NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016

End derogations for polluting coal plants Effective regulation of air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants could prevent 20,000 premature deaths every year. ►► Page 3 A Europe powered only with renewable energy This vision was launched in 1992 from within the world-leading power equip- ment company ABB. ►► Page 6 Climate target for agriculture A new study proposes that the agricul- tural sector needs to reduce emissions by 1 billion tonnes of CO2e per year by 2030 to contribute to the 2°C target. ►► Page 11 Air pollution costs trillions © LARS-ERIK hÅKANSSON LARS-ERIK © Premature deaths due to air pollution cause annual global costs of about US$225 billion in lost work days, and more than US$5 trillion in welfare losses, according IMO confirms to a new study. ►► Page 13 Germany’s slow 2020 date decarbonisation Implementing the global rule to restrict the sulphur content Germany must still eliminate 145 Mt in marine fuel oil to 0.5 per cent will cut shipping SO2 emis- of annual greenhouse gas emissions to sions by nearly 80 per cent and prevent more than 100,000 achieve its 2020 climate target, 16 per annual premature deaths. cent below current levels. A decision to ►► Page 15 introduce a global 0.5 per compliant fuel oil would be available cent cap on the content of sulphur in marine to meet the fuel oil requirements by 1 Unique opportunity for fuel by 2020 was originally agreed by the January 2020. United Nations International Maritime The IMO’s fuel oil availability assess- Ukraine Organization (IMO) back in 2008. At the ment study1 was submitted to its Marine The changed geopolitical situation in same time, it was also agreed that a review Environment Protection Committee Ukraine has led to an energy crisis, should be undertaken by 2018 in order to (MEPC), and discussed at its 70th ses- and the country is now at a crossroads: assess whether sufficient compliant fuel sion held in London on 24–28 October. sticking with coal and nuclear power or oil would be available to meet the 2020 The current global sulphur limit for investing in renewables? date. If not, the date might be deferred marine heavy fuel oil (HFO) is set at 3.5 ►► Page 19 to 2025. That review was completed this Page 4 summer, and concluded that sufficient Editorial A newsletter from the Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat, the primary aim of which is to It is now finally settled that the global cap manoeuvre to delay environmental action provide information on air pollution and its effects on health and the environment. of 0.5 per cent for the sulphur content of for much too long and it is not accept- the fuel oil used by ships will apply from 1 able for the shipping industry to keep Anyone interested in these matters is invited January 2020. This is a significant reduc- on transferring the cost of its pollution to contact the Secretariat. All requests for information or material will be dealt with to tion from the current cap of 3.5 per cent to society at large. the best of our ability. Acid News is available and it will cut shipping SO2 emissions by It must not free of charge. nearly 80 per cent, or around 9 million be forgotten that the meas- In order to fulfil the purpose of Acid News, tonnes per year, and prevent more than ures agreed so far in IMO for reducing we need information from everywhere, so if 100,000 annual premature deaths. emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are you have read or heard about something that Discussions about restricting air pol- totally inadequate and will not result in might be of general interest, please write or lution from international any significant reductions send a copy to: shipping started towards the “global in total ship NOx emissions Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat end of the eighties within even within the next 10–15 Första Långgatan 18, 413 28 Göteborg, sulphur years. Every effort must there- Sweden the International Maritime Tel: +46 31 711 45 15 Organization (IMO), a UN fore be made to markedly Fax: +46 31 711 46 20 body, and agreement was cap now strengthen the weak NOx E-mail: [email protected] reached in 1997 on an air pol- emission standards, and to Internet: www.airclim.org lution annex to its MARPOL coming make them applicable to Convention. Unfortunately, both existing and new ships. Editor: Kajsa Pira into force To ensure an organised Assistant editors: Christer Ågren, Reinhold this turned out to be a very Pape & Malin Larsson feeble document with very in 2020” gradual phase-in of lower- timid requirements. sulphur fuels, to encourage Printed by Trydells Tryckeri, Laholm, Sweden. After several more years of the use of the best environ- ISSN 0281-5087. talks but very little action, the IMO in 2008 mental techniques, and to speed up the finally agreed and unanimously adopted introduction of clean and renewable fuels, The Air Pollution and Climate Secretariat sulphur standards that would significantly the IMO standards should be comple- The Secretariat has a board consisting of one representative from each of the following reduce the well-documented adverse health mented by economic instruments, such organisations: Friends of the Earth Sweden, and environmental impacts of shipping. as emission charges. Nature and Youth Sweden, the Swedish So- However, a main drawback was that the In addition, the EU and its member states ciety for Nature Conservation, and the World new global 0.5 per cent sulphur cap was should follow the example of the United Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Sweden. to be implemented only 12 years later, by States and Canada and designate all sea The essential aim of the Secretariat is to areas around Europe as “full” Emission promote awareness of the problems associ- 2020. Moreover, due to industry pressure, ated with air pollution and climate change, it was stated that the 2020 implementa- Control Areas, i.e. covering all the major and thus, in part as a result of public pressure, tion date could be postponed, subject to air pollutants (sulphur, particulate matter to bring about the needed reductions in the availability of compliant fuel. and nitrogen oxides). emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse Usually industry favours international Shipping is also a growing source of gases. The aim is to have those emissions agreements, especially when it comes to greenhouse gases, but there is so far no eventually brought down to levels that man CO2 and the environment can tolerate without sectors of a global nature, such as ship- agreement on capping the industry’s suffering damage. ping and aviation. This is due partly to emissions. An IMO meeting in October In furtherance of these aims, the Secretariat: a perceived need for harmonisation, but agreed only to monitor ship CO2 emis- 88 Keeps up observation of political trends also because it normally takes decades to sions, and to delay until at least 2023 any and scientific developments. settle such agreements and the standards agreement on a CO2 reduction target. A 88 Acts as an information centre, primarily for proposed review of ship energy efficiency European environmentalist organisations, arrived at are often set at very low levels but also for the media, authorities, and of ambition. targets was also delayed. researchers. With the stricter global sulphur cap It should be obvious that the longer the 88 Produces information material. now coming into force in 2020 – more shipping industry delays climate measures, 88 Supports environmentalist bodies in other than 30 years after the issue was first the steeper the emission cuts will have countries in their work towards common raised in the IMO – it is hoped that both to be to keep within the world’s rapidly ends. 88 Participates in the lobbying and campaigning shipping and the oil industry will embrace shrinking carbon budget. activities of European environmentalist orga- the IMO standards and focus their atten- Christer Ågren nisations concerning European policy relating tion on establishing effective systems for to air quality and climate change, as well as in compliance monitoring and enforcement. meetings of the Convention on Long-range The nature of shipping as an international Transboundary Air Pollution and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. business has been used as an excuse or

2 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 End derogations for polluting coal plants Effective regulation of air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants could prevent 20,000 premature deaths every year.

