New EEA briefing shows that environmental policies can protect millions of Europeans from heart diseas

Environmental factors, such as air pollution, extreme temperatures, and exposure to harmful chemicals, cause around one in five cardiovascular deaths in the EU — yet, these risks can be prevented. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published recently shows that environmental policies can protect millions of Europeans from heart disease and save lives. One … Continue reading New EEA briefing shows that environmental policies can protect millions of Europeans from heart diseas →

Energy in Demand News, July 6-7, 2025

The Guardian reports that Europe’s heatwaves have failed to stimulate support for climate action. “As heatwaves engulfed large swathes of Europe and North America last week – the latest in a stream of deadly extremes made worse by fossil fuel pollution – green groups are frustrated that increasingly violent weather has not spurred the urgent … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 6-7, 2025 →

New EEA assessment on key air pollutant emissions in Europe

Key air pollutant emissions targeted for reductions and monitored under EU legislation continued to decline across most EU Member States, according to the latest data assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) recently. However, reducing ammonia emissions continues to present a bigger challenge. Emissions of key air pollutants targeted for reductions in EU … Continue reading New EEA assessment on key air pollutant emissions in Europe →

Energy in Demand News, April 20-21, 2025

What on earth is going on? The Financial Times reports: “US philanthropies and non-profits groups focused on climate change fear that a potential loss of their tax-free status under the Trump administration could imperil their programmes. Concerns have grown that the Trump administration is drafting an executive order on the eve of so-called Earth day … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 20-21, 2025 →

Air quality in Paris significantly improving

Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes. Naema Ahmed and Chico Harlan discuss the improvements in an article on the Washington Post website. Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change. Over the past 20 years, Paris has … Continue reading Air quality in Paris significantly improving →

Energy in Demand News, April 13, 2025

Let’s start this early spring week with some seasonal background music for you to enjoy reading this week’s newsletter. When Trump returned to the White House this year, we heard a lot of “drill, baby, drill.” Well, there is more. The Washington Post reports that at the White House this week: Trump signed executive orders … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 13, 2025 →

Latest EEA air quality data analysis shows that, while steady improvements, air pollution remains Europe’s largest environmental health risk

Air quality is steadily improving across Europe with most air pollution monitoring stations achieving current EU annual limits for some of the most harmful air pollutants. However, additional measures to improve air quality, especially in cities, will be required to fully meet current EU standards as well as recently agreed future air quality standards by … Continue reading Latest EEA air quality data analysis shows that, while steady improvements, air pollution remains Europe’s largest environmental health risk →

Energy in Demand News, March 9-10, 2025

Brazil will host COP 30 of the UNFCCC, the world’s most important climate talks in November this year in the Amazon port of Belém. Quoted in the Financial Times (behind a paywall), Marina Silva, Brazil’s environment minister, said: “It is clear that the withdrawal of the Paris agreement of the world’s second-largest emitter, the world’s … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 9-10, 2025 →

There is progress towards meeting 2030 zero-pollution targets in Europe but pollution levels remain too high

This week, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) published the second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report, which provides an overview of the EU’s work to meet the 2030 zero pollution targets. The Commission also published today its fourth Clean Air Outlook report. The reports show that EU policies have contributed to … Continue reading There is progress towards meeting 2030 zero-pollution targets in Europe but pollution levels remain too high →

Energy in Demand News, December 15, 2024

BP and Shell are scaling back electricity ambitions to escape the ‘valley of death,’ according to the Financial Times website (behind a paywall). Over the past five years, the two companies had spent a combined US$18 billion to be major players in electricity. But now Shell has sold its retail electricity business in Germany, the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 15, 2024 →