Alyssa Danigelis, writing on the Environment + Energy Leader website, discusses the confusion that has been created by the Trump administration rolling back on the previous planned approach to improve fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. Now the annual improvement is significantly lower than previously planned. But there are still clashes with the new federal standards … Continue reading The Trump administration rolled back Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for automobiles this week, creating regulatory confusion for the auto industry
Author: Rod Janssen
An 11-year study in Sweden has found that older people exposed to air pollution are more at risk of dementia
EiD has had many posts over the years on the impact of air pollution. Harry Cockburn write on The Independent website about an 11-year study in Sweden on the impact of air pollution. Its findings added more reasons to reduce emissions from sources such as transport, and to optimise treatment of cardiovascular disease – particularly … Continue reading An 11-year study in Sweden has found that older people exposed to air pollution are more at risk of dementia
Scientists discovered a strain of bacteria that can degrade the harmful compounds in polyurethane products — a positive step toward reducing the amount of plastic pollution in the environment
Scottie Andrew writes on the CNN website about a new synthetic chemical compound that can degrade the harmful compounds in polyurethane products. Hopefully industry won’t take this to mean they can produce more plastic Plastic-eating bacteria could be small step toward tackling world's pollution crisis Plastic products made with polyurethane, a synthetic chemical compound, … Continue reading Scientists discovered a strain of bacteria that can degrade the harmful compounds in polyurethane products — a positive step toward reducing the amount of plastic pollution in the environment
Warning labels, like those on cigarette packets, could be used to show the health risks of fossil fuels
Labels could connect the dots between the 'abstract threat of the climate emergency with the use of the fossil fuels in the here and now'. Louise Boyle writes on The Independent website that a group of health experts are suggesting that they be used. What are your views? Fossil fuels should have cigarette-style warnings, … Continue reading Warning labels, like those on cigarette packets, could be used to show the health risks of fossil fuels
The time window for halving global emissions has narrowed: in 2010, the world thought it had 30 years to halve global GHG emissions; today, we know that this must happen in ten years
At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, countries set goals that require halving carbon emissions by 2030. In a new piece in Nature, Professor Harald Winkler, from the University of Cape Town (and a friend of EiD), as part of an international team, delivers the bad news that the emissions gap - … Continue reading The time window for halving global emissions has narrowed: in 2010, the world thought it had 30 years to halve global GHG emissions; today, we know that this must happen in ten years
European airlines are demanding relief from environmental taxes because of coronavirus crisis
Laurence Frost and Kate Abnett write on the Reuters website about the efforts by European airlines to demand relief to help them through this crisis. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, is quoted saying that policymakers need to “sit back, make the right choices and not lock in the fossil-fuel economy.” What are … Continue reading European airlines are demanding relief from environmental taxes because of coronavirus crisis
Where Europe leads, others follow — at least when it comes to the rules of commerce
Energy efficiency only has a brief mention but it is good to see what others are saying about the “Brussels Effect” and its global impact. Aoife White explains in an article in the Washington Post. How the ‘Brussels Effect’ Helps the EU Rule the World Where Europe leads, others follow -- at least when … Continue reading Where Europe leads, others follow — at least when it comes to the rules of commerce
Plans for real-world testing of heavy duty trucks
Efforts to electrify vehicles is not only restricted to cars. There are now efforts for large trucks and California is one region where there are many initiatives underway. Start-ups and established truck makers are racing to get their models on the road. Susan Carpenter explains latest developments in an article on the New York Times … Continue reading Plans for real-world testing of heavy duty trucks
Utrecht: “no roofs unused” policy an attempt to reinvigorate biodiversity in the city and create a less stressful and happier environment
Daniel Boffey writes in The Guardian about another initiative in Utrecht (see another one in an EiD post last week). The plans are to really green the city with plants and mosses. There are even plans for a ‘vertical forest’ tower that will have 10,000 plants on its facade in bid to reinvigorate biodiversity. Are … Continue reading Utrecht: “no roofs unused” policy an attempt to reinvigorate biodiversity in the city and create a less stressful and happier environment
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia scored poorly in terms of energy transition readiness
All countries need to review their policies to ensure they are on the right path for the low-carbon energy transition. Fadhila El Discha writes on the ASEAN Post website that Indonesia has much to do to reach the levels of readiness of their regional neighbours. Indonesia needs a better clean energy policy While ASEAN … Continue reading In Southeast Asia, Indonesia scored poorly in terms of energy transition readiness