Establishing and enforcing air pollu- the EU and member states now have an mediate remedial action. Inaction cannot tion standards that are in line with the opportunity to adopt improved environ- be justified when it is human health and best available techniques, could reduce mental performance standards. By agreeing lives that are at stake.” the annual number of premature deaths stricter standards and implementing ef- As there are no techniques that com- in the EU caused by emissions from coal- fective emission limits on coal pollution, pletely eliminate emissions from the fired power plants from 22,900 to 2,600, real progress can be made in improving burning of coal and with coal power according to a new study by a coalition the health of people across Europe. plants responsible for 18 per cent of of environmental groups. The report also called on the Commission the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, the The report was published in October, and member states to review the directive’s authors of the report conclude that truly ahead of an EU technical committee minimum binding emission limit values, lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud will require meeting on the final draft of the large and update them to reflect the levels set the complete phase-out of coal power. combustion plant (LCP) BREF document. in the revised LCP BREF. Emission limits “The health of European citizens can- The report called on the Commission and monitoring requirements should not afford any further delay in enforcing and member states to remove deroga- reflect what is now technically possible new pollution standards. While the EU’s tions and other loopholes from the draft to ensure that EU legislation serves as a ultimate goal should be to commit to BREF document. driver towards improved environmental the complete phase-out of coal and to According to the authors of the report, performance across the EU. a transformation pathway to renewable current legislation is failing to deliver its “The best available techniques we call energy and reduced energy consumption, intended health benefits because special for in this report are all tried-and-tested the EU still needs to limit pollution from exceptions have been granted that allow and were already being demonstrated coal power plants with its deadly and for emissions that are higher than the under technically and economically vi- costly impacts on people, health and the agreed minimum requirements of the able conditions decades ago. TheEU environment,” said Joanna Flisowska, Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). considers itself a world leader on envi- Coal Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe. Currently more than half of the coal ronmental issues but when it comes to power plants in the EU have been granted coal combustion, decision makers have Christer Ågren permissions to pollute beyond the limits their heads stuck in a dark cloud!”, says The report “Lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud: How cut- set in the IED, with serious implications Christian Schaible, Policy Manager on ting coal saves lives” was produced jointly by the for public health and the environment. industrial production at the European European Environmental Bureau (EEB), the Health The pollution from these plants alone was Environmental Bureau (EEB). and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, WWF and Sandbag, and responsible for 13,700 premature deaths Medical professionals have can be downloaded from: https://drive.google. in 2013, which represented 60 per cent expressed com/drive/folders/0B9LWbY1olzldSFF6TW1MZjBTUms of all coal-related deaths in the EU, the support for the report; “Air pollution report said. kills,” says Professor Bert Brunekreef EEB press release on the outcome of the 20 Oc- tober IED forum: http://www.eeb.org/index.cfm/ Through the revision of of the European Respiratory Society. news-events/news/now-the-talking-s-over-it-s- the LCP BREF document, “Experts in lung health want to see im- time-for-action-to-cut-power-plant-emissions/

2013 emissions from 2016 IED Limits Proposed BREF Best available currently operating plants limits techniques ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 (BAT) 3

FLICKR.COM / x1klima cc-by IMO confirms 2020 date Continued from front page per cent, which is 3,500 times higher than the limit for fuel used in cars and trucks in the EU. As a result, shipping is one of the world’s biggest emitters of sulphur dioxide (SO2), an air pollutant that causes premature deaths from lung cancer and heart and respiratory diseases as well as acidification of sensitive natural ecosystems. According to the third IMO greenhouse gas study from July 2014, annual emissions of SO2 from international shipping amount to approximately 10.6 million tonnes, or approximately 12 per cent of global SO2 emissions from anthropogenic sources. Moreover, international shipping emits some 18.6 million tonnes of nitrogen 2020 and 2025, approximately a 77 areas around Europe and North oxides (NOx), equal to 13 per cent of per cent reduction in overall global America already have stricter fuel NO global anthropogenic x emissions. SO2 emissions from international sulphur standards, they will receive Although the maximum allowed sulphur shipping. only relatively small additional content is set at 3.5 per cent, the IMO’s • Emissions of primary particulate health benefits from the global cap.) sulphur monitoring scheme shows that matter (PM) will come down by The decision by global average sulphur content for marine 0.76–0.81 million tonnes per year, the IMO to confirm HFO over the last few years has actually which equals a 50 per cent reduction. 2020 as the implementation date for the been around 2.5 per cent. This means that • The lowered emissions will lead to 0.5 per cent global sulphur cap was taken in practice the new 0.5 per cent limit will significant reductions in exposure by consensus, but it was certainly not cut SO2 emissions from ships running on to harmful air pollutants, especially uncontroversial. For example, oil industry HFO by about 80 per cent. in populated coastal areas, prevent- associations led by IPIECA and shipping The effects of introducing the 0.5 per ing more than 100,000 premature companies represented by BIMCO had cent sulphur cap in 2020 rather than deaths per year. It is estimated that sponsored the production of a separate delaying it to 2025 were analysed by a over the five-year period a total of fuel availability study, which was also group of scientists from the United States 570,000 premature deaths will be submitted to the MEPC. and Finland and presented in another avoided. The official IMO report analysed three 2 report submitted to the MEPC. Some of • More than 90 per cent of these different demand scenarios – a base the key findings of this study were that: health benefits will take place in case as well as a low (-12%) and a high • Annual SO2 emissions will be cut the Asia-Pacific region, Africa and (+14%) demand case – and found that by 8.5–9 million tonnes between Latin America. (Because the sea in all scenarios the refinery sector will be able to supply sufficient quantities of IMO sulphur regulation low-sulphur fuel from 2020 to meet the demand. On the other hand, while the IMO regulations governing sulphur Ships can meet the requirement by report sponsored by industry acknowledged emissions from ships are included in using lower-sulphur compliant fuel oil Annex VI to the International Conven- or other types of fuel, such as liquefied that the refining industry could meet tion for the Prevention of Pollution from natural gas (LNG) or methanol. Alter- the fuel volumes needed by 2020, it also Ships (MARPOL Convention). Under the natively, ships can meet the sulphur stated that sticking to 2020 would “lead new global cap, from 1 January 2020 emission requirements by using to severe strains on global oil markets” ships will have to use fuel oil on board approved exhaust gas cleaning systems and concluded that “a full-on switch to with a sulphur content of no more than (scrubbers), which remove the sulphur the global sulphur standard in January 0.5 per cent, as compared to the cur- emissions before they are released into 2020 does not look workable.” rent limit of 3.5 per cent that has been the atmosphere. The new global 0.5 per Apart from the very significant health in effect since 1 January 2012. Fuel oil cent cap will not change the 0.1 per cent and environmental benefits of the sulphur used on board includes use in main and sulphur limit that has applied since 1 Ja- emission reductions, the fact that in auxiliary engines and boilers. nuary 2015 in Sulphur Emission Control 2012 the European Union had already Areas (SECA) established by the IMO. established a 0.5 per cent sulphur limit

