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2011 Make your voice heard on renewable energy! Source: European Commission One quarter of the energy related GHG emissions from homes The commercial sector also have a large share of indirect green house gas emissions, whith 15 per cent of the energyrelated emissions. Traffic has only a small share of indirect emissions, but is still the largest source when indirect emissions are included, with 29 per cent of the total. Source: European Environment Agency Major ecosystem shift to be expected
Jon Bergengren, a scientist who led the study: "The surprising degree of ecological sensitivity of Earth's ecosystems predicted by our research highlights the global imperative to accelerate progress toward preserving biodiversity by stabilizing Earth's climate". Source: NASA Stricter ship sulphur standards in Turkey Source: Sustainable Shipping News, 20 December 2011 Revised Gothenburg Protocol to be adopted in May 2012 The revised protocol will set binding emission reduction commitments for five pollutants (SO2, NOx, VOCs, NH3 and PM2.5) for each country, to be achieved by 2020, and include emission standards for stationary and mobile sources. Negotiations are expected to be finalised and a revised Gothenburg Protocol adopted at a meeting in Geneva on 30 April to 4 May 2012. More information: http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=26917 Climate change is man-made Accoring to the study it is highly unlikely that natural variation in temperature, as well as changes in solar radiation, could be the cause of global warming. The study differs from previous attempts through the use of a much simpler model of Earth's energy balance. Source: Nature Geoscience Poland faces high fine for air quality failure COM pressrelease: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/1434&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009, EEA reveals The EEA estimate that carbon dioxide emissions contribute the most to the overall damage costs, approximately €63 billion. Air pollutants, which contribute to acid rain and can cause respiratory problems - sulphur dioxide, ammonia, particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides - were found to cause €38-105 billion of annual damage. The EEA report: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/cost-of-air-pollution Call for stricter ship sulphur standards But the Commission's proposal does not go far enough, Hassi argues, and proposes that the 0.1 per cent sulphur limit for passenger ships should come into force from 2015, i.e. at the same time as this limit will apply in SECAs. She also wants the Commission to explore, by the end of 2013, the establishment of new sulphur and nitrogen oxide emission control areas in Europe, as well as methods for further reducing emissions. The draft parliament report was presented to the parliament's environment committee on 22 November, and a vote in the committee is scheduled for 24 January. The draft report: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/envi/pr/882/882049/882049en.pdf US clean air rules could create 1.5 million jobs The Political Economic Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst prepared the analysis, which estimated that investments driven by these two air quality rules would result in nearly 1.5 million jobs, or about 300,000 jobs per year on average, over the next five years. Source: Platts, 17 November 2011 CCS could also impact air pollution Web link: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/carbon-capture-and-storage Ship fuel efficiency cuts costs These reductions translate into annual fuel cost savings of about US$50 billion in 2020 and about US$200 billion by 2030. Despite the emission reduction potential resulting from IMO regulations, the authors conclude that an absolute reduction in shipping's total CO2 emissions from the 2010 level appears not to be feasible with these regulations alone. For all scenarios, the projected growth in world trade outweighs the achieved emission reduction. IMO briefing: www.imo.org Emission reductions from traffic might only be temporary The economic recession was the major driver behind the drop in emissions from traffic in 2009, according to the European Environment Agency's annual report on traffic emissions. For the EU to continue reductions, to meet the quantitative targets proposed by the European Commission's 2011 roadmap on transport, also in times of economic growth further measures are required. Between 1990 and 2009, demand for transport grew by approximately one third, leading to a 27 % increase in greenhouse gases from transport in the same period. The average real price on transport fuels has only increased with 15 per cent since 1980, which is by less than 0.5 percentage points per year. This has not been enough to encourage a shift to more efficient transport modes. Source: European Environment Agency PM and ozone still a threat to the health of Europeans Most air pollutants in Europe have decreased since 1990, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). But further reductions are needed, as many countries are expected to exceed their emission ceilings in 2010 for at least one pollutant. Particulate matter and ozone causes greatest problems. Twenty per cent of the EU urban population lives in areas where the EU air quality 24-hour limit value for PM10 concentration was exceeded in 2009 and approximately 17 per cent of European citizens live in areas where the EU target for ozone concentration was exceeded in 2009. Source: European Environment Agency Lower global ship sulphur limit Source: Sustainable Shipping News, 1 November 2011 Sweden slashes shore power tax The two-degree window is closing up If the world is going to have likely chance (more than 66 per cent) to limit global warming to less than two degrees carbon emissions need to peak between 2010 and 2020 according to newly published scenarios in the journal Nature Climate Change. The UN climate conference in Durban starting 28 November may thus be the last opportunity to obtain the necessary brakes on global green house gas emissions. If this is not achieved large parts of Africa, most of Russia and northern China will be two degrees °C warmer in less than 10 years. Source: IPS news and Nature Climate Change Show support for the Kyoto Protocol The TckTckTck campaign is running a call in support of the Kyoto Protocol and to encourage EU leaders to “choose the right magic formula to save the climate and boost the economy”. You can join them in "Kyoto Protocol, the treaty that lived" on Facebook on.fb.me/nGvhJP. Growing fossil fuel subsidies Global subsidies