US regulates for more fuel-efficient trucks

In August, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the second phase of greenhouse gas standards for the trucking sector, which are expected to lower CO₂ emissions by approximately 1.1 billion metric tons, save vehicle owners fuel costs of about US$170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to two billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. Overall, the program will provide US$230 billion in net benefits to society, including benefits to climate and the public health. The benefits outweigh costs by about an 8-to-1 ratio.

Stef Cornelis at Transport & Environment commented: “This is as much about environmental leadership as about innovation. If the EU wants to remain the world’s leader in truck manufacturing, then the European Commission should table a fuel efficiency standard for trucks in 2017 with a more ambitious 2025 target than the American phase two target.”

US EPA press release 16 August 2016
T&E comment

In this issue

Paris changes everything

The Paris Agreement constitutes a global turning point away from fossil fuels and toward 100% renewable energy.

Editorial: No viable future for coal anywhere

The UN climate conference in Paris last December decided to limit the temperature increase to well below 2°C/1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Paths to a sustainable agricultural system

An integrated food and agricultural policy and changes in consumption patterns are holistic approaches needed to tackle emissions from agriculture.

Targets aren’t enough, but gap can be closed

Europe’s solar and wind initiatives, if both implemented, could increase Europe’s climate target of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 to 60%.

Coal kills across borders

Every coal-fired power station switched off will bring great benefits that reach beyond national borders, for both human health and the climate.

Europe’s biggest polluters

Polish lignite plant Belchatow and British coal plant Drax dominate Europe’s most polluting point sources in 2014.

A phase-out plan for coal in Europe

Very old and high-emitting plants are easy to replace with renewables and improvements in energy efficiency.

Lignite power developments in Europe

Several European countries are investing in lignite mining, despite the fact that the industry faces declining profit margins in competition with low-carbon energy production.

New watered-down EU air pollution targets

Compared to the Commission’s proposal, the relaxed targets finally agreed by member states and parliament will result in thousands of additional cases of premature death.

10 countries still breach EU’s air pollution limits

Nitrogen oxides from transport and ammonia from agriculture are still being emitted above the legal limits of the NEC directive.

Many ways to cut ship NOx emissions

Establishing NOx Emission Control Areas would significantly reduce ship NOx emissions by 2040 – introducing economic instruments could cut emissions faster and further.

OECD warns of rising costs of air pollution

Outdoor air pollution could cause up to nine million premature deaths a year by 2060 and cost US$ 3.3 trillion annually as a result of sick days, healthcare expenditure and reduced agricultural output, unless action is taken.

Main menu

US regulates for more fuel-efficient trucks

In this issue

Paris changes everything

Editorial: No viable future for coal anywhere

Paths to a sustainable agricultural system

Targets aren’t enough, but gap can be closed

Coal kills across borders

Europe’s biggest polluters

A phase-out plan for coal in Europe

Lignite power developments in Europe

New watered-down EU air pollution targets

10 countries still breach EU’s air pollution limits

Many ways to cut ship NOx emissions

OECD warns of rising costs of air pollution

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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