Illustration: Lars-Erik Håkansson
No. 3, September 2010
Air pollutant emissions to exceed limits
Only one in two member states expect to comply with their emission limits for all four air pollutants set by the EU national emission ceilings directive.
Emission ceilings may be further postponed
The EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik is seeking to delay until 2013 the already long-overdue revision of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive.
Pollutant emissions fall
While air pollutant emissions from land-based sources in Europe continue to fall slightly, some reductions are countered by rising emissions from international shipping.
Agreement on Industrial Emissions Directive
Many years in the work, agreement has been reached on the new Industrial Emissions Directive, replacing seven existing directives and tightening standards – but not by enough.
New emission ceilings for 2020 underway
A new study shows significant scope for additional air pollutant reductions in Europe, along with the accompanying health and environmental improvements.
CAN supports 1.5°
The Climate Action Network (CAN), a worldwide network of over 450 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), decided in August to adopt a new climate policy target.
1.5° is tough, but doable
A new report underscores that while a climate target of 1.5°C is difficult and filled with uncertainties, it remains feasible and achievable with the right level of ambition.
CCS in Europe: doomed
Reuters reports that a new study warns that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology might barely get past the testing phase in Europe as the economic crisis and a shift to green power destroys incentives.
CCS in Germany: emotional
A new draft CCS law in Germany has done little to resolve the ongoing conflict over the issue.
CCS in Norway: postponed
CCS has been delayed for another four years, in an admission it is far from "off-the-shelf".
Renewables industry says – we can power the EU!
A new report by the European Renewable Energy Council provides hope of a more coordinated industry low-carbon lobby – and shows how to do 100 per cent renewables by 2050.
Europe's worst polluters: much work to do
Despite some required improvements, Europe's dirtiest power plants still emit vast amounts of air pollutants. The "Dirty Dozen" are still big, and still dirty.
High benefits of ship fuel action
Implementing internationally agreed stricter ship fuel sulphur standards may save 26,000 lives per year and provide economic benefits to health worth up to 26 times the costs.
The high costs of inaction
Publication of a long-awaited EU proposal to tighten national emission ceilings (NEC) for air pollutants may yet again be delayed by the Commission.
EU can reduce transport emissions 89% by 2050
The EU can reduce its emissions from the transport sector by 89 per cent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, a new study by AEA for the European Commission shows. In order to achieve such a reduction ..
EU 20% efficiency target threatened
The European Union will fail to meet its 20 per cent energy efficiency target for 2020 under current policies, says a new study. Commissioned by the European Climate Foundation (ECF) and the ..
20% EU carbon cut close to done in 2009
Estimates by the European Environment Agency (EEA) show that greenhouse gas emissions in the EU decreased to about 17.3 per cent below 1990 levels in 2009, meaning that the current target ..
30% climate target would save billions on health care
Substantial public health benefits and billions of savings in health care costs could be made by raising the EU's climate target for 2020 to 30 per cent, according to a study released on 14 September.
Fine particles killing 9000 a year in California
Approximately 9,000 people in California die prematurely each year as a result of fine particle air pollution, a new report published 31 August by the California Air Resources Board has found ..
Further cuts in power plant air pollution
On 6 July 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a regulation, called the transport rule, that will target power plant air pollution that drifts across the borders of 31 eastern ..
EU SO2 emissions fall
A European Union air pollutant emission inventory report compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and released in July shows that the EU27 has cut SO2 emissions by 78 per cent ..
Cut PM10 , says European Commission
The European Commission has continued to maintain a hard line against countries that are yet to comply with EU air quality legislation limiting fine particulate matter (PM10) concentrations ..
Clean Air Act benefits
Preliminary analysis by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that in 2010, the Clean Air Act's fine particles and ozone programs will prevent more than 160,000 premature ..
Societal costs of ship emissions investigated
The socioeconomics of ship emissions and abatement measures has been analysed in recent study by the in Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The report, which is in Swedish with 6-page ..
UK ship CO2 emissions up to six times higher
A new report published by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research says that Britain has consistently calculated its emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from shipping incorrectly by only ..
Marine fuel demand up
Global marine fuel demand has recovered to pre-2008 levels and annual consumption will likely grow to 450 million tonnes (Mt) by 2020, according to recent estimates ..
Caribbean ECA proposal
In June, the United States submitted a proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to designate an emission control area (ECA) for the coastal waters around Puerto Rico and the ..
Ship emissions deal in force
The revised Annex VI, which contains regulations to prevent air pollution from ships, of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) entered into force globally ..