Visita ao Centro de Triagem e Ecocentro (CTE) da Valorsul

Visita ao Centro de Triagem e Ecocentro (CTE) da Valorsul

Lumiar

19 de Março de 2013, às 9h30.

A visita, reservada a associados do GEOTA, terá início no auditório para apresentação do Sistema de Gestão Integrada da Valorsul, através do visionamento de um filme e de alguns slides em PowerPoint.

De seguida será efetuado um percurso a pé às instalações do Centro de Triagem.

Ponto de encontro às 9h15 junto à recepção.

Centro de Triagem
Ecocentro
Morada:
Estrada Militar
1600-516 Lumiar – Lisboa
Tel: +351 217 542 250
Fax: +351 217 542 259

Mapa

A organização não providenciará transporte pelo que os participantes devem chegar ao local à hora indicada por meios próprios, recomendando-se o "car pool", os transportes públicos ou modos suaves de mobilidade (pé e bicicleta).

É obrigatório o uso de calçado raso e fechado.

Gratuito e reservado a associados do GEOTA. Dado o caráter livre da iniciativa, os participantes são responsáveis por si próprios, não tendo sido estabelecido qualquer tipo de seguro para os mesmos.

Obrigatória inscrição prévia para geota.sec@netcabo.pt com nome e contacto. A inscrição no evento obriga à aceitação das condições para a sua realização, bem como ao acato das indicações dos técnicos da Valorsul que irão conduzir a visita.

Mais informações: http://www.geota.pt/scid/geotaWebPage/defaultEventViewOne.asp?eventsID=224

Amor à Natureza: Carlos Pimenta distinguido como o visitante 2.500.000 do Parque Biológico

Carlos Pimenta é o associado número um, co-fundador do GEOTA (www.geota.pt).

Ocupou nesta associação, durante muitos anos, cargos directivos, a par de toda a sua actividade cívica, profissional e empresarial, distinguindo-se pelas suas inabaláveis convicções na defesa do ambiente e do interesse público.

Esta homenagem prestada, onde Carlos Pimenta foi distinguido como o visitante 2.500.000 do Parque Biológico pela Câmara Municipal de Gaia é, por isso, mais do que merecida.

Ver Fonte 

Estudantes da Universidade Autónoma de Madrid visitam Lisboa

No dia 9 de Novembro 2012, das 9h30 às 12h, nas instalações do IPDJ do Parque das Nações ocorreu uma palestra com João Grilo, da Comissão Executiva do GEOTA sobre o Plano Nacional de Barragens de Elevado Potencia Hidroeléctrico e a política da água em Portugal, a um grupo de estudantes de biologia da Universidade Autónoma de Madrid de visita a Lisboa.

Participaram mais de 40 estudantes e professores, os quais, em grupos, estão a fazer teses sobre situações relacionadas com ecologia social em Portugal, com diversos temas.

A palestra foi focada nos seguintes temas:

1- O que é o GEOTA

2- Exercicio da cidadania e ambiente (em Portugal)

3- A importância estratégica dos recursos naturais

4- A eficiência no uso da energia e da água

5- Os impactes ambientais das grandes obras

5.1- Caso de estudo: Plano nacional de barragens

5.2- Conflito de interesses e promiscuidade na tomada de decisão

5.3- O papel do GEOTA na luta contra o PNB

A acção teve o apoio do Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude.

EDP volta a mostrar desprezo pelo Ambiente

EDP volta a mostrar desprezo pelo Ambiente ao enviar resíduos contaminados da obra da nova sede para pedreira nos arredores de Lisboa

Comunicado de Imprensa

 

Lisboa, 8 de Novembro de 2012

 

A EDP está a construir a sua nova sede na Avenida 24 de Julho, em Lisboa, no local onde operou a primeira central termoeléctrica da capital, no início do século XX. A antiga central queimava, entre outros combustíveis, derivados de petróleo. Esses contaminantes são susceptíveis de contaminar os solos e a água sendo de elevada perigosidade para o Ambiente. O GEOTA apurou que os resíduos das fundações, parte deles contaminados, foram durante os últimos meses encaminhados para a pedreira de Santa Olaia, em Vialonga, tendo sido classificados como inertes pelo dono da obra, a EDP. O substrato desta pedreira é de natureza calcária, muito permeável, com elevado risco de contaminação das águas subterrâneas.

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SMALL STEPS FORWARD ON DIMINISHING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MAJOR PROJECTS, BUT CONCERNS REMAIN

For immediate release: 26 October 2012

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Justice & Environment (J&E) have welcomed the European Commission proposal for a revision of the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) released earlier today [1]. Both NGO federations consider that the proposal in many respects represents an improvement on the existing Directive, attempting to address many of the shortcomings they have criticised over the years, but are concerned that a number of shortcomings remain, especially relating to public involvement in the process.

The criteria for whether or not a project should have an EIA are now more specific. The proposed text includes new aspects to be taken into account, such as impacts on climate change, and more comprehensive analysis of environmental impacts. . Once the project is under way, the proposal then provides for monitoring of the environmental impact, though this is still not a requirement for all projects.

Jeremy Wates, EEB Secretary General reacted: “For years, developers have got away with avoiding having the environmental impact of projects taken into account by splitting up projects into small parts; otherwise known as ‘salami slicing’. The EEB is happy to see that today’s proposal deals with this by examining the accumulation of impacts of multiple projects by the same or different developers.” However he added that more remains to be done to bring the directive into the 21^st century: “This proposal makes no attempt to deal with the bizarre situation whereby the project developer is under no obligation to guarantee that the EIA is carried out before the project starts.”

