Loop's newsletter aims to keep you abreast of developments relating to the environment.

It will be updated every month and will contain stories that inform, refresh and even enthral.

Your own anecdotal evidence of life on the frontline would be appreciated so email titbits into us at info@looprecycle.co.uk

The main news story of real concern at the moment is George W. Bush's decision to abandon the all-important Kyoto Protocol.

Kyoto Protocol - what it is and when it happened

The Kyoto Protocol was drafted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997. 160 governments from different countries met to discuss climate change and what could be done in order to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases' emissions through human activities.

The main points

• Cuts in Carbon Dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions because they are responsible for enhancing the greenhouse effect.

• Cutting three "halocarbon" cooling gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, and Sulphur hexaflouride responsible for damaging the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

• EU's target is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 8% below 1990 levels, the US by 7% and Japan by 6%. A similar target is to be achieved by 21 other industrial countries between 2008 and 2012. The countries that should cut their emissions below 1990 are 38 in total.

• Developing countries like Brazil, India and China have been exempted by EU from any future legally binding emission reduction agreement, as have Russia and Ukraine. The last two because of the collapse of heavy industry since the fall of communism.

• Less developed countries, like Greece and Portugal, can reduce their emissions by less than the average agreed.

• Industrial states can trade "emission quotas" with each other.

Web Sites: Kyoto Protocol, the complete report

www.cnie.org
www.maps.grida.no/kyoto
www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/07/07242001/reu_bonn_44403.asp

How emissions of greenhouse gases affect Climate Change

Some scientists and ecologists believe that the greenhouse effect is a cause of global warming. The atmosphere is composed of different gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water. Carbon dioxide and water vapour are said to be the two main greenhouse gases because of they retain the heat irradiated by the Earth through infra-red radiation. That means that the temperature on Earth depends on the balance between the energy radiation emitted by the Sun and the radiation emitted by the Earth. Some of the energy from the Sun penetrates the atmosphere and warms the Earth's surface. Infra-red radiation is emitted from the Earth to cool it down, while some of these are trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which keep the heat inside.

Nevertheless, it is necessary make a distinction between natural greenhouse gases and the human-made ones that enhance the greenhouse effect, destabilising the energy balance on Earth and consequently heating up the whole planet. Carbon dioxide is found in nature through the effect of volcanoes' eruptions and recycled through natural pathways. Increasing Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase the greenhouse effect. The effect of human activities such as the destruction of the rain forests and burning fossil fuels is the main cause of temperature change since it has altered the balance of the climate system. Other greenhouse gases are methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and synthetic compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigerators and in air conditioning systems.

Web sites...

www.cnie.org/nle/clim-2.html
www.stopesso.com

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An old remedy to make your tap water taste better, be environmentally friendly, and save money all at the same time!

The secret is a terracotta jug. Terracotta, in fact, has the ability to act as a filter, absorbing chlorine and other disinfectants used in the water. Furthermore, all metal particles present in the water drop down to the bottom of the jar because they are heavier than water molecules.

Here is the recipe for a good glass of water: Take a terracotta jug, fill it with normal water and wait for about 3 hours. Drink it.

Did you know...

... that 880 tonnes of toilet paper are flushed away each day in Britain?

Did you know (I'm sure you did!) that toilet paper is not recyclable? What can be done is to use toilet paper made of recycled material and, when possible, unbleached.

It works just as well and you can find it almost everywhere; supermarkets, corner shops and market stalls should stock it. Look on the packaging for "made from recycled" paper.

Don't forget to include kitchen rolls and tissues!