Domestic coal and wet wood to be banned

Sales of the two most polluting fuels, wet wood and house coal, burned in household stoves and open fires will be phased out in England from 2021 to 2023.

The pledge was a major part of the country’s Clean Air Strategy, published a year ago, which stated that domestic burning of solid fuels accounts for around 39 per cent of all PM pollution in the UK. By comparison, industry and road transport contributes 16 and 12 per cent, respectively.

Source: The Guardian and AirQualityNews, 21 February 2020

In this issue

Europe can be climate neutral by 2040 with solar and wind power

According to a new study, conducted by Finland’s LUT University and SolarPower Europe, Europe’s energy system could be fully renewable by 2040 in a “leadership scenario”, or by 2050 in a “moderate scenario”.

Editorial

The offshore wind industry has developed rapidly over the last 10 years. The technology has never had such a high output capacity, lower prices or a higher coexistence potential. The European Commission is to present a new strategy on offshore renewable energy which will be published in October as part of the European Green Deal.

CCS is not needed – new production methods can reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions

The real issue is not technology nor economics, but creating incentives to make industry green without using CCS.

Trump weakens US air pollution control

Over a period of only three weeks, the Trump administration has eroded the basis for air pollution control in coal-fired power plants, declined to strengthen air quality standards, and finalised a rollback of vehicle fuel efficiency standards.

Offshore wind energy development in the Baltic sea must accelerate

One of the areas with high wind power potential but a low proportion of offshore wind farms is the Baltic Sea

Short-term benefits of coal phase-out outweigh costs

Shutting down coal power plants is necessary to halt global warming and would have net benefits even in the short term, once health and environmental impacts are factored in.

Recurring extreme climate events are devastating to coral reefs

In the last five years, there have been three severe marine heatwaves that have caused significant bleaching of corals at the Great Barrier Reef.

Switching from coal to fossil gas is not an option

The European Commission wants to finance 32 fossil gas infrastructure projects, but finds it increasingly hard to present this as compatible with Paris. And the Corona crisis demonstrates that Europe can manage with much more renewables and less of both coal and gas.

Domestic coal and wet wood to be banned

In this issue

Europe can be climate neutral by 2040 with solar and wind power

Editorial

CCS is not needed – new production methods can reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions

Trump weakens US air pollution control

Offshore wind energy development in the Baltic sea must accelerate

Short-term benefits of coal phase-out outweigh costs

Recurring extreme climate events are devastating to coral reefs

Switching from coal to fossil gas is not an option

In Breif

A fair comparison of organic and conventional farming requires improved methods

International Day of Clean Air

EEA Air Quality Viewer

Air pollution shortens life by 3 years worldwide

World’s most polluted cities ranked

Dutch measures to cut emissions after court ruling

Domestic coal and wet wood to be banned

Electric cars emit less CO₂

Can hydrogen replace ship fuel oil?

The role of soil carbon in mitigating climate change

A 30-year-long study found organic farming to outperform conventional

California moving towards zero-emission trucks

New policy instruments needed for shipping

Luxembourg first country to make public transport free

Shipping in the EU ETS?

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

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

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