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Every year, more than 100 000 monkeys and apes are used for biomedical research around the world for biomedical research and for testing the safety of new drugs. Are there alternatives to the use of primates in research and testing? Would it be feasible to stop using them altogether? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER).

Some school supplies, such as erasers, contain phthalates – substances that are added to plastics to make them soft. Can regularly chewing on such articles cause harmful health effects? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER)

Currently, conventional incandescent lamps are being replaced with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Do these energy-saving lamps aggravate the symptoms in patients with certain diseases? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)

This week, World Malaria Day (25 April) draws attention to a disease that still infects nearly 250 million people each year and kills close to one million of them, especially children. Currently, half the world's population lives in areas where bites of infected mosquitoes could transmit the disease and many efforts are still needed to meet the 2010 target of delivering effective and affordable protection and treatment to at least 80% people at risk of malaria. Latest facts and figures are provided by the “World Malaria Report 2008” produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) addressing worldwide disease trends and actions taken.

In coming years, the world's energy consumption is expected to increase dramatically. What role could forests play in future energy supply? GreenFacts faithfully summarised the 'Forests and Energy, Key Issues' report produced in 2008 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Rising food prices have fuelled controversy about the production of liquid biofuels for transport. Currently, biofuels are produced from food crops, such as sugar cane or rape seed, and have been criticized for yielding low economic and environmental benefits compared to fossil fuels. If sustainably managed, large forested areas could serve as a source for a new generation of biofuels derived from wood that is better than current biofuels from food crops in terms of energy efficiency, environmental benefits and socio-economical impacts. This is one of the conclusions of a recent report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

This week, the World Water Forum brings together thousands of people from around the world to discuss the future of water management. For this occasion, Facts on water resources are made availabe in seven languages in pdf form: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Turkish.

Demand for fish is still growing and exerting strong pressures on fish stocks, though growing aquaculture production is now meeting almost half of the demand of fish for food. GreenFacts faithfully summarised the "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture" released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

World Forestry Day & Energy - Many languages at World Water Forum - Today’s fish stocks - Groundbreaking Mercury Treaty - Groundbreaking Mercury Treaty

The growing use of energy that underlies current economic growth puts unsustainable pressure on natural resources and on the environment. What options do we have for switching to a cleaner and more efficient energy future? How much will it cost? And what policies could achieve this? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the Executive Summary of the 'Energy Technology Perspectives 2008' by the International Energy Agency (IEA).