4 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 Stricter NOx standards for ships to apply from 2020 in its territorial seas, exclusive economic zones and pollution In late October, the International Maritime A recent computer modelling analysis IMO control zones is likely to have had quite Organization ( ) accepted propos- estimated that the reduction in total ni- some impact on the outcome of the debate. als to designate the Baltic Sea and the trogen input to the Baltic Sea area will be NO This encouraged EU countries to also argue North Sea as x Emission Control 22,000 tons per year as a combined effect NECA NECA in favour of 2020 as the implementation Areas ( ). After final confirmation of the Baltic Sea and North Sea IMO NECA date for the global cap, and they were at the next meeting of the ’s Marine and compared to a non- scenario. supported by among others the United Environment Protection Committee in However, a lengthy period (25–30 years) States and Japan. May 2017, these two sea areas will create of fleet renewal is needed before the NECA Commenting on the outcome, Bill a large joint , in which the stricter regulation will show full effect. Tier III NOx emission standard will apply Source: HELCOM press release, 28 October 2016 Hemmings, shipping director at Transport (www.helcom.fi) & Environment, said: “This is a landmark to new ships built in or after 2021. decision and we are very pleased that the world has bitten the bullet and is now tackling poisonous sulphuric fuel in 2020. This decision reduces the contribution Air pollution risk in of shipping to the world’s air pollution impact from about 5 per cent down to 1.5 per cent and will save millions of lives dense farming areas in the coming decades. Now the focus A new study should shift towards implementing this from the Netherlands much, but the results are very significant, decision, which is a big issue since it’s not shows that the air in heavily agricultural especially for those who already have yet clear who should police ships on the areas can be as risky to breathe as in reduced lung function. high seas, and how.” traffic-choked cities. The research was The research also found that the lung function of the test participants got worse IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim released as a part of the Healthy Lungs also welcomed the decision. “The reduc- for Life campaign and was presented if the concentration of ammonia in the air at the European Respiratory Society’s was higher. This effect was seen in both tions in SO2 emissions resulting from the lower global sulphur cap are expected to International Congress in London in healthy adults and those with existing have a significant beneficial impact on September. respiratory conditions. the environment and on human health, The Dutch study is one of the first to It has already been proven, in many particularly that of people living in port use physical health tests to measure the previous studies, that agriculture is one cities and coastal communities, beyond health effect on residents due to living in of the major culprits regarding air pollu- the existing emission control areas,” Mr. close proximity to livestock holdings. As tion, and ammonia from animals is one Lim said. many as 2,500 adults participated in the of the main contributors. According to Further work to ensure effective imple- research. They were all living in rural areas the researchers the effects of air pollution mentation of the 2020 global sulphur cap in the Netherlands and it was shown that in rural areas are as harmful as in urban areas. It is therefore equally important will continue in the IMO’s Sub-Committee those living within one kilometre of 15 or on Pollution Prevention and Response more farms had five per cent lower lung that policy makers work harder to combat both agricultural emissions and urban air (PPR), which has it next meeting in function. Five per cent may not sound January 2017. pollution. The researchers also highlight Christer Ågren the importance of much better monitoring of intensive farming and the need to apply 1 IMO Document MEPC 70/INF.6 “Assessment of fuel the same strict pollution laws as in other oil availability – final report” (July 2016). industries. Some countries have more 2 IMO Document MEPC 70/INF.34 “Study on the densely populated areas near livestock effects of the entry into force of the global 0.5% farming than others, but air pollution fuel oil sulphur content limit on human health” (August 2016). caused by ammonia is a large-scale problem that affects everyone. T&E press release: https://www.transportenviron- ment.org/press/eu-action-shipping-emissions- Source : European Lung Foundation press needed-say-meps-and-ngo-after-imo-agrees-yet- release, 20 September 2016 (www.euro- more-talks peanlung.org) IMO briefing: http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/ PressBriefings/Pages/MEPC-70-2020sulphur.aspx

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 Fotolia.com © lubovchipurko 5 A Europe powered only with renewable energy This vision was launched in 1992 from within the world-leading power equipment company ABB.

Europe can be powered by wind (mainly The idea of a gigantic grid and big cen- It took some nerve to claim by 1992 offshore) and by solar power (mainly as tralised solar plants and big offshore wind that wind and solar power could be the concentrating solar power) in North power plants was also controversial in the future, even in a 100-year perspective. All Africa and southern Europe. That was NGO community. “Small is beautiful” had the wind power in the world produced the futuristic vision of Gunnar a strong resonance. ABB reached less than 5 TWh in 1992, solar only 0.5 Asplund in 1992, as shown out to garner support from TWh, adding up to the equivalent of a in the map. Swedish NGOs, but with single nuclear reactor. Offshore wind was “It was not popular with- no real success. nowhere in 1992 and was of no significance in ABB,” says Asplund in Asplund’s idea was that until the 2010s. Nuclear power produced 2016. most of the cost for elec- 2,100 TWh, and was still on the increase. Swedish Asea merged tricity is for generation, and So was fossil power almost everywhere in 1988 with Swiss Brown that transport of the power in the world. Boveri to create ABB. At the even for very long distances, The 1992 vision is still controversial, time, ABB tried to market nuclear Gunnar Asplund need not add more than 25 per but nobody doubts that wind and solar reactors of Swedish origin (even- cent. Power should be produced have a bright future. tually without success) and increased its where conditions are the best: most wind The belief in renewables went hand-in- nuclear power activities by the acquisition power offshore or at the coast, solar where glove with the emergent technology that of US Combustion Engineering. ABB the sun shines most, and all connected Asplund led at ABB Ludvika: HVDC light, also developed PFBC coal and lignite by many, long power lines. the slimmer version of the high-voltage plants at the time, but had no real stake Storage was to be supplied by existing hy- direct current cable. in wind and solar. dropower in Norway, By the year 2000, ABB would divest all Sweden, Iceland and power plant construction. But that was continental Europe. eight years ahead. Right: The scenario from 1992., with 700 GW from solar, 300 GW from wind and 200 GW from hydro.

6 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016

FLICKR.COM / Nmaacedo cc-by-NC-Nd Vision 1992, actual results 2015

Share of renewables. In 2015, the 28 ownership of wind parks has however pean grids and markets. Unlike the 1992 nations that are now the EU member been of importance for acceptance of map, much solar is in central Europe states (EU-28) produced 29 per cent of wind power, at least in Germany. (Germany and the UK) rather than in the their electricity from renewables. This is sunnier south. Solar. In the 1990s and the 2000s the far from 100 per cent, but a big impro- main potential of solar power was often Cables from Africa. This has not happe- vement on the 15 per cent in 1992. Re- thought to lie in concentrating thermal ned, but the idea lived on in the gigantic newable electricity in 1992 was almost power (CSP) based on systems of lenses DESERTEC project, which was essentially exclusively hydro. Hydro production has or mirrors. Heat can be stored, so output abandoned after the disarray following not changed much and totalled 337 TWh can match demand and also supply the Arab Spring, the disintegration in 2015. The “other” renewables (than power at night. CSP promised higher of Syria and Libya and the rise of the hydro) have grown from 21 TWh in 1992 efficiency than photovoltaics, at least in so-called Islamic State. One power line to 601 TWh in 2015. Most of this increase environments with few clouds, such as (though AC, not HVDC) between Europe took place after 2008. in deserts. But CSP requires large-scale and Africa has been in operation since Which renewables? Wind and solar installations and huge investments in 1997, between Morocco and Spain, later have developed roughly as in the sce- one steep step. This essentially did not extended with a second cable, and a nario. Biomass, not in the scenario, is of happen. There are a few big CSP plants third is underway. So far the cables have some importance, and produced more in Spain and Morocco, but so far it has been mainly used for Spanish exports of electricity than solar in Europe in 2015. been a sideshow to photovoltaics (PV). power. Biomass, and the so far insignificant tidal Most of the PV capacity is decentrali- Cables from Iceland. Iceland has huge and geothermal power are not intermit- sed: rooftop or small ground-level solar hydro and geothermal resources, which tent and do not need long power lines. farms. Some of the output is used locally could be used to balance other renewa- Wave power, which was not in the scena- so as to reduce the electricity consump- bles. The cables are still not there, but a rio, but would fit well in a super grid, has tion. The distance between producer UK-Iceland government task force was still not taken off. and user is, in this sense, not long. set up in October 2015. The large-scale installation (uti- Wind. Wind power has, so far, mainly lity scale) of PV is growing even faster Other cables. Lithuania-Sweden went been on land. It is all a part of a cen- than rooftop solar and is now the top into operation in 2016, and the UK-Nor- tralised grid. Turbines are much larger, segment in many countries. Even so, the way link is under construction. There are more efficient and more reliable than in scale is modest compared to nuclear, fairly recent interconnections between 1992. The offshore wind parks are even coal and offshore wind. Norway-Netherlands-UK, Finland-Esto- larger, and are connected pretty much Then again: practically all PV is grid- nia, UK-France (several), Italy-Greece, according to the 1992 map. connected, so the millions of panels add and Estonia-Finland-Sweden. But wind power has mainly grown up to big effects on national and Euro- outside the utilities. Small community

