Overview of news items 2009
Here you will find the news items of current year listed in chronological order.
Deforestation’s contribution to global CO2 emissions decreasing
Historically, emissions from deforestation were the dominant cause of increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. However, over the past decades, these emissions - although still considerable in amount - have reduced to about a fourth of the emissions that are related to energy. Therefore, measures to reduce emissions from deforestation should form part of broader packages that also include options for reducing energy emissions.
16-12-2009
The Netherlands will probably attain the EU air quality standards for fine particulate matter
19-11-2009
Release GISMO User Support System 1.0
05-11-2009
Getting into the Right Lane for 2050
Reasoning back from 2050, specific strategic actions are identified for the EU in the coming five to ten years. Key factors in the analysis are the magnitude and inherent slow pace of change. The European Union is placed in a visionary global perspective for 2050 of producing food for a global population of nine billion, while minimising biodiversity loss; mitigating climate change, while enhancing energy security; and developing a low-carbon transport system for the EU.
29-10-2009
Averting global environmental problems is feasible and affordable
Current trends in fossil-fuel use and inefficient land use will lead to large global environmental problems with respect to climate change and biodiversity loss. Technical and economically feasible options are available to meet the challenge to avoid these problems. The main issue is that of creating institutional and policy conditions for a more sustainable economy.
26-10-2009
Sustainability Monitor for the Netherlands 2009
In many respects, the Netherlands is a prosperous country, where public health, average incomes and education levels all have increased considerably since the Second World War. People trust each other and trust national institutions. From a sustainable development perspective, attention needs to be directed towards areas of employment and an ageing population, knowledge, and social cohesion. However, the major ‘Concerns for Tomorrow’ are environmentally oriented.
21-10-2009
Environmental Balance 2009
The feasibility of meeting both the short-term and long-term targets of environmental policy is heavily influenced by the consequences of the current recession. In the short term, the environment will profit from the recession because the decline in economic activity will result in lower emissions, especially to the air. In the long term, the recession will have unfavourable effects on the environment because it will slow down the development and introduction of environmentally-friendly technologies.
06-10-2009
Getting in the right lane for 2050
What are the critical issues for the European Union to get in the right lane to meet long-term challenges to the environment and global resources? How can a vision for 2050 contribute to targeting economic stimulus plans? The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and Stockholm Resilience Centre are preparing a primer for public discourse on the strategic agenda of the next European Commision. A first preview was presented at a number of meetings 22-24 June in Brussels.
29-06-2009
Global CO2 emissions: annual increase halved in 2008
Very high oil prices together with a worldwide financial crisis have caused a halving of the annual increase in global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel consumption and cement production. High energy prices and the recession have decreased oil consumption and slowed down increasing coal consumption. Emissions increased by 1.7% in 2008, against 3.3% in 2007. Since 2002, the average annual increase was almost 4%. Also the increased use of biofuels for road transport and wind energy for electricity generation had a noticeable and mitigating impact on CO2 emissions.
25-06-2009
Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions growing faster since 2000
New data show that global man-made greenhouse gas emissions increased 15% between 2000 and 2005, representing a sharp jump in the rate of emissions growth, which was 3% for the period 1990-1995 and 6% between 1995 and 2000. These conclusions are based on the latest results from a joint project of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).
26-05-2009
Electric driving; an attractive challenge
23-02-2009
Interpretations of territorial cohesion
In terms of land use, the impacts of territorial cohesion, however interpreted, would be virtually negligible for the Netherlands in the near future. In the long term, territorial cohesion does provide some interesting opportunities. More important for the Netherlands is the impact that territorial cohesion may have on EU policy by improving cross-sectoral coherence.
18-02-2009
Climate benefits of changing diet
13-02-2009
