New patient information on air quality and heart and lung health

A series of information leaflets aimed at providing individuals, health professionals and heart, lung and asthma patient groups with the latest science-based guidance on how air pollution affects health is now available. Produced by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the ESCAPE project, the leaflets aim to inform on new evidence and provide prevention tips for those whose health is most at risk from air pollution.

Greater policy efforts are needed to tackle air pollution. In 2010 alone, air pollution was responsible for 400,000 premature deaths in the EU, with health costs of up to €940 billion.

HEAL hopes the leaflets will help to raise awareness among asthma, heart and other patients, as well as health and medical groups on what they can do to prevent disease, and empower them to become more involved in communicating what needs to be done by decision-makers, as the EU will be debating measures to curb air pollution in the next few months.

The leaflets Air pollution and lung health – for patients with lung disease and Air pollution and health – for patients with cardiovascular disease can be dowloaded at http://www.env-health.org/resources/press-releases/article/information-release-new-patient

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

New patient information on air quality and heart and lung health

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

Do Your Bit!