On October 28, 2013, 13 European environment ministers called on the EU to set more ambitious energy and climate targets for 2030, otherwise Europe might fall behind other countries in this regard. A 40-page report showed that the European environment ministers called for reform of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), arguing that actions to protect the environment and efforts to limit energy prices are not necessarily contradictory. The ministers pointed out that some EU countries have a high proportion of renewable energy, relatively low energy prices, and can also benefit from the export of renewable energy technologies. At a meeting in Brussels, British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey noted that the EU has long held a leading position in this market, but China and the United States are also seeing it as an opportunity and are catching up. The UK also pointed out that the EU has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, with 10% coming from international carbon offsets and the remainder from internal EU reductions. While all 13 environment ministers agreed that proactive action was necessary, disagreements remained on the details. The UK only advocates for carbon reduction targets, while Denmark has proposed three targets: carbon reduction, renewable energy, and energy conservation. Portugal has even proposed a fourth target: improving energy infrastructure. To date, the EU has set three 2020 targets.

A study published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on the 26th indicated that livestock farmers could reduce carbon emissions by up to 30% without rebuilding their entire production systems by improving operational techniques. Methods include improving feeding, animal health management, and manure treatment technologies, as well as utilizing biogas power generation and energy-saving devices. FAO experts stated that this new report has been structurally revised and incorporates the latest data, and was prepared based on the latest guidelines published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the 27th. The FAO pointed out that greenhouse gas emissions related to livestock farming amount to 710 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, accounting for 14.5% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Pierre Gerber, a senior policy official at the FAO, said, "The calculated absolute carbon emission capacity is very similar to that of the 2006 report." In 2006, the FAO published a report titled "Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Choices," which indicated that global meat production processes accounted for 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions, more than all cars, trains, and airplanes combined. The FAO meticulously analyzed carbon emissions at every stage of the livestock supply chain, including production, feed transportation, farm energy, animal digestion and manure decay, and even post-slaughter transportation, freezing, and packaging. The report identified the main sources of carbon emissions from livestock as: –

On the evening of September 18th, local time, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) held the award ceremony for its flagship environmental award, the Champions of the Earth Award, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, recognizing pioneers and trailblazers who have made significant and positive contributions to environmental protection. Brian McClendon, Vice President of Google Earth, and Jack Dangermond, pioneer of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), received this year's Champions of the Earth Award for providing powerful tools to monitor the state of the Earth's environment. Other recipients of the 2013 UNEP Champions of the Earth Award include: Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Environment Affairs; Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement; Izab Ella Teixeira, Brazilian Minister of Environment; Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego; and Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo of the Sierra Leone Geosphere Reserve in Mexico. UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, Achim Steiner, stated, "Leadership and vision are hallmarks of the transition to an inclusive green economy in both developed and developing countries. We are on the path to a green economy, and the outcomes of last year's Rio+20 summit have provided new impetus for this transition." He added, "This year's Champions of the Earth winners are actively taking action and developing policies to accelerate the transition to a green economy. Therefore, they illuminate..."

A report titled "The Food Wastage Footprint," released Wednesday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), states that global food waste generates more greenhouse gas emissions than any other country besides China and the United States. Approximately one-third of the world's food is wasted each year, amounting to about 1.3 billion tons. Simultaneously, the energy, water, and chemicals needed to produce and process this food are also wasted. Producing this wasted food consumes almost the entire annual flow of the Volga River in Russia, and this uneaten food occupies nearly 1.4 billion hectares of land—equivalent to 28% of the world's farmland, according to the report—and adds 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases to the planet. The FAO report predicts that the carbon footprint of food waste is equivalent to 3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. If the carbon emissions from food waste were considered as a single country, it would make China the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, after China and the United States. This demonstrates that more efficient use of food could make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating global warming. In developed countries, most food waste is related to consumers buying too much and throwing away uneaten food. In developing countries, inefficient agriculture and a lack of proper storage facilities are the main causes of food waste. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that, based on producer prices and excluding fish and seafood, the economic loss from wasted food is approximately 7 trillion euros per year.

Beijing yesterday released its strictest-ever air pollution emergency plan, including school closures, production shutdowns, work stoppages, and vehicle restrictions! Going forward, once a "red" alert is issued, vehicles will be subject to a "odd-numbered day, even-numbered day" restriction. In addition, 30% of Beijing government vehicles and 80% of municipal government vehicles will be suspended from use. Primary and secondary schools and kindergartens will be closed. During periods of severe air pollution, relevant enterprises will face production stoppages or restrictions. Facing worsening smog and frequent air pollution, Beijing mobilized more than ten units yesterday to hold a press conference and release the "Beijing Air Pollution Emergency Plan," the strictest and most forceful emergency response measures Beijing has adopted in recent years. Fang Li, Deputy Director of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, emphasized that warning signals should be issued at least one day in advance whenever possible. Fang Ping, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission, stated that emergency restrictions will only be implemented temporarily in the event of extreme pollution and a "red" alert. Fang Ping indicated that many types of vehicles are exempt from the suspension, including military and police vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, engineering vehicles, taxis, buses, funeral vehicles, and vehicles with special permits. The list of official vehicles subject to suspension does not include vehicles used by central Party and government organs. Fang Ping did not disclose the number of such vehicles. Li Hong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Information Technology, said that after a "red" alert is issued, enterprises and institutions can implement flexible working hours as needed; a list of industrial enterprises subject to production stoppages or restrictions during periods of heavy air pollution will be determined, and relevant enterprises will be subject to production stoppages or restrictions to reduce pollutant emissions by 30%. In September of this year, the China Meteorological Administration formulated a new Air Quality Index (AQI), dividing air pollution meteorological conditions forecast levels into six levels from "good" to "very poor."

Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, and seawater accounts for 97% of global water resources. Over 40% of the world's population lives along coastlines within 100 kilometers of the sea, providing an average of about 17 kilograms of protein per person per year. The marine-related economy generates $3-6 trillion annually, making its contribution to humanity undeniable. However, the pressure and damage to the marine environment caused by human use are increasingly severe, including ocean acidification due to climate change and various forms of pollution. Therefore, an objective and quantifiable methodology for assessing the current state of the ocean – the Ocean Health Index (OHI) – has emerged amidst widespread anticipation. The OHI is a comprehensive system for assessing and monitoring ocean health from multiple perspectives through the integration and scientific analysis of research data. It evaluates marine productivity across 10 indicators: food provision, artisanal fishing opportunity, natural products, carbon storage, coastal protection, coastal livelihoods and economies, tourism and recreation, and regional...

On September 11, 2013, the European Parliament adopted the Modernized Customs Code. Upon its entry into force, this code will be renamed the EU Customs Code and will simplify EU customs procedures and expand the scope of centralized clearance, reducing costs for businesses. The Modernized Customs Code will serve as the framework for customs rules and procedures in EU member states, codifying various measures currently implemented on a case-by-case basis, and clarifying legal provisions for non-EU companies operating in the EU. Furthermore, customs rules and procedures will be simplified, making trade transactions more efficient. The Council of the European Union is expected to adopt this customs code in the coming weeks, thus the code will come into effect on November 1, 2013. The proposed regulations will be implemented 30 months after adoption by the European Parliament; in other words, the Modernized Customs Code will be implemented on May 1, 2016. The Modernized Customs Code stipulates that all exchange of data, documents, resolutions, and notices between economic operators and customs must be conducted using electronic data processing technology, achieving paperless and fully electronic transactions, with the goal of full adoption of information technology by the end of 2020. The new Customs Code was originally scheduled to take effect on June 24, 2013, but the implementation date was postponed because the required electronic systems were not yet ready. In fact, all manual operating systems will continue to exist until 2013 and even after the new Customs Code takes effect (May 2016), during which time non-electronic data processing technologies may be used. The new Customs Code makes the rules for implementing customs decisions more unified.

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, recently announced a major initiative to address consumer concerns about harmful chemicals in its consumer products. The first step is to collaborate with its suppliers to develop a list of 10 harmful substances and work together to phase out their use. This list will be published once Walmart and its suppliers have discussed and decided which safer chemicals to replace them. This sustainable chemistry in consumables initiative will prioritize harmful substances in household cleaning products, cosmetics, and personal care products sold by Walmart and its subsidiary Sam's Club in the United States. The harmful chemicals in these products will be assessed based on their substitutability, product use, and impact. Under this policy, Walmart will also comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Design for Environment (DfE) guidelines for labeling its own-brand cleaning products. Since January 2015, these guidelines have required suppliers of certain product categories to disclose product ingredients on their websites. Walmart goes further, requiring suppliers to place this disclosure information on product labels. Starting in 2018, products still containing chemicals of high concern must disclose these chemical components on their product packaging labels.

Since its inception in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index annually selects multinational corporations worldwide for outstanding green business performance. The selection criteria include governance measures, social and environmental responsibility initiatives, climate change mitigation strategies, shareholder involvement, product management, energy efficiency, and financial health. This year, 3,300 international companies were invited for evaluation, but only 1,831 completed the entire questionnaire or completed the assessment using publicly available information. Top-performing companies in various industries in 2013 include: – Automotive Manufacturing: Volkswagen – Banking: Australia & New Zealand Banking Group –

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) conducted a survey on product manufacturers and consumers regarding corporate environmental commitments. The results showed that while 90% of manufacturers believed that corporate environmental policy was becoming increasingly important in their decision-making process, 40% of consumers felt that manufacturers were not doing enough in terms of environmentally friendly production processes or providing environmentally friendly products. According to UL's survey report, promoting environmental protection strategies in product manufacturing is now a priority for most companies, but consumers remain skeptical of corporate environmental commitments. Even so, the survey also showed that in 2012, 45% of consumers were willing to spend more money on environmentally friendly products, and this figure increased to 68% in 2013. UL has conducted this survey for three consecutive years, hoping to gain a better understanding of the priorities of global manufacturers and consumers in the manufacture, sale, purchase, and use of products. The survey included over 1,500 manufacturers in the United States, Germany, Brazil, China, and India, and consumers in over 1,500 of these countries. The questionnaire focused on key decision-making processes and emerging trends related to product quality, safety, and environmental transparency. The survey results show that for environmentally friendly products, 61% of manufacturers believe the product's environmental impact is more important than its impact on human health. However, for consumers, the result is exactly the opposite. 61% of consumers believe the product's impact on human health...