for fossil fuel consumption are set to reach US$660 billion in 2020 or 0.7 per cent of global gross domestic product, unless reforms are passed to effectively eliminate this form of state aid, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Source: Reuters, 4 October 2011 Carmaker fuel efficiency cost claims misleading The average car sold in Europe last year was 4 per cent more fuel efficient, emitted 4 per cent less CO2 and was 2.5 per cent cheaper in real terms than a year earlier, according to a new report published by T&E. The new figures severely undermine industry claims that legally-binding fuel efficiency targets would make cars 'unaffordable'. The report shows that emissions from the average new car sold in Europe last year dropped to the milestone figure of 140g CO2/km. However like-for-like retail prices have not increased dramatically since legally-binding CO2 targets were introduced, as the car industry predicted; but have actually fallen every year in real terms. Source: Transport & Environment Particle pollution killing people In many cities air pollution is reaching levels that threaten people's health according to a new compilation of air quality data by the World Heath Organization (WHO). The information includes data from nearly 1100 cities across 91 countries, including capital cities and cities with more than 100,000 residents. For 2008, the estimated mortality attributable to outdoor air pollution in cities amounts to 1.34 million premature deaths. If the WHO guidelines had been universally met, an estimated 1.09 million deaths could have been prevented in 2008. Sources: WHO, and ENDS Europe Daily, 27 September 2011 Help the EC to reduce green house gases from traffic The European Commission wants your views on measures that can cut CO2 emissions from road vehicles. In A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050, the commission estimates that the emissions from the transport-sector will need to drop by 50-70 per cent until 2050. The consultation is open until 9 December 2011. Source: European Commission Cruise line fined for breaching sulphur rules A cruise ship operator has been fined €30,000 for contravening European Union rules on the sulphur content of marine fuel. The 88,000 gross tonne Disney Magic was inspected while at berth in the Italian port of Naples, and it was found the ship was using a bunker fuel with a sulphur content in excess of an EU regulation that requires ships at berth to use fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.10 per cent, unless they scheduled to be in port for less than two hours. Reports said the ship, owned by the US cruise operator Disney Cruise Line, was immediately ordered to stop burning the fuel. Naples is one of the regular ports of call for the 1998-built, Bahamas-flagged Disney Magic. Source: Sustainable Shipping News, 22 September 2011 EU measures to support cleaner shipping The European Commission adopted a staff working paper entitled "Pollutant Emission Reduction From Maritime Transport and The Sustainable Waterborne Transport Toolbox." The document is accompanying the legal proposal for revising an EU directive on the sulphur content of marine fuels, that aligns EU law with International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements. It lists a number of short-term measures aimed at minimising the compliance costs. Among others it points to existing frameworks such as the TEN-T and the Marco Polo programmes and the European Investment Bank's policy and instruments in support of sustainable shipping. Moreover, the paper outlines the conditions under which member states may choose to grant investment aids, enabling companies to go beyond existing standards or assisting in the early adaptation ahead of the entry into force of the standards. Source: European Commission Call for a global shipping fuel tax A report by Oxfam and WWF shows how it is possible to tackle the huge and growing greenhouse gas emissions from ships and raise billions of dollars to help developing countries tackle climate change, without unfairly hitting developing countries. It argues that a deal to apply a carbon price to international shipping should be at the heart of the agreement at the UN climate change conference in Durban, South Africa, later this year. It would also offer a solution to the deadlock on shipping emissions that has lasted more than a decade. According to the proposal, applying a carbon price of US$25 per tonne to shipping fuel would help cut emissions while generating US$25 billion per year by 2020. The finance would be used both to compensate developing countries for marginally higher import costs that could result from the carbon price, and to provide more than US$10 billion per year to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Source: WWF/Oxfam press release, Berlin leads fight on air pollution, Rome is last Berlin, Stockholm and Copenhagen are the leading cities in Europe for combating air pollution according to a ranking of 17 European cities by several environmental NGOs. Rome, Milan and Düsseldorf came bottom showing few efforts on any of the nine air quality measures used to rank the cities. Source: European Environmental Bureau The Arctic Sea ice thinner than ever The volume of the Arctic Sea ice sheet was found to be record low last summer, according to modelling done by scientists from the University of Washington in Seattle, by that is the previous record from the summer 2007 broken. Real measurements of area and thickness, both of which have declined steadily in the last decades, were used in the model to estimate the volume. Source: Reuters / Planet Ark Fuel consumption meters might become mandatory The European Commission considers mandatory fuel consumption meters in all new cars sold in the European Union. This measure is supposed to encourage fuel-efficient driving, also known as eco-driving. Of the same reason they also want to extend the mandatory installation of gear shift indicators (GSI) from only passenger cars to all light duty vehicles. These and other measures related to emissions from motor vehicles are open for public consultation until 20 October. Source: ENDS Europe DAILY, 2 September 2011 Web link: European Commission Second state in Germany with binding CO2 targets The German state of Baden-Württemberg is working on a new climate-law that obliges them to cut CO2 emissions with 90 per cent to 2050. For the years 2020, 2030 and 2040 interim targets are to be developed on the basis of expert opinion. They follow the example of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is the only state in Germany so far with binding targets for CO2 