwegian Oil & Gas (O&G) Industry, a new study suggests that current safety approaches and indicators are limited and more extensive monitoring of drilling operations is needed to avoid events similar to Deepwater Horizon. ]]></description>
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      <title>Natural fertilisation of sea hints at effects of geoengineering projects</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:54:56 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/258na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research investigating the effects of naturally occurring iron fertilisation in the sea suggests that large scale geoengineering projects designed to sequester carbon in the deep sea could have a dramatic impact on marine ecosystems. The study found that the organic matter arriving at the sea floor and the species that live there are very different, depending on whether waters are fertilised by iron leached from nearby islands or not.]]></description>
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      <title>Urban green areas and roofs regulate temperature and reduce energy </title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:54:55 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/258na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study highlights the positive effects of plants and trees in cities. Urban green areas provide shade and reduce temperature fluctuations, bringing average temperatures down, while covering roofs with plants, rather than black roofs, reduces the energy required to heat and cool buildings. ]]></description>
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      <title>New holistic method for assessing Natura 2000 landscapes</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:19:21 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/257na6..pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[High quality landscape assessments of areas protected under the Natura 2000 network are critical for effective long-term management plans. In a recent study, scientists have presented a integrated assessment of a Natura 2000 site in Sicily, Italy, which not only considers preservation of environmental features, as required by Natura 2000, but also human features, such as places of historical interest or industrial activity.

]]></description>
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      <title>Land use and water consumption patterns in urban and tourist areas</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:18:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/257na5..pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new Spanish study has highlighted current developments in the tourism sector that have significant implications for water supply and demand, but are barely addressed in recent land use policies. The findings indicate that any tourist destination that is to follow the ‘quality tourist’ model will have an increased water demand in domestic residential areas, which is one of the biggest threats to sustainable water management.]]></description>
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      <title>First steps to eliminate hazardous chemicals in plastic</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:18:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/257na4..pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[By ranking the ‘hazard potential’ of a wide range of chemicals used to make common plastics, Swedish researchers have highlighted which plastic polymers are made from the most hazardous chemicals. These should be prioritised for assessing the risk of causing human or environmental harm.]]></description>
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      <title>Urban vegetation could be an undervalued carbon sink</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:17:35 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/257na3..pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Urban vegetation could have been overlooked as valuable above-ground carbon storage, according to researchers. They estimated that 231,521 tonnes of carbon were stored in above-ground vegetation in a UK city, the majority of which (97 per cent) in trees. This was 10 times the amount estimated from national figures for the same city area.]]></description>
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      <title>Environmental impacts of electric vehicle batteries weighed up</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:15:33 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/257na2..pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has assessed the lifecycle environmental impact during the production and use phase of three battery types for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full performance battery electric vehicles (BEV). The study indicates that newer lithium-ion (Li-ion) technologies outperform current nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and identifies processes contributing to 13 environmental impacts ]]></description>
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      <title>Mapping helps visualise complex environmental risk assessment</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:14:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/257na1..pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scientists involved in a pan-European project to develop better methods of risk assessment say maps that show such cumulative risks geographically are easy to interpret and should be considered as practical tools for conveying risk information to decision makers and the general public.]]></description>
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      <title />
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:14:21 +0100</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Top tips to improve urban bird diversity</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:59:19 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na7.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Planting trees and maintaining a well-balanced mix of vegetation in urban ‘green spaces’ can enhance the species diversity of birds and compensate for the negative effect of building, according to new research. Scientists recommend that increasing tree cover rather than limiting new development is the most effective long-term strategy to improve bird diversity in cities.]]></description>
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      <title>Is climate change increasing viral disease in farm animals?</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:59:15 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Since 1998, there have been increasing outbreaks of the viral disease Bluetongue among European livestock. Using a newly developed climate-based model that accurately predicts past outbreaks, researchers have provided evidence that climate change is a major driver of these outbreaks.  ]]></description>
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      <title>Broader behavioural focus needed to mitigate climate change</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:59:08 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Policy efforts have focused on modifying individual behaviour as one strategy to address climate change. However, this has been met with limited success and a new UK study suggests that policies to encourage behaviour change need to operate on multiple levels and that there is a need for greater co-ordination between individuals, governments, businesses and communities.]]></description>
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      <title>Bio-monitoring of produced water from an oil field</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:59:03 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has examined the impact of Produced Water (PW) discharges from a Norwegian oil field, using mussels to monitor the quality of the environment. The findings indicated the effectiveness of a bio-monitoring approach to study the chemical and biological influences of 
off-shore exploitation activities.
