EU consultation on Zero-Pollution Ambition

A new consultation is open from 11 November 2020 to 10 February 2021 to gather views from citizens and stakeholders on an EU action plan “Towards a Zero-Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil”. In its European Green Deal, the European Commission said that the EU needs to move towards a zero-pollution ambition, and better prevent and remedy pollution of air, water and soil, and from consumer products. The Commission has announced that it will adopt a Zero-Pollution Action Plan in 2021.

Link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiative...

In this issue

Ocean acidification is poorly governed

The problems associated with and the solutions needed to address OA are unique and cannot be bundled together with traditional climate change responses and measures.

Editorial

The clock is ticking to achieve the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. To be clear right from the start: this goal deserves every effort that mankind can pull off. In the name of realism, this is the goal we must focus on now, given the current level of progress in reducing greenhouse gases. However, damage to marine ecosystems will not be avoided even if we reach this goal¹. In fact, damage already occurs at current levels of warming, as evidenced by the bleaching of coral reefs². This may be an inconvenient truth when our current goal is 1.5°C.

Oil and fossil gas companies Equinor, Shell and Total plan CO₂ storage with Norwegian government

Licensing of Norwegian CO₂ storage for current CCS projects is under way – but important barriers remain.

Revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive for stronger climate action

A bold energy efficiency policy is the precondition for successful climate action. For the EU to reach the increased ambitions of the European Green Deal, revising the Energy Efficiency Directive is vital. AirClim supports CAN Europe’s call for an increase in the level of ambition of the EU’s 2030 energy savings target to at least 45% and for the target to be binding.

EU agriculture policy not in line with the Green Deal

The current reform of the Common Agricultural Policy has been criticised for failing to live up to the Green Deal. The agriculture sector has a vast impact on our ability to achieve climate targets and to limit harmful effects on the environment.

EU’s methane strategy fails on agriculture

No reduction targets, no mandatory actions to cut methane emissions from agricultural farms, and no coherence with existing climate and air quality objectives are some of the reasons why the Commission’s Methane Strategy is inadequate

Air quality is slowly improving

Better air quality in Europe has led to a reduction in premature deaths over the past decade, but excessive levels of hazardous tiny particles are still causing more than 400,000 premature deaths every year.

Energy solutions for low-carbon cities

Accounting for 55% of the world’s population, about 75% of global CO₂ emissions and 66% of global energy demand, cities have a crucial role to play in accelerating the sustainable energy transition.

Combustion-engine cars need to be phased out in Europe by 2025

With a view to limiting global warming to 1.5°C, internal-combustion-engine (diesel and petrol) cars need to be phased out in Europe by 2025; hybrid vehicles by 2028.

EU consultation on Zero-Pollution Ambition

In this issue

Ocean acidification is poorly governed

Editorial

Oil and fossil gas companies Equinor, Shell and Total plan CO₂ storage with Norwegian government

Revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive for stronger climate action

EU agriculture policy not in line with the Green Deal

EU’s methane strategy fails on agriculture

Air quality is slowly improving

Energy solutions for low-carbon cities

Combustion-engine cars need to be phased out in Europe by 2025

In Breif

IMO paves way for rising GHG emissions from shipping

Stop the discharge of washwater from scrubbers

Shipping on its way into ETS

Billion-dollar savings for container lines

New reports on ships’ GHG emissions

North Sea methane leak caused by oil industry blow-out

#WorldWeWant Campaign on Climate Impacts

Low Energy Demand (LED) study scenario, without using CCS:

Court cases bring improved air quality

EU court rules against Italy

New EU infringement actions on air pollution

Clean air for all is achievable

EU consultation on Zero-Pollution Ambition

Improved air quality in Covid-19 lockdown

15% of global Covid deaths linked to air pollution

Publications

Ocean Acidification in the Baltic Sea

Phasing out fossil gas power stations in Europe by 2030

Analysing marine geoengineering technologies

Climate and Health

Geoengineering technologies 2018/2019

Climate change and the Andean cryosphere

Climate change and biodiversity in the tropical Andes

Phasing out coal in Europe by 2025

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

Do Your Bit!