You know the feeling when small countries end up being underwater and they tell you to rewrite your national climate plan. Photo: © Shutterstock – Kjetil Kolbjornsrud

Climate-vulnerable countries: 2015 commitments are outdated

The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) has urged countries to step up and revise their national climate plans without further delay. “Growing climate risks, economic and technological developments in low-carbon technology, as well as increased action by sub-national actors, make the national climate plans submitted by governments in 2015 outdated and requiring review,” said CVF. “1.5C is completely feasible, but it requires bold political will. All countries must internalise the urgency and start the process of revising their current national targets no later than January 2019 to secure survival and prosperity for all of us.”

The current commitments made by countries in 2015 lead to dangerous warming that can reach 3 or 4 degrees Celsius. The gap is wide with the 1.5C target set in Paris. “It is imperative that the Talanoa Dialogue should deliver a political outcome in COP24 that triggers a process for revision of national targets before 2020.”

https://thecvf.org/vulnerable-countries-urge-all-to-step-up-climate-targ...

Climate Change

In this issue

Member states to set the bottom floor

The climate and environment are central objectives in the new CAP proposal, but more flexibility for member states risks undermining delivery on the ground.

Editorial: Just doing a little bit is not enough

“Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.” This is the main message of the IPCC report released on 8 October. They also conclude “that we ...

Six countries taken to court over air quality breaches

If EU countries do not urgently address their air pollution problems, the European Court of Justice can impose fines amounting to millions of euro.

EU “Clean Air Outlook” up to 2030

The annual benefits of additional measures needed to achieve the 2030 national emissions ceilings are estimated at €13–58 billion, up to 84 times higher than the estimated costs.

Coal will be squeezed out by renewables

Prices of green electricity and batteries have fallen so sharply that projections for 85–90% renewables by 2035 look “ludicrously conservative”, according to the energy coalition ETC.

Lessons from aviation’s first foray into market-based measures

International Civil Aviation Organization landed on the cheapest, most contentious, and finally outdated policy instrument out there – offsetting.

Europe still building new coal power stations

Several countries in Europe have recently built or are planning to build new coal power stations. Some examples from Germany were described in the last issue of Acid News (AN2/2018), and further examples of such plants from Eastern Europe are presented here.

Germany must exit coal quickly

A study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology posits that Germany can still meet its 2020 emissions reduction target.

Swedes harmed by air pollution

Every year 7600 people in Sweden die prematurely due to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, with an annual cost to society of at least 5.3 billion euro.

Agricultural ammonia emissions keep on rising

Five EU countries breached their national emission ceilings for ammonia in 2016 and total emissions have now increased by two per cent over three years, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows.

Three easy apples to pick

Some types of change require long-term planning, new institutions, educating a new generation etc. Other things are so easy to do that they should have been implemented yesterday.

Wind farms and birds

Wind farms are far less harmful to birds than first thought, according to the biggest ever study on the subject published in April, because seabirds actively change their flight paths to avoid them.

A smorgasbord of sustainable solutions

Environmentally aware public procurement and the inclusion of sustainability in dietary guidelines are some measures already taken in the transition towards a sustainable food system.

Sweden to stop using coal for energy in 2022

The burning of coal for heat and power in Sweden will stop in 2022, which is the deadline for the combined heat and power plant in Stockholm.

Solar radiation management (SRM) and geoengineering are not needed

SRM is perilous, as the consequnces of intervening in a highly complex system are unpredictable. Actual GHG emissions cuts can achieve more, faster, surer, cheaper and without the risk.

Main menu

Climate-vulnerable countries: 2015 commitments are outdated

In this issue

Member states to set the bottom floor

Editorial: Just doing a little bit is not enough

Six countries taken to court over air quality breaches

EU “Clean Air Outlook” up to 2030

Coal will be squeezed out by renewables

Lessons from aviation’s first foray into market-based measures

Europe still building new coal power stations

Germany must exit coal quickly

Swedes harmed by air pollution

Agricultural ammonia emissions keep on rising

Three easy apples to pick

Wind farms and birds

A smorgasbord of sustainable solutions

Sweden to stop using coal for energy in 2022

Solar radiation management (SRM) and geoengineering are not needed

In Breif

London ULEZ to expand from October 2021

Denmark to ban new fossil fuel cars by 2035

Sweden will fine high-sulphur ships

Copenhagen mayor wants to ban wood-burning stoves

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

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