New US fuel economy standards

The United States has adopted new fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks, which will raise average fuel economy in 2025 to 54.5 miles per gallon, equivalent to 101 grams of CO₂ per km. The new legislation is a significant tightening of the previously approved standard for 2012-2016, which is projected to result in an average fuel consumption of 35.5 miles per gallon (equivalent to 155 grams CO₂ per km) in 2016.

The adopted US standard is not directly comparable with the corresponding EU standard as the latter distinguishes passenger cars from vans. The U.S. standard also differs from the EU standard in that it is based on the footprint and not on the weight of the vehicle.

Source: White house, press release 28 August 2012

In this issue

Editorial: Acid News celebrates 30 years!

Today it goes without saying that countries have to cooperate and take action in order to resolve transboundary environmental problems, but this was far from obvious for most countries only a few decades ago.

China: New emission standards for power plants

China’s new emission standards for power plants are comparable to, and in some cases even stricter than, current standards in the EU and the United States.

Progress in EU air policy review

Next year the Commission is to present an updated EU clean air strategy. Scenarios for future air pollutant emissions indicate that these can be significantly cut by combining technical abatement measures with stricter climate policies.

Finding climate policy for the agricultural sector

A trading system for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions results in less leakage than emission caps or a tax on livestock, according to a new report by the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). But the practical difficulties of trading with emissions from diffuse sources such as livestock and arable land are not even mentioned.

Ten one-liners for air policy

In politics, one-liners are in vogue because they bring the message back to the core. Nuances do not come across in a debate. The same seems to apply to air pollution policy. The multitude of information seems to paralyse policy, and not only in the Netherlands. So here are ten ‘one-liners’ for boosting air pollution policy, in the spirit of the Ten Commandments.

Great benefits of NOx reductions in the North Sea

The health benefits of establishing a North Sea NECA are up to seven times higher than the costs and would provide total annual net benefits to society of up to €1646 million in 2030.

Slow steaming saves money and the climate

Regulated speed reduction is a cost-effective and practical way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from shipping.

Energy Efficiency: A deal, but not a great one

On Thursday June 14 all three branches of EU government reached agreement on the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). Formal adoption will be completed later this year.

F-gases still a problem

The production of fluorinated greenhouse gases in the EU has decreased in terms of tonnage, but since the proportion of gases with the highest global warming potentials (GWP) simultaneously has increased there is no reduction in the overall climate impact.

New CO2 standards for cars and vans

Carbon dioxide standards have pushed the auto industry to achieve the same efficiency improvements in the last three years as achieved in the previous eight years. The European Commission has now presented proposals on how standards can be tightened from 2020 and onwards.

Ship emissions continue to increase

While air pollutant emissions from land-based sources in Europe keep on slowly shrinking, some reductions are countered by rising emissions from international shipping.

Main menu

New US fuel economy standards

In this issue

Editorial: Acid News celebrates 30 years!

China: New emission standards for power plants

Progress in EU air policy review

Finding climate policy for the agricultural sector

Ten one-liners for air policy

Great benefits of NOx reductions in the North Sea

Slow steaming saves money and the climate

Energy Efficiency: A deal, but not a great one

F-gases still a problem

New CO2 standards for cars and vans

Ship emissions continue to increase

Publications

SINK OR SOURCE? Northern Forests at a crossroads

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Protecting Northern Forests crucial for biodiversity, the climate and indigenous rights

The 100 largest industry emitters in EU-27

Road to Nowhere

Bioenergy CCS – too little, too expensive, and not net negative

Direct air carbon capture and storage - A waste of time and energy

Carbon emissions from the cement industry can be reduced without CCS

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

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