Stricter PM limits proposed in Norway

Norway’s Environment Agency published on 28 February a recommendation to tighten the country’s limits on particulate matter (PM) concentrations in the air. Norway’s existing air quality standards are similar to the EU’s, but the European Commission decided in its Clean Air package of December 2013 not to update the limits set in the EU Air Quality Directive from 2008.

Proposed new limits for PM10 are an annual mean of 25 μg/m³ in 2015 and 22 μg/m³ in 2020. The number of maximum allowed exceedances of the daily PM₁₀ limit (of 50 μg/m³) is proposed to come down to 30 in 2015 and to 15 in 2020. Proposed new limits for PM_2.5 are an annual mean of 15 μg/m³ in 2015 and 12 μg/m3 in 2010.

Source: Norwegian Environment Agency press release 28 February 2014.

In this issue

150 ways to cut GHG emissions

NGOs from eleven countries in Northern Europe have evaluated national policies used to cut greenhouse gases. Result: some 150 measures. If all repeated some of the lessons learned by their neighbours, emissions would come down fast.

Editorial: 1.5°C target can be reached

In April 2014, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report that presented a scenario for a pathway on how to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C ..

Profitable to cut air pollution

The monetised health benefits alone of less air pollution are up to 42 times greater than the emission abatement costs. In addition there will be substantial benefits to ecosystems, forests, agricultural crops and materials.

IMO weakens NOx rules for ships

A hastily adopted compromise decision that was taken without any impact assessment, despite the risk that it will negatively affect the environment and the health of Europeans.

A changing climate creates pervasive risks

The effects of climate change are already being seen on all continents and across the oceans.

Persistent problems in meeting NOx limits

Eleven EU countries breached at least one of their air pollutant emission ceilings in 2012, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency shows.

Hidden costs make coal expensive

Unexpected costs and technical disappointments have been recurrent while building the Moorburg power station – a project that is part of a 6 GW coal power expansion in Germany.

Diet shifts could reduce nitrogen pollution

Halving the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs in Europe could reduce ammonia and other nitrogen emissions by 40 per cent.

Rise in agricultural emissions

Aggregated greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture increased by 14 per cent between 2001 and 2011, according to new data from the FAO.

SCR can cut ship NOx emissions

The technology to drastically cut ship NOx emissions is widely available, performs well, and may even slightly reduce ship fuel consumption. The costs of installation and operation are modest and expected to fall over time.

Air pollution the world’s largest environmental health risk

New figures from the WHO link indoor and outdoor air pollution to around 7 million premature deaths a year – more than double previous estimates.

Urban air quality getting worse

About half of the urban population being monitored worldwide is exposed to air pollution that is at least 2.5 times higher than the levels recommended by the WHO.

Harmful ozone levels over Europe

Ozone pollution significantly exceeded EU standards to protect health during the summer of 2013, especially in the Mediterranean and Alpine regions.

Diesel cars not as green as perceived

In Europe, diesel cars have been promoted based on the assumption that they emit less greenhouse gases (GHG) than petrol-fuelled cars and many EU member states have reduced taxes on diesel fuel and diesel car sales.