reductions. Source: ENDS Europe DAILY, 22 August 2011 Web link: Baden-Württemberg Infant mortality triggered by particles Infants have an increased risk of dying on days with high PM10 levels, according to a new Belgian study. The scientist conclude that the EU limit value PM10 of 50 μg/m3, which may be exceeded on 35 days/year, is not enough to prevent mortality among newly born. Web link: Environmental Health Perspectives Fuel efficiency rule for heavy duty trucks in the US The first national fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium and heavy duty trucks and buses in the United States have been announced, covering vehicles made between 2014 and 2018. Heavy-duty vehicles account for 17 per cent of transportation oil use and 12 per cent of all US oil consumption. Nearly six per cent of all US greenhouse gas emissions and 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in 2007 were produced by heavy-duty vehicles. The businesses that operate and own these commercial vehicles are expected to save some $50 billion in fuel costs and more than 500 million barrels of oil over the life of the program. Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be cut by 270 million metric tons. Source: Environmental News Service, 9 August 2011 Web link: US Environmental Protection Agency Emission standards delayed New and stricter air pollution emission standards for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), such as tractors and locomotives, are unlikely to enter force before 2016, the European Commission said on 1 August in a written response to a parliament question. The forthcoming revision of the 1997 directive, which was due in 2007, will bring small stationary engines under NRMM legislation and set new emission limits for diesel engines. A proposal is expected to be presented in 2012. Source: ENDS Europe DAILY, 3 August 2011 Tougher US car fuel efficiency standard The Obama administration and 13 automakers have agreed to boost the fuel economy of cars and light-duty trucks sold in the United States to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The new agreement more than doubles the current Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, Standard of 24.1 miles per gallon. Achieving the fuel efficiency goals are expected to save American drivers $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, and by 2025 result in an average fuel savings of over $8,000 per vehicle. The new standards are expected to result in savings of 12 billion barrels of oil in total. The standards also curb carbon pollution, requiring performance equivalent to 163 grams per mile of CO2. The administration says the standards will cut more than six billion metric tons of greenhouse gas over the life of the program. Source: Environmental News Service, 2 August 2011 Web link: US Environmental Protection Agency EU air pollutant emissions fell in 2009 The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports that emissions of almost all main air pollutants fell across the EU in 2009, as compared to the previous year, and the economic recession is said to be an important factor in this reduction. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) dropped by 21% between 2008 and 2009, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 8%, volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) by 6%, primary particulate matter (PM) by 5%, and ammonia (NH3) by 1%. However, it is worth noting that although emissions within the EU have fallen significantly, air quality can still be quite low, particularly in urban areas. Web link: European Environment Agency Recreational boats to become less polluting The European Commission proposes stricter limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matters (PM) for new motor boats, sailing boats, jet skis and other recreational crafts. In summer NOx concentrations of the some six million recreational craft in the EU can be significant in the areas of big lakes and attractive sea shores. It is proposed that propulsion engines will be designed and constructed to emit 20 per cent less of HC+NOx emissions and 34 per cent less of particulate matters. Web link: European Commission Extended emission limit derogations for tractors New rules on derogations to the stricter stage IIIB air pollutant emission limits for tractors have been adopted by the EU Ministers. The stage IIIB limits entered force in January 2011, and with the new rules up to 40 per cent of each manufacturer's sales, averaged over the past five years, will be allowed to meet less stringent limits. As an alternative option it was also agreed to allow derogation for up to 250 of models sold by each manufacturer, depending on engine size. Source: ENDS Europe DAILY, 20 July 2011
Energy efficiency standards for new ships The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) regulation for new ships. The EEDI will require new ships to meet a minimum level of energy efficiency: ships built between 2015 and 2019 will need to improve their efficiency by 10%, rising to 20% between 2020 and 2024 and 30% for ships delivered after 2024. Environmental group Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) welcomes the decision, but warns that it's only the first step in what needs to be a far more expansive effort to address shipping's climate impacts. Shipping accounts for around 3.3% of man-made CO2 emissions worldwide and this figure is expected to rise to 6% in 2020. Web link: Transport & Environment Ships' sulphur emissions to be slashed The European Commission has tabled a proposal for stricter control of harmful sulphur emissions from international shipping by incorporating global standards that were unanimously agreed three years ago by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) into EU law. The maximum permissible sulphur content of marine fuels used in designated Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA), namely the Baltic Sea and the North Sea including the English Channel, will fall from the previous level of 1.5% to 0.1%, as from 2015. In other sea areas, a sulphur limit of 0.5% will apply from 2020, as compared to the current maximum level of 4.5%. Web link: European Commission Web link: European Environmental Bureau US power plant air pollution to be cut The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) replaces and strengthens the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). By 2014, the new rule and other state and EPA actions will reduce SO2 emissions by 73 per cent from 2005 levels, and NOx emissions by 54 per cent. The new rule will reduce smog and soot pollution in communities that are home to 240 million