Top of the dirty thirty list

February 2012

Having spewn out 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2008, the Polish Belchatow plant is listed as EU’s most polluting power station in terms of its greenhouse gas emissions. The German Niederaussem power plant was the second dirtiest and emitted nearly 25 million tonnes.

Overall, German utilities still owned 11 of the 30 most polluting facilities in the EU in 2008. Britain’s top five polluters, including the fourth-ranked Drax power station, saw their total emissions rise by 2.6 percent to 60.1 million tonnes. According to preliminary data for 2008 from the European Commission, the thirty biggest CO2 emitters in the EU together belched out some 387 million tonnes, down 2.2 percent from 2007. (The term “dirty thirty” was first coined by the environmentalist organisation WWF in 2005.)

Source: Reuters, 3 April 2009.

  Plant     Country 2008 2007
1. Belchatow     Poland 30.9 28.3
2. Niederaussem   Germany 24.9 31.3
3. Jänschwalde    Germany 23.5 24.2
4. Drax      UK 22.3 22.2
5. Weisweiler     Germany 21.4 19.7
6. Frimmersdorf      Germany 18.6 19.6
7. Neurath Germany 18.0 16.8
8. Brindisi Sud Italy 14.9 14.2
9. Turow Poland 12.9 12.3
10. Schwarze Pumpe     Germany 12.5 12.4

 

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EU states postpone air quality compliance

Nineteen member states have so far notified the Commission that they will need time extensions to comply with EU air quality standards.

Top of the dirty thirty list

Having spewn out 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2008, the Polish Belchatow plant is listed as EU’s most polluting power station in terms of its greenhouse gas emissions. The German Niederaussem power plant was the second dirtiest and emitted nearly 25 million tonnes.

A push for cleaner industry

The new Industrial Emissions directive received its first reading in the European Parliament in March, and the Council position is expected at the end of June.

Transport emissions still on the increase

Greenhouse gas emissions from the European transport sector rose 26 per cent between 1990 and 2006, while all other sectors show a declining trend.

Particles cost billions

Health damage in Sweden from fine particle pollution costs SEK 26 billion (€ 2.4 billion) every year, according to a recent study prepared for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Small but dangerous - new facts on particles

Fine particles cause 546,000 premature deaths each year in Europe, of which 39,000 are due to emissions from international shipping.

Worse than worst case...

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Greenhouse gas emissions from rich countries still increasing

Almost half of the signatory states to the Kyoto protocol have reached their emission targets. Still overall grenhouse gas emissions is increasing. The USA alone was responsible for over two thirds of the increase in 2007.

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Environmental ship index underway

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Ships pollute half as much as world’s cars

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Cleaner ship fuels to save American lives

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Editorial: Europe needs Emission Control Areas

Over the last twenty years, fuel and emission standards for land-based transport have been dramatically strengthened over most of the world. But international shipping has for a long time resisted similar legislation, both as regards emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Recent publications

Environmental effects of the proposal for the directive on industrial emissions (IED)

A push for cleaner industrial production

Off track – Inflated claims of the car industry

Air pollution dependency on climate variability and source region

20 years with monitoring effects of long-range transboundary air pollution on surface waters in Europe and North America
 

Swedish air quality not improving

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Air pollution endangers lives of 6 in 10 Americans

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The biggest global health threat of the 21st century

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EU energy and climate package adopted

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Ship pollution costs billions

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Obama sets limits on car CO2 emissions

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California adopts lowcarbon fuel standard

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Fuel-efficient cars lead to lower oil prices

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