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This article discusses how the citizens of the European countries are finally taking action against the perils of pollution after years of lagging behind the U.S. and Japan in pollution regulation. The signs of discontent can be found everywhere. The environmental group Greenpeace International reports that its list of European members has grown by 50% in the past 18 months. The Green Party in France, never before a factor, received 8% of urban votes in the March municipal elections. And in Italy, where voters rejected nuclear power in a 1987 referendum, riots broke out last summer over toxic-waste disposal in several ports. What's behind Europe's sudden conversion? Similar to America's current environmental angst after the Alaska oil spill, Europeans have been shaken out of their slumber by a series of disasters. Not all of Europe is moving at the same pace, of course. The north-south divide remains, with northern countries, led by Germany, at the forefront of environmental concern, while the Mediterranean nations lag behind. What is new is that the balance of power on the continent is shifting. The environmentalist countries in the EC used to be isolated, but now Britain and to some extent Italy more often join their ranks, breaking the logjam on some major policy questions.

The article focuses on the implication of the outcome of the research on education for sustainable development in Europe. Most northern European countries have embraced the concept while on the other hand, there are also those who are still in discussion about the issue. Despite, differences in background, there are recent developments seen such as the Fifth Ministerial Environment for Europe Conference in which a regional Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development was formed. In addition, the meeting also launched the United Nations strategy for Education for Sustainable Development in the region. The goal of the Strategy is to integrate key themes of sustainable development in all education systems.

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.

The article discusses carbon-emissions trading. Market forces and the environment are not always in harmony, but a new venture, announced on September 7th, may help lessen the discord. The European Climate Exchange (ECX), formed in an agreement between the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and London's International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), will offer European companies a place to trade emissions credits for greenhouse gases. Regulation has spurred the creation of the ECX. Next January, the European Union will put into effect new rules designed to curb carbon-dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming. Companies in the EU's 25 member states will be allowed to emit a certain amount. If they go over, they can buy credits from companies that have stayed within their limits. The ECX plans to offer trading in emissions-credit futures by the end of this year, with cash products to follow soon afterwards. In anticipation of this scheme, forward trading has already begun, though not on the ECX. Nine European brokerage houses already facilitate over-the-counter trades. Evolution Markets, one such firm, estimates that the volume traded has risen from 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in January to 600,000 in July. The American market has not had Europe's regulatory shove: the United States, unlike Europe, did not sign the Kyoto agreement on climate change and is not forcing companies to limit emissions.

The article discusses the environmental movement around the world. In America, greens have suffered a string of defeats on high-profile issues. Europe's green groups, while politically stronger, are also starting to lose their way intellectually. A sensible green analysis of nuclear power would weigh its (very high) economic costs and (fairly low) safety risks against the important benefit of generating electricity with no greenhouse-gas emissions. The coming into force of the United Nations's Kyoto protocol on climate change might seem a victory for Europe's greens, but it actually masks a larger failure. The most promising aspect of the treaty--its innovative use of market-based instruments such as carbon-emissions trading--was resisted tooth and nail by Europe's greens. If environmental groups continue to reject pragmatic solutions and instead drift toward Utopian visions of the future, they will lose the battle of ideas. Rachel Carson, the crusading journalist who inspired greens in the 1950s and 1960s, is joining hands with Adam Smith, the hero of free-marketeers.