Americans, preventing up to 34,000 premature deaths, 15,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 19,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 1.8 million sick days a year beginning in 2014, thus achieving up to $280 billion in annual health benefits. It affects 27 states in the eastern half of the country. The benefits far outweigh the $800 million projected to be spent annually on this rule in 2014 and the roughly $1.6 billion per year in capital investments already underway as a result of CAIR. Many power plants covered by the rule have already made substantial investments in to reduce SO2 and NOx emissions. The rule will level the playing field for power plants that are already controlling these emissions by requiring more facilities to do the same. Web link: US EPA Air pollution linked to memory problems A laboratory study on mice suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to physical changes in the brain, as well as learning and memory problems and even depression. The researchers at the Ohio State University found that mice which where exposed to polluted air five days a week for ten months performed worse in memory tests than mice which had breathed filtered air. They also showed more depressive-like behaviours than the control group. While previous studies have shown the damaging effects of polluted air on the heart and lungs, this is one of the first long-term studies to show the negative impact on the brain. Web link: Ohio State University Carbon efficiency of new cars is increasing Preliminary data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) show that new passenger cars registered in the European Union (EU) in 2010 are emitting 3.7 per cent less CO2 per kilometre travelled than new cars from 2009. The average CO2 emissions of a new passenger car in the EU27 were 140.3 gCO2/km in 2010. The transport sector is the second largest source of CO2 emissions in the EU. Road transport alone accounted for about one fifth of total EU CO2 emissions in 2009 and its emissions increased by 23% between 1990 and 2009. Web link: European Environment Agency Setback for Czech plan on low-emission zones Vaclav Klaus has vetoed an amendment to a Czech air quality law that would establish low-emission zones (LEZ) in the country's cities. The Czech president, who is not opposed to the idea, said the planned exemptions would create corruption. The plan would allow municipalities to authorise certain vehicles in low-emission zones. There are also exemptions from local emission ceilings. These types of exemptions would "deteriorate legal and business environment", he said on Thursday. It is unclear whether a new proposal will be put forward. The Czech parliament can override Mr Klaus' veto with an absolute majority of votes. This would be possible given that the government parties have a majority of 118 votes in the 200-seat assembly. The aim is to help combat air pollution from transport, particularly in the industrial region of Moravia. The capital, Prague, is currently the only city with a low-emission zone in place. Web link: ENDS Europe Mass extinction in oceans soon to be 'inevitable' The oceans are at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history, a panel of international marine experts warns in a new report. A deadly trio of factors - warming, acidification and lack of oxygen - is creating the conditions associated with every previous major extinction of species in Earth's history, the panel warned. The combined effects of these stressors are causing degeneration in the ocean that is "far faster than anyone has predicted." Scientists have reviewed recent research by world ocean experts and found firm evidence that the effects of climate change, coupled with other human-induced impacts such as over-fishing and nutrient run-off from farming, have already caused a dramatic decline in ocean health. Web link: State of the Ocean EU citizens care about the environment A new EU survey shows that the environment is an important personal concern to more than 90% of respondents in every single EU member state. When asked about their top five environmental concerns, citizens now think about: Despite the economic crisis, 89% of Europeans think that more funding should be allocated to support protecting the environment. 81% support environmentally-focused legislation at the EU level as a necessary means of protecting the environment. Web link: European Commission EU air quality review launched On 6 June, the European Commission's officially launched its 2011-2013 review of air quality legislation. Updates of key legislation such as the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive and the Ambient Air Quality Directive will be discussed, together with linkages to policies on climate, transport and agriculture. The Commission invites member states, industries, NGOs and the wider public to express their views on how to improve Europe's air legislation. Three written consultations will be launched in June 2011: one for the members of a newly established expert group, one for the wide public, and a third one for air quality professionals. Web link: European Commission High ozone levels in Europe The EU long-term objective to protect human health from ozone damage was exceeded in all EU member states and in most of the other reporting European countries at least once during summer 2010, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). As in previous years, the most widespread high concentrations occurred in the Mediterranean area. Preliminary results show that 17 EU countries are facing difficulties in meeting the target value for protecting human health. In all these countries, the maximum daily eight-hour mean ozone concentration of 120 µg/m3 was exceeded on more than 25 days during summer 2010. Web link: European Environment Agency Ten countries to exceed their NOx emission ceilings
