EEA report on black carbon

Black carbon is an air pollutant that harms human health and can contribute to climate change, so cutting emissions may have many benefits. The new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, “Status of black carbon monitoring in ambient air in Europe”, looks at the monitoring networks currently measuring black carbon, their measurement methodologies and how this data is used.

Black carbon is the sooty part of particulate matter (PM) formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. Emission sources include motor vehicles, non-road mobile machinery, ships, residential coal or wood burning and open biomass burning, including forest fires and agricultural waste burning. As the effects of this pollutant have become better understood in recent years, it is increasingly seen as an important target of environmental control.

Source: EEA press release 10 December 2013.

In this issue

A new EU clean air strategy up to 2030

At the very end of the EU’s “Year of Air” the European Commission finally presented its long-awaited new clean air policy package, including a proposal for member states to further cut their national air pollutant emissions up to 2030.

Editorial: Need for ambitious and explicit targets

In its White Paper on climate and energy, presented on 22 January, the EU Commission declares that it wants to see cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels (see page 22). At the same time it proposes scrapping national targets ..

Banking on coal – undermining our climate

A new study reveals the top twenty international banks that are financing the coal mining industry and the hot spots of global coal production.

Ships should use advanced emissions monitoring

Advanced emissions monitoring of large ships calling at EU ports could help save owners and operators of large ships up to €9 million per year.

Emission controls for medium combustion plants

EU-wide application of the most stringent standards now used in member states would reduce NOx emissions from these plants by nearly 80 per cent by 2025, but the new directive will deliver less than half of this reduction.

Hamburg commits to fossil fuel beyond 2050

The city of Hamburg’s climate ambitions are overshadowed by a new Vattenfall coal power plant, which will emit 8.7 million tons of CO₂ annually when it comes into operation.

Cutting emissions from heaters and wood-fired stoves

From 2015, new residential wood-fired stoves and heaters in the US should be less polluting and more efficient.

CCS no more in Norway

A full-scale CCS plant would be too expensive, that is the explanation given as Norway abandons its originally ambitious plans for the technology.

Most corals will bleach at 1.5°C

A quarter of marine biological diversity depends on coral reefs. Now researchers estimate that only 10 per cent of the reefs might survive at a temperature increase of only 1.5°C.

Oceans acidify at unprecedented rate

The rate of ocean acidification is the highest in 300 million years. The predicted effects on food webs and biodiversity will impact aquaculture and societies around the world.

Uncertain future for further emission reductions

Difficulties with shifting to renewables and rising emissions from aviation are two hurdles that the EU needs to overcome in order to achieve its climate targets in the transport sector.

Don’t delay NECAs!

Delaying agreed NOx standards would have several extremely negative consequences, including increased emissions and subsequent damage to health and ecosystems.

Stricter emission standards for non-EU power plants

The health and environmental benefits for eight non-EU countries to comply with EU emission limit values for large combustion plants are on average 17 times the costs.

EU climate and energy targets for 2030

To keep its international climate pledges, the EU must adopt three ambitious, binding targets for greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy and energy savings.

Main menu

EEA report on black carbon

In this issue

A new EU clean air strategy up to 2030

Editorial: Need for ambitious and explicit targets

Banking on coal – undermining our climate

Ships should use advanced emissions monitoring

Emission controls for medium combustion plants

Hamburg commits to fossil fuel beyond 2050

Cutting emissions from heaters and wood-fired stoves

CCS no more in Norway

Most corals will bleach at 1.5°C

Oceans acidify at unprecedented rate

Uncertain future for further emission reductions

Don’t delay NECAs!

Stricter emission standards for non-EU power plants

EU climate and energy targets for 2030

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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