Snippets
• The first two years of the UK emissions trading scheme have been a success, states a report issued by the country's National Audit Office (NAO). The UK launched its emissions trading scheme in March 2002, offering 34 companies a US $385-million dividend incentive over five years in return for a commitment to cut their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Three of the companies subsequently dropped out of the scheme. The rest were then set a CO2 reduction target of 0.79 million tonnes. According to the NAO, they managed to do better by reducing CO2 emissions by 4.64 million tonnes.
• China has confirmed three more cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), taking the total number of cases to nine as the disease rears its head again. So far, one person has succumbed to the disease while one has been released after being cured. The disease had caused almost 800 deaths worldwide last year. Meanwhile, Taiwanese researchers have found that diluted promazine, commonly used to treat mental disorders, can be effective for SARS treatment. Niclosamide, used to kill parasites, is another potent option.
• Efforts to put in place an ambitious earth observation system