EU member states must meet legally binding limits for four air pollutants set by the 2001 National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD), but according to the annual NECD status report released 1 June by the European Environment Agency (EEA), ten member states expect to miss their respective emission ceilings for nitrogen oxides. The report documents the most recent emissions (2009) and projection information (2010) for the four pollutants sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3). The pollutants covered by the report harm both human health and the environment by contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter and leading to acidification and eutrophication. By contributing to more than 40 per cent of total EU27 NOx emissions in 2009, the road transport sector bears most of the blame for the anticipated exceedances. Although emissions from this sector have decreased since 1990, recent reductions have not been as large as originally anticipated. This is partly because the sector has grown more than expected and partly because vehicle emission standards have not always delivered the anticipated level of NOx reductions. Some member states, such as the Netherlands and Slovenia, expect to exceed their respective NOx ceilings by only small margins (less than 5 per cent). In contrast, Germany and France expect to exceed their ceilings by 328 kilotonnes and 275 kilotonnes respectively - equivalent to exceedances of 31 and 34 per cent. Austria, while expecting a lower surplus in absolute terms, anticipates exceeding its ceiling by 40 per cent. Web link: www.eea.europa.eu NEC compliance "not required to build new plants" Compliance with national air emission caps under the NEC directive is not a condition for authorising the construction of new industrial installations, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) concluded in a three joint ruling. EU judges were asked to interpret the 2001 directive and a related law on industrial pollution in a case brought by several environmental groups against decisions to approve the construction of three coal-fired power plants in the Netherlands. The groups complained the construction of these plans should never have been authorised given that, according to estimates at the time, the member state was likely to exceed its emission caps for SO2 and NOx in 2010 without additional measures. According to figures cited in the ECJ rulings, one of the plants expected to start operating in 2012 in Eemshaven will emit about 2.9 per cent of the country's emission cap for this SO2 annually. This plant, fuelled with pulverised coal and biomass, will be run by energy company RWE. The other two firms involved are Electrabel and Eon. Both will be located in Rotterdam. In the end, the ECJ ruled member states have some flexibility as to how they decide to meet their national emission caps. A single measure such as the construction of a plant is unlikely to jeopardise their efforts. However, they must make sure that all the measures in place form a coherent policy aimed at complying with the law. Web link: European Court of Justice Web link: ENDS Europe EU green light for lorry pollution charges An agreement have been reached between the European Commission, Council and Parliament on revised road charging rules for lorries (the Eurovignette directive) that would open the door for member states to charge for air and noise pollution in road tolls but introduces a loophole for lorries under twelve tonnes. Nina Renshaw at green group Transport & Environment (T&E), said: "This agreement will enable countries to directly target the noisiest and most polluting lorries, which is a significant step forward. But it still forbids charges to cover the €60 billion costs of climate change, congestion and accidents caused by lorries – that's a wasted opportunity and is unnecessarily restrictive." In a step backwards, a requirement in the existing directive for charges to apply to all lorries from 3.5 tonnes upwards from 2012 has been scrapped. Following pressure from Germany, member states will now be able to give lorries under 12 tonnes a free ride, under certain conditions. The agreement between the three EU institutions now needs to be formally approved by transport ministers and the full parliament before becoming law. Web link: Transport & Environment Parliament committee calls for 30 per cent CO2 cut MEPs on the parliament's environment committee backed an extension of the EU's 2020 emissions reduction target from 20 per cent to 30 per cent in a vote on Tuesday. A reduction of at least 25 per cent should be achieved domestically, they said. "The European Parliament's position has been shifting over the last year," said Mr Eickhout. "There is now broad support for a 30 per cent reduction target and a growing realisation that ambitious climate policies are in Europe's own economic interest." The adopted text says the bulk of the cuts should be achieved domestically, rather than through international offsets. It also says that a "large proportion" of revenues raised through carbon auctions should go to low carbon projects. The EU's existing position is that it will not go beyond 20 per cent without further commitments from other developed countries. However, there is growing support for a 30 per cent target among EU environment ministers. Several businesses also support it. Web link: European Parlament Ship fuel sulphur rules widely ignoreds Stricter rules on the sulphur content of marine fuels are not being widely observed, according to reports from the shipping insurers' publication Lloyds List. Up to 1 July 2010, ships plying the designated Sulphur Emissions Control Areas (SECAs) had to use fuels with a sulphur content lower than 1.5%. After that date, the limit was lowered to 1.0%, but this appears to have caused a massive increase in the number of ships failing to respect the limits. Ship inspections conducted by the Dutch water management inspectorate have revealed that 29 of the 63 ships (46%) inspected since July 2010 were over the 1.0% limit, compared with five out of 72 (7%) inspected in the first half of 2010, which were over the then 1.5% limit. Separate research carried out in the first three months of this year found 21% of inspections revealed breaches of the standards, most of them linked to the 1.0% sulphur limit. Possible action taken by Dutch authorities against ships that violate the sulphur limits include detention, nonconformity notices against the vessel under the ISM Code and financial penalties of up to 700,000 euro. Source: Transport & Environment EU study to assess additional ECAs A new study is planned that may identify candidates for new emission control areas (ECAs) in waters around the European Union. The new study for the European Commission would be more detailed than an earlier 2010 analysis on the benefits and costs of ECA designation, for example by looking into a "distance-to-shore" ECA for the Mediterranean. Results from the 2010 analysis of the costs and benefits of a 0.10% sulphur limit showed clear net benefits from introducing the stricter sulphur standards, especially for the existing SOx ECAs (the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, including the English Channel) but also for potential new SOx ECAs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. "If candidates for new ECAs are identified by this study, the Commission would