To the casual observer, the map of cables all hydro. ABB has also built a 2,000 kilo- ity in Swedish) works with the practical over Europe looked as if the purpose was metre 800 kV transmission line in China aspects of designing rails and connectors, to maximise sales of high-voltage cables. so hydro in one part of the country can and has been granted 17 patents and This was indeed not so far-fetched. supply power to other parts, and balance filed for several more. The company has “The vision served to motivate our wind and solar power, where China leads received substantial support from the development work,” says Asplund frankly. the world. Swedish Energy Agency. HVDC Light was first tested in the So the 1992 concept works, and 100 The cost for the car-owner, for connec- late 1990s and has since been a success per cent renewables is possible. tors, may be a couple of hundred euros. story for ABB, sometimes exactly the way “By 2092 I hope it has looked like that “It would be extremely expensive to Asplund envisioned. for a long time,” says Asplund. have all roads in Sweden rebuilt for direct The technology is indeed impressive. Being an impatient person, he has feed. To have it for the big roads, not so Asplund has a sample in his office, about 12 moved on to another futuristic field: expensive,” he says. cm in diameter. Such a cable can conduct CO2-free transport. This second future looks a lot like the 1000 megawatts, the output of a nuclear There are not enough biofuels in most first one: an all-electric all-European reactor. HVDC is well suited not only for countries. There is a rich resource of renew- spider-web. connecting point A to point B, but also able electricity, but electric cars are heavy, Fredrik Lundberg for creating a grid, like a spider’s web. expensive and take a long time to charge. HVDC is used for bringing offshore wind His solution: electric highways, where power in the North Sea to the UK and electric cars can run on direct-feed power connecting Norway to the Netherlands, from the road, and recharge batteries at Germany and the UK so intermittent the same time. power can be balanced by Scandinavian His company Elways (“el” means electric-

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 7 Small is beautiful “Small is beautiful” was the catchphrase of the alternative energy movement of the 1970s.

Gunnar Boye Olesen of the INFORSE of scale above tens of megawatts for re- are expensive investments and can take energy network in Denmark still thinks newable energy such as wind and solar. away attention and funding from local there is a case for building on a human There are other reasons why big scale solutions,” says Gunnar. scale. often prevails: The combination of small and big seems 1974 saw a rising tide of anti-nuclear “When a community decides, they to be the optimum, at least for Northern sentiment in much of the world. go for smaller scale than a munici- Europe, he adds. The alternative energy move- pality, and government decisions Alternatives to power lines, for balancing, ment offered a far-reaching tend to favour still bigger scale, can be more demand-side management, critique not only of nuclear often above what is optimal, just storage of heat, hydrogen, and also bat- but also of large-scale oil, coal because it is a simpler decision,” teries if they get cheaper. and hydropower. he claims. What about other renewables? More than 40 years later, the Photovoltaics are decentral- Combined heat and power for district alternatives are winning. Wind, Gunnar Boye Olesen ised by their very nature, but heating and in industry, fuelled by biomass, solar, and biomass are standard need balancing in countries is a medium-scale technology. options for new power production. All like Denmark. “But it will have less of a future than was fossil-based and nuclear options are in Denmark now gets two per cent of its thought earlier, due to cheap electricity crisis. electricity from PV, but very little in the from wind and solar.” But what happened to the scale? winter, during power use peaks, notes Geothermal heat (not electricity) is a AN asked Gunnar Boye Olesen, of the Gunnar. medium-scale technology that has been International Network for Sustainable developed in Denmark, but which the One move towards Energy (INFORSE), based in Denmark. the very big scale is present government has abandoned. It still “A standard wind power turbine is now very long power lines, for example planned has a large potential, to supply 10–30 per 30 times bigger than it was in the 1990s,” interconnectors between Norway-UK and cent of Denmark’s heating requirements, he admits and sees no way to turn back. Denmark-UK. according to Gunnar. But, he points out, a wind park in the “There are admittedly many benefits Solar heat is order of 10 megawatts is still very small of interconnectors in for example the also of some, even growing, compared to conventional coal and nuclear Nordic grid,” he says. importance in Denmark, in particular for power plants. Denmark gets about 40 per cent of its smaller district heating systems, where A turbine is much too big for one family, electricity from wind power. That is pos- large thermal storage tanks even make but can be the right size for a community sible today thanks to balancing provided seasonal storage feasible. or a municipality. by Norwegian and Swedish hydro. As for biomass, it consists of several “It can still be a community project “But power lines are not the only parts. Biogas, to replace fossil gas for and the neighbours should have a say in solution. We have fought against some vehicles, heat and power, is often smaller project design and siting,” he says. such projects. They should not be built scale, in the order of 100 kW to two MW. Gunnar also doubts there is any economy without good economic evaluation. They Biomass for heat and electricity can be “A human scale is needed to ensure public small-, medium- or large-scale. understanding of the energy transition.” “Biomass has another problem of scale: Very long distance high-volume trade (such as from USA to UK power plants) should be avoided, but there is nothing wrong with some trade, or even that for example Sweden becomes a net exporter,” says Gunnar. “In a very centralised system, people lose contact, and social networks do not function well. A human scale is needed to ensure public understanding of the energy transition. So decentralisation is an objective in itself, says Gunnar Boye Olesen. Fredrik Lundberg

8 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016

FLICKR.COM / 10-10-UK cc-by Initiative to boost soil carbon In Paris an initiative called “4 per 1000” was signed by 25 countries, with the aim to protect and increase carbon stocks in soil and to develop accounting and safeguard criteria.

About one quarter of all human-induced enhancing food security as the world GHG emissions come from agriculture, population rises toward an expected 9.5 forestry and other land use (AFOLU), billion in 2050. Practices to build soil mainly from land use change, fertiliser carbon include agroecology, agro- use, livestock and peatland degradation. forestry, conservation agriculture Regeneration International reports that and landscape management. a new initiative called “4 per 1000”1, aims Placing an emphasis on to protect and increase carbon stocks the accumulation of soil in soil. The initiative, signed in Paris in carbon will inevitably call 2015 by 25 countries including France, attention to the climate Germany, the UK, Mexico and Australia, implications of the use as well as 75 research and NGO partners, of nitrogen fertilisers is aimed at combatting climate change and other industrial by recognising the ability of soil to act agriculture practices as a sink for greenhouse-gas emissions. that tend to reduce soil The “4 per 1000,” which refers to a vol- carbon reserves. untary pledge of a 0.4 per cent annual According to Climate growth rate in soil carbon content, “is a game-changer”, says Andre Leu from Action Network (CAN), the International Federation of Organic the potential for both reduc- Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)2. “This ing emissions and increasing is revolutionary, since carbon sequestration removals in the AFOLU sector is in soils is now central to how the world large, although it must be ensured that AFOLU mitigation does not compromise FLICKR.COM / DammitKarissa cc-by tackles climate change. It is one of the Cultivated soils have lost most exciting pieces of news to come out adaptation, food security or other social 50–70 per cent of their of the Paris climate conference, COP21. and environmental safeguards. Several original carbon stores. key points are crucial for CAN for the With this initiative the French govern- through capacity building on com- discussions on accounting rules3: ment has recognised the work done by prehensive AFOLU accounting. • “It is vital that all countries ac- researchers and farmers to demonstrate • The base year or period used for re- count for emissions and removals the ability of regenerative agriculture to porting and accounting for AFOLU from AFOLU in a comparable and restore the natural ability of soil to store should be consistent with a Party’s transparent way as part of their carbon.” overall plan to facilitate comparabil- national climate plans. Carbon is an important component of ity, i.e., baseline periods should be • The Climate Convention employs soil, representing 58 per cent of organic the same for the AFOLU sector as a land-based system of reporting matter. Through photosynthesis, a plant for other sectors and be historical and this should be used in the new draws down atmospheric carbon to form rather than projected. Furthermore, Paris agreement and should also carbon compounds, or sugars. Some of the AFOLU base year or period be applied to accounting, based on this is exuded through the roots to feed should be measured using agreed the methodologies provided in the soil microorganisms. But when soil is methodologies to estimate the 2006 IPCC Guidelines. exposed to the air, through tillage or the emissions, removals, and stocks • Parties with economy-wide plans, absence of plant cover, the carbon oxidizes of the sector. It may be advisable CO2 including absolute emission reduc- to form . The world’s cultivated soils to use a base period rather than a tion targets, should comprehensively have lost between 50 and 70 per cent of base year.” their original carbon stores, according account for “what the atmosphere to scientists. sees” in terms of emissions and Compiled by Reinhold Pape The French-led plan promotes practices, removals, when they occur. 1 http://4p1000.org/understand adapted to local conditions, that shift • Parties with plans that do not 2http://www.ifoam.bio/en/news/2015/12/15/what- agricultural soil from a carbon source to contain economy-wide absolute we-say-paris-climate-agreement a carbon sink. Since soil carbon is central targets should explain why other 3 http://www.climatenetwork.org/sites/default/files/ to soil fertility and water-holding capac- emissions and removals are excluded marrakech_galvanizing_ambition_october_2016.pdf ity, CO2 emissions may be curbed while and commit to overcome the deficit

