The background to the new environmental legislation is reviewed. Both global wanning due to the greenhouse effect and stratospheric ozone depletion are shown to be major problems. Steps to limit ozone depletion have now been taken but the situation will worsen until approximately 2005. Global warming is likely to be intractable and will produce significant changes in agriculture and industry in the first quarter of the 21st century. The UK Environmental Protection Act is likely to have a relatively limited effect on these problems. Some suggestions for positive actions by the Rubber Industry are made.
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