Obama orders CO2 standards for trucks

US President Barack Obama has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency and the Traffic Department to draft new fuel efficiency standards for heavy trucks by March 2015, to be completed a year later so they are in place before Obama leaves office. Similar standards for cars and light trucks have previously been introduced.

Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate any substance designated as a pollutant that harms or endangers human health. Since 2009, carbon dioxide exhausted from tailpipes and smokestacks has been considered meet this definition. This means that the US president does not need the approval of Congress to introduce these new standards.

Obama describes his initiative as a “win-win-win”, since new standards would reduce oil imports, reduce carbon pollution and cut down on businesses’ fuel costs.
The European Commission is currently working on a CO₂ strategy for heavy vehicles, which could lead to similar standards in Europe.

Source: New York Times, 18 February 2014

In this issue

A new EU clean air strategy up to 2030

At the very end of the EU’s “Year of Air” the European Commission finally presented its long-awaited new clean air policy package, including a proposal for member states to further cut their national air pollutant emissions up to 2030.

Editorial: Need for ambitious and explicit targets

In its White Paper on climate and energy, presented on 22 January, the EU Commission declares that it wants to see cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels (see page 22). At the same time it proposes scrapping national targets ..

Banking on coal – undermining our climate

A new study reveals the top twenty international banks that are financing the coal mining industry and the hot spots of global coal production.

Ships should use advanced emissions monitoring

Advanced emissions monitoring of large ships calling at EU ports could help save owners and operators of large ships up to €9 million per year.

Emission controls for medium combustion plants

EU-wide application of the most stringent standards now used in member states would reduce NOx emissions from these plants by nearly 80 per cent by 2025, but the new directive will deliver less than half of this reduction.

Hamburg commits to fossil fuel beyond 2050

The city of Hamburg’s climate ambitions are overshadowed by a new Vattenfall coal power plant, which will emit 8.7 million tons of CO₂ annually when it comes into operation.

Cutting emissions from heaters and wood-fired stoves

From 2015, new residential wood-fired stoves and heaters in the US should be less polluting and more efficient.

CCS no more in Norway

A full-scale CCS plant would be too expensive, that is the explanation given as Norway abandons its originally ambitious plans for the technology.

Most corals will bleach at 1.5°C

A quarter of marine biological diversity depends on coral reefs. Now researchers estimate that only 10 per cent of the reefs might survive at a temperature increase of only 1.5°C.

Oceans acidify at unprecedented rate

The rate of ocean acidification is the highest in 300 million years. The predicted effects on food webs and biodiversity will impact aquaculture and societies around the world.

Uncertain future for further emission reductions

Difficulties with shifting to renewables and rising emissions from aviation are two hurdles that the EU needs to overcome in order to achieve its climate targets in the transport sector.

Don’t delay NECAs!

Delaying agreed NOx standards would have several extremely negative consequences, including increased emissions and subsequent damage to health and ecosystems.

Stricter emission standards for non-EU power plants

The health and environmental benefits for eight non-EU countries to comply with EU emission limit values for large combustion plants are on average 17 times the costs.

EU climate and energy targets for 2030

To keep its international climate pledges, the EU must adopt three ambitious, binding targets for greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy and energy savings.