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No. 4, December 2011
New standards save lives
Implementing the stricter ship fuel sulphur standard of 0.1 per cent in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, is estimated to save up to 16,000 lives per year in the EU in 2020.
Cheaper and more efficient
Previous claims that reducing CO2 emissions would make new cars unaffordable are shown to be unfounded in a new report by Transport and Environment. Quite the opposite, cars have actually become cheaper while becoming more carbon-efficient.
Calculating the cost of carbon emissions
The social cost of carbon – or marginal damage caused by an additional ton of carbon dioxide emissions – has been estimated by a US government working group at US$21 in 2010. This is not a large number. It seems to suggest that we don't need to do much about climate change.
Coal is dirty and costly
Economic analysis of the costs of air pollution damage to the United States shows that coal-fired power generation is under-regulated and incredibly costly.
EU trends for greenhouse gas emissions
Macro-economic factors have been the biggest influence on changes in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU over the past two decades. To achieve the needed reduction of 80-95 per cent by 2050 impact from policy must increase.
Serious air quality problems in Europe
Between 80 and 90 per cent of the EU urban population is exposed to levels of harmful particulate matter (PM) exceeding the air quality guideline set by the World Health Organization, and more than 95 per cent is exposed to ozone exceeding this level.
Transport key to meeting environmental targets
GHG emissions from transport in the EU have increased by 27 per cent since 1990. Modest efficiency gains have been outpaced by growing demand.
Tipping point for disintegration?
In recent years the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has started to show signs of instability: ice shelves the size of European countries have broken off from coastal areas and glaciers have begun to accelerate into the ocean.
IEA calls for radical change
An insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system, is what we can expect if there is no radical change in the direction of policy, warned the International Energy Agency (IEA) when it launched the annual World Energy Outlook in November.
The Kyoto Protocol – a treaty worth fighting for
Questions and answers about the Kyoto Protocol by Climate Action Network Europe
Reviewing the Large Combustion Plant BREF
The references documents for best available technique (BAT) for large combustion plants are under review. New issues like oil shale, firing of high-sulphur coal and greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and sulphur hexafluoride will be considered.
Call to extend stricter fuel standards
A ship fuel sulphur limit of 0.1 per cent should be extended to apply to all territorial waters of EU member states up to 12 nautical miles (22 km) from their coasts, according to Finnish MEP Satu Hassi, the European Parliament's rapporteur on the sulphur-in-fuels directive.
The two-degree window is closing up
If the world is going to have a likely chance (more than 66 per cent) of limiting global warming to less than two degrees, emissions of carbon dioxide need to peak between 2010 and 2020, according ..
US clean air rules could create 1.5 million jobs
Regulations to reduce air pollution could create more than one million jobs, according to a study by a coalition of investors and environmental groups and an association for pollution control ..
CCS could also impact air pollution
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide released by power stations and other industrial sources, and burying it deep underground. A new report from the European ..
GHG concentrations continue climbing
In 2010, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new high since pre-industrial time and the rate of increase has accelerated, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Euro standards comitology regulations published
On 16 June a regulation (566/2011) was published that introduces further amendments to the Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards for light-duty road vehicles. It includes measurement procedures for particle mass ..
Non-road emission standards delayed
New and stricter air pollution emission standards for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), such as tractors and locomotives, are unlikely to enter force before 2016, the European Commission ..
Extended emission limit derogations for tractors
New rules on derogations to the stricter stage IIIB air pollutant emission limits for tractors have been adopted by the EU Ministers. The stage IIIB limits entered into force in January 2011, and under ..
Recreational boats to become less polluting
The European Commission proposes stricter limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matter (PM) for new motor boats, sailing boats, jet skis and other recreational craft.
Lower global ship sulphur limit
The global marine fuel sulphur limit required under IMO's MARPOL Annex VI will be reduced from 4.50 per cent to 3.50 per cent as of 1 January 2012.
Ship fuel efficiency cuts costs
Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from international shipping worldwide are projected to increase from 870 million tonnes to between 2000 and 3200 million tonnes (by a factor of 2.3 to 3.7) from ..