Worldwide Emerging Environmental Issues Affecting The Us Military March 2009

Switzerland and Italy are cooperating in redrawing their national borders in the Matterhorn mountain area, due to melting Alpine glaciers that previously set the border lines. The new proposal considers the rocks rather than glaciers as border criteria. The Swiss-Italian border change will not affect any inhabited area. Franco Narducci, of Italy's opposition Democratic Party, who is preparing the bill for redefining the frontier, said that similar negotiations will be proposed to France and Austria. Redrawing these borders creates a precedent with implications for other effects of climate change in other regions such as the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and the Low-lying Island States.

1. International Standards Needed to Reduce Hi-tech SIMAD Threats; 2. New International Agreement on Recycling of Ships; 3. Technological Advances with Environmental Security Implications; 4. Updates on Previously Identified Issues; 5. Reports and Information Suggested for Review.

Table of Contents: "Copenhagen Accord" Brokered by President Obama at United Nations Climate Change Conference is a Step Forward in Negotiations -- Next Stop Mexico; Seven Tipping Elements That Could Transform the Planetary Systems; Emerging International Packaging Standards to Reduce Environmental Footprints; Studies Show Increased Hazards from Some Types of Airborne Particles; Technological Advances with Environmental Security Implications, including New Detection and Cleanup Techniques, New Technology to Measure Single Nanoparticles, NIST Awards Development Funding for Extended Sensor for Infrastructure Health, and Increasing Energy Efficiency Technologies; Updates on Previously Identified Issues, including Climate Change, No Enforcement Mechanism Proposed for Strengthening the Bioweapons Treaty Due to "rapidly changing nature" of the threat, China to Create an Emergency Environmental Management System, Toxic Compound Detected in Chlorinated Tap Water, Environmental Effects from Flame Retardant Manufacturing Impurities, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase Ocean Noise Pollution, Arctic "Pole of Peace" Suggested to Address Arctic Security Issues, Nuclear Disarmament Dilemma Continues, and Nanotechnology Safety Issues Item; Reports and Information Suggested for Review, including State of the World 2010 Calls for a New Paradigm in Addressing Security, Summary of European Battery Regulations Released, and Water Treatment Technologies for the Removal of High-Toxicity Pollutants. The Appendix contains expanded background information on some items.

Topics concern worldwide emerging environmental issues affecting the U.S. Military such as: Item 1. Climate Change at the UN and G-20, Item 2. Chemicals Management to Address Emerging Technologies-related Issues, Item 3. Draft European Transboundary Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change, Item 4. Technological Advances with Environmental Security Implications, 4.1 New Detection and Cleanup Techniques, 4.2 A New Water Management Tool, 4.3 Electric Vehicle Powered by Sodium-Nickel-Chloride Batteries, Item 5. Updates on Previously Identified Issues, 5.1 UN Mission Assessment of Gaza Conflict Included Environmental Impacts, 5.2 UN Security Council Resolution on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 5.3 Observation and Information System for the World's Oceans to be Created, 5.4 Synthetic Gene Ordering Security Screening Up for Discussion, 5.5 Hazardous Waste Disposal of Increasing Concern, 5.6 Climate Change, 5.6.1 Scientific Evidence and Natural Disasters, 5.6.2 Food and Water Security, 5.6.3 Health, 5.6.4 Melting Glaciers and Sea Ice, .6.5.5 Rising Sea Levels, 5.6.6 Migration, 5.6.7 Computer Modeling, 5.6.8 Adaptation, 5.6.9 Post-Kyoto Negotiations, 5.7 Nanotechnology Safety Issues, Item 6. Reports and Information Suggested for Review, 6.1 Royal Society Issues Major Geo-engineering Report, 6.2 Energy Security Challenges for the 21st Century, 6.3 New Flood Center to Develop Warning Systems, and Appendix.

This report is comprised of summaries and analysis of environmental issues affecting the U.S. military. Topics include: nuclear weapons, technology assessments, chemical emissions, biological weapons, climate, waste disposal, plastic threats to marine environment, water management, climate change, security implications of climate change, energy efficiency and cleanup technology.

This report comprises the summary and analysis of environmental issues affecting the U.S. military. Some of the topics include: UN environmental mediation program, international standards on the treatment of the environment in war, EU-US joint energy efficiency standards for office equipment, biowaste treatment, technology advances with environmental security implications, marine environmental protection, human health, health hazards, water and food security, sea ice, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and sea ice,

"Lack of water or its poor quality, last year [2005], caused 10 times more deaths than all the wars waged on the planet together," noted Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, in addressing the 4th World Water Forum held March 16-22 in Mexico City. About 20,000 participants from 141 countries participated. There were over 200 sessions and 1,600 local actions were presented. The dominating discussions were on: universal access to clean water--without border constraints; recognition of water as a fundamental human right and key to development; access to water-related technologies; and improved water management and capacity building. At the Ministerial Conference concluding the Forum, high-level officials adopted the Ministerial Declaration, calling for intensified national and international action on water and sanitation issues by including water and sanitation as priorities in national processes, and support for integrated water resources management.