support member states bordering such areas to make a corresponding proposal at the International Maritime Organization (IMO)," Commission official Christian Wimmer said. Britain unveils plan to halve emissions by 2027 The UK government has adopted a 50 per cent greenhouse gas reduction target relative to 1990 levels for its carbon budget for the period 2023-27. But it added this budget should be reviewed in 2014, a provision seen by some as a weakening. Minister Chris Huhne took advice from the UK's Committee on Climate Change on targets for the mid-2020s but rejected its recommendation that emissions from Britain's non-traded sectors be tightened between 2013 and 2022. The ministry has also rejected advice that the carbon budget be met without use of international offsets. The budget will be met by domestic reductions "as far as practicable and affordable". But "we also intend to keep our carbon trading options open to maintain maximum flexibility, and minimise costs", it added. Web link 1: ENDS Europe Web link 2: Department of Energy and Climate Change Web link 3: Friends of the Earth Final 2010 ETS show 3.2 per cent rise in emissions Updated figures for the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) released on Monday evening show that emissions from sites covered by the scheme were 3.2 per cent higher last year than in 2009, together amounting to 1.9 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Credits from international projects accounted for about 7 per cent of the allowances and credits surrendered this year, and their use was 68 per cent higher than last year. Seventeen plants appear to have covered more than 90per cent of their 2010 emissions with international credits. These include Romanian energy firm SC RAFO SA, a site in France owned by paper company Stora Enso and a Spanish gas compression facility. Web link: European Commission Few gains in CO2 limits for plants Setting a CO2 emission performance standard (EPS) after 2020 to stop new builds of coal- or lignite-fired power stations without carbon capture and storage (CCS) would have little effect, according to a report issued by the EU executive last week. The report, conducted by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, expects no new installations without CCS beyond those already under development. There would be no economic rationale for building such plants, particularly as coal subsidies are phased out. Authors found that an EPS starting in 2015 would have more of an impact because new power generating capacity without CCS will be built within a few years. But even then a CO2 standard would not produce major benefits in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions or deploying CCS technology, they point out. Web link: ENDS Europe Web link: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Serbian data now in European register Data from 2009 are now available at the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). For the first time voluntarily reported data from Serbia are included in the register. Of specific interest are the Obrenovac and Kostolac plants, that are among the register top ten emitters of SO2. The register includes annual data for 91 substances and covers more than 28 000 facilities across 65 economic activities. Web link: E-PRTR Cut in Spanish motorway speed limits slashes fuel use A cut in motorway speed limits introduced by Spain appears to have cut seasonally-adjusted fuel consumption by 8.4% in its first month in operation, Spain's industry ministry claimed last week. "The (10 km/hr) cut in speed limits to 110 km/hr is behind this reduction," the ministry stated. Monthly road fuel consumption in March was the lowest recorded since December 2002. The statistics provide impressive evidence of the potential of lower speed limits to conserve road fuels and cut carbon dioxide emissions. A European Environment Agency simulation concluded that a reduction in motorway speed limits identical to the Spanish case would most likely achieve savings of 2-3%, though with a theoretical potential of 12-18%. Web link: ENDS Europe Web link: European Environment Agency Half of All Americans Breathe Polluted Air The United States has made progress in cleaning up air pollution, but 154.5 million people, about half the population, live where the air is so polluted with smog and particles that it is often dangerous to breathe, according to the State of the Air 2011 report. Nearly half the people in the United States, 48.2 percent, live in counties that received an "F" for air quality due to unhealthy ozone levels. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, California remains the metropolitan area with the worst ozone problem, although great improvements have been made since the report was first issued 12 years ago. In fact, eight of the 10 most ozone-polluted cities are in California, the report shows. Honolulu, Hawaii and Santa Fe-Espanola, New Mexico are identified as the cleanest cities - the only two cities in the nation that were among the cleanest for year-round particle pollution and also had no days when ozone and daily particle pollution levels reached unhealthy ranges. Web link: American Lung Association Proposal for new minimum tax on fuels The European Comission proposes a minimum tax rate for CO2 on transport and heating fuels from 2013 and minimum rates for energy based on the energy content of a fuel rather than on volumes as for most motor fuels now. This means fuels would also be taxed according to the amount energy they produce, driving higher efficiencies. One of the proposal's main objectives is to make energy taxation fairer by introducing a carbon element reflecting the true environmental impact of various types of fuels. For example, diesel is less taxed than petrol even though it has a higher energy and CO2 content. The commission is likely to face hefty opposition when it puts the proposal to ministers later this year. Web link 1: European Commission Web link 2: Transport & Environment Call for new approach to nitrogen management The EU should take an integrated approach to nitrogen management, that is the main message of the European Nitrogen Assessment. Policy makers have so far tackled the issue in a piecemeal fashion, which means that policies are usually separated by media – for example air, land and water – by issues, such as climate, biodiversity waste – or by various forms of reactive nitrogen (NOx, NO2 or ammonia). The assessment recommends seven key actions for reducing pollution from nitrogen. These include improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop production, recycling nitrogen from waste water systems and