The first autonomous electric container ship

Norwegian fertilizer producer Yara and maritime technology firm Kongsberg are teaming up to build what they say will be the world’s first fully electric and autonomous container feeder ship. The vessel, to be named Yara Birkeland, is planned to start operation in 2018 as a manned vessel before moving to remote operation in 2019, and later to fully autonomous operation from 2020 onwards. It will cut emissions and boost road safety by removing up to 40,000 diesel-powered truck journeys per year.

“The new zero-emission vessel will be a game-changer for global maritime transport, contributing to meet the United Nations’ sustainability goals,” the companies said.

Source: globenewswire.com, 10 May 2017

In this issue

Ocean acidification threat to sea life

By absorbing CO₂ the ocean is becoming more acidic, and this is happening at a faster rate than during any other period in the past 300 million years.

Editorial: UN must increase its climate ambition

The globally averaged concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere reached the symbolic milestone of 400 parts per million for the first time in 2015 and surged again to new records in 2016.

Threats to coral reefs

The greenhouse effect, global warming, local pollution and implications for coral reefs described in a regional overview.

Tighter emission limits for EU power plants

Large combustion plants will have to meet new mandatory standards for the release of toxic air pollutants under the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive from 2021.

We need to talk about nitrogen

Nitrogen in the air is one of the greatest threats to our wild plants, lichens and fungi, yet few people have even heard about it.

Ammonia increasing over agricultural areas

The first global, long-term satellite study of airborne ammonia gas has revealed increasing levels of the pollutant over four of the world’s most productive agricultural regions.

CAP delivers meagre climate action

Climate action is one of three overarching objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), though only a small fraction of the funding goes to climate measures on the ground.

Global free-fall in coal plant development

Work has frozen at over 100 projects in China and India, in addition there is a 62 per cent decline in global construction starts and a 48 per cent drop in pre-construction activity.

CCS – from power plants to industrial plants

As the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy is gradually gaining wider acceptance, CCS is now seen more and more as a method mainly applicable to industrial processes.

Air pollution health impacts shifted by global trade

International trade has moved more than 750,000 air pollution-related deaths from regions that import goods to those that produce them.

Renewables to be subsidy free

Almost 90 per cent of new power in Europe came from renewable sources in 2016. For the first time windfarms accounted for more than half of the capacity installed.

Need to monitor and measure soil carbon

Soil has become a vulnerable resource. A new FAO report shows which areas have the best carbon storage potential and suggests improvements in monitoring and measurement.

Ruling against Bulgaria opens door for air pollution action

The recent decision from the EU Court of Justice opens the door for the Commission to take more robust action in relation to air quality infringements and will facilitate legal actions before national courts by individuals and NGOs.

The first autonomous electric container ship

In this issue

Ocean acidification threat to sea life

Editorial: UN must increase its climate ambition

Threats to coral reefs

Tighter emission limits for EU power plants

We need to talk about nitrogen

Ammonia increasing over agricultural areas

CAP delivers meagre climate action

Global free-fall in coal plant development

CCS – from power plants to industrial plants

Air pollution health impacts shifted by global trade

Renewables to be subsidy free

Need to monitor and measure soil carbon

Ruling against Bulgaria opens door for air pollution action

In Breif

Electric vehicle capitals

Global warming will thaw more permafrost than previously thought

MEPs agree to halve food waste by 2030

People want more information about climate change and food systems

Madrid to halve traffic emissions by 2030

EU must step up car fuel efficiency

Fossil-fuelled cars should pay their health bill

CO2 emissions dropped 1.7 % in the US in 2016

The first autonomous electric container ship

Paris launches urban air pollution watchdog

France adopts national air pollution plan

Italy must take action on air quality

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

Do Your Bit!