Consultation on Ambient Air Quality Directives

A public consultation announced in early May aims to collect views from stakeholders on the level of awareness of air quality challenges in general and the provisions of the Ambient Air Quality Directives in particular; how these directives have contributed to improved air quality in Europe; whether their provisions continue to be relevant, effective, efficient and coherent with other EU and national policies; and what value they add to the EU. All individuals and organisations are welcome to contribute to this consultation, and the consultation period started on 8 May and will end on 31 July 2018.

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/public-consultation-support-fitn...

Air qualityEuropean Union

In this issue

EU ship sulphur directive scrutinized

Sulphur emissions from ships in northern Europe have come down significantly, resulting in health and environmental improvements in coastal regions and port cities.

Photo: Flickr.com / James Alby CC BY-ND

Editorial: Everyone's right to clean air

Evidence of the health hazards posed by air pollutants is clear and unambiguous. Air pollution particularly affects vulnerable groups such as infants, children, the elderly and ...

Photo: Flickr.com / Norayr Chilingarian CC BY-NC

Wind and solar can be integrated into the grid

There are strategies to manage variablity in electricity generation. A succesful example is Denmark, which somtimes produces more than half of its electricity from wind and solar.

Solar was absolutely insignificant as a source of electricity in 2005, but by 2015 it produced 108 TWh. Photo: © Shutterstock – Sonpichit SalangsinG

Renewables are rolling out rapidly

Between 2005 and 2015 wind power grew fourfold and solar by a factor of 72 in the EU. But this growth is very unevenly spread in the EU and in wider Europe.

Photo: Flickr.com / Matthias Ripp CC BY

Limits to achieving “4 per 1000” target

Increasing carbon stocks in agricultural soils is promoted as a climate mitigation practice. Scientists show that the potential in Europe might be overestimated.

Photo: Flickr.com / Dan Davis CC BY

Savings threat to a more sustainable agriculture

Less funding for environmental measures and increased flexibility for member states are bleak, but likely expectations of a post-2020 Common Agriculural Policy (CAP).

Photo: Flickr.com / Joan Nova CC BY-NC-ND

Eating healthily and sustainably

Reducing meat and calories is a win-win for health and the environment. An optimised Low Lands diet is a Dutch concept to make the transition more culturally acceptable.

Photo: © Shutterstock – Av Larina Marin

IMO adopts greenhouse gas strategy for shipping

While the EU pushed for emission cuts of 70–100 per cent by 2050, the final global agreement settled for a target of “at least 50 per cent”.

Photo: Flickr.com / Friends of the Earth Scotland CC BY

Diesels in low-emission zones?

More than 90 per cent of Euro 6 diesel cars on sale today don’t meet the EU emission limits on the road but are still exempt from low-emission zones or diesel bans.

People’s Climate Solidarity March Minnesota, US. Photo: Flickr.com /FiboNacci Blue CC BY

CO2 makes up 81 per cent of US greenhouse gases

The website of the US EPA presents an inventory of GHG emissions for 1990 to 2016, but web pages containing detailed climate analysis were removed one year ago.

Illustration: © Shutterstock – Alzbeta and © Shutterstock – HarRock

Germany still constructing new coal power stations

Several countries in Europe, among them Germany, have recently built or are planning to build new coal power stations. Some examples of such plants are presented here.

Carbon dioxide concentrations have been measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory since 1958. Photo: Flickr.com – John Game CC BY

Average CO2 level exceeds 410 ppm for first time

Since 1990, there has been a 40 per cent increase in total radiative forcing – the warming effect on our climate due to long-lived greenhouse gases.

Advice given on on the March for Science, Hamburg, Germany, April 2017. Photo: Flickr.com / Frerk Meyer CC BY-SA

1.5°C target still within reach

Scenarios show that the 1.5°C target can be reached without BECCS, through a massive expansion of renewable energy, improved energy efficency and lifestyle changes.

“Children’s right to breathe clean air takes priority over the right to drive all kinds of cars on every single street”, said Swedish Minister for the Environment Karolina Skog. Photo: Flickr.com / Sigfrid Lundberg CC BY-SA

New low-emission zones in Sweden

On 4 April, the Swedish government announced that from 1 January 2020 municipalities will be able to introduce three different kinds of low-emission zones.

Small leaks are difficult to detect, but matter over centuries. Photo: Flickr.com / Martin Fisch CC BY-SA

Myths about carbon storage – the Sleipner case

The risk of leaks that are difficult to detect and the thorough investigations required to find suitable sites are factors that limit the potential to scale up ongoing CO₂ storage projects.

The cement industry wants to use CCS, though there are several other options for them to cut CO2 emissions. Photo: Flickr.com / Screenpunk CC BY-NC

Norweigan CCS hype moves from power to industrial processes

The government is unlikely to foot the bill. There are faster, cheaper ways to cut such emissions.

Consultation on Ambient Air Quality Directives

In this issue

EU ship sulphur directive scrutinized

Editorial: Everyone's right to clean air

Wind and solar can be integrated into the grid

Renewables are rolling out rapidly

Limits to achieving “4 per 1000” target

Savings threat to a more sustainable agriculture

Eating healthily and sustainably

IMO adopts greenhouse gas strategy for shipping

Diesels in low-emission zones?

CO2 makes up 81 per cent of US greenhouse gases

Germany still constructing new coal power stations

Average CO2 level exceeds 410 ppm for first time

1.5°C target still within reach

New low-emission zones in Sweden

Myths about carbon storage – the Sleipner case

Norweigan CCS hype moves from power to industrial processes

In Breif

Wind and solar cheaper than coal

EU subsidises most-polluting farms

Nitrogen still pollutes European waters

Consultation on 7th EAP

Consultation on Ambient Air Quality Directives

Subsidy-free offshore wind farm

World’s biggest insurer moves away from coal

IMO agrees global high-sulphur fuel ban

Publications

Addressing challenges in the land sector under the Paris Agreement

SINK OR SOURCE? Northern Forests at a crossroads

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Protecting Northern Forests crucial for biodiversity, the climate and indigenous rights

The 100 largest industry emitters in EU-27

Road to Nowhere

Bioenergy CCS – too little, too expensive, and not net negative

Direct air carbon capture and storage - A waste of time and energy

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