The European Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set new standards for office appliances which could save the equivalent of one year electricity consumption in Ireland.

Senior Political Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Pervez Malik has called for taking measures on war footing basis to check rapidly increasing environmental pollution, as environmental issues may hamper the country's economy.

The UK government is to launch an environmental study on marine energy projects in England and Wales, paving the way for commercial wave and tidal devices to be deployed.

WHAT could be the world

Unused funds from a European Union plan to spend 4 billion euros (US$5.3 billion) overhauling energy infrastructure could be funnelled into energy efficiency measures, according to a agreement reached on Thursday.

European Union countries struck the deal in closed-door negotiations with the European Parliament after weeks of squabbling within the 27-nation bloc.

Chief executives from Europe