lowering meat consumption, particularly beef. Web link: ENDS Europe Web link: Nitrogen in Europe Clean Shipping Index adopted by Swedish port Sweden's Port of Gothenburg has become the first port in Europe to use the Clean Shipping Index to calculate rewards for ships working to minimise their environmental impact. The Index is part of the Clean Shipping Project, which was started in Sweden 2008 to bring more focus to environmental issues shipping. It takes into account the environmental effects connected to shipping, such as emissions to air and water and ranks vessels or shipping companies according to different pollution issues. Some of Sweden's biggest importers and exporters, as well as other North European shippers, have given their backing to the project. Gothenburg Port Authority announced last week that shipping lines that voluntarily switched to fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1% would be eligible to receive compensation for their increased fuel costs. Web link: Port of Gothenburg Swedes seek to boost ships' use of onshore power Sweden is planning to give energy tax breaks to boats that use onshore electricity while berthed in ports. Onshore electricity is quieter and less air polluting than electricity produced on board. The European Commission backs the measure. The tax cuts will target vessels with significant onboard electricity generation. It will be restricted to vessels of at least 400 tonnes as well as to supplies of shore-side electricity of at least 380 volts. The cuts are likely to get the go-ahead in June. Web link: ENDS Europe Web link: European Commission Air quality failure by Belgium and Romania The European Commission is taking Belgium to court for failing to comply with EU air quality limit values for health-damaging airborne particles (PM10). Belgium has so far failed to effectively tackle excess emissions of these particles in eight zones across the country, and the Commission has therefore decided to take Belgium to the EU Court of Justice. As Romania is also not complying with the air quality limit values for PM10, the Commission is sending a reasoned opinion under ongoing infringement proceedings. Romania has two months to comply. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may refer the case to the EU Court of Justice. Web link: European Commission
Traffic noise major threat to heath, says WHO Traffic noise is the second biggest environmental problem affecting health after air pollution, says a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report says that each year Europeans lose at least one million healthy life-years due to disability or disease caused by traffic noise. This new health evidence highlights the urgency of adopting more stringent EU vehicle noise standards. “The Commission has an opportunity in the coming weeks to cut road traffic noise by half, and protect millions of Europeans from this health risk”, says Nina Renshaw at Transport & Environment (T&E). The European Commission is expected to release a proposal to update EU legislation on vehicle noise in June. Web link 1: Transport & Environment Web link 2: WHO
Mounting pressure on London to act on PM pollution Through a decision to grant a “temporary, conditional time extension” for meeting limits for the concentration of dangerous airborne particles (PM10), the UK government and the Mayor of London have been told by the European Commission to urgently implement a plan for dealing with air pollution 'hotspots' in London. James Grugeon of Environmental Protection UK said, "Air pollution in our cities is one of the biggest public health crises we face in the UK. It contributes to more premature deaths than passive smoking and traffic accidents combined. The government and the Mayor of London need to be implementing solutions, not delaying action, to improve air quality." Web link 1: Environmental Protection UK Web link 2: European Commission
EU guidance on NO2 limits The European Commission has circulated a guidance document to member states on how to apply for extensions to meet nitrogen dioxide (NO2) limits under the directive on ambient air quality. The document reminds governments that they must demonstrate they have tried to meet the limit by the initial deadline, January 2010. The document also identifies common issues that have caused applications for PM10 extensions to be rejected. Web link: Council of the European Union
Health threat of coal-fired power A new report by the American Lung Association, entitled Toxic Air: The Case for Cleaning Up Coal-fired Power Plants, documents a range of hazardous air pollutants emitted from power plants and the urgent need to clean them up to protect public health. The report also discusses the technologies that are available for dramatically cutting these emissions – technologies that are commercially available and proven to work. Web link: American Lung Association Cutting PM pollution saves lives and money Further reductions in pollutant emissions to levels that achieve the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline for fine particles (PM2.5) of 10 micrograms/cubic metre in 25 large European cities could add up to 22 months of life expectancy for persons 30 years of age and older, according to the Aphekom research programme. Moreover, the monetary health benefits from complying with the WHO guideline in 20 large cities would amount to some €31.5 billion annually. Web link: aphekom Danes evaluate SECA solutions
The overall target for Green Ship of the Future is to develop strategies to reduce shipping emissions of carbon dioxide by 30 per cent, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides by 90 per cent each and particulate matter from both existing ships and new builds. Web link: Greenship
Air pollution control in the US saved 160,000 lives in 2010 The benefits of reducing fine particle and ground-level ozone pollution under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments will reach approximately UD$2 trillion in 2020 while saving 230,000 people from early death in that year alone, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). About 85 per cent of the economic benefits are attributable to reductions in premature mortality associated with reductions in ambient particulate matter. The new EPA report, “The Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act from 1990 to 2020,” shows that the benefits of avoiding early death, preventing heart attacks and asthma attacks, and reducing the number of sick days for employees far exceed the costs of implementing clean air protection measures. These benefits lead to a more productive workforce, and enable consumers and businesses to spend less on health care – all of which help strengthen the economy, the agency concludes. Web link: US Environmental Protection Agency New boiler emissions standards