]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Negative impact of landfill is reduced by choice of liner</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:58:58 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has shown that contamination of groundwater by hazardous substances contained in waste liquid from landfill sites – known as leachate - could be significantly reduced by choosing specific types of material to line the landfill reactors. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Are threatened European plant species conserved in seed banks?</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:58:52 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new European study has assessed whether seed banks are successfully conserving European plant species threatened by extinction. The findings indicate that threatened species are only partly conserved by seed banks, and that these facilities need to focus their future efforts on filling gaps in their collections.]]></description>
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      <title>A new approach to urban adaptation: upgrading resilience</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:57:32 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/256na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Adaptation to climate change in urban regions is a major policy concern. Rather than focus specifically on risk reduction, a new report has reframed the adaptation challenge, giving it a broader focus of increasing an area’s resilience and performance and proposing local-level approaches to leveraging finance for adaptation initiatives. ]]></description>
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      <title>Measures to reduce the urban pollen count</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:22:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/255na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite the health benefits they bring, the trees and shrubs in our cities can cause health problems for pollen allergy sufferers. Now, a study by Spanish researchers has proposed guidelines for urban planting to reduce the effects of pollen on city-dwellers.]]></description>
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      <title>Deepwater Horizon: the fate of petroleum in the deep ocean</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:21:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/255na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In a new study, scientists have analysed the outcome of millions of barrels of oil and gas discharged into the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon disaster. By measuring changes in the composition of the fluid, scientists now have a better understanding of how pollution behaves in the deep ocean, to improve estimates of environmental impact.]]></description>
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      <title>Analysing trends in tropospheric levels of ozone </title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:21:26 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/255na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has analysed trends in ozone levels in the European troposphere from 1996 to 2005. It indicated that average levels have been increasing despite reductions in pollutants that influence ozone formation. However, it also identified year-by-year variations, caused by climate and weather events, and suggested they could be masking the impact of emission reductions on long-term ozone trends.]]></description>
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      <title>Assessing the fit of environmental policy to institutional context</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:21:06 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/255na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new tool has been developed to predict the effectiveness of a policy on the basis of its compatibility with the institutional context in place. It is the first of its kind and a recent study has evaluated its ability to identify factors that might affect the successful implementation of policies.]]></description>
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      <title>Satellite technology helps monitor water quality in lakes</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:20:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/255na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research reveals how scientists can monitor water quality in European lakes using sensors mounted on satellites. The technique is a promising and cost-effective new tool to classify and monitor the ecological status of lakes more reliably under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Mediterranean MPA provides fish larvae for neighbouring areas</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:51:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na7pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has found evidence that a small Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Mediterranean has the potential to deliver larvae of some fish species to surrounding, non-protected areas.  This is one of few studies to investigate this desired role of MPAs and its design could be used to evaluate current and future MPAs elsewhere.]]></description>
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      <title>Impact of landfill caps on leachate emissions – an Austrian case study</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:50:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, which consist of everyday consumer items, are potential long-term sources of emissions that could threaten the environment and human health if they are not managed carefully after closure. New research has presented a methodology to estimate future emission levels for closed MSW landfills and the impact of different aftercare strategies. ]]></description>
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      <title>Toxic mercury could be produced within seawater</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:49:21 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has shed light on the source of highly toxic monomethylmercury (MMHg) in Arctic marine waters. A study of polar seawater suggests that relatively harmless inorganic mercury is being transformed into the toxic MMHg within the water itself.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>New method improves ecological footprinting of food products</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:48:32 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[International trade of food products is increasing. This means that food produced in one country may use ingredients sourced from other countries, which can make it difficult to assess the product’s real environmental impact. A new mathematical approach to this problem may help provide a clearer picture of a product’s impact. ]]></description>
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      <title>Researchers assess indoor air pollution across Europe</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:47:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The quality of indoor air varies widely across Europe, according to a recent study. However, more data are needed from a range of locations, especially in towns and cities, and greater harmonisation of sampling and analysis procedures are needed to develop a more comprehensive picture of European indoor air quality.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>The future is bright for environmental citizen science</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:46:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A review of a decade of environmental citizen science – where the general public are involved in science as researchers – concludes that its benefits to science and society far outweigh concerns over data quality. Challenges can be overcome through volunteer training and should not be used to devalue citizen science programmes, say the researchers.]]></description>
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      <title>GHG emissions from shale greater than conventional gas, coal or oil</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:43:58 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/251na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over a 20-year time period, the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of shale gas is greater than that of coal, oil or conventional gas, according to a recent study. Methane emissions make up most of this footprint. This suggests that substituting conventional fossil fuels with shale gas may not have the desired effect to mitigate climate warming in the short-term. ]]></description>
