2013-1

Acid News

New legal approach to improve EU air quality

Ambient air quality is poor in many EU countries – despite an obligation for governments to ensure good air quality for citizens. Excessive levels of particulate matter (PM10) have led the Commission to take action against ..
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Acid News

WHO experts call for stronger EU air pollution policies

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can trigger atherosclerosis, adverse birth outcomes and childhood respiratory diseases, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) review released on 31 January.
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Acid News

Nitrogen overload still harms ecosystems

Two-thirds of EU ecosystems are currently exposed to more nitrogen deposition than they can cope with and one-tenth is receiving too much acid fallout. Significant additional reductions in the emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide ...
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Acid News

Scope for reducing ammonia emissions

By applying already known techniques and agricultural practices, the EU could reduce agricultural emissions of ammonia by more than 30 per cent, figures show in a new report from the International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA).
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Acid News

Global mercury deal

On 19 January, after four years of deliberation, more than 140 countries agreed on the first global treaty to cut mercury pollution. It contains a mixture of mandatory and voluntary elements intended to control the growing global mercury crisis.  
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Acid News

Heavy metals treaty updated

In December, countries in Europe and North America ended three years of negotiations by agreeing updated emission control requirements for particulate matter and the three heavy metals cadmium, lead and mercury ..
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Acid News

High costs of mercury damage

Cleaning up mercury pollution and reducing prenatal exposure to methylmercury could save the European Union at least €9 billion per year, according to a new study published in the Environmental Health journal.
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Acid News

France and Germany want more time to meet NO2 limits

The European Commission has dismissed all applications from France to delay a 2010 deadline for meeting the EU’s NO2 air quality standard. It has also rejected many requests from Germany for derogations.
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Acid News

20 per cent for climate in EU budget

On 8 February, the EU heads of state agreed on a new budget for 2014–2020, which includes cuts by €32 billion compared with the previous budget period. Several budget items that are of major importance for green investments ..
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Acid News

Emissions reallocated to end-users

Industries and homes together account for more than half of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, when emissions are aggregated at end-user level.
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