Benefits from closing coal plants larger than expected

A coal processing plant located near Pittsburgh in the US was closed in 2016. The plant had produced coal-coke for steelmaking for about 100 years. The closure immediately reduced air pollution for the local communities. Sulphur dioxide decreased by 90%, arsenic by 66% and particle pollution also improved. A recent study has followed the health effects of the closure and saw an immediate 42% decrease in emergency room visits for heart problems and similar effects for stroke. These effects further declined in the three years that followed, until the end of study, showing that the closure led to long-term health improvements. Two communities that are distant from the plants were used as control populations and did not show similar changes. Prof George Thurston, of New York University Grossman School of Medicine, who led the study, said:

“We found much larger cardiac health benefits from the plant’s closure than expected. This provides solid confirmation that fossil fuel-related air pollution is far more toxic than other types of air pollution. Policymakers have been greatly underestimating the local and immediate human health benefits that will occur as we phase out fossil fuel processing and combustion in our cities and towns.”

Iopscience, 31 July 2023

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5309/ace4ea

In this issue

Low energy vision for the European region

The CLEVER scenario, a Collaborative Low Energy Vision for the European Region, is an energy transition scenario that follows a “sufficiency – efficiency – renewables” approach.

Editorial: EU climate target still not adapted to climate reality

On 8 September, the UN once again issued a report showing how governments are failing to take adequate action to implement the promises they made in the Paris Agreement. The so-called Synthesis Report on the Technical Dialogue from the First Global Stocktake showed how governments are good at making ambitious collective commitments but fail to take the right action at home to turn these collective pledges into a reality.

Denmark’s bold move to promote plant-based eating

The Danish government allocates around 11 million euros annually to a fund for plant-based foods. Its aim is to make plant-based diets accessible and appealing to everyone.

Peeking down from space to catch air pollution

When you think about satellites or NASA, you probably think about the universe, black holes, planets, and galaxies far away. But when NASA’s new project, MAIA, is launched in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency next year it will be pointed towards us on Mother Earth and the pollution we have created.

Arsenic in air, cancer risks and background levels

Humans are exposed to inorganic arsenic in drinking water, soil and the air, and to organic arsenic compounds, especially in fish and shellfish. Arsenic occurs in the air bound to particles, mainly in the fine particle fraction, and consists almost exclusively of the more toxic form of inorganic arsenic (As III and As V).

European Parliament votes on air quality

Although the Environment Committee had agreed on WHO alignment from the year 2030, a compromise proposal was presented to the European Parliament that aimed instead at 2035.

New steps towards banning high-carbon advertising

Last year hundreds of thousands of people signed up to support the idea of a ban on fossil fuel ads and sponsorships in the EU, such as the existing one on tobacco advertising.

Reviewed Gothenburg Protocol calls for revision

Under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) the Gothenburg Protocol has been reviewed in terms of effectiveness.

Unexpected CO₂ movements at pioneering Norwegian CCS sites

The CO₂ in the pioneering Norwegian CCS projects has moved in an unexpected way, says a recent IEEFA study. This raises questions about the feasibility and economy of large-scale CO₂ storage.

IED vote: EU Parliament rejects key proposals to curb emissions

MEPs agreed to improve emission reporting, but sided with the industry and farm lobby instead of taking action to protect citizens’ health and the environment.

Agrivoltaic solutions show positive performance in combating heatwaves

In the face of heatwaves and growing concerns about water scarcity, Sun'Agri, a French agrivoltaics specialist, has published insights on the positive impact of temperature regulation, water resource management and crop yields under agrivoltaic installations.

New Approaches to Offshore Wind Conflict Management

Effective ways to address conflicts are needed as the targets for the Baltic Sea offshore wind development are 22.5 GW by 2030, 34.6 GW by 2040, and 46.8 GW by 2050. At the moment, the Baltic Sea has 2.2 GW.

Shift to plant-based foods could halt forest reduction

A recent study has assessed the potential impacts of a global shift from livestock products to plant-based alternatives. The findings indicate that such a shift could have profound positive effects on the global food system and the environment.

Ambitious solar venture in Lithuania and Latvia

A Danish renewable energy company is set to construct a 65 MW solar facility in Anyksciai, Lithuania, with the capacity to provide clean energy for approximately 24,000 households.

Unlocking Europe’s building revolution

Buildings account for as much as 40 per cent of the EU’s overall energy consumption, with 75 per cent of these structures classified as inefficient.

Ocean carbon dioxide removal (OCDR) – high hopes for false solutions

Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal (OCDR) is a range of strategies meant to remov carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through leveraging the capacity of the oceans.

The importance and role of forests in Poland

A varity of forest types in Poland play an important role in the country's ecosystem and cultural heritage.

Poland is home to a variety of forest types, which cover an area of nearly 9.3 million hectares and account for 29.6% of the country’s total land area. These forests play an important role in the country’s ecosystem, economy and cultural heritage. The forests are dominated by coniferous species, which together cover 76.6% of the area. These include pine, larch, spruce and fir. Deciduous species appear on 23.4% of the area.

Main menu

Benefits from closing coal plants larger than expected

In this issue

Low energy vision for the European region

Editorial: EU climate target still not adapted to climate reality

Denmark’s bold move to promote plant-based eating

Peeking down from space to catch air pollution

Arsenic in air, cancer risks and background levels

European Parliament votes on air quality

New steps towards banning high-carbon advertising

Reviewed Gothenburg Protocol calls for revision

Unexpected CO₂ movements at pioneering Norwegian CCS sites

IED vote: EU Parliament rejects key proposals to curb emissions

Agrivoltaic solutions show positive performance in combating heatwaves

New Approaches to Offshore Wind Conflict Management

Shift to plant-based foods could halt forest reduction

Ambitious solar venture in Lithuania and Latvia

Unlocking Europe’s building revolution

Ocean carbon dioxide removal (OCDR) – high hopes for false solutions

The importance and role of forests in Poland

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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