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      <title>Energy policy should consider health implications</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:29:13 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/250na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has investigated the complex relationship between energy consumption and public health, by analysing historical data from around the world. It indicates that electricity does not provide additional health benefits for countries with low levels of infant mortality, and that increased coal consumption has negative health impacts. ]]></description>
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      <title>Fragmented pine woodland boosts Mediterranean biodiversity</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:28:23 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/250na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scientists have proposed new recommendations to increase the species diversity and sustainability of Mediterranean forests, since programmes to enhance reforestation by planting vast areas of pine trees have not been as successful as planned.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Three-quarters of world’s energy supply could be renewable by 2050</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:27:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/250na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Renewable technologies could supply 77 per cent of the world demand for energy by 2050, according to a report recently published by the IPCC. However, strong and flexible national and international policies are needed to stimulate investment and encourage accelerated use of renewable energy. The most pessimistic scenarios see the renewables share remaining almost static until mid-century.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Pesticides: possible link to male infertility</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:26:40 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/250na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many agricultural pesticides used in Europe could disrupt male hormones and lead to infertility problems, according to laboratory tests. ‘Biomonitoring’ studies to investigate the actual behaviour of pesticides in the human body are now urgently needed to clarify the link between pesticide exposure and male reproductive health. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>New models to assess developmental toxicity for REACH</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:25:58 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/250na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In line with EU legislative requirements, new research has developed models to assess the toxicity of chemicals in terms of their effects on human development. One of the models has been made freely accessible online, so that it is easy to use for industry and regulators.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Biodiversity loss: prevention is cheaper than cure</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:25:02 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/250na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A proactive approach to biodiversity loss – where conservation of a species starts before it becomes endangered – could save millions of euros compared to the cost of recovering a population already in serious decline, according to new research. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Antarctica needs global and local responses to protect ecosystems</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:25:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/249na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has investigated the impacts of human activity on Antarctic marine ecosystems. Alongside local effects of fishing, pollution and invasive alien species, global climate change is causing sea temperature rises and ocean acidification. Action is therefore needed at all levels to address these impacts.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Simple re-seeding projects can triple grassland biodiversity</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:24:44 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/249na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have recommended new, improved ways of increasing the ecological value of European grasslands. Plant diversity – or species richness – can be increased by a factor of three through sowing grass and wildflower seed mixtures, together with a carefully controlled plan for animal grazing. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Plastic components of WEEE contain hazardous substances</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:23:55 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/249na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A report has revealed that the plastic components of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can contain significant amounts of hazardous substances, such as lead, mercury or certain flame retardants. The findings suggest that the plastics from some types of WEEE need to be treated as hazardous waste by waste managers and recyclers.]]></description>
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      <title>Water safety: adding phosphate reduces both lead and copper</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:21:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/249na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Phosphate is added to domestic drinking water to reduce lead levels in the UK, to help meet EU Drinking Water Directive standards. New research has now found that phosphate can also reduce the amount of copper in domestic sewage by more than a third. This method could help Member States meet forthcoming “safe” levels for water discharged to the environment, under forthcoming EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) proposals.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Indicators for evaluating responsible chemicals management developed</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:20:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/249na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has developed a set of indicators to evaluate how well companies voluntarily manage dangerous chemicals. These indicators can be used to check progress towards the World Summit on Sustainable Development goal of effectively managing chemicals.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Climate change impacts not yet detectable in river flow data</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:15:52 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/248na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Extreme weather warning system improves water management</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:15:34 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/248na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study indicates that water management in the Netherlands uses a reliable warning system for extreme weather, which can incorporate wind and coastal surge level forecasts, as well as precipitation forecasts.  ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>How will biodiversity loss compromise Earth's life support systems?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:15:12 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/248na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scientists have evaluated two decades of research into declining biodiversity and concluded unequivocally that loss of species richness leads to a reduction in how well ecosystems function. The researchers evaluated the evidence for key biodiversity theories and predicted that scientific progress in the next five to ten years will provide the information we need to efficiently conserve certain ecological processes.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Does ISO 14001 certification reduce industry pollution?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:14:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/248na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Companies with environmental standard ISO 14001 certification may emit just as much air pollution as non-certified companies, according to a recent study. The results suggest companies see ISO 14001 as a way to appear environmentally responsible rather than to actively improve their environmental credentials.]]></description>