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 9 Agriculture a major cause of air pollution Food cultivation is the dominant source which means that these particles are PM2.5. In the US, agricultural emis- of fine particulate matter PM( 2.5) in ambient formed where they can cause a lot sions represented around half of air in Europe, the central US and parts of of damage. the human caused emissions. China, according to a new study from the The researchers used a global China shows the highest Earth Institute at Columbia University. model to study the origin level of agriculture-related

Agricultural air pollution comes mainly of fine particulate matter in © ClaraNila PM in absolute figures, and .com in the form of ammonia (NH3), which en- different regions of the world. slightly less than half of the an- Fotolia ters the air as a gas from heavily fertilized They divided the emission sources Beware of pig- thropogenic PM pollution. India is fields and livestock waste. It blows in over into three categories: natural, an- induced particles! the only region in the study where cities, reacts with emissions of oxides of thropogenic non-agricultural and agricultural emissions are less nitrogen (NOx) and sulphur (SO2) from agricultural. Agricultural emissions were significant for PM2.5 levels in ambient air. traffic and industry, and leads to the for- defined as the change that occurred if mation of so-called secondary particles. all agricultural activities were turned on Source: The Earth Institute at Columbia University, 16 May 2016 http://www.earth.columbia.edu/ The combination of intensive agriculture, and off. articles/view/3281 traffic and industry is unfortunately quite In Europe, emission precursors from typical for some of the most populated fertilizers and livestock were responsible Geophysical Research Letters, 16 May 2016, “Sig- nificant atmospheric aerosol pollution caused by parts of North America, Europe and Asia, for 55 per cent of the anthropogenic world food cultivation” Multiple actions needed to reduce food emissions Reducing consumption of meat, dairy and eggs by three quarters in the EU will lead to re- ductions of 44 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector, but other efforts are also needed to reach a 2-degree target.

In a recently published study, scien- showed to be a far more effective way to food waste used for biogas production is tists from IVL Swedish Environmental minimise environmental impact, compared increased from 10 per cent to 45 per cent Research Institute have examined six to a shift from beef and pork to chicken and the share of food waste incinerated different interventions in the EU food meat. In the first scenario per capita with energy recovery is increased from sector using a life cycle assessment ap- greenhouse gas emissions went down by 24 per cent to 45 per cent, per capita proach. Once again extensive changes 44 per cent, compared to a mere 13 per greenhouse gas emissions from food would in diets proved to be the most effective cent in the latter. A similar pattern was decrease by almost 8 per cent. method to reduce environmental impact found for land use, where an overall reduc- Annual greenhouse gas emissions below from food consumption. tion in animal-based food led to a 33 per 2 tonnes per capita in 2050 are needed The researchers examined two dietary cent reduction in land use, compared to a to limit global warming to 2 degrees. A interventions. One where animal proteins 7 per cent reduction for the poultry diet. low-meat diet is the only intervention (except fish) were reduced by 76 per cent The per capita water consumption would in the study that will lead to per capita and one where beef consumption was also increase by 3 per cent with a shift to greenhouse gas emissions within that reduced to a quarter and pork by half, chicken, while a low animal protein diet budget, that is 1.5 tonnes from food. while the lost proteins were replaced by means a decrease of 23 per cent. In that case food would account for 75 protein from poultry. per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions. The other four Reducing all land-based animal proteins interventions in the study Assuming we would need some of that FLICKR.COM /JBloom cc-by deal with food waste. The best results are emission space for other sectors, one may shown when sharp reductions in waste from conclude that all types of interventions to retailers and households (-85 per cent) reduce emissions from food are desirable. are also assumed to reflect corresponding Kajsa Pira reductions in food consumption, leading Environmental Implications of Dynamic Policies to a 9 per cent reduction in per capita on Food Consumption and Waste Handling in greenhouse gas emissions from the food the European Union published in Sustainability sector. Changes in waste management 8/2016. http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/3/282 showed similar results. If the share of Sharp reductions in food waste and increases 10 in biogas production are two pieces in the ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 puzzle to reduce emissions from food. Climate target for agriculture A new study proposes that the agricultural sector needs to reduce emissions by 1 billion tonnes of CO2e per year by 2030 to contribute to the 2°C target. FLICKR.COM / Adam Cohn cc-by-NC-ND 119 states have included mitigation of mented Lini Wollenberg, leader of the emissions by 1.71–4.31 GtCO2e agricultural emissions in their Intended CCAFS Low Emissions Development using the same carbon price; Nationally Determined Contributions research programme, who led the study. • decreasing food loss and waste by (INDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC. “Countries want to take action on agri- 15per cent, could lead to emission However, little is known about how these culture, but the options currently on offer reductions of 0.79–2.00 GtCO2e; reductions will be accomplished. won’t make the dent in emissions needed • and shifting dietary patterns to Scientists from the CGIAR Research to meet the global targets agreed to in WHO recommendations or in Program on Climate Change, Agriculture Paris. We need a much bigger menu of response to increased carbon prices and Food Security (CCAFS) and the In- technical and policy solutions, with major would mitigate 0.31–1.37 GtCO2e. ternational Institute for Applied Systems investment to bring them to scale.” These estimates add up to a more com- Analysis (IIASA) used three different The study discusses prehensive goal for agriculture-related integrated assessment models to find several options for emissions in the order of 5–9 GtCO2e a that agriculture must reduce non-CO2 how this gap could be bridged. Many year, which corresponds to about 19–35 emissions by 0.92–1.37 GtCO2e a year high-tech solutions they believe will per cent of all mitigation efforts needed by 2030. This is what is needed in order take too long to introduce, especially in across all sectors. to contribute to a “likely” (66%) chance developing countries. A more feasible The researchers highlight the importance of staying within the 2°C warming limit. way forward would be to introduce new of developing this approach to match It was suggested that 1 GtCO2e may be breeds of cattle that emit less methane, top-down sectorial mitigation demands an appropriate preliminary target. This together with wheat and corn varieties with the bottom-up mitigation potentials is approximately 4–5 per cent of the 26 that inhibit production of nitrous oxide, and the corresponding policies at a global GtCO2e reductions a year needed across since this would not require extensive scale. In their final conclusions they write all sectors to achieve the 2°C target. changes in management. “without the guidance of 2°C-based goal The researchers also found that estab- The researchers also highlight the need in agriculture, much effort will be driven lished methods fall short of reaching this for additional targets for agricultural by what is technically or politically feasible, goal. Technical improvements in livestock emissions. In the absence of models they rather than by what is necessary”. management, cropland management and suggest some aspirational targets based on Kajsa Pira rice-paddy management can contribute to what is assumed to be achievable globally reductions of up to 0.40 GtCO2e annually at low costs by 2030: IIASA ress release, 17 May 2016 http://www.iiasa. in 2030. While structural transformations, • Soil carbon sequestration could ac.at/web/home/about/news/160517-ag-climate. html such as transforming extensive rangeland roughly mitigate emissions by 1.2 “Reducing emissions from agriculture to meet systems to more efficient livestock systems, GtCO2e, using a carbon price of the 2°C target”, Global Change Biology http:// US can reduce emissions by 0.21 GtCO2e $ 20 per tonne; onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.13340/ annually in 2030. • reducing land-use change due to abstract;jsessionid=A1C26EE06292BA805A865213 “This research is a reality check,” com- clearing for agriculture could reduce E862492A.f02t03

