Just after the launch of HEAL’s petition, more than 125,000 people are already calling on the European Union to align EU air quality standards urgently and fully with the latest available science to protect our health.
Here is the link if you want to sign the petition: https://bit.ly/43HAOTZ
Petition for clean air
Making the most of waste heat
The total excess heat in the EU covers almost all of the EU’s total energy demand for heat and hot water in residential and service sector buildings. This potential needs to be utilised, especially during these times of energy and climate crises.
Editorial: EU could be powered by recycled heat
Preventing heat waste has largely been ignored as a solution. A new report by the global engineering company Danfoss highlights the potential of excess heat recovery.
Germany shuts down last three nuclear reactors, ending nuclear power era
Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors on 15 April, marking the end of its nuclear power era.
Global heating threatens northern forests
In the last month, fires have ravaged forests in both Canada and Russia. This is just the latest of many similar examples.
Unlocking the potential of ocean energy
To ensure affordable energy and limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 °C there is an urgent need to transition rapidly from a centralised energy system that heavily relies on fossil fuels. Ocean energy is one of the technologies that should be scaled up to support the transition of the energy system to reach full decarbonisation.
A quantative take on Russian forests
Russia has one fifth of the global forest area. This area has remained relatively constant in recent decades, but clear cutting and wildfires are altering the species composition.
Ocean acidification in the climate negotiations
If ocean acidification was redefined as an effect of climate change, the UNFCCC could interpret its existing framework so that parties were required to take action on the issue.
The forefront of cleaner, people-centred cities
Cities are dense and struggling with high levels of air pollution, sedentary behaviour and noise problems linked to car-centred urban planning. Traffic also takes up large areas in cities, resulting in lack of green spaces, and it is obvious that our oil dependency has fuelled climate change. Three cities with governments that are up for the challenge of re-thinking cities are Paris, Oslo and Barcelona, which are working to transform their cities from car-
centred to people-centred.
The Swedish Greenwashing Prize – more than a decade of ironic awards highlighting misleading claims
Each year, for over a decade, Friends of the Earth Sweden has announced a winner of its Swedish Greenwashing Prize – an ironic booby prize that turns the spotlight on misleading and false claims.
The EU needs to do more to reduce methane emissions
The EU has signed the Global Methane Pledge but action to slash methane emissions in the energy and agriculture sectors is lagging behind. Urgent measures are needed to reduce methane emissions while at the same time much more action is also needed to reduce all other greenhouse gas emissions.
E-fuels are a detour on our way to decarbonisation
It takes four times as much energy to drive a car on e-fuels compared to batteries. In addition, they emit as much air pollution as a car running on fossil fuels.
Green incentives are at the heart as UK rolls out its CAP replacement
Public money for public goods is the principle behind the new Environmental Land Management schemes in England – the jury is still out on whether it can sustain farmers’ livelihoods while also protecting the environment.
Nitrogen deposition threat to 60 per cent of European ecosystems
Most affected are regions with intensive livestock rearing. Scenarios show that both technical measures and a reduction in animal numbers are needed to tackle the problem.
Dramatic vanishing of polar sea ice and ice sheets
Polar sea ice and ice sheets are continuing to melt rapidly according to many new studies. The end-of-winter Arctic sea ice extent in March 2023 was the fifth lowest in the satellite record, while the area of Antarctic sea ice fell to a record low.
Meat, dairy and rice production will bust 1.5°C climate target, shows study
Emissions from the food system alone will drive the world past 1.5°C of global heating, unless high-methane foods are tackled.
IPCC calls for urgent climate action
The IPCC’s new Synthesis Report, released in March 2023, underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action. IPCC says that “if we act now ...
More than 1.6m homes will be powered by the world’s deepest offshore wind turbine
The world’s deepest offshore wind turbine has been installed in Scotland at a sea depth of over 58 metres. The turbine is one of 114 turbines ...
Green alternatives can replace Russian gas by 2028
Europe could replace its Russian fossil gas supplies with green alternatives by 2028, but it will require significant investment, policy improvements and upskilling ...
Pertrol stations increase cancer risk
Benzene exposure is a known risk factor for childhood leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia in adults. One exposure route for benzene is living near a petrol station.
The 7th Saltsjöbaden Clean Air Workshop 2023
In the middle of March this year over 200 experts, researchers, and negotiators from all over the world gathered in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Environmental impact included in the New Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
The upcoming sixth edition of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) will be launched on 20 June 2023, but a draft version was sent out for public consultation back in March.
The coupled climate and biodiversity crises
Humanity is facing major social and ecological impacts from climate change and biodiversity loss. These two crises are intertwined, with common causes ...
International Ocean Acidification Action Week
Ocean Acidification (OA) caused by CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels puts our seas at danger. Corals, cod, salmon, shrimps and shellfish are among the organisms at peril ...
Petition for clean air
Just after the launch of HEAL’s petition, more than 125,000 people are already calling on the European Union to align EU ...