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      <title>Shale gas extraction linked to water contamination</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:14:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/248na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study suggests shale gas extraction leads to methane contamination of underground water sources and calls for thorough surveys of methane levels at extraction sites. The study presents a timely insight into a relatively under-researched area of science that will help support decisions on the future of shale gas exploration. ]]></description>
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      <title>Hidden carbon emissions from trade offsets impacts of reforestation</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:13:55 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/248na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Countries that appear to have reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through reforestation may have simply "displaced" the emissions to another country, by increasing their imports of food, timber and wood. A new EU study highlights the need to recognise this 'loophole' in ongoing emission targets.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Lessons for integrating tourism into sustainable rural development</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Jul 2011 11:31:22 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/247na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Rural areas are changing, with tourism playing an ever greater part in a multifunctional countryside. A recent study has looked at the role that sustainable rural tourism can play in rural development in Europe and some of the challenges to be overcome if a truly integrated approach to rural development is to be realised. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>New approaches needed to evaluate active travel policies</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Jul 2011 11:29:48 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/247na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new analysis has indicated that policies to encourage active travel, such as walking and cycling, lead to a large but complex range of health benefits. However, it is not always possible to tell which policy has had which specific impact. The study argues for improved approaches to evaluating travel policy that consider indirect policy impacts.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Five ethical principles to guide biofuels policy</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Jul 2011 11:28:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/247na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ A new report on biofuels by the UK’s Nuffield Council on Bioethics has produced a set of five ethical principles to guide the development of biofuels technology and policy. It recommends applying these principles to create comprehensive standards to ensure that biofuels address, rather than exacerbate, global problems.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>A new decision-making tool for conservation managers</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Jul 2011 11:26:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/247na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A tool to help conservation managers prioritise their actions to protect wildlife has been developed. The tool, based on a mathematical model, can provide guidance on conserving endangered species as well as dealing with pests and diseases. It may help conservation managers understand how best to use their limited resources.]]></description>
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      <title>Possible impact of climate change and fish farming on Atlantic salmon</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Jul 2011 11:25:42 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/247na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A combination of climate change and the introduction of farmed salmon into wild populations is shaping regional genetic patterns of Atlantic salmon in northern Spain. This is the conclusion of new research that has attempted to disentangle the importance of these two factors on regional populations.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Urban green space responds rapidly to policy change</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Jul 2011 11:24:02 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/247na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Urban planning policy has had a powerful influence on the amount of green space in cities, according to a recent UK study. It found that a change in planning policy in 2000 led to a decline in urban green space in nine cities between 2001 and 2006, although the amount of green space in all but one of the cities studied has increased overall since 1991. ]]></description>
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      <title>Applying the ecosystem approach to forest biodiversity</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:46:43 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/246na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite being high on the political agenda, biodiversity is still declining.  A new analysis has focused on forest biodiversity in Finland, Russia and Peru and concluded that a global ecosystem approach can make a link between human and ecological systems but bottom-up initiatives are needed to effectively put the concept into action.

]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving REACH tests for estimating chemical toxic risks</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:45:35 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/246na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The official criteria used to assess how easily a chemical is taken up by biological organisms, known as the bioaccumulation potential, are considered reliable for most types of chemical. However, according to a new analysis, the criteria need updating to include uptake from contaminated sediment and food in order to reflect the realistic bioaccumulation risk for all chemicals.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Integrated assessment tracks fisheries’ conservation success</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:44:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/246na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study suggests that a single integrative assessment of marine fisheries can be used to monitor progress against several different marine environmental policies. It used a relative ecological risk model to demonstrate how closing marine protected sites to trawlers and reducing trawling to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels would allow fisheries to meet the ecological objectives of both the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Policy transfer must occur within, as well as between, countries</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:44:14 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/246na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and temperatures under climate change are likely to increase the rate of corrosive damage in reinforced concrete structures, according to a recent study. This could result in costly repairs in the future, unless structures are suitably adapted.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Reinforced concrete more liable to damage under climate change</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:43:20 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/246na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and temperatures under climate change are likely to increase the rate of corrosive damage in reinforced concrete structures, according to a recent study. This could result in costly repairs in the future, unless structures are suitably adapted. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Precautionary principle should be applied to shale gas</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:41:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/246na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[According to UK researchers, caution must be taken in the use of shale gas until more is known about its environmental impacts. Using US data, they estimated the additional emissions associated with the extraction of gas from shale compared to that of conventional sources and highlighted concerns from the US that extraction could bring significant risks of ground and surface water contamination.  ]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>Future Briefs: coming soon to Science for Environment Policy</title>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:57:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/research_alert_en.htm</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Science for Environment Policy are very pleased to announce the launch of a new series of policy briefs. Entitled 'Future Briefs', these will explore emerging areas of research with implications for environmental policy.'Plastic Waste: redesign and biodegradability' is the first Future Brief, which will be published week commencing 27 June. Future Briefs will be available to download free from our website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/index_en.htm ]]></description>