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 11 Legal challenges over air quality in EU cities UK government fails

Brussels has become the latest European region to face a legal challenge on its to tackle air pollution obligations under the EU air quality The measures announced by the UK the UK government has lost in court on directive. Client Earth has filed a case government to tackle air pollution still the issue, as green group Client Earth against the Brussels regional government, don’t comply with EU air quality legisla- defeated the government on the same calling on the city authority to tion and will not meet nitrogen dioxide issue at the Supreme Court in April last produce a plan to bring levels limits in time, the country’s year. Ministers were then ordered to draw of nitrogen dioxide down to legal High Court ruled on 2 No- up a new action plan, but now that new limits as soon as possible, claiming vember. This is the second plan has also been found to be illegal. that citizens have been exposed to illegal time in 18 months that Client Earth air quality lawyer Alan levels since 2010. This new case adds to Andrews said: “We hope the new Govern- legal actions in the UK and Germany. ment will finally get on with preparing Cases have also recently been launched in a credible plan to resolve this issue once Brno and Prague in the Czech Republic. and for all. We need a national network of In September in Germany, the Adminis- clean air zones to be in place by 2018 in trative Court of North-Rhine Westphalia cities across the UK, not just in a handful ordered authorities not to wait for the of cities. Future projections of compliance federal government to act, but to in- need to be based on what is really coming troduce by January 2018 a diesel ban in out of the exhausts of diesel cars when Düsseldorf to tackle ongoing illegal levels driving on the road, not just the results of air pollutants. The case was filed by of discredited laboratory tests.” Client Earth with German partner DUH, and more results from Client Earth press release, 2 November 2016 (www. Germany are expected in the clientearth.org) coming months. Source: Ends Europe Daily, 21 Sep- tember 2016. FLICKR.COM /Jason Rosenberg cc-by WHO: Air pollution rising in cities More than 80 per cent of people living in matter (PM10 and PM2.5) between 2008 “It is crucial for city and national gov- urban areas that monitor air pollution are and 2013. Over these six years, global ernments to make urban air quality a exposed to levels that exceed the World urban air pollution levels increased by health and development priority,” said Dr Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. eight per cent, despite improvements in Carlos Dora, co-ordinator of the WHO’s All regions of the world are affected, but some regions. Interventions for Healthy Environments people in low-income cities suffer the PM10 and PM2.5 include pollutants such programme. “When air quality improves, worst effects. Some 98 per cent of cities as sulphates, nitrates and black carbon, health costs from air-pollution-related in low- and middle-income countries which penetrate deep into the lungs and diseases shrink, worker productivity ex- with more than 100,000 inhabitants do into the cardiovascular system, posing the pands and life expectancy grows.” not meet the WHO air quality guidelines. greatest risks to human health. In high-income countries, that figure According to the database, levels of The WHO database, including a summary, is at: www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/da- decreases to 56 per cent of cities. PM2.5 are highest in India, which has 16 tabases/cities/en These figures come from the WHO’s of the world’s 30 most polluted cities. recent update of its global urban ambient China has improved since 2011 and now air pollution database. Data from a total of has only five cities in the top 30. Nine 795 cities in 67 countries was compared other countries, including Pakistan and for levels of small and fine particulate Iran, have one city each in the worst 30.

Smog over New Delhi.

12 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016

FLICKR.COM / Jeanne Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier cc-by-SA Air pollution costs trillions Premature deaths due to air pollution cause annual global costs of about US$225 billion in lost work days, and more than US$5 trillion in welfare losses, according to a new study.

Exposure to air pollution increases the are the costs of ill- risk of contracting cancers and heart, lung nesses (e.g. hospital and respiratory diseases. According to the care, medication), latest available estimates by the World reduced output of Health Organization (WHO), 5.5 million agricultural crops, premature deaths worldwide, or 1 in every damage to natural 10 deaths, in 2013 were attributable to ecosystems and cul- indoor and outdoor air pollution. tural heritage, and A joint study, entitled “The Cost of Air lowered economic Pollution: Strengthening the economic competitiveness of case for action”, published by the World growing cities. Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics On top of being a and Evaluation, has estimated the costs of major health risk, air premature deaths related to air pollution. pollution is also a drag Using the WHO estimates of premature on development. By caus- mortality attributable to air pollution, the ing illness and premature study valued the economic costs follow- death, air pollution reduces ing two different approaches: Firstly a the quality of life. By causing welfare-based approach that monetizes a loss of productive labour, it also the increased fatality risk from air pollu- reduces productivity and incomes. tion according to individuals’ willingness According to the to pay, and secondly an income-based study, annual labour approach that equates the financial cost income losses cost the equivalent of 0.83 of premature mortality with the present per cent of the gross domestic product value of forgone lifetime earnings. (GDP) in South Asia. In East Asia and In 2013, the cost to the world’s economy the Pacific, where the population is age- FLICKR.COM / Friends of the Earth Scotland cc-by of welfare losses due to exposure to ambi- ing, labour income losses represent 0.25 ent and household air pollution amounted per cent of GDP, while in Sub-Saharan to some US$5.11 trillion. In terms of Africa, where air pollution impairs the magnitude, welfare losses in South Asia earning potential of younger populations, and East Asia and the Pacific were the annual labour income losses represent we can reduce dangerous emissions, slow equivalent of about 7.5 per cent of the 0.61 per cent of GDP. climate change, and most importantly regional gross domestic product (GDP), “Air pollution is a challenge that save lives,” said Laura Tuck, Vice Presi- while in Europe and North America they threatens basic human welfare, damages dent for Sustainable Development at the were equal to respectively 5.1 and 2.8 per natural and physical capital, and con- World Bank. Christer Ågren cent of GDP. At the low end, losses were strains economic growth. We hope this still equal to 2.2 per cent of GDP in the study will translate the cost of premature The report: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/ Middle East and North Africa. deaths into an economic language that handle/10986/25013 It is pointed out that the full costs of resonates with policy makers so that more World Bank press release, 8 September 2016: air pollution to society are even greater resources will be devoted to improving air http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-re- than is reported in the study. Examples quality. By supporting healthier cities and lease/2016/09/08/air-pollution-deaths-cost-global- of other costs not included in this report investments in cleaner sources of energy, economy-225-billion

