Illustration: Lars-Erik Håkansson
No. 2, June 2010
Too much NOx from trucks
A recent research project by the Dutch consultancy TNO has shown that real world NOx emissions from Euro V trucks in urban driving conditions are three times higher than previously expected and only marginally better than those ..
40 per cent carbon cuts with smaller scale tech
Greenhouse gas emissions can be cut by 40 per cent in ten years - with no nuclear power and without carbon capture, a new study from the Stockholm Environment Institute claims.
Go slower to go greener
The overcapacity in the cargo fleet creates an opportunity to reduce ship emissions by simply sailing slower.
EU Parliament votes for stronger pollution directive
On 4 May the European Parliament’s environment committee agreed to somewhat strengthen proposals to revise the EU directive on industrial pollution (IPPC). It called for stricter derogations from certain requirements than were agreed ..
A WWF prescription for greening Germany
German greenhouse gas emissions can be cut by 95 per cent by 2050 without excessive costs, a new WWF report claims.
North American ship pollution will be curbed
The emission control area off North American coasts will deliver public health benefits hundreds of miles inland.
British power plants pollute Dutch rural areas
Three big British power plants contribute more to the depostion of sulphur, nitrogen oxides and fine particles in rural Holland than 11 domestic plants combined.
NOx sources in the UK: the story behind the figures
Why the UK continues to live up to its “Dirty man of Europe” reputation, despite being among the richer countries in Europe.
The poor legacy of Copenhagen
Commitments made after Copenhagen are far from sufficient to keep global warming below 2°C. Without further measures 3°C is more likely, and 5°C a possible scenario.
Ozone, plants and climate - views and news
Climate strongly affects plant sensitivity to ozone, and ozone effects on vegetation can have important feedbacks on the climate.
Roadmap for 2050 offers low-carbon Europe for free
Cutting European greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by mid-century is not only possible - it would cost less than doing nothing.
And the winner is...
For a third straight year the Polish power plant Belchatow tops the list of Europe’s dirtiest installations in 2009, European Commission data showed.
Particles killing half a million
Air pollution by fine particles is estimated to cause half a million premature deaths in European countries every year.
Editorial: Shipping must pay its bill
On 26 March, the United States and Canada hailed and praised the UN International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) adoption of an emission control area (ECA) all along the North American coastline.
Final warning for missing permits
In March the European Commission sent final warnings to Austria and Sweden about some 70 industrial installations that are either operating without permits or with permits that ..
Higher fuel bills will cut ship emissions
Higher bunker fuel bills will act as a driver to cut ship emissions, as efficiency gains when bunker prices are high result in substantial cost savings for shipowners. The greater the gains ..
Higher pressure on Canadian oil sands
EU parliamentarians are raising the pressure on the Canadian oil sands industry, which they accuse of destroying forests and polluting the air and waterways. In April 17 members ..
Ocean acidification faster than ever
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to global warming are also turning the oceans more acidic at the fastest pace in hundreds of thousands of years, according to the US ..
Website on onshore power launched
A new international website – developed under the lead of the Port of Gothenburg – offers practical and useful information and calculation tools about onshore power ..
Filter removes 80 per cent of particles
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced the joint development with Akasaka Diesels of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for vessels using marine heavy fuel oil. The device is said to be ..
Clean Shipping Coalition launched
A new international environmental coalition dedicated exclusively to the greening of international shipping was launched in April. The Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) will promote policies ..
IMO expert group on shipping GHG emissions
The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) environment policy decision-making body agreed in March to set up an expert group that will assess the feasibility of market-based measures ..
Heavy fuel oil banned in the Antarctic
An International Maritime Organization (IMO) ban on the carriage of heavy grade oils as cargo or fuel in the Antarctic area was adopted at a meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection ..
Breaches of emission ceilings expected
Around half of the EU member states expect to miss one or more of the 2010 legal limits for air pollutant emissions set by the national emission ceilings (NEC) directive. According to ..
Making the EU 100 per cent renewables-based
The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), outlines in its new report “RE-thinking 2050” a pathway that would allow the EU to switch to a 100 per cent renewable energy ..
First ever greenhouse gas emission standards for US vehicles
The United States Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly established new federal rules that set the first-ever national greenhouse gas ..
Controversial power plant upgrade
In late April, the Czech government gave the country’s main utility CEZ the go-ahead for a disputed upgrade of the Prunerov power plant. The decision came after months of political wrangling within ..
Commission take action on air quality failures
On 5 May the European Commission announced that it is pursuing legal action against Italy for failing to comply with EU air quality standards for dangerous airborne particles (PM10). A second ..
All-time low in European ozone levels
Ozone levels in Europe during summer 2009 were among the lowest since comprehensive data reporting started in 1997. Eighteen EU countries reported exceeding the information threshold ..