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      <title>Will any wetlands survive future sea level rise?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:21:03 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/245na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Only wetland environments with high sediment input from rivers can keep pace with rising sea levels, according to a new study. However, human activity is destroying wetlands’ natural defences, making their survival increasingly unlikely. The researchers call for sustainable management approaches to protect wetlands under future climate change projections.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Biofuel crops compete with wildflowers for bees</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:20:17 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/245na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Pollination of intensively farmed, flowering crops could affect the pollination of wild plants in neighbouring fields, according to a study by German researchers. In their one-year study, they found fewer bees visited wild plants that are close to oilseed rape fields, although the longer-term picture is less clear. The researchers warn that increasing cultivation of biofuel crops could possibly reduce wild flower populations.]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>The mega-heat wave of 2010 – implications for the future</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:19:21 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/245na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has compared the hot summers of 2003 and 2010 in Europe. The results indicate that the extreme temperatures in 2010 affected an area that was about twice as large as the area affected in 2003. Climate change projections for Eastern and Western Europe suggest that such mega-heat waves will become more frequent in the upcoming decades.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>More research needed into contaminated soil and water treatment</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:18:27 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/245na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new review from Romanian researchers has summarised current and emerging methods for cleaning up contaminated land and water. It highlights the need for more consistent testing, reporting and evaluation of different remediation techniques.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Reducing bycatch will not damage fishing industry profits</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:17:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/245na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bycatch (species caught unintentionally in fisheries) in some commercial marine fisheries is the main cause of death in some populations of seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, sharks and fish. New research has revealed that bycatch from tuna fishing can be reduced by using better equipment, without compromising industry profits. However, significant policy efforts are needed to monitor bycatch and enforce more sustainable fishing practices.]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>Research finds link between road proximity and childhood leukaemia</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:15:49 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/245na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Living near busy roads is associated with an increased risk of childhood leukaemia, according to French researchers. The study found that children living within 500 metres of major roads were more likely to develop leukaemia than those who lived far from such roads. It is possible that high levels of traffic pollution from the roads are responsible for the higher rates of the illness.]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>&lt;new&gt;</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:33:47 +0100</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[New research in harbours has explored the most influential environmental and human factors on the release of contaminants from sediment. The scientists suggest that the rate of release can vary considerably between locations and risk assessments of water pollution could be improved if they account for this. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Site-specific data needed to assess contaminated sediment</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:15:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/244na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research in harbours has explored the most influential environmental and human factors on the release of contaminants from sediment. The scientists suggest that the rate of release can vary considerably between locations and risk assessments of water pollution could be improved if they account for this. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How predictable is the biological response to chemical toxicity?</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:14:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/244na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To assess the impact on ecosystems of chemical contamination in aquatic environments, scientists need to measure not only the concentration of the contaminants, but also the extent to which they can disrupt biological processes at a cellular level in plants and animals and at an ecosystem level. According to a new study, considering these complex inter-relationships in combination will help improve the ecological status of waterways, in line with Water Framework Directive (WFD) commitments.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Towards responsible nanotextiles and coatings: a new risk approach</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:13:35 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/244na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has developed risk assessment criteria for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to help inform innovation and policy decisions. It illustrates that product design can influence the unintended release of ENMs and that combining knowledge about the product life cycle with a systematic assessment of the potential hazards may enable responsible choices for future product developments to be made.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Which benthic ecosystem assessment tool is best?</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:12:34 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/244na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Populations of organisms that live on the bottom of an aquatic ecosystem, the benthic community, can be assessed to determine the health of the ecosystem. New research explores the many existing methods for assessing benthic communities to ensure that the most appropriate and useful tests are used under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).  ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Recent evidence on climate change risks for African agriculture</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:11:20 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/244na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that African agriculture and food security would face major risks under the influence of climate change. With an analysis of more recent assessments, scientists have confirmed this projection and indicated that agriculture everywhere in Africa runs some risk of negative impacts from climate change. 

