New briefing from European Environment Agency on breaches in air pollution ceilings

Eleven EU Member States breached air pollution ceilings in 2015 mostly due to high emissions from agricultural and transport sources, according to new data and a briefing released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The briefing includes information on countries’ 2015 emissions and national ceilings for different pollutants. Air pollution in Europe: Countries … Continue reading New briefing from European Environment Agency on breaches in air pollution ceilings →

How volunteers can have a positive impact on air pollution

Air pollution is literally choking too many of us to death. Governments at all levels are starting to take more action and much more needs to be done. Sarah Hudson, a resident of the City of London and a volunteer clean air warden, writes in The Guardian about a voluntary approach that is showing much … Continue reading How volunteers can have a positive impact on air pollution →

Emissions from diesel engines have higher impact than previously estimated

Abby Young-Powell writes on the Deutsche Welle website about a recent report that documents evidence that the impact from diesel emissions is higher and more deadlier than previously estimated. New analysis reveals deadly scale of diesel emissions The amount of illegal and unreported nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel cars, trucks and buses may be … Continue reading Emissions from diesel engines have higher impact than previously estimated →

Is air quality affecting house prices?

As we see our cities tackling air pollution, we understandably first turn to the health of their citizens. Katie Morley writes in The Telegraph about another concern, the impact on house prices. Have you experienced this? High pollution is reducing house prices by 15pc as buyers reject 'unhealthy' homes Property listings will include traffic … Continue reading Is air quality affecting house prices? →

Better understanding how polluting our cars are

Almost daily we are reading about the emissions coming from vehicles and what they are doing to our air quality and health. Paul Nieuwenhuis, Senior Lecturer and Co-Director, Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence (EVCE) at Cardiff University, writes a reviewed article on the Conversation website comparing diesel and petrol vehicles. Are diesel cars really … Continue reading Better understanding how polluting our cars are →

How one polluted London road raises many of the issues to tackling urban air pollution

When I am in London, I often run along Marylebone Road, but I do it on a Sunday morning when the air is relatively clear. Dave Hill writes an important article in The Guardian about the efforts underway to address the urban air pollution issues. 'Filthy glamour': could polluted Marylebone Road help fix London's … Continue reading How one polluted London road raises many of the issues to tackling urban air pollution →

Building Britain’s Houses of Parliament led to speed up of environmental laws

A 19th century fire led to the re-construction of the iconic Palace of Westminster. Timothy Hyde, Associate Professor of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology writes on The Conversation website about how the quality of the air led to a quick decay of the building materials before it was even complete. This led to … Continue reading Building Britain’s Houses of Parliament led to speed up of environmental laws →

With air pollution so bad, China knows it has to turn to sustainable energy

This winter, many of China’s cities have experienced historic levels of smog. This is definitely making policy makers focus on important remedies. The Christian Science Monitor provides a good account of China’s recently announced renewable energy plan. Can China’s new $360B renewable energy plan stop 'Airpocalypse'? Chinese officials rolled out a detailed plan this … Continue reading With air pollution so bad, China knows it has to turn to sustainable energy →

Tapping into all ideas to address urban air problems

Soon, experts will be demonstrating the use of jet engines to blow out the smog from Delhi. Will it work? Time will tell. Soutik Biswas writes about recent developments on the BBC News website. But those emissions won’t just disappear, one would assume. Is this a realistic long-term solution? Can jet engines clean up … Continue reading Tapping into all ideas to address urban air problems →

Concerns that smoke-free cookstoves are not having the health benefits once thought

The energy transition means different things to different people. Many in developing countries depend on basic cookstoves. There are efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce emissions but a recent study shows that the quality of the cookstove is not making as much difference as once thought. Victoria Gill explains on the BBC website. … Continue reading Concerns that smoke-free cookstoves are not having the health benefits once thought →