No. 1 March 2022
A just transition in EU farming
The EU needs to plan and act for a just transition in agriculture, is the message in a new report. Not only because it is fair, but also to mitigate the resistance to change.
Editorial: Peace a prerequisite for a sustainable Europe
Like many others, I have a hard time focusing on anything else than the Russian war against Ukraine right now. AirClim has been working for a long time ...
Dirty air harms birds and bees
New evidence shows that birds and bees are also affected by the air pollution we humans emit. Birds seem especially vulnerable to ozone ...
EU innovation fund: Most of it goes to CCS
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) featured highly when the European Innovation Fund for innovative low-carbon technologies shortlisted its first large-scale projects in November.
Case study: Stockholm BECCS
BECCS(a)STHLM is a CCS project storing CO2 from a biomass power and heat plant in Stockholm, Sweden. The plant was built in 2016 ...
Solar parks can benefit bumble bees
If solar parks are managed as meadows they could provide valuable habitats for polinators. This is an example of how renewable energy and nature conservation can work together.
Fossil fuels behind a quarter of PM deaths
Burning of coal, oil and gas caused most of the fine particle (PM2.5) related deaths in industralised countries, shows a new study. Shipping and farming had higher impacts than are widely recognised.
Farm emissions high on Air Convention agenda
The last CLRTAP meeting featured a new guidance on agricultural waste burning, a new assessment report on ammonia, and the inclusion of methane in the revision analysis.
EU paves the way for carbon farming credits
All farmers should have access to carbon emission and removal data for their land by 2028. Carbon credits play a key role in the EU Commission’s plans to boost carbon sequestration on farmland.
IEA "net zero" scenario shows little faith in renewables
“If you continue to invest in dirty energy, you risk losing money. If you invest in clean energy, you can make some handsome profit”, said Fatih Birol, head of the IEA when he launched its annual World Energy Outlook (WEO) in October. The new WEO marks a substantial change for the organisation and the international establishment. That change is a victory for NGOs’ efforts to make Paris and 1.5 degrees the new normal.
CCS projects around the world
The situation for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Canada, Norway and Italy.
Wind and solar power cheapest energy
New nuclear, new coal and new gas are far more expensive than wind and solar, according to financial advisor and asset management firm Lazard. Renewables can even beat existing fossil and nuclear power under some circumstances.
EU renewable heating manifesto: “We need to heat our homes, not the planet”
During the ongoing EU energy policy revision, a coalition of Europe’s biggest environmental groups has pushed for renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions as well as rejection of fossil fuel boilers.
New parliamentary vote to ramp up offshore wind production in EU
More offshore renewable energy is needed to meet Europe’s climate goals, but permits for new sites need to be approved quicker, according to the European Parliament.
Green certificates a Swedish success
By 2002, wind power in Sweden and Norway was less than 0.5 TWh, far behind Denmark’s 4.4 TWh. In 2003, green certificates were introduced ...
A saltier world is to be expected
Sealevel rise and increased evaporation due to climate change cause salinisation of freshwater. Salinisation of wetlands may also lead to higher emissions of greenhouse gases.
High hopes for German renewables reform
Germany’s government has initiated the first steps in a wide-ranging renewables reform that should ...
Road traffic cause most NO2 exceedances
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently published a briefing on managing air quality ...
Brits could breathe air in line with WHO interim target by 2030
If the UK government implements its planned environmental, transport and clean air policies, most UK ...
Amazon nears climate 'tipping point'
Savannification" of the Amazon would be hugely disruptive, in South America and across the globe.
Dutch government launches ambitious climate and wind energy package
The coalition government took office nine months ago. Now they have agreed to cut CO2 emissions from the Netherlands by at least 55%-60% ...
Mediterranean Sea could become a low-sulphur fuel area by 2025
The EU, together with countries around the Mediterranean Sea, committed to further efforts to ...
Even low levels of PM2.5 can increase health risks
Air pollution below current air quality standards in Europe has been linked to mortality. In a large joint research ...
Updated urban air quality atlas
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has recently published its Urban PM2.5 Atlas 2021 report.