]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Efficient dairy farming: good for the environment and profits</title>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:10:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/244na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Improving the efficiency of milk production could produce significant annual savings and potentially cut the environmental impacts of the industry by up to a third, according to new research from Northwest Spain. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Strategies for encouraging CSR in SMEs</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:48:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/243na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent Spanish study has examined the implications of corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) related to sustainable development, as well as the role public administrations play in this process. The findings offer ideas that could be included in government policies aimed at promoting social responsibilities and sustainability, especially for SMEs.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Monitoring marine waters for WFD compliance</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:48:03 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/243na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Recent work in the coastal Mediterranean waters of the ‘Comunidad Valencia’ in Eastern Spain confirms that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a significant source of pollutants that need monitoring under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Priority Substances Directive. However, these substances also directly enter coastal waters from mixed urban, industrial and agricultural sources, creating a challenge for the development of control measures.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Combined satellite data shed light on Indonesian deforestation</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:47:08 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/243na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Annual maps of forest cover in Indonesia reveal that, between 2000 and 2008, almost 10 per cent of forest cover on the islands was lost. Around one fifth of this loss occurred in regions where logging is restricted or prohibited. The new maps will help Indonesia meet the objectives of the UN REDD+ programme, which aims to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Success for potatoes under EU law</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:45:27 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/243na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has described how agricultural management of the British potato crop has changed over time to reduce several serious threats to food security. It is crucial that an EU plant health policy framework continues to build on these successes to protect against new diseases emerging from expanding global trade and a changing climate. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Poor energy use is chemical industry’s top environmental issue</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:42:49 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/243na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study suggests that the energy sources used in chemical production contribute significantly to environmental damage in developed countries. The researchers recommend increasing the efficient use of heat and electricity, in addition to reducing direct emissions of harmful pollutants, to dramatically improve the environmental impact of the chemical industry.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Carbon labels most effective when combined with low prices</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:41:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/243na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research in Australia has investigated the impact of labelling groceries with their level of CO2 emissions. A convenience store that introduced these labels found that the share of green (low CO2 emissions) purchases increased by 5 per cent. If these products were also low priced, the share of green purchases from the store increased by 20 per cent. ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Flame retardants found in groundwater</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/242na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Organophosphates (OPs) used to protect materials from fire and in other industrial processes have affected the quality of groundwater, particularly in urban areas and near landfill sites, according to recent research.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effective ICZM strategy identified for harbour dredging</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/242na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Removing sediment from harbour beds to allow ships to enter can significantly accelerate coastal erosion, the gradual wearing away of land by the sea. A new study highlights this damage and identifies a compensation strategy used in an Italian harbour to mitigate coastal erosion as a good example of effective Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). ]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cities tackling climate change: a new strategy for mitigation</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/242na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cities are key players in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A new World Bank study has proposed a three-stage plan for mitigating climate change at a local level. Its recommendations include improving urban infrastructure and encouraging lifestyle change, but most importantly, clarity in the way urban GHG inventories are calculated.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A new tool to help predict species invasiveness</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/242na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a common assumption that plant species are more inclined to thrive in a non-native community than a native one, sometimes becoming 'invasive'. However, this behaviour is likely to be quite unusual and invasive alien plants are actually an important exception, according to a new study. Much can be learned from the population of a species 'at home' and should be included in official assessment criteria.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Sustainability programmes: eclectic toolboxes or clear roadmaps?</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/242na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) programmes are frameworks to systemically develop sustainability. New research has analysed three national SCP programmes in the UK, Sweden and Finland and concluded that, rather than provide a strong roadmap for sustainability, they tend to be a toolbox of good but scattered initiatives.]]></description>
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      <title>CSR for water: progress towards sustainability</title>
      <pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/242na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Access to water is often described as a basic human right, so rights violations may be committed where corporate activities interfere with individuals' access to water. Water supply is generally the responsibility of government, but recent Dutch research has suggested that corporate social responsibility (CSR) can have a significant impact on the sustainability of freshwater supply in countries with weak governance regimes.]]></description>
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      <title>Resource productivity as sustainability indicator may need developing</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 12:07:08 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/241na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Resource productivity has become a popular indicator of environmental sustainability. However, new research has demonstrated that it is influenced by national income and its current use tends to support a simultaneous growth in economic productivity and resource consumption. In order to shape policy effectively, the study suggests that targets should directly emphasise resource consumption and emissions.]]></description>
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      <title>Graphene has potential for use in flexible batteries</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 12:04:17 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/241na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have shown that graphene paper can be used to construct flexible and rechargeable batteries, which may even perform better than non-flexible batteries. These might be used in a range of portable, bendable and rollable devices and could also help develop new energy generation technology, such as flexible solar cells. ]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>Little Bustard: case study for modelling conservation costs</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 12:03:24 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/241na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new model, named OUTOPIE could help design more effective agri-environmental schemes. The model links the farm, field and landscape levels to allow a more accurate assessment of the costs of enrolling specific fields in conservation schemes. Using the model, the researchers were able to assess the cost-effectiveness of different policies for the conservation of the Little Bustard bird (Tetrax tetrax) in France.]]></description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>‘Seascape’: a key influence on marine protected areas </title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 12:02:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/241na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research has shed light on how fish respond to marine protected areas (MPAs). It suggests that seascape structure – the range of sea depths and habitat types included inside and outside the MPA – has a larger influence on changes in the abundance of fish than protection itself.]]></description>
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      <title>Waste management policy works, but waste prevention is key</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 12:01:14 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/241na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Waste management policy in the EU is successfully reducing the proportion of waste that is sent to landfill and cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by inefficient waste management, according to a new study. However, the study also supports greater efforts channelled into waste prevention.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Energy and construction: important drivers of resource use</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 11:59:41 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/241na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Better and more efficient management of materials is an important EU policy goal. New research has analysed what drives resource use and the productive use of materials across Europe and indicated that energy efficiency and construction of buildings and roads are the main policy areas to address.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Dutch study shows policy effective in reducing packaging</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 12:07:48 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/240na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Policies to reduce packaging are effective as long as they remain in place for at least five years and aim for an absolute reduction in packaging volume, experiences from the Netherlands suggest. A study of Dutch packaging policy found that packaging levels fell when such policies were in place, but that the amount of packaging has since risen as policies have become more short-term and focused on reducing packaging levels relative to changes in GDP.