EPA estimates that the new standards will avoid between 2,600 and 6,600 premature deaths, prevent 4,100 heart attacks and avert 42,000 asthma attacks per year in 2014, and that for every dollar spent to cut these pollutants, the public will see between US$10 and US$24 in health benefits, including fewer premature deaths. Moreover, the rule is expected to generate over 2,000 new jobs. Web link: US Environmental Protection Agency Dirty air triggers more heart attacks than cocaine Air pollution triggers more heart attacks than using cocaine and poses as high a risk of sparking a heart attack as alcohol, coffee and physical exertion, according to new findings published in The Lancet journal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes air pollution as "a major environmental risk to health" and estimates that it causes around 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year. Web link 1: Reuters article Web link 2: Lancet article Greener shipping in North America A new report by DNV suggests that liquid natural gas (LNG) is the most efficient and economical way to meet air emissions requirements in the US and Canada that come into effect in August 2012, when the combined SOx and NOx Emission Control Area (ECA) along the North American coastline enters into force. Specifically, the use of LNG fuel instead of fuel oil would practically eliminate emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by 85-90 per cent, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15-20 per cent. Web link: Det Norske Veritas Coal's hidden costs top $345 billion in US 16 February 2011
The US$345 billion annual cost figure is a best estimate of the costs associated with burning coal – the costs could be as low as US$175 billion or as high as US$523 billion. Accounting for all the ancillary costs associated with coal burning would add about 18 cents per kilowatt hour to the cost of electricity from coal-fired plants. Those costs would effectively triple the price, shifting electricity produced by coal-fired plants from one of the cheapest sources of electricity to one of the most expensive, the study led by a Harvard University researcher found. Web link: Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal Tar sands emit more CO2 than other fuels A scientific report for the European Commission has confirmed that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Canadian tar sand oil production are "significantly higher than...industry-average emissions from conventional fuels". The study says typical tar sand "well-to-wheel" emissions are 23 per cent worse than those for typical conventional oil sources (107.3 grammes of CO2 per megajoule of energy versus 87.1 grammes). Nusa Urbancic, policy officer at Transport & Environment, said: "Tar sand oil extraction and production is one of the dirtiest methods of fuel production known to man. If the EU is serious about cutting transport emissions is makes sense to treat dirty sources of oil differently. The EU's clean fuel rules, agreed over two years ago, won't be worth the paper they're written on as long as tar sands are portrayed as no different to conventional oil sources." Web link: T&E press release EU consultation on 6EAP The European Commission has launched a public consultation to assess the effectiveness of the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme (6EAP), which expires in 2012. A final assessment will be presented in mid-2011, based among others on a report from the European Environment Agency. A stakeholder meeting on the 6EAP will be held on 29 March in Brussels. The internet consultation is open until 8 April 2011. Web link: European Commission Parliament calls for Arctic ban on heavy fuel oilP Members of the European Parliament on 20 January called for an international ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil on vessels operating in the Arctic, like that which is to apply to the Antarctic from August 2011, and ask the EU to impose a strict regime limiting soot emissions and the use of heavy fuel oil by vessels calling at EU ports prior to voyages through Arctic waters. Web link: Parliament press release NEC revision further postponed The European Commission has agreed to further delay urgently needed measures to tackle air pollutants that are blamed for premature deaths and ecosystem damage. The environment commissioner Janez Potocnik released a statement following a debate on air quality at the commission on 18 January, which makes clear that the Commission has no immediate plans to revise the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) directive. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) criticised the decision. "We see no excuse for delaying a revision any further," said EEB air policy officer Louise Duprez. "If they are suggesting it will be pushed back until 2013 we will see a huge cost in terms of human health and environment." Additional cuts in air pollutant emissions by revising the NEC directive could benefit the EU economy by up to 70 billion euros a year -- as much as 50 times the cost of doing so, according to recent research conducted for the European Commission. In his statement, Mr Potocnik explained that the commission would deal with the NEC revision together with other planned measures to take advantage of synergies between policy areas. This indicates that there will be no action until 2013 when a whole string of related legislation is planned to be overhauled simultaneously. Web link 1: Potocnik's statement Web link 2: EEB press releaseHas policy improved Europe's air quality? The EU has introduced a range of policies to improve air quality by controlling pollutant emissions. A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) evaluates three key instruments – the Euro emission standards for road vehicles, the IPPC directive, and the Large Combustion Plants directive - and finds that they have significantly improved Europe's air quality and reduced pollution-induced health effects. There is scope for even more progress, however, if countries achieve all their binding commitments to reduce emissions. The study "Impact of selected policy measures on Europe's air quality" aims to provide an answer, analysing how much these policies have reduced air pollutant emissions and improved Europe's air quality compared to a 'no-policy scenario'. It also explores how much better air quality could be if the policies were fully applied. |
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