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 13

© afxhome- Fotolia.com Germany’s slow decarbonisation Germany must still eliminate 145 Mt of annual greenhouse gas emissions to achieve its 2020 climate target, 16 per cent below current levels. Germany has made inadequate progress construction, making it difficult forCO 2- treats them indiscriminately. Beginning in decarbonising its energy supplies. neutral electricity from the countryside to in July 2017, comprehensive data will be Renewable technologies are generally reach urban customers. Highly redundant made available on a “national informa- only being used to replace outdated wind and solar capacities often overload tion platform” encompassing electricity nuclear reactors, while coal and lignite transmission networks on windy sunny generation, load conditions, transmis- power plants continue to impede green- days, necessitating expensive grid-balancing sion capacities, and power imported and house gas reduction strategies. Carbon measures. Renewable electricity surpluses exported between countries. capture and storage (CCS), encouraged may cause wholesale trading prices at Technological impartiality is exemplified by many EU parliamentarians, has not the EEX European Energy Exchange by electrical storage as “only one of many been realised because of high costs and to plummet below €15/MWh, half the flexibility options within the framework of technological complications. Confirmed break-even price of even the most efficient the altered electricity market geological formations are also not avail- power generation. Because of renewable design”. Despite the achiev- able for storing the billions of tonnes of energy shortages at other times, however, able benefits of dispatchable carbon dioxide that will still be emitted coal and lignite power plants continue storage in combination with by electrical power generation before to provide more than 40 per cent of the renewable energies, for in- final coal phase-out. According to the electricity used in Germany. stance, demand-side load German government, lignite plants could The guaranteed feed-in tariff (EEG) management often proves now continue operation without carbon payments that initiated the energy more cost-effective. reduction until 2040. transition are now being replaced by a After Germany’s nuclear CO2-neutral renewable energy has market-oriented model for large instal- achieved noteworthy levels, exceeding lations. Germany’s new “Power Market phase-out schedule was legis- original expectations. Renewable technolo- 2.0” legislation (Draft 18/7313) favours lated in 2011, net greenhouse gies have also become cost-competitive renewable energy projects awarded to the gas emissions have stagnated at whenever available, but that is not always lowest bidder. around 27 per cent below the the case. Only about four per cent of Due to the simultaneous reduction 1990 reference level of 1,248 Germany’s primary energy requirements of customary EEG incentives, however, million metric tonnes (Mt), of are currently being met by solar and wind renewable energy investments fell by 42 which 88 per cent are presently power, and 12.4 per cent overall when per cent in 2015 alone (see figure 1). carbon dioxide (see figure 2). biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal Since renewables and fossil The federal government’s 2013 energy are included. fuels now compete at the same coalition agreement stipulates an Renewable power generation is ex- price level on the power grid, 80 to 95 per cent reduction panding faster than transmission line the new German legislation by mid-century. Less than

I really like this new windmill. Maybe we could have another one in a decade or two?

14 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 45

40

35

30

25 four years now remain to achieve the 20 40 per cent interim target set for 2020. $ Billions The corresponding 159 Mt greenhouse 15 gas elimination figure roughly equals 10 Germany’s total lignite power emissions. 5 The Power Market 2.0 departs from 0 technological neutrality by requiring the 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 standby retirement of eight aging lignite power plants that supply 2.7 GW. Start- Figure 1. Investments in renewable energy in Germany. Source: Bloomberg. ing in 2016, each installation will assume reserve status for four years before being decommissioned. By the time the final plant 1400 has entered standby service in October 2020, annual CO2 emissions will have been 1200 diminished by 10 Mt. The participating -27% operators – RWE (with 5 plants), LEAG 1000 (2), and MIBRAG (1) – will collectively -40% 800 receive €230 million annually for seven -55% years to compensate for lost revenues, 600 increasing electricity rates by 0.05 €/ 400 kWh. An additional CO2 reduction of Million Tonnes CO2eq 4 Mt/a will be achieved by expanding 200 co-generation. 0 Only 5.2 per cent of Germany’s transpor- tation was powered by renewable energies 1990 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2030 in 2015, notably in electrified rail service. Reduced motor fuel prices since 2014 are Figure 2. Greenhouse gas emissions in Germany, history and targets. impeding CO2 emission reductions in road transportation. Renewable technologies 14 also cover just 13.2 per cent of all heating and cooling demand (see figure 3). 12 After deducting power plant CO2 re- ductions under the new power market 10 legislation, Germany must still eliminate around 145 Mt of annual greenhouse gas 8 emissions to achieve its 2020 climate targets –16 per cent below 2015 levels. 6

Jeffrey H. Michel 4 Share renewable energy (%)

2

0 1991 1997 2001 2007 2011 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

Figure 3. Development of renewable-based heat and cold consumption in Germany. Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 15

FLICKR.COM / Danish Wind Association cc-by-NC Proposed gas strategy is a gamble with the climate The EU, Norway and Russia are all promoting fossil gas as a long-term clean and sustainable energy solution. “There’s no such thing as clean gas”, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

The European Parliament voted in in the ground to meet new global climate in 2013. Annual emissions from oil and October 2016 in favour of a EU strategy change targets, but its industry is plan- gas production have increased by 91 per to promote LNG and gas storage. The ning to increase production of its own cent since 1990. decision, likely influenced by big oil and fossil fuels, says the British newspaper Russia and other countries are also gas corporations according to FoE Europe, The Guardian. promoting the building of new gas pipe- will lock Europe into decades of fossil The Norwegian oil and gas associa- lines in the north-east and south-east of fuel use, and open the doors to carbon- tion argues “if Europe were to replace Europe. Critics like the NGO network intensive imports like shale gas – which coal with Norwegian natural gas, this Bankwatch and FOE Europe argue EU can be as harmful for the climate as coal. would result in a 50 per cent decrease in funding for the Southern Gas Corridor Antoine Simon from FoE Europe said: greenhouse gas emissions for every unit energy project would undermine EU “There’s no such thing as clean gas – it’s of energy produced. We produce gas with climate change targets. The European a fossil fuel with climate-killing carbon low emissions, which can replace coal Investment Bank (EIB), which is owned and methane emissions. They’re playing with high emissions.” Despite the Paris by European Union member states, is Russian roulette with the climate, and agreement to cut global emissions and about to provide the scheme with up to completely ignoring the implications of oil prices falling to under $30 a barrel, €3 billion. the Paris Agreement for our energy sector.” Europe’s biggest oil and gas producer Natural gas comprises a substantial The European Parliament prioritises intends to expand production in some percentage of human carbon emissions, subsidies for, and investments in, dirty of the riskiest and most environmentally and this contribution is projected to grow. fossil gas, and the infrastructure required sensitive areas like the Lofoten Islands According to IPCC, fossil gas produced for them, to the detriment of renewables and the Arctic Ocean north of Norway. about 5 billion tons a year of CO2 emis- and energy efficiency. The emphasis on “The government is hypocritical and in sions, while coal and oil produced about liquefied natural gas (LNG) encourages denial over Paris. It does not think it is 10 billion tons each (2005). According further imports of gas to the EU. Antoine any brake on oil. They say our oil is cleaner to emission scenarios by 2030, fossil gas Simon continued: “This decision opens and that the EU needs us. Meanwhile it would be the source of around 11 billion the door to carbon-intensive fracked gas, is lobbying in Europe against stronger tons of CO2 emissions a year. especially from the US, which is linked energy efficiency laws. There seem to be AirClim argues that all use of fossil fuels to devastating local environmental and no limits on the Norwegian oil industry. including fossil gas must be phased out in social impacts. Europe urgently needs to They want to keep on expanding,” said Europe by 2030. This should be Europe’s transition away from fossil fuels towards Silje Lundberg, of Friends of the Earth contribution to give the world a chance community-owned renewables and energy Norway. to stay below 1.5°C of global warming efficiency.” Norway intends to reduce emissions while giving developing countries more Norway is also promoting fossil gas. by 30 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent time to phase out their fossil fuels by It wants other countries to leave their by 2030. However, it is one of very few 2050 at the latest. coal and oil wealthy countries to have increased emis- Compiled by Reinhold Pape sions since 1990. State statistics bureau SSB Source: FOE Europe press release, 25 October 2016, has stated that Norway’s oil industry https://www.foeeurope.org/winter-package-russian- accounted for 27 per cent of all roulette-climate-251016 carbon emissions in Norway The Guardian, Norwegian industry plans to up fossil fuel production despite Paris pledge, 29 January 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/ environment/2016/jan/29/norwegian-industry-plans- to-up-fossil-fuel-production-despite-paris-pledge -NC-ND - by cc well

x IPCC AR https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/ ma See also AirClim report from March 2016: Phasing out fossil gas, by Fredrik Lundberg http://airclim. If I wear a funny hat and call org/publications/reports

FLICKR.COM / clark / FLICKR.COM myself ”natural” maybe no one will realise that I am fossil? 16 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 Phasing out fossil fuel power is essential The EU should seize the opportunity to replace ageing and end-of-life coal-fired plants with renewable energy sources.

