Overview of news items
Here you will find the news items of selected year.
11 December 2007
Industrialised countries to collectively meet 2010 Kyoto target
In 2010 the total greenhouse gases emissions produced by industrialised countries with a Kyoto target, will probably be about 11% lower than in the base year 1990. If the present trend (2000-2005) continues, the countries with a quantitative emission limitation target for 2010 will collectively meet the 4.1% reduction of total emissions of greenhouse gases as agreed in the Kyoto Protocol.
to the press release more information
6 December 2007
IPCC Co-chair Bert Metz of the Netherlands’ MNP at the Nobel Prize ceremony
On the 10th of December the Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to co-laureates, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Al Gore, at the prize-giving ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Bert Metz, co-chair of the IPCC working group III on mitigation of climate change, will be in Oslo for the ceremony. Metz is senior scientist at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
3 December 2007
UN Climate Conference 3-14 December 2007 in Bali (COP13)
The aim of this ministerial summit of 190 nations is to reach a world wide agreement on a ‘road map’ after the Kyoto climate commitments in 2012. The Bali ‘road map’ should mark the start of the negotiations on long-term global greenhouse gas emission reductions and on adaptation to climate change. This should lead to a global agreement by 2009 on climate policies after 2012.
16 November 2007
Peaking profiles can achieve global temperature targets with more likelihood at lower costs
The current focus in climate research and policy is on stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. By switching to scenarios in which a peak concentration is reached which is then reduced, it is possible to save costs and increase the probability of meeting long-term targets. These are results found by Michel den Elzen and Detlef van Vuuren and published in the most recent edition of the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS).
15 November 2007
Beyond GDP: measuring progress, true wealth and the well-being of nations
The EU’s fundamental purpose has always been to prevent another war in Europe. Economic prosperity and integration are means to that end. However, over the years, a misunderstanding has crept in, as if market-oriented competiveness were the overriding objective. Success of EU policies should be measured against a wider ambition and on a longer timescale. A high-profile conference in Brussels, 19-20 November 2007, will revisit the issue of goals and measurement of progress. President Barroso is to deliver the keynote speech.
30 October 2007
New particulate matter standards require new policy actions in the Netherlands
Based on new findings of the WHO, policy attention in the EU regarding particulate matter has shifted from PM10 to the finer fraction (PM2.5).The Netherlands will probably not be able to meet all new standards for PM2.5 in time with current legislation. The new PM2.5 standards will, therefore, require the Netherlands to adapt its policies and update monitoring, emission inventory and models regarding particulate matter.
26 October 2007
Simultaneously tackling climate change and air pollution better than non-linked strategies
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 global welfare benefits. Furthermore, discounted benefits of local air pollution reduction significantly outweigh those of global climate change mitigation. These findings demonstrate the mutual relevance of, and interaction between, policies designed to address these two environmental challenges simultaneously.
25 October 2007
Land availability and loss of biodiversity just as urgent as climate change
If the future 9 billion people on this planet are to be assured of food and clean drinking water, the demand for land will be just as pressing a problem in the coming decades as climate change is now. Considering that a well-balanced ecosystem is one of the essential conditions for the supply of food and water, also the protection of biodiversity is of great importance.
This conclusion is drawn in UNEP’s Fourth Global Environment Outlook, ‘Environment for development' (GEO-4).
22 October 2007
Transboundary air pollution still too high
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 the Task Force Integrated Assessment Modelling, led by Rob Maas (MNP).
12 October 2007
Nobel Peace Prize for UN-IPCC and Al Gore
The MNP greets the news of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the IPCC and Al Gore with great pride. Both have won this prize for their efforts in spreading awareness of human-induced climate change and creating a base on which to combat the effects of this change. The committee has indicated the potential grave consequences that the climate problem can have on the future of our planet. According to the Nobel Prize committee climate changes may also threaten living conditions.
4 October 2007
Climate mitigation costs of EU countries highly depend on internal burden-sharing
It is technically feasible for the EU to meet the 20% unilateral and 30% multilateral greenhouse gas emission reduction targets as adopted in 2007. The emission reductions and costs for the individual countries show a wide range, and are more dependent on the burden-sharing regime for internal EU allocation of reductions than the choice of the overall EU reduction target.
2 October 2007
Potential benefits for air quality in Europe from nuclear energy
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 energy entails public health benefits through air quality improvements. Moreover, private investments in low carbon electricity production will also benefit from rising CO2 emission prices.
1 October 2007
Environmental regulation not disadvantageous for competitiveness of the Dutch economy
Compared with other countries, the cost of environmental regulation in the Netherlands is high. However, this does not necessarily harm the competitiveness of the Dutch economy. The costs for environmental regulation form but a limited share of the total production costs. Moreover, other factors, such as the favourable location of the Netherlands and the presence of other firms, have a larger impact on competitiveness than environmental regulation.
26 September 2007
ENCA-Network wants to foster nature conservation in Europe
On initiative of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) representatives of 12 European Nature Conservation Agencies met in Bonn and founded an informal network. Main aim of the Network of Heads of European Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA) is the exchange of information.
More information
17 September 2007
Measures in sea shipping are cost-effective
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 the Netherlands. Effective measures include use of low sulphur fuels and cleaner engine technology in both old and new ships.
11 September 2007
Extra effort needed to achieve the desired result from the turnabout of nature conservation policy
For several years now, the central government has been wanting to increase the involvement of farmers and other private landowners in nature conservation. This policy is known as the turnabout. The conditions are that the costs should not exceed those of government acquisition and management, and that the same ecological results should be attained. A study by MNP leads to the conclusion that the turnabout will simply not have the desired effect.
