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This report reviews vehicle emissions standards in Europe, Japan and the United States, providing the reader with valuable comparisons. It also examines incentives for sulphur free fuels - which can contribute to reducing both conventional air emissions and carbon dioxide. It describes emissions control technologies and the impact of emissions on health and the environment and assesses the adequacy of emissions limits for new passenger cars and heavy duty diesel engines.

Methane is, after carbon dioxide, the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Governments plan to abate methane emissions. A crude set of estimates of reduction costs is included in FUND, an integrated assessment model of climate change. In a cost-benefit analysis, methane emission reduction is found to be instrumental in controlling the optimal rate of climate change. In a cost-effectiveness analysis, methane emission reduction largely replaces carbon dioxide emission reduction. Methane emission reduction reinforces the case for international cooperation in climate policy, but complicates the efficient allocation of emission reduction efforts. Methane emission reduction at the short run does not help to achieve the ultimate objective of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Over the past half-century, the world has gained a great deal of experience with the verification of arms control agreements. With a few notable exceptions, these efforts have been successful. In addition, capabilities to carry out monitoring and verification have improved substantially. (…) Nevertheless, emerging new and more difficult arms control goals, such as further reducing U.S. and Russian strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons, will require more innovative and intrusive techniques and lessons can be learned from a number of arms control agreements. The aim of this paper is to summarize those lessons learnt and to link them to the goal of deep nuclear reductions. Special emphasis is placed on the New START Treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation. (…) (Deep Cuts/Pll)

Climate change and global warming impacts are manifesting on a daily basis all over the world. Reports of catastrophic weather events are always being aired in the news, showing huge and massive destruction to property and life. Carbon emissions by both industrialised and non-industrialised countries are the main causes of global warming and climate change. While the developed nations are making frantic efforts through innovations and technologies to adapt to the changes in the climate, the developing countries do not have the capacity to develop such technologies, hence unable to adapt to the changes, leaving them with mitigation options. Against this backdrop, South African Government has put in place various interventions to curb the surge of global climate change. However, it is pertinent to point out that till date, there is no single law passed by the parliament specifically on global climate change. This notwithstanding, in view of the fact that global climate change is caused by emissions of harmful gases to the atmosphere and the environment, South Africa has ample laws controlling and regulating the environment. Therefore, the paper seeks to advance a compelling argument on implementation and enforcement of policy and law on carbon emissions reduction and how the law can be strengthened as part of mitigation strategy. As the issues surrounding global climate change relate and strictly pertain to the environment, the relevant environmental laws that are in place could be used to control and reduce emissions of all sorts and also enforce compliance. One of such pieces of legislation is the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004. DOI:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2709