Hiding? No I am just adjusting this wall. Photo: © Shutterstock – Arman Novic

Member states ask EU to help hide their air pollution failure

Eleven governments have asked the European Commission to retrospectively raise their “emission ceilings” after breaching their national air pollution limits in 2016, namely: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg Spain and the UK.

The EU’s National Emission Ceilings (NEC) directive sets absolute caps for the annual amount of pollution allowed to be emitted by any one country. However, governments can request that the limits set for previous years be raised, if certain circumstances apply. This process is known as an “inventory adjustment”, but environmentalists say that granting these adjustments undermines the law, as targets can be raised after they have already been missed.

In a letter sent by EEB, ClientEarth and AirClim to European Commissioner Karmenu Vella, EEB Secretary General Jeremy Wates said that the use of inventory adjustments should be kept to the “strict minimum” and that it should be considered whether governments have taken any action to tackle additional emissions before granting any adjustments.

Source: NGO letter to Karmenu Vella, 31 July 2018.
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In this issue

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EU “Clean Air Outlook” up to 2030

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Coal will be squeezed out by renewables

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International Civil Aviation Organization landed on the cheapest, most contentious, and finally outdated policy instrument out there – offsetting.

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Germany must exit coal quickly

A study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology posits that Germany can still meet its 2020 emissions reduction target.

Swedes harmed by air pollution

Every year 7600 people in Sweden die prematurely due to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, with an annual cost to society of at least 5.3 billion euro.

Agricultural ammonia emissions keep on rising

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Three easy apples to pick

Some types of change require long-term planning, new institutions, educating a new generation etc. Other things are so easy to do that they should have been implemented yesterday.

Wind farms and birds

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A smorgasbord of sustainable solutions

Environmentally aware public procurement and the inclusion of sustainability in dietary guidelines are some measures already taken in the transition towards a sustainable food system.

Sweden to stop using coal for energy in 2022

The burning of coal for heat and power in Sweden will stop in 2022, which is the deadline for the combined heat and power plant in Stockholm.

Solar radiation management (SRM) and geoengineering are not needed

SRM is perilous, as the consequnces of intervening in a highly complex system are unpredictable. Actual GHG emissions cuts can achieve more, faster, surer, cheaper and without the risk.

Main menu

Member states ask EU to help hide their air pollution failure

In this issue

Member states to set the bottom floor

Editorial: Just doing a little bit is not enough

Six countries taken to court over air quality breaches

EU “Clean Air Outlook” up to 2030

Coal will be squeezed out by renewables

Lessons from aviation’s first foray into market-based measures

Europe still building new coal power stations

Germany must exit coal quickly

Swedes harmed by air pollution

Agricultural ammonia emissions keep on rising

Three easy apples to pick

Wind farms and birds

A smorgasbord of sustainable solutions

Sweden to stop using coal for energy in 2022

Solar radiation management (SRM) and geoengineering are not needed

In Breif

London ULEZ to expand from October 2021

Denmark to ban new fossil fuel cars by 2035

Sweden will fine high-sulphur ships

Copenhagen mayor wants to ban wood-burning stoves

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

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Air pollution

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