Use the Air-o-Meter!

October 2015

In June, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) launched its new Air-o-Meter on-line tool, which gives citizens an opportunity to compare different sets of National Emission Ceilings (NEC) that are currently being discussed by the EU co-legislators for 2020, 2025, and 2030.

The results displayed in the Air-o-Meter stem from the expected impact of reducing emissions of the five pollutants covered in the revision of the NEC Directive. For each policy scenario, impacts on health, economy and environment can be visualized, either for a specific member state or for the entire EU.

The Air-o-Meter: www.eeb.org/air-o-meter

1.5°C target adequate for Paris agreement

The 2°C goal for global warming is inadequate. Risks increase significantly between 1.5 and 2°C, a UN review of climate targets concludes.

Editorial: The road from Paris

At the UN climate conference in December 2015 in Paris, 196 countries will hopefully adopt a new global agreement for strong greenhouse gas reductions.

Environment MEPs want stricter air pollutant caps

Member states should meet stricter 2025 and 2030 air pollution reduction targets and mercury should also be included in the National Emission Ceilings directive, says the Parliament’s Environment Committee.
 

A future based on 100 % renewable energy for all is achievable

Greenpeace has launched the new edition of the popular Energy [R]evolution report “How to Achieve 100% Renewable Energy for All by 2050”.
 

Film:1.5 Stay Alive

AirClim has co-published a 50-minute documentary and Caribbean music film about climate change in the coastal zones of the Caribbean Region.

Exposing the role of coal in Europe – launch of European Coal Map

There is now a comprehensive overview of existing and planned coal power plants that also displays key information on pollution and health impact, presented by the Climate Action Network (CAN).

Deal on pollution from medium combustion plants

While EU-wide application of readily available emission abatement techniques would reduce NOx emissions from these plants by more than 80 per cent by 2025, the new directive will deliver less than half of this reduction.

Weak EU coal pollution standards carry high costs

Draft new EU emission limits for coal-fired power stations are so weak that they could result in health damage, including the loss of over 23 million working days, which would cost over €52 billion between 2020 and 2029.

140 000 life-years lost each year in London because of air pollution

Inclusion of the impact of nitrogen dioxide for the first time suggests that more than twice as many people as previously thought die prematurely from air pollution in London.

Lower speed – less emissions?

Ships in the Mediterranean Sea have reduced their speed by more than 30 per cent since 2008, which has led to a 45 per cent cut in average ship NOx emission factors.

Emissions keep on slowly shrinking

Air pollutant emissions from land-based sources are continuing to fall slightly, but considerably slower than before. Some of the reductions on land are also countered by rising emissions from international shipping.

Pledges for the 2015 UN climate agreement

South Korea plans to cut emissions by 37 percent by 2030, and China plans to boost renewables. As the Paris conference approaches, countries are submitting their plans for greenhouse gas reductions.

Dirty diesel cars tested

Emissions tests on 32 Euro 6 diesel passenger cars from ten different manufacturers and with different abatement technologies show that most cars fail to meet the NOx emissions standards under more realistic driving conditions.

Lignite villages have been needlessly destroyed

Lignite has a low energy output and requires huge quantities to be mined, which has a devastating impact on landscapes and settlements. Even so, many countries are still committed to the fuel.

EU air pollution emissions still exceeded

Ten EU countries breached at least one of their air pollutant emission ceilings in 2013, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows.