國際環保組織綠色和平近日發布的《氣候臨界點—化石能源發展對控制全球升溫2℃目標的可能性影響》研究（以下簡稱《研究》）指出：中國、澳洲、美國、印尼、巴西等國家的14個新建的大型煤炭、石油和天然氣開採案如果得以開發實施，將導致2020年全球化石能源的二氧化碳排放量較2011年增加20%，確定全球排放曲線快速上升的趨勢，使全球升溫控制在2度內的目標變得渺茫，乃至進入災難性的5~6 ℃升溫軌道。 綠色和平呼籲：人類能否擺脫對化石能源的依賴，決定全球應對氣候變化挑戰的成敗。各國政府和企業應該立即採取行動，停止化石能源擴張的腳步，積極推動可持續低碳之“能源革命”，使用可再生能源及提高能效等方式來滿足新增能源需求，避免全球氣候變化跨過不可挽回的臨界點。 “這14個化石能源開發案的規劃是全球經濟對化石能源依賴成癮的體現。” 綠色和平國際總幹事庫米•奈都指出：“這些計畫一旦開採完成，將成為迄今為止最大的溫室氣體排放源，進一步將溫室氣體排放推上新的高峰。如果不立即採取行動加以阻止，跨過臨界點之後，對人類社會將造成致命的的影響。” 由綠色和平與智庫Ecofys合作完成的這份《研究》中，對

On February 4th, APP, one of the world's largest pulp and paper producers, released a new forest protection policy, pledging to immediately cease all operations involving natural forests in its global supply chain and to accept monitoring and evaluation by non-governmental organizations. Greenpeace positively affirmed APP's commitment to stop deforestation, which is of great significance for protecting the world's few remaining tropical rainforests. Yang Jie, Forest Protection Director of Greenpeace East Asia Office, said, "We welcome APP's announcement of this commitment and will closely monitor its implementation. If APP can fulfill its commitment with concrete actions, it will be a huge turning point for the Indonesian rainforests that have suffered damage for many years." According to the new policy, APP explicitly commits to protecting China's natural forests, ensuring that its pulp and paper plantation operations no longer involve the conversion into any natural forests. Regarding the conversion issues that have already occurred in Hainan and other areas, APP China has also pledged to discuss and develop solutions with stakeholders in the near future. Yang Jie pointed out that once these policies are truly implemented, they will have a positive impact on protecting China's natural forests. Greenpeace hopes that APP China can develop effective solutions and timelines for restoring vegetation and ecosystems in the central mountainous areas of Hainan to demonstrate its determination to protect global tropical rainforests. APP's new forest protection policy was formulated in response to years of appeals and pressure from Indonesian and international environmental organizations. Greenpeace's global forest protection program, aimed at changing deforestation practices in the pulp and paper industry, uncovered APP's global deforestation activities through field investigations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report stating that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air can lead to adverse reproductive outcomes, respiratory illnesses in children, and arteriosclerosis. PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. The WHO report also indicates that PM2.5 is linked to nervous system development, cognitive development, and diabetes, and further confirms the causal relationship between PM2.5 and death from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Particulate matter consists of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, including sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, and other substances. The main sources of anthropogenic particulate matter are exhaust fumes from household heating, industrial activities, and vehicles on the road. The WHO points out that, based on the WHO's 2005 Air Quality Guidelines, over 80% of Europeans are exposed to excessive amounts of particulate matter, which, on average, reduces life expectancy by 8.6 months per person. The WHO recommended revising the Particulate Matter Guidelines by 2015, establishing stricter exposure values ​​for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and developing long-term average ozone concentration standards. This report, titled "A Review of the Evidence on Health Effects of Air Pollution," was implemented by the WHO at the request of the European Commission, within the framework of the EU's 2013 air-related policies. EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik stated, "EU air policy must be based on the latest scientific research."

As in previous years, OEKO-TEX® released its latest OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 testing standards and limit values ​​for hazardous substances in textiles at its annual meeting. The new standards took effect on January 1, 2013, and were officially implemented on April 1, 2013. Compared with the 2012 version, the main changes are as follows: 1. Eight new polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will be added to the testing for candidate certified textiles, bringing the total to 24. For product category one (infant products), the total limits for benzo(a)pyrene and PHAs have been reduced from 1.0 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively. 2. Considering the updates to the REACH List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), dimethylformamide (DMF) has been added to the list of regulated solvents, with a limit of 0.1%. 3. The requirement for phthalates in candidate samples will be expanded to include diammonium phthalate (DPP), increasing the number of items from 11 to 12. The total limit for all 12 items remains at 0.1%. 4. In light of the latest revisions to the restricted substances list in Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation, dimethyl fumarate (DMFu) will be added as an additive to the OEKO-TEX® regulated residual chemical substances list, and related components will be subject to further restrictions.

在芝加哥市中心，有一塊面積達1900平方米，鬱鬱蔥蔥的綠色花園。在這塊綠洲裡，自由生長著150多種、兩萬多株花草，小蝴蝶、小蜜蜂、小鳥在須芒草、 三葉草、仙人掌叢中飛來飛去。花園內還有一個養蜜蜂的蜂房，花園的管理者每年都義賣產出的蜂蜜，募集到的資金用於青少年課外活動項目。這片綠地並不在地面的公園裡，而在芝加哥市政廳的屋頂上，它是芝加哥的第一座綠色屋頂。 近年來，隨著城市規模的高速擴張，熱浪席捲著許多城市。「綠色屋頂」能夠減少屋頂熱輻射、緩解熱島效應，芝加哥市政廳頂樓的溫度要比傳統的柏油屋頂溫度低很多。此外，城市的綠色屋頂就像一個蓄水池，能截流和儲存大量雨水，並蓄水48小時以上，降低雨水流速，一定程度地緩解城市內澇。 芝加哥環境保護局局長說，增添環保元素會讓建築成本更昂貴，但從長遠效應來看是有經濟效益的。由於大規模推行屋頂綠化，有效降低了能源消耗。此外，屋頂花園還為昆蟲提供了良好的生存環境，為鳥類提供了食物來源，為市民提供了避暑納涼的休閒空間，使人與自然和諧相處。 資料來源：    環境資訊中心 (2012-11-22)

In early December 2012, the California Center for Environmental Hygiene (CEH) took legal action against 24 baby product retailers and distributors under the state's Safe Drinking Water and Prohibition of Toxic Substances Act (commonly known as Proposition 65), alleging that these companies' products contained excessive levels of the chlorinated flame retardant tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP). The products involved included foam-filled cradle mattresses, crib mattresses, and portable cribs. The violation notice issued by the CEH stated that the foam filling of the products was treated to contain the aforementioned flame retardant. Consumers, including children, had the opportunity to inhale, ingest, or come into contact with the substance through their skin. The CEH stated that the products did not include clear and reasonable warnings regarding the carcinogenic risks of TDCPP. On October 28, 2011, the California Office of Environmental Health Risk Assessment (OEHHA) added TDCPP to the restricted list of Proposition 65, but manufacturers were not required to formally comply with warning labeling requirements until October 28, 2012. In other words, California could only recently begin prosecuting consumer products containing this substance. The OEHHA set a safety standard of 5.4 micrograms per day for TDCPP; if exposure is below this level, warning labels are not required. Proposition 65 stipulates that companies must comply with warning labeling requirements if they know that a consumer product, food, drug, or other product contains TDCPP.

According to a final rule issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), manufacturers and importers of children's products will be required to test "representative samples" at least annually to ensure continued compliance with all safety regulations. Under U.S. federal regulations, testing must be performed by a "third-party assessment body" accredited by the CPSC. The "Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product Certification Regarding Representative Samples for Periodic Testing of Children’s Products" rule, effective February 8, 2013, specifies record-keeping requirements for representative sample testing. Records must be kept for at least five years. Children's products affected by the rule include bicycles, furniture, clothing, jewelry, televisions, and toys designed "primarily or intended" for children 12 years of age or younger. While there is no specific requirement for the number of samples to be periodically tested, it must be "sufficient to ensure continued compliance with regulations." The Commission notes that various methods can be used to select representative samples, assessed based on "rules, prohibitions, standards, or regulations." For chemical testing, from "homogeneous materials, such as..."

Although EU legislation aims to regulate the proper disposal of electronic and electrical products in the waste stage, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the illegal export of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is still increasing year by year. The EU WEEE Directive puts forward strict requirements for the recycling and processing of electronic waste in the EU. Likewise, because such items are generally classified as hazardous materials, it is illegal to export e-waste from EU member states to non-OECD countries. However, although the EU is unable to provide sufficient import and export data of e-waste, there are many indications that a considerable amount of European e-waste is exported to West Africa and Asia disguised as second-hand goods. The report also pointed out that in these countries, electronic waste is usually not recycled and processed in formal ways, which often results in major pollution of the environment and harm to the health of local residents. Therefore, the European Environment Agency insists that the EU has a moral obligation to crack down on the illegal export trade of WEEE disguised as second-hand goods. Even if the illegal transfer of WEEE can be completely eradicated, the legal trade export of used household appliances will continue to indirectly harm the environment and people's health in countries outside the EU. The report further emphasizes that supporting West African and other countries to develop sound recycling systems for environmental and social masks is an important task for the EU. According to an assessment by the European Environment Agency, trade in hazardous waste is expected to increase in the coming years. The EEA requires the EU to pre-emptively regulate waste

The United Nations climate change conference in Doha reached an agreement on August 8 to extend the validity of the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 to achieve emissions reduction constraints. Although the greenhouse gas emissions of all signatory countries accounted for only 15% of the total after Russia, Japan, and Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, and emissions from emerging market countries such as China and India continued to grow, increasing global carbon dioxide emissions by 2.6%, 50% higher than the 1990 record, nearly 200 countries worldwide were unwilling to give up the opportunity to save the planet and agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol's validity for another eight years, making it the only legally binding document to combat global warming. However, representatives from various countries still believed that decisions made simply at a conference were far less effective than solutions suggested by scientists, such as taking proactive measures to prevent sea-level rise, heat waves, dust storms, or floods. Furthermore, the debate over whether to charge developed countries more funds to assist other countries in addressing global warming will be postponed until next year (2013). After two weeks of intensive consultations, the Doha Conference reached an agreement that legally affirmed the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol's emissions reduction commitments, extending the Kyoto Protocol's validity until the new convention takes effect in 2020 to curb climate change. Some developed countries also pledged to continue significant emissions reductions until 2020. The conference also adopted the "Doha Climate Gateway" agreement, the key points of which are: Kyoto...

The China Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) recently issued a public consultation letter seeking revisions to the current "Cosmetic Hygiene Standard" (2007 edition). This standard is proposed to be renamed the "Cosmetic Safety Technical Standard" and is currently open for public comment. The revised technical standard will place greater emphasis on ensuring the safety of cosmetic products, imposing stricter limits on lead and arsenic residues. Compared to the original "Hygiene Standard," the new "Technical Standard," referencing relevant international regulations, adjusts the residue limits for lead and arsenic from the current 40 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg, respectively. The "Hygiene Standard," primarily used for the licensing and supervision of cosmetic products, focuses heavily on product safety requirements and is no longer sufficient to meet the current needs for comprehensive safety supervision of cosmetics throughout the entire process of research, development, production, and use. The "Technical Standard," while revising product safety requirements, also adds safety requirements for cosmetic raw materials, revising and improving the list of prohibited and restricted substances, general testing methods, toxicological testing methods, and human safety evaluation methods and standards, thus imposing stricter controls on raw material selection and the production process. Source: Chemical Watch (December 13, 2012) (Compiled by PIDC)

Chemicals are an integral part of our daily lives. All living and inanimate matter is composed of chemicals, and the production processes of products we encounter in daily life also heavily rely on them. Many chemicals, when used properly, can significantly improve our quality of life, health, and well-being. Conversely, some chemicals are extremely dangerous, and improper management and use can have negative impacts on human health and the environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a booklet listing 10 chemicals that endanger public health, including air pollution, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, dioxins, excessive or insufficient fluorine, lead, mercury, and highly dangerous pesticides. The booklet also provides scientific evidence and risk management recommendations. Source: World Health Organization (2013-01-08) (Compiled by PIDC)

A right porpoise, a Class I protected species facing extinction, stranded and died in Potou Fishing Port, Hsinchu County. It was transferred to the Taijiang Cetacean Rescue Center on the 17th for autopsy and analysis. The Taijiang Cetacean Rescue Center will preserve it as a specimen by the Xinhua County Government. The right porpoise, also known as the "sea monk" or "river dolphin," is distributed from the Persian Gulf in the west to Japan in the east. It inhabits sandy seabeds at depths of up to 50 meters and is rarely seen more than 5 kilometers offshore, making it a near-shore dolphin. Fan Guoquan, Director of the Agriculture Bureau of Hsinchu County Government, stated that six cetacean strandings have occurred in the waters off Potou Fishing Port in Hsinchu County in the past year: bottlenose dolphins, pygmy sperm whales, fin whales, melon-headed whales, and the right porpoise that stranded and died yesterday. The right porpoise is listed as a Class I endangered species. The Hsinchu County Government's Agriculture Bureau took the matter very seriously and immediately contacted the Taijiang Cetacean Rescue Center and Professor Wang Jianping of the Department of Life Sciences at National Cheng Kung University for assistance in the investigation. Preliminary identification indicates it was a juvenile male porpoise. Undigested fish pieces and plastic objects were found in its stomach and intestines. It is believed that it was feeding before its death, and the plastic objects may have caused intestinal obstruction, leading to death. Source: Environmental Information Center (2013-01-17)

ZARA, the world's largest apparel retailer, has become the eighth brand globally to pledge to eliminate toxic substances in its production chain after nine days of intense public scrutiny and pressure, including street protests by over 700 volunteers and a petition signed by over 310,000 people worldwide. ZARA has committed to fully implementing non-toxic production by 2020 and prioritizing the elimination of several toxic and hazardous substances, such as PFCs (perfluorinated compounds), by 2015. ZARA's commitment is not only a boon to the environment but also upholds the public's right to know (what toxic and hazardous substances are being released into waterways). ZARA stated that by the end of 2013, at least 100 suppliers (including at least 40 in China) would publicly disclose data on their emissions of toxic and hazardous substances, categorized by chemical type, factory location, and year for public review. Although ZARA's clothing is not manufactured in Taiwan, the Inditex Group has pledged to ban the use of alkylphenol ethers and perfluorinated compounds that interfere with the hormone system in its production chain, and has further established a short-term list and timetable for phasing out toxic and hazardous substances. Lai Chien-ju, director of Greenpeace's pollution prevention project, emphasized that while corporate commitments are crucial, the government needs to expedite regulatory amendments to effectively guide any production practices using toxic and hazardous substances and achieve zero emissions of toxic and hazardous substances by 2020. She also pointed out that the public has the right to know what toxic and hazardous substances were used in the manufacturing process of the clothing they purchase, and this information should be made transparent.