Despite some improvements in many aspects the proposal remains in contravention of the Aarhus Convention. There is no provision to halt projects while court cases are pending: something which is both unacceptable and in breach of the Convention.

"This proposal lacks any improvement regarding access to justice or public participation even though the case law of the European Court of Justice and the Compliance Committee of the UN-ECE Aarhus Convention both found that it should do”, states Thomas Alge, Chair of the association Justice and Environment, representing NGOs focussing on environmental law and litigation in various EU member states. "Among other things it is not acceptable that NGOs are not explicitly entitled to participate and challenge screening procedures for projects. This means public participation rights remain in breach of the international obligations of the EU and its Member States."

ENDS

[1] The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (85/337/EEC) came into force in 1985 and has served since then as a key instrument of EU environmental policy. The purpose of the Directive is to ensure that projects affecting infrastructure, dams, industrial plants, quarries etc which are likely to have significant effects on the environment are assessed and alternatives taken into consideration.

[2] 1998 Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, adopted under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

[3] European Commission Press Release: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1158_en.htm?locale=en

[4] EIA EC Homepage http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/home.htm

[5] 2012 Justice and Environment study on Aarhus Conventions implications on the EIA directive:

http://justiceandenvironment.org/_files/file/2012/EIA%20analysis%202012.pdf;

[6] Proposed amendment text of the EIA directive:

http://justiceandenvironment.org/_files/file/2012/EIA%20table%202012.pdf

Contact:

Regina Schneider EEB Head of Communications, Enforcement co-ordinator

+32 (0) 2289 10 95

Thomas Alge, Justice and Environment, +43 699 102-95-159; Thomas.alge@oekobuero.at;  

EU executive unveils work programme for 2013

A new climate and energy package for the period up to 2030 will be one of the European Commission's main environmental initiatives for next year, according to a work programme adopted by the EU executive on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to new legislative measures on greenhouse gases, energy efficiency and renewables, the commission will also issue a comprehensive climate adaptation strategy. A consultation on the strategy closed on 20 August.
Other environmental measures planned for 2013 include a revision of waste legislation. The review, which was announced earlier in the commission's October paper on industrial policy, aims to develop new markets for waste and recycling.
The EU executive also confirmed it will review air quality legislation. A European Environment Agency report published last week has shown the NEC directive, which will be revised in 2013, has not led to a dramatic fall in eutrophic and acidified areas.

In addition, the commission will issue a policy paper on the safety of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction in Europe. Three EU studies focusing on different aspects of shale gas exploration were released in September.

In the transport sector, a further loosening of restrictions on road cabotage will be proposed as recommended by an EU advisory group in June. The group argued this would help cut CO2 emissions and boost the competitiveness of the freight sector.

During a debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday, Spanish MEP Enrique Guerrero Salom observed that, while new measures were always welcomed, the EU executive must make sure it delivers them. According to him, about half of the measures listed in the 2012 work programme have not yet been adopted.

Speaking for the commission, Maros Sefcovic insisted that most of the commission's goals for this year would be attained, pointing out that several other planned measures will be delivered before the end of the year.

Polish MEP Tadeusz Cymański of the conservative EFD group said the new climate and energy package should be rejected. Poland is heavily relying on coal for power production and such a package would be detrimental to its economy, he stressed.

Follow Up:

Commission work programme for 2013

ECHA slammed over REACH implementation

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is failing in its mission to ensure that the REACH regime is properly implemented, green groups EEB and ClientEarth said on Thursday in a highly critical report backed by Swedish MEP Carl Schlyter.
The report is based on data released on ECHA's dissemination portal and its classification and labelling (C&L) inventory between late 2011 and March 2012. It shows C&L data on 28 of the 40 substances reviewed was either missing, incomplete or incoherent.
For example, the NGOs found that two firms had classified benzophenone, a chemical used in inks, as toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects and causes damage to organs while another only referred to its toxicity to aquatic life but pointed out it was very toxic. One company did not say it posed any risks.
Another finding is that in some cases no information on toxicological studies had been provided in the REACH registration dossiers. And many of the studies submitted were "grey literature" – non peer-reviewed industry or government analyses.
Tatiana Santos of EEB acknowledged that because it was conducted last spring some of the shortcomings highlighted in the assessment may now have been rectified because registration dossiers and C&L information is frequently updated.
What she denounces is the poor quality of the data submitted by companies in the first place. "Industry is required to provide the best available information," she said.
ECHA should not have granted registration numbers to dossiers that did not comply with REACH requirements, say the NGOs. "This means substances for which essential information is missing continue to be marketed and used in the EU."
In a foreword to the report, Mr Schlyter, who is pushing for EU regulatory action on nanomaterials, raised concern over ECHA's alleged failure to properly implement REACH, particularly its "no data, no market" principle.
ECHA's lack of transparency and close links with industry were also criticised in the report. This was also flagged up in a PwC report published by the European Commission's industry and enterprise department earlier this year.
Last week, EU auditors concluded there were "significant shortcomings" regarding ECHA's policy and procedures on conflicts of interest.
"ECHA spends a lot of time with chemicals companies, and rightly so," noted Mr Schlyter. "However, as a public agency its 'primary' client is society at large."
In a statement, ECHA said it shared some of the concerns highlighted in the report. "However, the agency refutes some of the comments made, in particular on independence and transparency of decision making," it added.
Hubert Mandery, head of chemical industry association Cefic, said: "The assessment of whether or not REACH works is in the hands of EU authorities, who have the oversight and relevant information. If there are shortcomings on the industry side, they need to be sorted out, because we want to make REACH work."

Follow Up:

NGOs' report on REACH implementation