IEA: Strategies for cleaner air

The International Energy Agency (IEA) in June released a report that highlights the links between energy, air pollution and health, and identifies contributions the energy sector can make to curb poor air quality.

Based on new projections to 2040, the report provides a global outlook for energy and air pollution as well as detailed profiles for the US, Mexico, the EU, China, India, Southeast Asia and Africa. It also identifies contributions the energy sector can make to improve air quality. Energy production and use are the most important man-made sources of key air pollutant emissions, responsible for 85 per cent of PM and almost all of the sulphur and nitrogen oxides.

The report presents strategies tailored to various national circumstances to deliver cleaner air for all. A new Clean Air Scenario demonstrates how energy policy choices backed by just a seven per cent increase in total energy investment through 2040 produce a sharp improvement in health. Under such a scenario, premature deaths from outdoor air pollution would decline by 1.7 million in 2040 compared with the main scenario, and those from household pollution would fall by 1.6 million annually.

According to the study, the EU could cut annual air-pollution-related premature deaths from 340,000 in 2015 to 180,000 in 2040 under the Clean Air Scenario, compared to 230,000 in 2040 in the baseline scenario.

The report “World Energy Outlook 2016 Special Report on Energy and Air Pollution”

In this issue

Paris changes everything

The Paris Agreement constitutes a global turning point away from fossil fuels and toward 100% renewable energy.

Editorial: No viable future for coal anywhere

The UN climate conference in Paris last December decided to limit the temperature increase to well below 2°C/1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Paths to a sustainable agricultural system

An integrated food and agricultural policy and changes in consumption patterns are holistic approaches needed to tackle emissions from agriculture.

Targets aren’t enough, but gap can be closed

Europe’s solar and wind initiatives, if both implemented, could increase Europe’s climate target of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 to 60%.

Coal kills across borders

Every coal-fired power station switched off will bring great benefits that reach beyond national borders, for both human health and the climate.

Europe’s biggest polluters

Polish lignite plant Belchatow and British coal plant Drax dominate Europe’s most polluting point sources in 2014.

A phase-out plan for coal in Europe

Very old and high-emitting plants are easy to replace with renewables and improvements in energy efficiency.

Lignite power developments in Europe

Several European countries are investing in lignite mining, despite the fact that the industry faces declining profit margins in competition with low-carbon energy production.

New watered-down EU air pollution targets

Compared to the Commission’s proposal, the relaxed targets finally agreed by member states and parliament will result in thousands of additional cases of premature death.

10 countries still breach EU’s air pollution limits

Nitrogen oxides from transport and ammonia from agriculture are still being emitted above the legal limits of the NEC directive.

Many ways to cut ship NOx emissions

Establishing NOx Emission Control Areas would significantly reduce ship NOx emissions by 2040 – introducing economic instruments could cut emissions faster and further.

OECD warns of rising costs of air pollution

Outdoor air pollution could cause up to nine million premature deaths a year by 2060 and cost US$ 3.3 trillion annually as a result of sick days, healthcare expenditure and reduced agricultural output, unless action is taken.