News

An overview of all new items related to this topic.

• Benefits of nitrogen reductions in North Sea shipping exceed costs

  

  Newsitem | 06-06-2012

  Two studies have analysed the costs and benefits of creating a nitrogen emission control area in the North Sea and the English Channel. Such a control area requires new ships to emit 75 per cent less in nitrogen oxide, from 2016 onwards. This is expected ... read more

• Environmental policy needs more decisive action

  

  Newsitem | 15-03-2012

  Based on joint modelling by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency the Environmental Outlook to 2050 looks ahead to the year 2050 to ascertain what demographic and economic ... read more

• Choices in climate policy important for Dutch air quality

  

  Newsitem | 30-11-2010

  Several indicative climate policy packages for 2020 have been found to result in mainly favourable co-impacts on Dutch air quality. The extent of their contribution to air quality does depend on the specific measures in the climate package. This report ... read more

• 2006 More than 60% of Europeans live in zones were air-quality thresholds for PM10 are being exceeded

  

  Newsitem | 17-12-2008

  Sixty percent of the EU27 population lives in zones were the daily PM10 limit value is being exceeded. For nitrogen dioxide (annual limit value) and ozone (8-hour maximum health target value), the percentages are 50 and 46 percent of the population. ... read more

• Not all climate measures have a favourable effect on air quality

  

  Newsitem | 30-10-2008

  Overall, for air quality, the Dutch climate policy plan ‘Clean and Efficient’ (Schoon en Zuinig) appears to work out well. However, its effect on air quality also remains largely uncertain, partly due to uncertainties around the effectiveness of ... read more

• Empirical critical loads of nitrogen confirm European wide exceedances

  

  Newsitem | 31-01-2008

  The risk of deposition of nutrient nitrogen in Europe, including Natura 2000 areas, is underpinned by a novel compilation of empirical critical loads and uncertainty analysis inspired by the IPCC. Collaboration with the network under the Convention ... read more

• Euro VI standards for heavy-duty vehicles will benefit local air quality

  

  Newsitem | 28-01-2008

  The Euro VI proposal of the European Commission specifies the new emission standards for trucks and busses. In the Netherlands, the Euro VI emission standards will lead to local improvements in air quality with respect to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate ... read more

• Simultaneously tackling climate change and air pollution better than non-linked strategies

  

  Newsitem | 26-10-2007

  A combined cost-benefit analysis on both local air pollution and global climate change - two closely related problems since both are driven by energy production and consumption patterns - shows that integrated environmental policies can generate net ... read more

• Transboundary air pollution still too high

  

  Newsitem | 22-10-2007

  In the last 25 years, air pollution in Europe has been substantially reduced. However, current reduction plans are insufficient to fully protect ecosystems and human health. These are the main conclusions of the review of the Gothenburg Protocol by ... read more

• Potential benefits for air quality in Europe from nuclear energy

  

  Newsitem | 02-10-2007

  The current European policies on air pollution and climate change exacerbate the dilemma on nuclear power. On the one hand there are risks involved with nuclear waste and proliferation. On the other hand, a switch from coal-fired power plants to nuclear ... read more

• Measures in sea shipping are cost-effective

  

  Newsitem | 17-09-2007

  Far-reaching measures to reduce emissions caused by North Sea shipping have proven to be cost-effective in improving air quality in the Netherlands. Measures at sea are important, considering shipping’s significant contribution to air pollution in ... read more

• Cost-effectiveness of additional abatement options for cleaner air

  

  Newsitem | 23-08-2007

  Since air quality measures can be effectuated quicker under national policy than under European policy, further improvement of the air quality in the Netherlands up to 2015 will have to come from extra measures at national level. This approach is also ... read more

• Proposed air quality limit values possibly not attainable

  

  Newsitem | 14-09-2006

  Air quality limit values for Particulate Matter (PM) proposed by the European Parliament, Commission and Council may not be attainable in time. Even with very strict emission limit values for cars and industrial installations, additional traffic policies ... read more

• MNP air quality assessments reap international praise

  

  Newsitem | 29-08-2006

  Recent evaluation by the international audit committee of the models used by MNP (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency) to assess air quality in the Netherlands and analyse policy effects has yielded MNP the rating of excellent. MNP will be ... read more

• Climate change policies beneficial for European air quality

  

  Newsitem | 06-06-2006

  European climate change action will benefit air pollution abatement by 2030, with costs for controlling emsissions dropping by EUR 10 billion per year. Reduced emissions will lead to a fall in damage to public health (e.g. 20 000 fewer premature deaths ... read more

• Scale of particulate matter problem smaller than previously considered

  

  Newsitem | 09-03-2006

  There are strong indications that the particulate matter concentration in the Netherlands is currently 10-15% less than previously observed. In the past two years, lower concentrations have been observed, although the European limit value in cities ... read more

• The impact of Euro 5: facts and figures

  

  Newsitem | 16-02-2006

  The Euro 5 proposal from the European Commission contains new emission requirements for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This means that new diesel vehicles in these categories will be required to have particulate filters beginning in ... read more

• Europe feels the heat as climate change tops the list of environmental challenges

  

  Newsitem | 30-11-2005

  ‘The European environment: state and outlook 2005’, a five year assessment across 31 countries, provides an overview of Europe’s environment and points to challenges of which climate change is just one. Other areas of concern include biodiversity, ... read more

• Aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme: A step forward in climate policy

  

  Newsitem | 25-11-2005

  The European Commission’s proposal of September 2005 to include the aviation sector in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) can be seen as a step forward in including the aviation sector in climate policy. The environmental impacts of including ... read more