Air Quality
EU seeks ‘reliable’ method to measure microplastic pollution from tyres
An EU regulation on tyre labelling due to come into force on 1 May will not cover the rate at which tyres shed particles – a major contributor to microplastics in Europe – as an agreed method for the calculation of abrasion is still not in place.
First lockdown in France improved air quality, avoided thousands of deaths
Several thousands of deaths were avoided due to the reduced emissions of air pollution particles during the first COVID-19 lockdown, the French health agency said on Wednesday (14 April). EURACTIV France reports.
Europe halfway towards closing all coal power plants by 2030
Half of Europe's 324 coal-fuelled power plants have either closed or announced a retirement date before 2030, it emerged on Monday (22 March) when French power utility EDF announced the 162nd plant will close in 2022.
EU court raps Britain for air pollution
The EU Court of Justice on Thursday (4 March) admonished Britain for air pollution over urban areas including London that "persistently" breached European Union levels for nitrogen-dioxide associated with heavy vehicle traffic.
Virus lockdowns caused shift to ‘private mobility’: report
The need to avoid crowded spaces led Europeans to opt for "private mobility modes", such as cycling, walking, and private vehicles, according to the European Mobility Atlas 2021, a report analysing key facts and figures about transport in Europe.
Reducing air pollution could save 50,000 deaths a year, says new Lancet report
Reducing air pollution to World Health Organisation recommended levels would prevent more than 50,000 deaths a year across European cities, according to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal.
Czech health minister backs coal mining phase-out ‘as soon as possible’
Czech health minister Jan Blatný is aware of the negative impacts of coal mining on the environment and human health. “Personally, I am in favour of a coal mining phase-out as soon as possible,” he told EURACTIV.cz.
‘Dieselgate’ defeat devices were illegal, top EU court confirms
The European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday (17 December) that it had been illegal for car companies to install devices to defeat emissions tests and mislead motorists about diesel pollution levels.
European air quality improves but still detrimental to health
Air quality has improved significantly across Europe over the past 10 years, but pollution still contributes to significant numbers of premature deaths, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Air pollution fell, plastic use soared during Europe lockdowns
Coronavirus lockdowns in Europe have led to some environmental improvements such as better air quality and lower carbon emissions, but they are temporary and coupled with a surge in single-use plastic, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said Thursday (5 November).
Aircraft air quality and transport’s virus-risk in focus
Air quality on flights is due to improve if the European Union agrees to back new safety standards. The fresh push for cleaner air comes as transport companies struggle to convince passengers their services are low risk in the ongoing spread of the coronavirus.
EU strategy is failing to tackle the biggest methane emitter: agriculture
No reduction targets, no mandatory actions to cut methane emissions at farm level, no coherence with existing climate and air quality objectives: these are some reasons why the European Commission’s Methane Strategy will fall short, writes Margherita Tolotto.
Polish children exposed to four times more pollution than French, study finds
Polish children are significantly more exposed to air pollution than French children, research by the University of Hasselt in Belgium has found.
In EU, 1 in 8 deaths linked to pollution: report
In the EU, 13 percent of deaths are linked to pollution, said a new report published on Tuesday (8 September) by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which stressed the current pandemic put environmental health factors in the spotlight.
Greater EU powers to catch and fine emissions cheats kick in
New EU rules on monitoring the vehicles on Europe’s roads come into force on Tuesday (1 September), granting the European Commission added powers to police car emissions and take to task any manufacturers that breach the law.
A roadmap to cut shipping emissions in the Mediterranean
An emission control area for sulphur oxides in the Mediterranean is not a panacea, but it would open new possibilities for the region’s future while contributing to its health, writes Gaetano Leone.
Europe’s car emissions spiked again in 2019, warn new stats
Europe's average CO2 emissions from passenger cars increased again in 2019, according to the EU's environment agency, marking the third consecutive year that the statistics have trended upwards.
Number of German cities with poor air quality more than halved in 2019
Air quality in Germany is getting better. Last year, only 25 instead of 57 cities exceeded the limit values for nitrogen dioxide. However, experts are warning this is based on short-term effects and suggest now is the time to rethink transport. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Lifting the haze: Why air pollution action doesn’t stop at cars
As Germany faces a national lawsuit on air pollution, Ugo Taddei asks: should other countries worry?
Car emissions spike, as countries plan ‘cash for clunkers’ redux
Europe’s average CO2 emissions from new cars and vans increased again in 2018, according to data released on Wednesday (3 June) by the EU’s environment agency. National plans aimed at stimulating the sector could worsen those figures further.
Germany’s top court says VW must pay damages to customers
Germany's highest court ruled on Monday (25 May) that Volkswagen must pay damages to plaintiffs in the diesel emissions scandal, who can now demand a refund of the purchase price. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Four cities call for multi-billion-euro clean bus fund
The European Commission has been urged by to set up a multi-billion euro grant scheme for zero-emission buses and to help cities build new cycle paths, as part of the EU’s coronavirus recovery package.
How to keep cities pollution-free after virus lockdowns lift
As authorities across Europe prepare for a stepwise lift of coronavirus lockdown measures, they are facing a make-or-break moment for urban mobility. Yoann Le Petit details four proven strategies that should keep cities free of pollution as normality starts to return.