New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability

Most Europeans live in cities and cities are Europe’s economic, cultural, and political hubs. Cities face environmental and climate challenges but also hold keys to realise Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Two new assessments on urban sustainability, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today, combine several environment and climate themes, calling for better integration of policies … Continue reading New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability →

New EEA report on analysis of air quality in Europe

The vast majority of Europe’s urban population is exposed to levels of air pollutants above new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to an updated European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis on air quality in Europe released this week. Europe’s urban population remains at risk due to levels of air pollution known to damage health … Continue reading New EEA report on analysis of air quality in Europe →

The UN’s intergovernmental panel on climate change advocates for an approach to passenger transport planning called “Avoid, Shift, Improve”

Although EVs certainly help address increasing transport emissions, simply focusing on replacing conventional cars with EVs is a missed opportunity for countries to develop alternative means of transport beyond car dependency. Vera O'Riordan, PhD Researcher in Marine and Renewable Energy at the University College Cork writes on The Conversation website about the need to develop … Continue reading The UN’s intergovernmental panel on climate change advocates for an approach to passenger transport planning called “Avoid, Shift, Improve” →

New EEA report shows cleaner air could have saved significant number of lives in Europe

Air pollution continued to cause a significant burden of premature death and disease in Europe in 2019. A European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, published this week, shows that improving air quality to the levels recently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) could prevent more than half of the premature deaths caused by exposure to … Continue reading New EEA report shows cleaner air could have saved significant number of lives in Europe →

New EEA briefing on counting the cost of industrial air pollution

Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from large industrial sites in Europe cost society between €277 and €433 billion, in 2017, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, published this week. About half of the annual cost is caused by just 211 facilities, around 2 % of the largest industrial sites in Europe. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on counting the cost of industrial air pollution →

New World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution

New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. Since … Continue reading New World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution →

New EEA briefing on data of key air pollutants in Europe

Concentrations of key air pollutants remain too high in most European countries. According to the European Environment Agency’s official data, published this week, most European Union (EU) Member States exceed at least one or more of the EU’s legal limits for pollutants in ambient air in 2019. Air pollution still too high in most … Continue reading New EEA briefing on data of key air pollutants in Europe →

Governments around the world gave 20% more in overseas aid funding to fossil fuel projects in 2019 and 2020 than to programmes to cut the air pollution they cause

Air pollution kills more than malaria, HIV/Aids and TB combined but receives only 1% of development aid. Damian Carrington discusses how poorly air pollution is addressed in an article on The Guardian website. More global aid goes to fossil fuel projects than tackling dirty air – study Governments around the world gave 20% more … Continue reading Governments around the world gave 20% more in overseas aid funding to fossil fuel projects in 2019 and 2020 than to programmes to cut the air pollution they cause →

Coal power plants in the Western Balkans repeatedly breach pollution control rules

A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Bankwatch shows, how 18 coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans emitted twice as much sulfur dioxide than was released by 221 power plants in the EU in one year: 2019. This is in stark contrast to 2015, when emissions of … Continue reading Coal power plants in the Western Balkans repeatedly breach pollution control rules →

With urbanisation exacerbating the risks of non-communicable diseases, new approaches to urban planning can make a difference

Tolullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Associate, MRC Epidemiology Unit and Rizka Maulida, PhD researcher in behavioural epidemiology and urban health, both from University of Cambridge write on The Conversation website how better urban planning can help reduce serious health effects. Heart health: design cities differently and it can help us live longer By 2050, … Continue reading With urbanisation exacerbating the risks of non-communicable diseases, new approaches to urban planning can make a difference →