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Scrubbers are harmful – and expensive

Ships are required by international regulations to limit their emissions of air pollutants. Instead of using less-polluting fuels, many ship owners have installed so called scrubbers that “clean” the exhaust gases, so they can continue to use cheaper heavy fuel oil. Unfortunately, these scrubbers give rise to polluted water, that is harmful to the marine environment when discharged.

In an article recently published in Nature Sustainability, a group of researchers show that whereas installing scrubbers is good business for ship owners, they are costly for the environment. For the socio-economic aspect, the study focussed on the Baltic Sea, and the researchers calculated that “…the marine ecotoxicity damage cost, from scrubber water discharge in the Baltic Sea Area 2014–2022, amounts to >€680 million in 2019 euros, showing that private economic interests come at the expense of marine environmental damage”.

Source: Lunde Hermansson, A., Hassellöv, IM., Grönholm, T. et al. Strong economic incentives of ship scrubbers promoting pollution. Nat Sustain (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01347-1

In this issue

A major step toward cleaner air in the EU

By tightening limits on harmful pollutants like PM2.5 and NO2 the revised Air Qulaity Directive will significantly improve public health and align closer with WHO guidelines.

Editorial: Fighting for the right to clean air

“The dose makes the poison” is a basic principle in toxicology. Even drinking water can be lethal if consumed in excessive amounts. For air pollution, the levels considered harmful are often relatively small, measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air. However, exposure is constant as we continuously breathe, and these small ammounts accumulate, leading to diseases and ultimately deaths.

How many arguments will it take?

There are many reasons to reduce car use in cities, and yet traffic reduction policies seem to remain controversial and unpopular. Systems thinking and understanding how to communicate the multiple and complex set of impacts will help push forward urban transformations that reduce car dependency.

Global resilience by empowering communties: the “Early Warnings for All” intiative at COP28

The urgency of addressing climate change and its impacts has never been more apparent, and the “Early Warnings for All” initiative stands at the forefront of global efforts to enhance resilience against meteorological risks. At COP28, the initiative received significant attention.

Opportunity to address gaps in the NEC directive

The EU NEC Directive sets national targets to reduce emissions of five key pollutants. Article 13 of the directive mandates a review before the end of 2025.

European Parliament approves watered-down Euro 7 rules

The European Parliament approved a deal on the revised Euro 7 emissions rules for cars, trucks, and buses in March. However, the decision remains controversial, with stakeholders divided on whether it goes too far or not far enough in combating emissions.

Hit or miss: Ammonia as a climate-friendly fuel

In the quest for a clean shipping fuel, ammonia is emerging as an unexpected hero. Made from air and water using renewable electricity, it promises near-zero emissions. According to the IMO and IEA, ammonia's future potential is significant—but there are some caveats.

A walk in the woods: summarising the state of Swedish forests

Almost 70 percent of Sweden's land area is covered by forests. In this article, the writer explores the significance of these forests for people, communities, and biodiversity as well as highlighting how they are utilised and managed today.

Bulgarian forests – biodiversity under threat

Forests cover more than a third of Bulgaria’s territory. However, they face numerous challenges, such as poor management, illegal logging and the effects of climate change.

Carbon measurements in old-growth forests

The environmental movement often hails old-growth forests as saviours of the climate, whereas the forestry industry argues that it is young, growing forests that soak up carbon dioxide. We followed along as the exhalations of an old forest were measured – using steel cages and gas masks.

Denmark introduces tax on farm emissions

The Danish government is proposing a climate tax on livestock emissions. Farmers will pay 16 euros per ton of CO2e in 2030, with the rate increasing to 40 euros by 2035.

Boosting climate policy with aquatic research

Ocean acidification and environmental change in lakes were the most frequently cited topics by the IPCC and IPBES, according to a recent impact assessment of AQUACOSM-plus, an EU-funded project focused on experimental research in aquatic environments.

EU needs to align power grids with climate goals

Scenario calls for a 131% increase in European power grid transmission capacity by 2035 to accomodate full phase-out of coal and fossil gas.

Plan to fast-track renewable energy deployment in the EU

To boost renewable energy adoption, the European Commission has introduced new guidelines for Renewables Acceleration Areas (RAAs). However, a recent report shows many countries are unprepared for RAA designation and sensitivity mapping.

Main menu

Scrubbers are harmful – and expensive

In this issue

A major step toward cleaner air in the EU

Editorial: Fighting for the right to clean air

How many arguments will it take?

Global resilience by empowering communties: the “Early Warnings for All” intiative at COP28

Opportunity to address gaps in the NEC directive

European Parliament approves watered-down Euro 7 rules

Hit or miss: Ammonia as a climate-friendly fuel

A walk in the woods: summarising the state of Swedish forests

Bulgarian forests – biodiversity under threat

Carbon measurements in old-growth forests

Denmark introduces tax on farm emissions

Boosting climate policy with aquatic research

EU needs to align power grids with climate goals

Plan to fast-track renewable energy deployment in the EU

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

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