80% reduction in US GHG in 15 years possible

The US could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by 80 per cent below 1990 levels within 15 years just by using renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, according to Dr Alexander MacDonald, a distinguished meteorologist, who was until recently the head of NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.

The nation could do this using only technologies available right now, and by introducing a national grid system connected by high-voltage direct current (HVDC), which could deliver the power with minimal losses to those places that needed it most, when they needed it. He and his colleagues at the University of Colorado report in Nature Climate Change that instead of factoring in fossil fuel backup, or yet-to-be-invented methods of storing electricity from wind and solar sources, they took a new look at the simple problems of supply and demand in a nation that tends to be sunny and warm in the south and windy in the north, but not always reliably so in either place.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/uoca-rae012216.php

In this issue

A 1.5 target is needed to save the Baltic Sea

Effects of global temperature increases on the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea.

CCS in Norway – still a long way from the goal

The CCS project at Mongstad in western Norway was finally cancelled in 2013, causing sarcastic comments about “The Moon landing that failed”.

How to account for emissions of greenhouse gases from imported goods?

Carbon emissions have dropped in many rich countries, Sweden among them. Or is it just that the emitting industries have moved to China? A technical discussion is getting intensely political.

Member states opt for weakening air pollution targets

Compared to the Commission’s proposal, the relaxed targets agreed by member states could result in an additional 130,000 premature deaths by 2030.

The EU should phase out fossil gas

AirClim has published a new report (1) about the need to phase out the use of fossil gas as soon as possible in order to meet the climate targets agreed at the UN Paris Climate Conference in December 2015.

Sanctions missing for ship sulphur sinners

In the first year of stricter standards in the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA) of the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel, Swedish authorities took 441 ship fuel oil samples. They discovered 15 violations of the sulphur limit, but none of these resulted in fines or other types of sanctions.

New rules on emissions from medium combustion plants adopted

Despite a widespread agreement on the urgent need to cut emissions to improve air quality, existing installations are given very generous transition periods.

Cutting meat and dairy intake is beneficial for health, the environment and climate

Halving the consumption of meat and dairy in the EU would cut agricultural nitrogen losses by more than 40 per cent and GHG emissions by 25–40 per cent.

Sector targets for aviation and shipping wanted

In the absence of additional action, international shipping and aviation will be responsible for close to 40 per cent of global CO2 emissions by 2050.

Europeans still exposed to harmful air pollution

A new report by the European Environment Agency estimates that air pollution continues to be responsible for more than 430 000 premature deaths in Europe.

A new era for the debate on coal phase-out in Germany

2015 was not only the year of the groundbreaking climate agreement in Paris. It also marked a new era in political efforts on a more actively managed phase-out of power generation from coal and lignite mining in Germany.

Explaining vehicle emissions

A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) provides a non-technical guide that describes why, for certain pollutants, vehicles can emit substantially higher emissions on the road than official emissions tested in laboratories.

CCS sidelined by public opposition

In the EU, coal power currently accounts for about one fourth of electricity generation.

Need to decarbonise transport

Policies needed to stimulate behavioural changes.

Main menu

80% reduction in US GHG in 15 years possible

In this issue

A 1.5 target is needed to save the Baltic Sea

CCS in Norway – still a long way from the goal

How to account for emissions of greenhouse gases from imported goods?

Member states opt for weakening air pollution targets

The EU should phase out fossil gas

Sanctions missing for ship sulphur sinners

New rules on emissions from medium combustion plants adopted

Cutting meat and dairy intake is beneficial for health, the environment and climate

Sector targets for aviation and shipping wanted

Europeans still exposed to harmful air pollution

A new era for the debate on coal phase-out in Germany

Explaining vehicle emissions

CCS sidelined by public opposition

Need to decarbonise transport

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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Air pollution

Climate Change

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