International Update Volume 43, Issue 7

<p>The United Kingdom Supreme Court may force the United Kingdom to take urgent measures to rapidly reduce air pollution in British cities as the government admitted that air quality laws will be breached in 15 regions until 2020. The case, which will be heard by five law lords, concerns claims by ClientEarth that the government has a legal duty to comply with EU time scales and that its plans to reduce pollution are inadequate.

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<p>The United Kingdom Supreme Court may force the United Kingdom to take urgent measures to rapidly reduce air pollution in British cities as the government admitted that air quality laws will be breached in 15 regions until 2020. The case, which will be heard by five law lords, concerns claims by ClientEarth that the government has a legal duty to comply with EU time scales and that its plans to reduce pollution are inadequate.

Country:

<p>China announced that it would not institute a carbon tax this year, backing away from previous statements. Though the government is moving forward with carbon trading pilot programs in seven major cities, the head of research at the Ministry of Finance said that the carbon tax is "still in internal discussions" as there is "obvious opposition." Though he said the nation eventually expects to introduce a levy of $.80 to $1.61 per ton of carbon, the announcement revises a previous five year plan.

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<p>The European Union implemented measures to prevent illegally harvested timber from entering Europe, a boon to efforts to fight deforestation as the EU accounts for 35 percent of the world's primary timber market. Though the law was passed in October 2010, it is only just coming into force due to measures required by member states and private companies.

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