Tag: air pollution

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik has scolded European countries for their inaction on EU laws to combat air pollution,  which causes an estimated 420,000 premature deaths yearly in the Union.

A European crackdown on pollution from ships will require billions worth of investment by shipping firms on filter technology and by refineries on upgrades to produce cleaner fuels - burdens the industries say they can ill afford.

Volcanic ash, desert sand, sea salt and other forms of natural pollution are adding to rising levels of human-made dirt sullying the air and making it harder, especially for Mediterranean countries, to meet EU environmental regulations.

Air pollution is a silent killer, especially the smallest dust particles which may take years and years of chronic exposure to show their deadly effects on human health. But this is just one of the three paradoxes of air quality, says Myriam Tryjefaczka, from Camfil Farr, a Swedish company manufacturing ventilation and air filtering systems.

When the European Commission began pressing for a dramatic expansion in the use of biofuels in transport and energy several years ago, it was seen as a win-win situation: a way to help farmers, create energy security, cut greenhouse emissions and improve air quality. But even that last claim is no longer taken for granted.

Restrictions on tobacco smoke and the Asbestos scandal have put indoor air quality under the spotlight in the recent past, resulting in tough policies to stop damage to human health. While tobacco continues to be the biggest health culprit, nowadays attention is also turning to "chemical cocktails," toxic fumes from heating and cooking, and damp and mould caused by poor ventilation.

The EU has struck an agreement on a planned Industrial Emissions Directive, imposing stricter limits on air, soil and water pollution but allowing coal-fired plants derogations until mid-2020.

The European Parliament has reopened the debate on a revision of the EU's industrial air pollution directive, tabling a new proposal that seeks to compromise with member states by dropping controversial plans to introduce a 'European safety net' of minimum emission limits.

Setting a clear timetable for delivering a comprehensive legally binding climate treaty by mid-2010 is a must, the EU's Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told EurActiv in an interview.

The EU's upcoming industrial pollution law on air soil and water must be made flexible enough if the power sector is to deliver genuine results, a group of electricity companies said this week (2 December).

WWF wrote to the Swedish EU Presidency on Friday (21 August) to urge governments to modify a "legally invalid" provision contained in draft rules on industrial pollution, which prevents member states from introducing CO2 emission standards.

After long negotiations, EU environment ministers yesterday (25 June) reached a political agreement to tighten rules on harmful industrial emissions, which are responsible for damage like acid rain. But tensions with environmentalists are expected to resurface when the bill returns to the European Parliament later this year or next.

MEPs yesterday (10 March) confirmed their commitment to EU-wide limits for industrial pollution, but with more flexibility in granting permits.

The EU Council of Ministers has endorsed a new directive setting binding EU-wide limits for fine particle emissions, which cause respiratory diseases thought to reduce European life expectancy by up to three years.

Following an agreement with the Council, Parliament voted by a large majority on 11 December in favour of air quality legislation that sets new limits on fine particle pollution in the EU.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released its fourth assessment report on the environmental situation in 53 European countries, highlighting significant air pollution, biodiversity loss and poor water quality across the region. 

In preparation for November plenary votes, the Parliament's Environment Committee debated proposals to improve EU soil and air quality on 11 September. MEPs' opinions differed considerably on acceptable air pollution levels and on the strictness of soil improvement rules.

The strategy aims to extend clean air laws into new sectors - agriculture and transport - that were not covered before, targeting five main pollutants including fine-dust particles which are most harmful to human health. It is expected to cost the EU some €7.1 billion every year but the anticipated benefits in terms of reduced sickness and mortality will be fivefold, the Commission claims.

The EU and the US have vowed to co-operate on reducing global aviation's contribution to climate change under a "green skies" partnership, but the deal is unlikely to hold off a dispute over a separate EU plan to make all airlines flying via Europe trade carbon permits.

Aircraft operators' profits would be slashed by more than €40 billion from 2011 to 2022, under the current proposal to include aviation into the EU's carbon cap-and-trade system, according to a new study commissioned by the industry.

A study of more than 4,000 Dutch infants has concluded that young children who live close to busy roads are more at risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma.

A recent EU-funded study shows that better use of technology can combat air pollution and lower the impact of those greenhouse gases not covered by the Kyoto Protocol.

EU lawmakers look set to clash over the ambient air quality directive next year after the Council took an opposite view from the Parliament's. The proposal is linked to future emissions standards for cars (Euro 5) to be agreed in November.

The European Parliament has allowed member states more time and flexibility on meeting clean-air standards, bringing concern to the Commission and environmental groups.