Emissions Trading Experts Call on INECE to Establish Working Groups on Registries, Verification Practices
A recent meeting on “Improving Efficiency, Effectiveness & International Harmonization of Compliance Activities in Emissions Trading” resulted in recommendations for INECE to develop and facilitate technical working groups on four key topics: Registries, Verification, Compliance Assistance, and Monitoring & Reporting. The expert groups will seek to develop an independent assessment of current systems, including best practices, and provide recommendations to existing and emerging emissions trading schemes.

Argentine Environment Secretary Forces Petrochemical Relocation from Polluted River
The Argentine Environment Secretary, Romina Picolotti, signed an agreement with ten large international petrochemical companies in which they voluntarily agree to relocate from the Riachuelo -- a tributary to the Rio de la Plata River on the fringes of Buenos Aires -- to a less socially and environmental sensitive area.

Countries Call Attention to the Climate Benefits of Repairing the Ozone Layer
A coalition of countries is pushing for an accelerated phase-out of HCFCs, the world’s most commonly used refrigerants for air conditioners. Recent evidence strongly indicates that these chemicals are harming the ozone layer and also contributing substantially to global warming.

Annotated “Principles of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement” Will Guide Improvement of Compliance Assurance Programs
A revised version of INECE's “Principles of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement,” which incorporates extensive annotations based on the theoretical foundations set forth in Making Law Work and which includes many new country case studies and other important updates to the original text, will be available through INECE's Web site.

Philippines Holds Public Officials Accountable for Involvement in Illegal Blast Fishing Operation
On 8 February 2007, a pre-dawn enforcement operation of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and Visayan Sea Squadron led to the seizure of almost 2.5 tons of blasting powder intended for use for dynamite fishing in the Visayans, Philippines. Following the seizure of blasting powder, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines resolved to launch a series of legal actions to hold all public officials accountable in the event of future violation of environmental laws within their jurisdiction.