The United States will have to obey restrictions and won’t be able to expand oil exploration in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, against President Trump’s will.
France, pipeline breaks spilling 550,000 litres of fuel oil
La rottura accidentale di un oleodotto sotterraneo tra Loira Atlantica e Bretagna ha comportato un’importante fuga di petrolio. Evacuate alcune case.
A subterranean pipeline connecting a refinery owned by Total in the city of Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France, to storage in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, has been damaged, causing a spill of about 550,000 litres of fuel oil. According to newspaper 20 Minutes, data was confirmed by the local prefecture, which specified that the accident occurred in the municipality of Sainte-Anne-sur-Brivet.
Terracing works caused the pipeline to be damaged: a bulldozer accidentally hit the pipeline system on 5 April at 10:00 a.m. The oil pipeline has been halted, but this wasn’t enough to prevent fuel oil from leaking. After initial assessments, French authorities reassured that “environmental damages are limited”: two ponds and a ditch have been flooded with oil.
The pipeline is 93-kilometre long
During the night of the 5th of April, firemen and teams of Total (which said only 380,000 litres had leaked) carried out pumping operations aimed to secure the area and contain pollution. Moreover, a ban on using well water has been issued, while drinking water has not been contaminated. The involved area is not highly populated, but the few inhabiting in the surrounding area were forced to abandon their homes: 10 households have been evacuated.
According to local media, the pipeline was built in 1964 and is 93-kilometre long. The entire system is located underground and has a capacity of 7,200 cubic metres, transporting petrol, diesel, and domestic fuel at a pressure of 40 bars.
Cover photo: Ouest-France.
Quest'opera è distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale.
Belize has passed legislation to put an end to all oil activity in its waters to protect the largest barrier reef in the Northern hemisphere and boost sustainable tourism.
These are the top news stories of 2017 and the people who have most left a mark on a year that has been intense yet also rewarding from the point of view of social and environmental sustainability.
The fourth edition of the Greening the Islands International Conference will be held on the Italian island of Favignana on 3 and 4 November. The protagonists are the world’s small islands and the green economy.
The mayors of 12 cities have signed the C40 fossil-fuel-free streets declaration, pledging to fight air pollution, improve the quality of life for all citizens, and help tackle climate change.
The Canadian oil and gas company Pacific E&P has decided to halt its extractive activities in the Peruvian Amazon. A victory for the native Matsés people.
The mayors of four megacities have their say about the future in a letter that perfectly summarises how cities can play a crucial role in fighting climate change and creating a greener world.
People living near major roads and busy traffic are more at risk of developing dementia, according to a report analysing more than 6 million people.
Some of the most significant news stories of the year. From the Paris Agreement to the Colombian peace deal, here’s our 2016 in review: the last 12 months seen through the lens of sustainability.