11 September 2007
The fragmentation of nature and landschap continues
The landscapes and nature conservation areas of national and international importance in the Netherlands are becoming more fragmented. This is not yet being prevented through current policies. Especially the value of National Landscapes is being weakened by scattered built developments. This is one of the conclusions of Nature balance 2007.
23 August 2007
Cost-effectiveness of additional abatement options for cleaner air
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 more cost-effective than introducing the more stringent European emission standards for road vehicles. Measures include road pricing, technical measures in the storage and handling of bulk goods and placement of air scrubbers in the larger pig and poultry housing systems.
3 August 2007
India 2050: scenarios for an uncertain future
India is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy and, correspondingly, in resource use and emissions. This report explores the possibilities to model the future developments in different regions in India. Only rigorous government policy initiatives striving for sustainable management of India's resources (land, water, energy) and appropriate investments in education and health can lead to a real increase in well-being for a large part of the population.
19 July 2007
Biodiversity further deteriorates in the next 50 year
Biodiversity loss will remain unabatedly high up to 2050. This is the conclusion from an investigation carried out by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) in cooperation with others. The report has been internationally reviewed and is launched on 2 July at SBSTTA12 in the CBD Technical Series.
18 July 2007
A global coalition of all major countries is needed to meet the EU 2 degree climate target
The cost and effectiveness of climate policy in Europe depend on the international post-2012 climate regime. This report analyzes four alternative policy scenarios. The analysis shows that only if all major countries become actively involved in emissions abatement before 2020, the EU 2 degree climate target is feasible.
22 June 2007
Chinese CO2 emissions in perspective - Country intercomparison of CO2 emissions
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) announced this week that according to preliminary estimates in 2006 China topped the list of CO2 emitting countries, surpassing the USA by an estimated 8%. To evaluate the implications of these rising emissions in China and other countries in the context of the climate policy issue, other aspects must be taken into account such as economic development and per capita emissions.
19 June 2007
China now no. 1 in CO2 emissions; USA in second position
In 2006 global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use increased by about 2.6%, which is less than the 3.3% increase in 2005. China’s 2006 CO2 emissions surpassed those of the USA by 8%. This includes CO2 emissions from industrial processes (cement production). With this, China tops the list of CO2 emitting countries for the first time. In 2005, CO2 emissions of China were still 2% below those of the USA. In the 1990-2006 period global fossil-fuel related CO2 emissions increased over 35%.
24 May 2007
Welfare, prosperity and quality of the living environment
Welfare, prosperity and quality of the living environment explores how various aspects of the living environment and land use in the Netherlands may develop on the long run (2040). It analyses long term trends for a large number of societal topics, such as housing, commercial land use, traffic & transport, energy, agriculture, nature & landscape, water safety, and environment & health.
25 April 2007
International transport emissions need to be included in a post-2012 climate mitigation policy
Including international aviation and marine emissions in national/regional reduction targets within is more cost-effective than excluding them, or regulating them via sector-specific policies. This is one of the main conclusions of a study that analyses national/regional allocation options for including these so-called bunker emissions in a post-2012 climate mitigation regime.
5 March 2007
Dual benefits ozone protocol: Ozone layer and Climate change
The 1987 Montreal Protocol - restricting the use of ozone-depleting substances - has helped both to reduce global warming and to protect the ozone layer. The benefit to climate achieved by the Montreal Protocol alone at present greatly exceeds the initial target of the Kyoto Protocol. The effects of the Montreal Protocol on climate will become smaller in the future, while emission reductions after 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol will potentially have much larger effects on climate.
15 February 2007
Worldwide Biodiversity Loss and Poverty: How do they relate?
In the International Biodiversity (IB) Project, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency supports policy making on biodiversity-related issues. The relation with poverty is a major issue.
The goal of the IB project is to build tools and institutional capacity for continuous support of biodiversity-related policies such as mentioned in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Millennium Development Goals, Poverty Reduction Strategy papers, Socio-Economic Development plans and National Biodiversity Action plans.
26 January 2007
Prize awarded to MNP paper by China Association for Science and Technology
The MNP paper, 'Global and regional surface nitrogen balances in intensive agricultural production systems for the period 1970-2030', has won the 4th Periodical Excellent Paper Award (for the period 2004-2006) of the China Association for Science and Technology.
Main conclusion is that the fast increase in production and intensification between now and 2030 will almost inevitably lead to increasing environmental losses of nitrogen.
22 January 2007
Scientific underpinning of tool use in integrated assessments
Policy assessments can be improved by making better use of tools such as multi-criteria analysis and costbenefit analysis. Information about these tools is now available as website. This website also provides guidance on when to use what tool. The scientific justification of the website can be found in the publication ‘tool use in integrated assessments’.
18 January 2007
Cost of Policy Inaction possibly applicable
The Cost of Policy Inaction (COPI) concept is the damage to the environment in the absence of measures to solve an environmental problem. According to a study into meaningful applications of COPI, the most effective COPI variant is probably the application to such policy areas as agriculture, traffic and fisheries.
16 January 2007
Climate policy needs to focus on all greenhouse gases
The costs of a climate policy strategy targeting all greenhouse gases are substantially lower than a strategy targeting energy-related CO2 alone. This is one of the conclusions of a recent study by the Stanford University-based Energy Modeling Forum (EMF). MNP provided important input in the form of IMAGE 2 model applications, including TIMER and FAIR.
