Overview of news items 2011
Here you will find the news items of current year listed in chronological order.
PBL Christmas Card
Making the Netherlands and the rest of the world a cleaner place that is more accessible, prettier and more prosperous, is quite a challenge, especially in times of economic recession and shrinking government budgets.
21-12-2011
The Netherlands could save billions of euros as well as aid the environment
Environmentally harmful subsidies are subsidies or tax exemptions that have an unintended negative effect on nature and the environment. If the Netherlands were to focus on abolishing these environmentally harmful subsidies it could achieve substantial savings while aiding a cleaner environment.
20-12-2011
Resource Efficient Europe: many synergies, notorious exceptions
In many cases, resource efficiency in one area also helps to mitigate problems in another. For example, energy efficiency also saves water, and sustainable yield improvements also lead to a more efficient use of agricultural land. This may help to safeguard terrestrial biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and improve food security, but in developing countries will lead to an increase in the use of phosphorus fertilisers.
12-12-2011
Only a mix of technologies can realise a clean economy by 2050 in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is capable of achieving an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is possible by implementing a mix of reduced energy demand, use of biomass, carbon capture and storage, and clean electricity generation accompanied by an increased share of electricity in final energy demand.
02-12-2011
Political courage in Durban needed to combat climate change
Global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to double over the next 40 years. This could result in a 3 to 6 °C increase in the average global temperature by the end of the century. The economic costs and environmental consequences of political inaction on climate change will be significant and combating climate change will require political courage.
28-11-2011
Bridging the emissions gap to meet the 2 °C target is doable
Cutting emissions by 2020 to a level that could keep a global, 21st century temperature rise under two degrees Celsius is technologically and economically feasible, according to a comprehensive study by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), to which the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has also contributed.
24-11-2011
Alternative routes for international climate policies
Alternative routes for international climate policies, such as have been proposed in recent years by several parties, may benefit societal support for these policies.
18-11-2011
Implication in 2020 of the 2 degree target
A large number of published climate scenarios have been analysed in order to identify if the 2020 emission levels are consistent with the 2 degree Celsius target. It is concluded that there are significant risks that the 2 degree Celsius target is slipping out of reach.
26-10-2011
Special issue of Climatic Change journal on the Representative Concentration Pathways released
A new Special issue of the journal Climatic Change describes four new key scenarios for the climate research community: the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCPs). The RCPs describe a wide range of potential futures for the main drivers of climate change: greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions and land use. The scenarios cover the range from high emission futures to scenarios consistent with the 2°C target.
26-09-2011
Steep increase in global CO2 emissions despite reductions by industrialised countries
Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the main cause of global warming – increased by 45% between 1990 and 2010, and reached an all-time high of 33 billion tonnes in 2010.
21-09-2011
More innovation, better education and a greener economy are required to maintain prosperity
Quality of life is high in the Netherlands compared to other European countries, but it seems impossible to retain this level of prosperity, in the long run. More innovation, better education and a greener economy are required to maintain prosperity, according to the Sustainability Monitor for the Netherlands 2011.
15-09-2011
Greening of EU agricultural subsidies will slow down decline of biodiversity
‘Greening’ the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as proposed by the EC, will slow down the decline in farmland biodiversity, most notably in intensive farming areas. Extensively farmed areas are better served by policies preserving their rich biodiversity. Regional variation in policies tailored to reflect local conditions could, therefore, result in a better outcome.
18-08-2011
New government role needed for clean economy
The existing powers of creativity and innovation within society offer opportunities for ‘green growth’. Mobilising this energetic society demands adjustment of the way national government thinks and acts. The PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency provides suggestions on how government could fill this new role.
21-06-2011
Environment and poverty require a global perspective
Climate change, overexploitation of fish stocks, land erosion and resource scarcities are examples of environmental issues that require globally coordinated solutions. This is in the interest both of developing countries and of the Netherlands.
16-06-2011
Impact of Effort Sharing Decision on Dutch targets for greenhouse gases 2013-2020
As a result of the European Effort Sharing Decision, the Netherlands faces annual declining caps for emissions not included in the Emission Trading System (ETS), for the 2013–2020 period. Non-ETS emission levels are expected to be around the cap level excluding possible effects from policies by the current Dutch Government.
08-06-2011
Worldwide increase in fertiliser surpluses
Fertiliser surpluses are expected to increase, globally, over de next fifty years. This is mainly due to increases in livestock farming, the manure of which is causing ever increasing amounts of nutrients to end up in groundwater and surface waters. The environmental impact of nutrient surpluses disturbs ecosystems and damages biodiversity.
07-06-2011
Follow PBL on Twitter
Would you like to stay informed about our publications concerning the environment, nature and spatial planning? From now on you can follow us via Twitter.
12-05-2011
Meat, dairy and fish: options for changes in production and consumption
Average consumption of meat, dairy and fish has increased strongly over the last fifty years in the European Union. Today’s consumption is twice the world average. Current preferences of European consumers lead to a range of negative impacts, such as extensive land use, biodiversity loss and human health risks.
28-04-2011
Accelerated progress required to achieve target on child mortality
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on access to food, safe drinking water and basic sanitation, and the use of modern energy are key to achieve the MDG target on child mortality, and may close the child mortality gap with the MDGtarget in Sub-Saharan Africa by a third. This is the conclusion of the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency in their contribution to the World Bank’s Global Monitoring Report 2011.
26-04-2011
Strong decrease in labour force expected for large parts of Europe
Under unfavourable demographic and economic circumstances, the European labour force is expected to decrease by 20% up to 2050. This causes an increase in pressure on the working population to provide financial support for those without work. Under favourable demographic and economic circumstances the European labour force may increase slightly by 5%.
31-03-2011
Resources: not depleted, but expensive
Current high prices of food, oil and many other resources are indications of increasing scarcity. This scarcity, however, has little to do with stock depletion. Badly functioning markets and wrong policy reactions play a particularly important role.
14-03-2011
