European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
pollution
Climate action: The way ahead [What Think Tanks are thinking]
In a passionate speech delivered recently at Columbia University in New York, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, described the fight against climate change as the top priority for the 21st century. Continue reading
World Oceans Day 2020
Every year, 8 June marks World Oceans Day, celebrated since 1992 and officially designated by the United Nations in 2008. Its aim is to raise global awareness of the crucial role oceans play in sustaining life on earth and our duty to protect its rich marine biodiversity and to use its resources sustainably. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries to the European Parliament in 2019
Throughout 2019, people from across the EU and the world addressed the European Parliament to request information, express opinions or suggest ideas on a wide range of topics. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP) provides them with clear answers on the issues they raise. Continue reading
Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Didier Bourguignon (6th edition) Despite significant progress in recent decades, air pollution levels in the European Union still have adverse impacts on the environment and on health. The European Commission estimates that health-related costs of air pollution in the EU range from 390 to 940 billion euros per year. The proposed directive, which … Continue reading
National emission ceilings for air pollutants [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Didier Bourguignon, Despite improvements in recent decades, air pollution in Europe remains a concern. To address this, in 2013 the European Commission proposed to update and expand the National Emission Ceilings Directive. First-reading negotiations with the Council of the European Union delivered a compromise, which now awaits a vote in the European Parliament’s … Continue reading
Cutting sulphur emissions from ships
Written by Marketa Pape To improve human health and protect the environment, the EU focuses on different aspects of air pollution from maritime transport. Tighter rules on sulphur emissions from ships came into effect on 1 January 2015. Under these rules, all ships operating in northern EU waters must comply with strict new sulphur emissions … Continue reading
Mega trucks: a solution or a problem?
The Weights and Dimensions Directive of 1996 sets maximum vehicle dimensions and weights for national and international road transport in the EU. However, Member States are able to decide on derogations from these rules for vehicles used only in national transport. Longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) also known as mega trucks, gigaliners, eurocombis, and ecoliners, typically measure 25.25 metres … Continue reading
Air quality and climate change EU policies
According to Air and Climate Unit of IES-JRC “air pollution and climate change are connected problems: the sources of air pollutants and climate-warming greenhouse gases are often the same. Air pollution can influence climate change, and climate change can influence the levels of air pollution. Action taken to improve air quality will also yield important … Continue reading
Reducing the use of lightweight plastic carrier bags
Europeans use about 100 billion plastic carrier bags every year. Some of these are dropped as litter, ending up in the environment, where long-lasting plastics accumulate and harm wildlife. Most EU Member States have initiatives to curb the use of plastic bags. A proposed EU Directive aims to encourage and enable action by all Member … Continue reading
Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
The development of alternative fuels for transport is essential for reducing the EU’s dependence on crude oil and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission has proposed a directive which requires Member States to foster the deployment of infrastructure for the supply of these alternative energies for road and waterway transport. Background According to … Continue reading
Weights and dimensions of road vehicles in the EU
The White Paper on transport policy (2011) set the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 60% by 2050, in comparison with 1990 levels. In this context, the European Commission proposed to revise the rules on the weights and dimensions of road vehicles, to allow more energy-efficient, aerodynamic vehicles to be put on … Continue reading
Fluorinated greenhouse gases
6 language versions available in PDF format Fluorierte Treibhausgase Gases fluorados de efecto invernadero Gaz à effet de serre fluorés Gas fluorurati a effetto serra Fluorowane gazy cieplarniane Fluorinated greenhouse gases Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), which are widely used in heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, account for a growing proportion of EU greenhouse-gas … Continue reading
Combating the impunity of environmental crimes: which way to go?
Environmental disasters occur with alarming regularity and are still mainly dealt with (if at all) at domestic level. Still very low on the priorities list, environmental crimes enjoying high impunity need to be tackled as a matter of urgency. Focusing on possible ways of creating an effective system of monitoring and sanctioning such behaviours, the … Continue reading
Slow down, save fuel, pollute less…
Speed controls on shipping could save billions in lower ship fuel bills, cut air pollution and enable the shipping industry to play a full part in tackling climate change according a report by CE Delft consultants. The shipping industry is urgently invited to take up the challenge of slow steaming. A recent guide by Marine … Continue reading
New rules on EU airport noise restrictions
Air traffic demand is expected to continue growing. However, noise –particularly around airports – may have significant impact on citizens’ health. In parallel to proposed measures for increasing airport capacity, the European Commission has tabled a proposal for a Regulation aimed at revising the rules on restricting operations at an EU airport because of noise. … Continue reading
A fair deal for cars: What do cars really cost us? Who pays for those costs?
On 6 December 2012 the Greens Group of the European Parliament hosted a conference on the external costs of road transport (cars in particular). At the same occasion a study conducted by the Technical University of Dresden (Germany) was presented. The cost of (not)-owning a car Three percent of European Union GDP is said to be taken … Continue reading
The greener your street, the healthier the environment you live in!
According to a recent research by scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Lancaster (UK) the ‘greening up’ of our streets could lead to a massive 30% reduction in urban pollution. Trees, bushes and other greenery growing in the concrete-and-glass ‘urban canyons’ of cities would deliver cleaner air at the roadside where most of us … Continue reading
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