World

• Date: 01 May 2024

52024 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER 54 ELR 10433

WASHINGTON

CLIMATE CHANGE

e Department of Ecology adopted amend ments to regula-

tions governing the greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-invest

program. e amendments clarify that the ex isting holding

limits that apply to allowances with a “vintage” also apply

to the “vintage less” allowa nces that are acquired through

allowance price containment reserve (APCR) auctions and

that any allowanc es purchased in an APCR auction must be

deposited directly into the entity’s compliance account. See

https://lawlesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2024/05/24-05-080.

htm (Feb. 21, 2024).

WATER

e Department of Ecology proposed a mendments to water

quality stand ards for surface waters of t he state. e amend-

ments would, among other things, update the aquatic life

toxics criteria to provide additional water qua lity protection

for organisms that live in w ater. See https://lawles ext.leg.

wa.gov/law/wsr/2024/05/24-05- 043.htm (Feb. 15, 2024).

In the World

“In the World” features notable developments repor ted in the international section of ELR Update during the month of

March 2024. Current and archived materials, and links to primar y news sources, can be found on ELR's website at https://

elr.info/international/international-update.

GOVERNANCE

ZAMBIA DECLARES ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS

AMIDST SEVERE DROUGHT

Zambia recently declared a state of national disaster a nd

emergency due to a devastating d rought (AP, Reuters). On

February 28, President Hak ainde Hichilema addres sed the

nation, highlighting t he severe impact on food production

and electricity generation, attributed in pa rt to climate

change and the El Niño weather pattern. “is drought

has devastating consequences on many sectors such a s ag-

riculture, water availability and energy supply, risking our

national food securit y and the livelihoods of millions of

our people. e dry spell is projected to continue . .. a f-

fecting over 1 million of our fa rming households,” said Hi-

chi lema (A P).

With 84 out of the country’s 116 districts a ected, the gov-

ernment planned to redistribute food from surplus areas, im-

port more, and collaborate with internationa l agencies and

local businesses for a ssistance (AP). Hichilema announced

plans to import and ration electricity as hydropower, the

country’s primary power source, was expected to be signi -

cantly aected. e energy sector anticipates a decit of up

to 500 megawatts thi s year due to declining water levels at

the Kariba Dam. ( Reuters). Zambia has been strugg ling with

debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework for

the past three yea rs. Hichilema urged bot h ocial and pri-

vate creditors to expedite the debt restruct uring process, em-

phasizing the urgenc y of the situation (Reuters).

Hichilema also ca lled on multilateral development agencies

and donor countries to provide humanitaria n support, partic-

ularly in terms of food as sistance. Severa l entities, including

Britain, the United Nations, and the World Bank, pledged to

aid Zambia in addressing these challenges (Reuters).

NATURAL RESOURCES

EU OFFICIAL ADDRESSES SOUTH AMERICAN

CONCERNS OVER DEFORESTATION BAN

e European Union’s (EU’s) environment policy chief re-

cently embarked on a tour of South America to address con-

cerns raised by countries in the region regarding a ne w EU

law (Reuters). e law, which is set to be implemented from

the end of December, will ban imports of good s associated

with deforestation, including soy, beef, coee, and palm oil.

Deforestation is a signica nt contributor to climate change,

particula rly in Amazon Ba sin countries, whose forests play a

crucial role in absorbing carb on dioxide.