Serbia’s first air quality programme
Serbia is launching its first draft air protection programme and an air pollution action programme.
Coal pollution has killed 200,000 Turks since 1965
HEAL’s new analysis on “Chronic coal pollution Turkey: Cumulative health effects” highlights that the country’s ...
Millions of people may be affected by loss of coral reefs in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean
Although corals occupy only a small part of global sea areas, they are extremely important for marine biodiversity, including sectors ...
Unlocking onshore wind in Poland
A new report from Ember highlight s that Poland’s onshore wind policy is not compatible with the EU’s climate targets.
New Zealand wants to charge road users for air pollution, noise and GHG emissions
Early this year the New Zealand Ministry of Transport published a consultation document “Driving Change: Reviewing the Road User Charges System”.
Dutch government plan for farm buyouts
The Netherlands aims to reduce the total cattle herd by 30% over the next seven years, mainly by buying out farmers. Documents from coalition ...
Northern Ireland gets its first climate bill
Northern Ireland will soon get its first climate change bill. It includes a target for net-zero emissions by 2050 ...
War is no excuse to weaken Farm to Fork
More than 85 environmental and agriculture organisations have written an open letter calling on the EU ...
Insect poop can be used as a fertilizer
Insect frass is simply the faeces of insects. Researchers have concluded that the frass is rich in nitrogen as well as other nutrients ...
Accurate monitoring of marine heatwaves needed for the Indian Ocean
A recent study shows that marine heatwaves in the Indian Ocean affect the Indian summer monsoon rainfall.
International Ocean Acidification Action Week
Ocean Acidification (OA) caused by carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels puts our seas at danger.
In brief
Germany’s GHG emissions increased by nearly 5% in 2021
Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.5 per cent between 2020 and 2021, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has said in its annual report on emission trajectories.
The country's Federal Environment Agency warned that the “Corona windfall profits” in terms of emissions reduction are being lost too quickly. The government said it wants to tackle the lack of structural changes in the buildings and transport sectors, both of which failed on their specific emission reduction targets. The economy and climate ministry said it plans to reap the double benefits of energy independence and climate action, with an emergency programme that is to triple renewable capacity expansion. A “heat pump boom” is also expected this year, as households strive to become independent from Russian fossil fuels.
Source: Clean Energy Wire 15 March 2022, https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/emissions-45-2021-after-pandemic-sl...
Delay in Euro 7
The European Commission meeting on the Euro 7 proposal, “Development of post-Euro 6/VI emission standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses”, has been delayed. Instead of being discussed at the beginning of April it will now be discussed on 20 July 2022.
Details of meetings are at ec.europa.eu/transparency/documentsregister/detail?ref=SEC(2022)2405&lang=en
Honeycomb-shaped floating wind farm may be cheaper to operate
The mooring design is based on the traditional technologies from the mooring of oil & gas floating structures. Once a turbine is installed on a floater, it is anchored to the mooring system to ensure the platform stays in its original target position while limiting motion. With floating wind turbines connected in a “honeycomb” network, the solution enables new ways of applying well-proven mooring technology in new and more effective anchor-sharing configuration. It is believed that the solution could make marine operations more efficient and less costly and with lower environmental impact. This is partly due to lower pre-tension and line weight in the mooring system, opening the possibility of using smaller, less expensive vessels for marine operations and because the anchors are shared there is less impact on the seabed.
Source: Offshore wind 15 February 2022, https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/02/15/honeycomb-inspired-floating-wind...
Changing Ocean Asia documentary
Liz Courtney, who is an award-winning maker of films and documentaries, has directed and written the documentary series Changing Ocean Asia. The series focuses on how climate change is already affecting marine waters and the low-lying areas of Southeast Asia.
The documentary comes in four parts, namely:
- Sinking Cities of Asia
- Extreme Weather. Powerful Tsunamis
- Urban Oceans. Super Corals
- Sea Level Rise. Engineering Solutions
The documentary series is narrated by Dr Sylvia Earle, who is a globally renowned marine scientist.
Changing Ocean Asia is available on several platforms, which can be found here: https://earthobservatory.sg/news/eos-launches-changing-ocean-asia-docume...