The row is a further signal of tensions over the green deal landmark proposals to tackle climate crisis. In an article on the Guardian website, Jennifer Rankin and Philip Oltermann discuss what happened in this week’s meetings in Brussels. Germany faces EU backlash over U-turn on phasing out combustion engine Germany is facing a … Continue reading “We are not fully in agreement yet” – Germany facing a growing backlash inside the EU over its U-turn on a law to phase out the combustion engine in new cars by 2035
Category: emissions standards
Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels
Chris Brown writes on the CBC News website about the pressure that the shipping industry is under, given that all sectors of the economy are having to find an appropriate path to net-zero emissions. Importantly, one company, Copenhagen-based Maersk, until recently the world's No. 1 container shipper over the past 25 years, has set one … Continue reading Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels
EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation
As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation
New EEA report on increase in GHG emissions from heavy-duty vehicles
GHG emissions from heavy-duty vehicles — trucks, buses and coaches — have increased in the EU almost every year since 2014, mainly due to increasing demand for freight transport. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, efficiency improvements have not been enough to stop growth in total emissions and a shift … Continue reading New EEA report on increase in GHG emissions from heavy-duty vehicles
New Zealand plans to become the first nation to make farmers pay for the greenhouse gases emitted by their sheep and cattle
Bernard Lagan writes on The Times website about the plans New Zealand has to to have farmers “pay for burps and other gaseous releases from their animals from 2025. Pardon ewe! Farmers will pay for methane emitted by cows and sheep New Zealand plans to become the first nation to make farmers pay for … Continue reading New Zealand plans to become the first nation to make farmers pay for the greenhouse gases emitted by their sheep and cattle
EU policymakers must urgently strengthen the draft rules to phase out fossil fuels in shipping as quickly as possible, or face potential international litigation
A proposed EU marine fuel standard would promote sales of LNG, a fossil fuel supplied by Russia, instead of the zero-emission solutions needed under the Paris Agreement. Aoife O’Leary, head of Opportunity Green, a non-profit focusing on international climate issues, provides his views in an article on the climate change news website. EU must … Continue reading EU policymakers must urgently strengthen the draft rules to phase out fossil fuels in shipping as quickly as possible, or face potential international litigation
We know how to mobilise consumers to take action to deliver energy efficiency, now let’s do it
Minimum energy consumption standards for products and rented homes have galvanised improvements in energy efficiency in recent years, argues Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in an article on the Business Green website. Why the government should stick with sticks to deliver energy efficiency Effective energy saving programmes need three mutually … Continue reading We know how to mobilise consumers to take action to deliver energy efficiency, now let’s do it
Japan beefing up its building codes
Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) guidelines will be used to enforce the revised building codes according to a news item on the Rethink Tokyo website. They will come into effect after 2025. Energy conservation architecture to be mandatory for Japan real estate from 2025 On April 22nd, the Cabinet of … Continue reading Japan beefing up its building codes
US has monumental task to update energy efficiency standards
Nearly three dozen efficiency standards are overdue for an update, and further delays could undercut Biden’s climate goals. Anna Phillips discusses latest developments in an article on The Washington Post website. Biden faces delays in undoing Trump’s war on efficient dishwashers, dryers and lightbulbs that made him ‘look orange’ Before Donald Trump launched his … Continue reading US has monumental task to update energy efficiency standards
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