EU calls for tougher pollution laws

Polluting organisations could find themselves facing criminal charges, as the European Commission announces plans to strengthen laws covering environmental protection.

The move which would criminalise a number of environmentally-unfriendly activities has general support across the EU.

The new offences would include serious pollution incidents, improper handling of nuclear materials, operating an industrial plant in a way likely to cause substantial environmental damage and killing or trading in protected plant and animal species.

Plans to set minimum penalties, including jail sentences and large fines, have been scrapped in order to win the support of those opposed to the initiative.

Meanwhile, figures released in Brussels have revealed that UK CO2 emissions rose faster than the EU average last year, despite the carbon trading scheme which was designed to cut the levels of greenhouse gases produced.

The British increase was 2.2 per cent, while the overall increase across Europe was 0.68 per cent.