Member states to set the bottom floor The climate and environment are central objectives in the new CAP proposal, but more flexibility for member states risks undermining delivery on the ground. Read more
Editorial: Just doing a little bit is not enough “Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.” This is the main message of the IPCC report released on 8 October. They also conclude “that we ... Read more
Six countries taken to court over air quality breaches If EU countries do not urgently address their air pollution problems, the European Court of Justice can impose fines amounting to millions of euro. Read more
EU “Clean Air Outlook” up to 2030 The annual benefits of additional measures needed to achieve the 2030 national emissions ceilings are estimated at €13–58 billion, up to 84 times higher than the estimated costs. Read more
Coal will be squeezed out by renewables Prices of green electricity and batteries have fallen so sharply that projections for 85–90% renewables by 2035 look “ludicrously conservative”, according to the energy coalition ETC. Read more
Lessons from aviation’s first foray into market-based measures International Civil Aviation Organization landed on the cheapest, most contentious, and finally outdated policy instrument out there – offsetting. Read more
Europe still building new coal power stations Several countries in Europe have recently built or are planning to build new coal power stations. Some examples from Germany were described in the last issue of Acid News (AN2/2018), and further examples of such plants from Eastern Europe are presented here. Read more
Germany must exit coal quickly A study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology posits that Germany can still meet its 2020 emissions reduction target. Read more
Swedes harmed by air pollution Every year 7600 people in Sweden die prematurely due to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, with an annual cost to society of at least 5.3 billion euro. Read more
Agricultural ammonia emissions keep on rising Five EU countries breached their national emission ceilings for ammonia in 2016 and total emissions have now increased by two per cent over three years, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows. Read more
Three easy apples to pick Some types of change require long-term planning, new institutions, educating a new generation etc. Other things are so easy to do that they should have been implemented yesterday. Read more
Wind farms and birds Wind farms are far less harmful to birds than first thought, according to the biggest ever study on the subject published in April, because seabirds actively change their flight paths to avoid them. Read more
A smorgasbord of sustainable solutions Environmentally aware public procurement and the inclusion of sustainability in dietary guidelines are some measures already taken in the transition towards a sustainable food system. Read more
Sweden to stop using coal for energy in 2022 The burning of coal for heat and power in Sweden will stop in 2022, which is the deadline for the combined heat and power plant in Stockholm. Read more
Solar radiation management (SRM) and geoengineering are not needed SRM is perilous, as the consequnces of intervening in a highly complex system are unpredictable. Actual GHG emissions cuts can achieve more, faster, surer, cheaper and without the risk. Read more
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