JAPANESE scientists hail environmental technology as the new frontier of science. Surveyed on breakthroughs they consider likely in the next generation, scientists listed 1,149 topics in 16 fields.

YOU CAN now bank on the environment -- at least at the nine Punjab National Bank (PNB) branches that will underwrite projects friendly to both customers and the environment. In a trend-setting move,

Simulated climate models show increasing carbon dioxide and chlorine emissions can drastically alter weather conditions and lead to the formation of an ozone hole over the Arctic.

Fourteen years after Germany scored a worldwide first by adopting eco labelling, there still remain doubts about selection and evaluation procedures used in the system.

Two major volcanic eruptions have further damaged the CFC affected ozone layer, creating a larger than ever gap in the stratosphere.

Despite Third World pleas for generous grace periods, Montreal Protocol nations have moved forward the phase out dates for chemicals threatening the ozone layer. The hastening was prompted in part by scary reports of increasing ozone depletion.

An Indian government report that criticises and asks for several amendments in the Montreal Protocol is expected to generate heated debate among signatories meeting later this month.

The cold war between the superpowers not only left the entire world cold in fear, but perhaps also cooled the Earth, say Russian researchers K Y Kondratyev and G A Nikolsky. Their theory is that the