]]></description>
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      <title>Health impacts and costs of air pollution in European cities</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 12:06:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/240na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has shown that life expectancy and monetary benefits increase significantly when levels of fine particles are reduced further in European cities. It also reveals that living near busy roads could be responsible for a substantial amount of poor health attributable to air pollution. ]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Careful guidance needed for farmers using biochar with pesticides</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 12:05:46 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/240na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Biochar is increasingly mixed into farm soils to improve crop productivity and maintain carbon stocks. However, it can change the way that pesticides applied to the same soil behave, according to a new study. The researchers suggest that farmers may also need to follow new guidelines on pesticide application if they add biochar to their soil.]]></description>
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      <title>Comparing the purchase of eco-labelled products across Europe</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 12:03:19 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/240na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Ecolabels can help encourage sustainable consumption. A new study has compared the national organisation of environmental (eco and organic) labels and its impact on purchases of labelled products in 18 European countries. Levels of ecolabelled product purchasing varied across the countries, with the highest rates in Northern Europe. ]]></description>
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      <title>Citizens encouraged to help monitor wild bird species</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 11:59:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/240na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The public can help assess the human impact on wild birds through amateur ‘citizen science’ networks, according to new research. Scientists evaluated the suitability of data collected by amateur bird-watchers for long-term monitoring of European bird populations. Their findings suggest that citizen data may significantly improve the accuracy of existing official survey methods, as well as help increase public awareness of wild bird conservation.]]></description>
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      <title>Green Economy promotes economic and social development</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 11:56:15 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/240na1.pd</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Adopting the Green Economy approach will reap greater environmental, social and economic benefits, compared with a society that focuses on economic growth as the measure for future development, according to a recent UN report. Using two per cent of global GDP to ‘green’ key sectors could be enough to trigger the transition towards a green economy.]]></description>
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      <title>Sustainability assessment of different nuclear fuel cycle scenarios </title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 12:02:05 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/239na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study has assessed the sustainability of different nuclear cycle scenarios in Europe, and suggests trade-offs are required between reducing the amount of uranium fuel needed, costs and proliferation risks.]]></description>
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      <title>Fuel economy not the only influence on fuel consumption</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 11:59:20 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/239na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Vehicle fuel economy has markedly improved, but there are other factors that influence fuel consumption and transport emissions, according to new research on the EU, USA and Japan. Changes in vehicle size and power also play a role indicating that, if fuel prices do not keep rising, policy focus may need to shift to managing vehicle use. 

