Air Quality
Mayors call for annual Europe-wide car-free day
The mayors of Brussels and Paris have called for an annual car-free day for all of Europe, citing initiatives in their cities that have driven down pollution. But a recent damning report by the EU Court of Auditors revealed there is plenty of work left to do.
Taming heavy road transport emissions
Transport is responsible for a quarter of the EU's total emissions, and 25% of that comes from heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses. But countries are struggling to bring the levels down and it remains unclear what is the best way to go about taming such a problematic sector.
Mercury in the water: 40% of Europe’s lakes and rivers contaminated
40% of the EU’s surface water bodies are contaminated with levels of mercury, endangering birds and marine mammals. An article by our partner, the Journal de l’Environnement.
MEPs put pedal to metal and boost car CO2 limits
Carmakers will have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030, according to members of the European Parliament’s environment committee, who voted on Monday night (10 September) to tune up a European Commission proposal.OpinionPromoted content
The importance of periodic vehicle emission tests for air quality
Many cities in Europe have problems because they exceed the current limits for air pollutants. Some of them are even considering banning diesel vehicles in general to batten down the hatches, writes Gerhard Müller.
No toying around with air quality for city dwellers
Vehicle access restrictions have come under fire from the FIA motor car users group, which argues they are a whimsical instrument that cities spontaneously decided to employ. In fact, it was the car industry that was playing with real-world driving emissions, writes Karen Vancluysen.
Germany blocks ‘Dieselgate’ investigation in France
Three French investigative judges have complained about the lack of collaboration from the German judiciary in the ‘Dieselgate’ file. Germany meanwhile alleged possible disruptions of its own investigation. An article from our partner Ouest-France.
Stricter CO2 standards for vehicles are not the reason for job losses
Despite negative media reports, environmental regulation cannot be blamed for the coming upheavals in the automobile sector. Daniel Rieger explains.
German coal trounced by renewables for first time
Renewable energy sources satisfied more of Germany’s power demands than coal during the first half of 2018, marking a shift towards clean power as the Bundesrepublik continues to debate how best to phase out coal.
Transport’s role in improving air quality in Europe: How best to co-ordinate regulation?
Some 40 million people in the 115 largest cities in the European Union are exposed to air exceeding WHO air quality guideline values for at least one pollutant, resulting in approximately 100,000 premature adult deaths each year.
Europe grapples with policy patchwork to tackle air pollution
The patchwork of measures to fight air pollution currently in place across European cities is not only inefficient but sometimes counter-productive, said participants at a EURACTIV event on Tuesday (26 June).
Poland’s anti-emissions trading bid struck down by EU court
Poland’s bid to scupper the EU’s recently-updated Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was thrown out by the bloc’s highest court, which ruled on Thursday (21 June) that the advantages of the new system far outweigh the disadvantages.
Why construction machinery must be included in the Clean Vehicles Directive
Construction site machinery is responsible for a significant amount of air, noise, and climate pollution yet remains remarkably unregulated. The ongoing recast of the EU Clean Vehicles Directive offers a golden opportunity to address this, writes Mark Preston.
Europe’s quest to overtake spectre of Dieselgate
The 2015 Dieselgate scandal might have been a blessing in disguise, propelling car emissions smack bang into the public spotlight. The EU is now making fresh attempts to bring the transport sector to heel, although there are still plenty of miles to cover.
MEPs back road tolls based on CO2 emissions
Road tolls for trucks should be based on how much CO2 vehicles emit, according to a draft report adopted by the European Parliament’s transport committee on Thursday (24 May).OpinionPromoted content
Modern diesels: part of the solution
Motor vehicles’ undesirable tailpipe emissions are pollutants which impact ambient air quality and are harmful to human health, as well as greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions, which impact climate change.
Poland’s transport sector searches for top gear
The EU is rolling out more and more initiatives to boost e-mobility and the use of alternative fuels. Poland’s secretary of state for energy explains how his country is tackling the transport sector with an ambitious new plan.
Smart agriculture can help cut ammonia emissions from agriculture, experts say
By using the right technology and agricultural practices, the agricultural sector will be able to reduce its carbon footprint and harmful ammonia emissions, experts said at a EURACTIV panel discussion on 16 May.
Green cities for a greener future
On issues such as providing cleaner air, reducing noise pollution, establishing cleaner water and tackling waste, cities are at the forefront of change, writes Anna Lisa Boni.
Europe’s attempts to spark an electric vehicle revolution
Transport is one of the EU’s few sectors where emissions are actually growing. Brussels believes that electric vehicle uptake is one of the main solutions to halt this trend but what steps are being taken to decarbonise our roads?
European cities take Commission to court over air quality in landmark case
In the same week that the European Commission announced it would take six countries to court for breaking air pollution limits, three major cities said they would start legal action against the EU executive. They accuse the Commission of giving in to automotive lobbies. EURACTIV’s partner La Tribune reports.
Commission gears up against air polluters, sends six countries to court
The European Commission announced on Thursday (17 May) the launch of legal action against six member states accused of breaking air pollution limits. Three other polluters were put on notice for now.
EU’s ‘long overdue’ first foray into truck rules revealed
CO2 emissions from trucks will be regulated under EU law for the first time as part of a package of new rules that also aims to increase efficiency and improve road safety.
EU environment official: Clean air infringement proceedings are ‘a political decision’
The European Commission’s analysis of clean air measures adopted at national level are at a “very advanced stage”, said Daniel Calleja Y Crespo, who recently came to Slovakia for the Clean Air Dialogue.