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Discusses the environmental condition of Mediterranean Sea. Efforts of European countries to clean up and protect the ecosystem of the sea through the program Mediterranean Action Plan; Health risks posed by the sea on human populations; Sewage and waste buildup; Pollution; Changes in the ecosystem of the sea; Proposed environmental clean up programs; Effects of various human activities on the sea.

The article reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is being sued by 12 state governments because of changes in reporting laws regarding industrial pollution which allow higher levels of emissions. U.S. Congress is also considering legislation that would reverse the EPA's decision. A comparison of U.S. environmental laws regarding industrial pollution with those of Europe is presented.

This article reports that Europe's efforts to meet its Kyoto protocol targets for greenhouse gas emissions are heading for trouble after Germany, the driving force behind the continent's emissions reductions for the past 15 years, slammed on the brakes. Since 1990, Germany has cut its emissions by 17.5%. Its Kyoto target is a 21% cut, but on June 28, 2006, the environment ministry revealed that it would only require a further 0.6% cut from its major industrial emitters between now and 2010. It also exempted new power plants from any limits until 2022. Germany is Europe's largest emitter, and the move jeopardizes the EU's promise to cut emissions overall by 8% during 1990-2010.

This article focuses on a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Council of Europe, according to which Europe has failed to appreciate just how diverse its wildlife is, and is not doing enough to protect even its poster-child animals such as the Iberian lynx, along with rare bears, storks and warblers. Loss of habitat is of prime concern. In the 1990s some 7700 square kilometres of Europe's fields and forests gave way to car parks, roads, shopping malls and other buildings. That is equivalent to five new cities as big as London, England. Other issues, such as halting the introduction of alien species and promoting farm diversity, need to be taken up much more strongly by governments.

Discusses the ecological impact of antibiotics and animal medicine released into the environment. How veterinary scientists loosened drug regulations in Europe; Concern from environmentalists on the lack of regulation; Data on drug content found in soil samples, monitored at Cranfield University; Comments from Steve Killeen, head of chemical policy at Britain's Environmental Agency in Bristol.

Presents world scientific news briefs as of June 19, 1999. Revelation after analysis of a Chinese space launcher that the Chinese have borrowed from Russian technology; Projected difficulty to make the rumored date to launch a rocket on the 50-year anniversary of the People's Republic of China; Plans to curb pollution published by the European Commission (EC); Calls for greater inspection powers for the EC in the wake of the Belgian food scandal.

Calls on Europeans to unite on environmental issues. Contributions of Europeans on continental and planetary environmental degradation; Growing public and political awareness of the environment; Effort of Central and Eastern European countries to establish democratic political structures with socially and environmentally oriented market economies; Developing a coordinated pan-European effort to create a better environment.

Reports on Council of Europe representatives' adoption of a set of principles for protecting soil. Meeting held in October 1990; Number of nations that voted to enshrine the principles into a binding convention in 1993; Agreement that pollution, erosion and loss of soil through bad urban planning are problems of deepening concern; Consideration of a common convention on liability for environmental damage.

Presents opinions on a variety of scientific topics. How European environmental ministers should deal with traffic congestion and air pollution; The issue of human cloning; Discovery of pesticides in the Netherlands which are polluting lakes and rivers.

Reports on the exclusion of some of Europe's wildlife sanctuaries from the European Union's Habitats Directive. Omission of the Scottish sea lochs, hay meadows, water meadows and snowbeds containing rare plants from Great Britain's list of sites that need to be protected.

Reports on the new rules scheduled for signing on November 1993 regarding the reduction of emissions of sulphur dioxide. Europe's ecosystem; Non-applicability of law to parts of Norway, Sweden, Germany and Netherlands due to excessive cost; Fifty percent gap reduction formula for 11 zones with the most damaged soils, forests and lakes; Revision of treaty on levels of acid rain.

Reports on the agreement of countries in Europe to decrease their emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Pledge to reduce emissions in industrialized regions; Release of VOCs from incomplete burning of fuel by motor vehicles.

Comments on the efforts of the European Community to stabilize their total emissions of carbon dioxide in 1991. Impact of the world's emission of greenhouse gases on climatic change; Problems concerning environmental policy-making in Europe; Calls for a worldwide commitment to reduce emissions; Challenges in setting up an emissions reduction system.

Reports on the results of a study conducted by the French parliament that France and the whole European Community are 'running out of steam' on environmental issues. Tendency not to consider the environment in policy making; Failure of environmental incentives programs; Discussion on some failed environmental policies.

Reports on objections by Spain to plans that would set up a network of protected nature reserves across the European Community. Delay introduction of the Community's LIFE program; What the directive would do; What Spain wants.