This project, commissioned by Office of Sustainable Development, the Environmental Protection Administation(EPA). Focused on international environmental information collection and trend analysis. The main tasks in this project included the following: (1) to collect, select, and translate environmental news and policies ; (2) to analyze trends in international environmental protection, environmental regulations and policies; (3)to assist in distribution of the above outcomes. From March 17 through December 31, 2009, 1087 international environmental news articles were selected and translated, and 41 issues of international environmental weekly news were highlighted. Daily international news briefs were distributed to subscribers, as well as six feature project reports completed on specific environmental topics assigned by the EPA. Three issues of quarterly analytical reports on international environmental protection trends were published. Much of the news collected by this project (46%) originated from the US and Japan. Forty percent were about integrated policies, which demonstrates the interdisciplinary feature of environmental policies. Furthermore, as the issues of global warming and greenhouse gas reduction continued to gain attention, news articles about global climate change ranked second highest, at 20% of the total. Air pollution prevention and waste management associated with the subject of climate change also become progressively important international environmental issues, numbering about 10% of the total. The above four major topics reached 80% of the total, many of which were directly or indirectly related to climate change, carbon reduction, green energy and green policies.

International environmental news, environmental information, Trends in international environmental policy