]]></description>
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      <title>Do climate change threats de-motivate us to protect the environment?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 11:58:13 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/239na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The threat of possible death from climate change may paradoxically reduce our motivation to protect the environment, according to a new psychology study conducted in Germany. However, this negative impact on the environment could be reduced if people’s environmental motivations stemmed from a desire to benefit humans rather than a desire to protect nature itself.]]></description>
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      <title>Options for managing the variability of wind power explored</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 11:55:55 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/239na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As wind power becomes more important in the energy mix, so too does the need to manage its variability. A new study has reviewed the options and indicates that, although state-of-the art technologies exist to maximise gains from wind power, they need proper and insightful management.]]></description>
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      <title>Public priorities for conservation revealed in European survey</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 11:53:26 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/239na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Conservation efforts should focus on species that have recently declined in number, are harmless or are perceived as high value, according to a European public survey. Participants also felt that disappearing habitats should be targeted for protection. The results suggest that, by choosing different criteria that more closely match the public’s values and criteria, conservationists could improve public support for their work.]]></description>
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      <title>Global human well-being possible at low levels of energy and carbon</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 11:49:48 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/239na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[High levels of energy consumption and carbon emissions are not necessary for high standards of living, according to a new study. In recent decades, the same human needs have been met with ever decreasing energy and carbon levels, achieving a steady decoupling of human development from energy use and carbon emissions.]]></description>
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      <title>Global WEEE management needs to step up efforts</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2011 14:34:27 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/238na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent international analysis of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management has indicated that current practices will not be able to deal with future increases in WEEE. It calls for rapid, co-ordinated and bold responses that are both technical and non-technical to deal with this ever-increasing global issue.]]></description>
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      <title>Putting sustainability into practice in government departments</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2011 14:32:25 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/238na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new assessment tool has been developed to evaluate the sustainability initiatives of government departments.  On its first application, in the UK’s Department of Work and Pensions, it identified a good mix of practice alongside areas for improvement. The authors suggest that this method could be used elsewhere to assess how well an organisation is embedding the principles of sustainable development into all aspects of its business.]]></description>
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      <title>Sustainable natural materials can be used for noise insulation</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2011 14:28:09 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/238na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researchers have found that natural materials, such as plant fibres or wool, can be used to construct sustainable sound absorbers that help prevent noise pollution, which are as effective as conventional absorbers made from combinations of minerals and plastics. 

]]></description>
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      <title>Feral GM oilseed rape a potential source of herbicide resistant genes</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2011 14:26:38 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/238na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New research suggests that feral oilseed rape poses little risk of contaminating crops, but if the oilseed is genetically modified (GM), it could be a minor source of GM traits in weeds. Throughout Europe, feral oilseed rape is now widespread on waysides and wasteland, making it potentially more problematic than some other crops, such as maize, which do not easily establish feral populations.]]></description>
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      <title>Climate change will alter the structure of Europe’s tree of life</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2011 14:23:48 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/238na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Climate change will cause widespread biodiversity loss in Europe, but is unlikely to wipe out entire groups of closely related species, according to a new study. The researchers made their predictions using cutting edge modelling techniques to assess the impact of climate change on the “tree of life”.]]></description>
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      <title>Agricultural diversity boosts food security</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2011 14:16:16 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/238na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Diverse agricultural systems can sustainably improve food security and supply a varied, healthy diet for people, according to a recent analysis of the benefits of agricultural biodiversity. The food-based approach, when integrated with other strategies, can be used to tackle malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and the impact of climate change on farming.]]></description>
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      <title>Can reserve networks protect coral reefs from climate change?</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:45:45 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/237na6.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A new study has conducted a preliminary investigation into the design of reserves that would help protect coral reefs from climate change. The results indicate that, 15 per cent of coral reefs in the Bahamas, the study area, would be able to withstand rising temperature, and would therefore be appropriately placed in reserves.]]></description>
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      <title>New framework for estimating agricultural emissions</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:45:20 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/237na5.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Researchers have developed a framework for estimating emissions of methane and nitrous oxides from agriculture, by updating the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach, which captures more detail about differences between locations.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>Restoring Mediterranean forests with the Miyawaki method</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:44:53 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/237na4.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[An innovative reforestation technique has been used successfully to restore patches of forest in an area of Sardinia where traditional reforestation methods have previously failed. It was the first time the technique, known as the Miyawaki method, has been used to restore forests in a Mediterranean region.]]></description>
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      <title>Soil quality and crop yield decline under plastic tunnels</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:44:30 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/237na3.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Recent research in Italy has suggested that soil quality deteriorates over time when intensively farmed under plastic tunnels. The tunnels are an obstacle to natural rainfall and artificial irrigation increases soil salinity and, as a consequence, agricultural yields can be significantly reduced.]]></description>
    </item>
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      <title>How regulation of innovation can lead to sustainable development</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:44:04 +0100</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/237na2.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The contribution of technical innovation to sustainable development requires integrated, long-term policy to unlock industry from previous business models and practices, according to a new analysis. The researchers suggest adopting a multi-purpose policy practice that integrates industrial policy, environmental policy and trade initiatives. ]]></description>
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      <title>Renewable power sources could meet all global energy needs by 2050</title>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:00:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <link>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/237na1.pdf</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There are no technical or economic barriers to providing all of the world’s energy from renewable sources, according to a recent study. With a concerted effort, including reduced demand and international cooperation, the researchers suggest that the world could be entirely reliant on renewable energy for electric power, transportation and heating/cooling by 2050.]]></description>
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