Significant changes willbe needed gests that an increased alignment of in the member states’ energy-gen- energy, climate and environmental erating mix if the European Union policies can maximise benefits and is to meet its goal to cut greenhouse speed up the transition to a secure, gas (GHG) emissions by 80–95 sustainable and competitive EU per cent by 2050, according to a power sector. recent European Environment “Europe is now generating four Agency (EEA) report. While the times more wind power and 70 times European Union has made progress more solar power as in 2005. This in improving energy efficiency and is good news, but a clear, forward- using renewable energy sources, a FLICKR.COM / Tim Wagner cc-by looking investment strategy is also well-planned transition away from Activists helping out with the much-needed phase-out. necessary across the fossil fuel power carbon-intensive power generation sector to meet our long-term chal- is needed. It gives a detailed analysis of the energy lenge to cut CO2 emissions. Europe is The report “Transforming the EU generating sector, looking specifically at committed to decarbonise its economy so power sector: avoiding a carbon lock-in” the technical lifetimes of existing fossil we cannot afford to tie up our investments stresses the need for the EU to become fuel capacity, showing that similar lifetimes in emission-intensive technologies. Invest- more forward-looking when it comes in the future would be inc ompatible with ing in renewables and energy efficiency to investing in cleaner energy sources. It the EU’s climate goals and highlighting provides the best return on our money,” calls on the EU to seize the opportunity that meeting these goals can only be said Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive to decarbonise the energy generating realised if fossil fuel capacity decreases Director. sector, replacing ageing and end-of-life progressively within this decade. Source: EEA News, 7 Oct 2016 coal-fired plants with renewable energy The report calls for an integrated and The report: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/ EU sources where possible between now coherent tracking of progress towards transforming-the-eu-power-sector/ and 2030. climate and energy targets. It also sug- 300 million children breathing toxic air Three hundred million of the world’s developing brains – and, thus, their fu- children live in areas where the levels tures. No society can afford to ignore of toxic air pollution are more than six air pollution.” times the international guidelines set by Children are more susceptible the World Health Organization (WHO), than adults to air pollution as their according to new research by UNICEF. lungs, brains and immune sys- Moreover, almost 90 per cent of the world’s tems are still developing and children – two billion – live in places their respiratory tracts are where outdoor air pollution exceeds the more permeable. The most WHO recommended levels. disadvantaged, who al- “Air pollution is a major contributing ready tend to have poorer factor in the deaths of around 600,000 health and inadequate children under five every year – and it access to health services, threatens the lives and futures of millions are the most vulnerable more every day,” said UNICEF Executive to the illnesses caused Director Anthony Lake. “Pollutants don’t by polluted air. only harm children’s developing lungs – Source: UNICEF press release, they can actually cross the blood-brain 31 October 2016 (www.unicef. barrier and permanently damage their org)

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 17

FLICKR.COM / Wynn Smith cc-by-NC-ND Unique oppurtunity for Ukraine The changed geopolitical situation in Ukraine has led to an energy crisis, and the country is now at a crossroads: sticking with coal and nuclear power or investing in renewables?

It is transition time in Ukraine. While It is difficult to believe, but the Ukrainian environmental reasons, the simple struggle Sweden is deciding on its green energy energy ministry is acting as if the events of to achieve energy independence should mix by 2040 and Switzerland is to hold recent years are insignificant – as if there be good enough reason to put every ef- a referendum on decommissioning of all is no problem obtaining nuclear fuel and fort into restructuring the energy system. nuclear units, Ukraine is struggling to step as if Donbas is still a secure source of coal. The Ukrainian government’s own actions away from the traditional track and move Admittedly attempts have been made could set a fine example of the dramatic toward a greener future, together with the to find alternative sources of coal for changes that happen once tough policy rest of the world. import (e.g. South Africa), to find other decisions are made. The country has finally All the conditions seem to be perfect sources of nuclear fuel assemblies (e.g. started to act to improve its energy ef- for change: the coal crisis that came with from Sweden) to achieve a diversification ficiency. In 1995 the Ukrainian president the occupation of the Donbas region (the level of at least 50 per cent, and to keep officially proclaimed energy efficiency to country’s main source of “domestic” coal) natural gas imports from Russia to zero. be the priority for energy sector develop- in Eastern Ukraine undermined secure These would be acceptable solutions if ment. But nothing happened until last year access to coal and at the same time helped there were no alternatives and there were when the government (under international Ukraine to get rid of multi-billion subsidies no problems with the existing generating pressure) finally decreased subsidies for to the sector; the ageing nuclear power facilities. But there are! The country can- the energy sector, so that saving energy fleet which is dependent on nuclear fuel not rely on existing generating capacities made finally some economic sense. produced in Russia had mostly reached as they are too old and unsafe. Besides, What could Ukraine’s the end of its design life; struggles to meet changing the source of imports does not energy future demand for natural gas and oil; ageing of make the country’s energy system secure. look like? all the energy system infrastructure and a This is especially true for nuclear power, Scientists have shown that a transition need for total reconstruction. There could since it is not clear when Westinghouse toward 100 per cent renewables by 2050 be no better time to start tackling all these will be able to manufacture enough nuclear for Ukraine is possible. According to the problems with one simple solution – 100 fuel to replace the Russian fuel. latest research by NeoCarbonEnergy per cent domestic renewable energy sources. (2016), within 20 years solar and wind The alternative is This solution would also address other clear and more achiev- energy sources could dominate the coun- vulnerabilities: economic restructuring able than ever before. Ukraine can become try’s power mix, with all coal generation and development, employment, and the energy independent by turning to renew- capacity phased out. social and natural environments. able sources. Even if this is not done for The government does not yet consider

18 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 Case study: Trypillia coal-fired power plant

The 1,800 MW Trypillia coal-fired power biggest health concern, the largest plant, 40 km south of Kiev, is the fourth impacts take place to the east and to largest in all of Ukraine. Greenpeace the northwest of the power plant – in has studied and calculated the impacts the direction of Kiev. Because of the of the pollution emissions from the large population exposed, increases in power plant on local and regional air pollution levels over Kiev have significant quality and health using US EPA and implications for health. WHO guidelines. The emissions from In the most-affected locations, the the power plant elevate the levels of emissions from the Trypillia coal-fired toxic particles, SO2 and NO2 in the air power plant can increase daily aver- 3 over entire central Ukraine, with some age PM2.5 levels by up to 15 μg/m , of the worst impacts felt in Kiev due or 70 per cent above annual average to prevalent wind patterns. Exposure levels, in worst-case conditions. Local to these pollutants increases the risk SO2 and NO2 levels can be affected of diseases such as stroke, lung cancer, very dramatically during unfavour- heart and respiratory diseases in adults, able wind conditions, with daily SO2 as well as respiratory symptoms in chil- concentrations of up to 80 μg/m3 and 3 dren. This can lead to premature deaths NO2 concentrations of up to 10 μg/m from these causes. SO2, NOx and dust projected within 10 kilometres of the emissions contribute to toxic particle power plant, and SO2 concentrations of 3 exposure. Importantly, the modelling up to 20 μg/m within 20 km. The SO2 system is capable of simulating the levels in particular can cause respiratory chemical transformation of SO2 and symptoms. Fotolia.com © kavoons NOx emissions into secondary PM2.5 As the ambient pollution levels in pollution in the atmosphere, a very the area are significantly above WHO setting such a long-term goal and taking important impact pathway that is usu- guidelines, the emissions from the the first steps to achieve it. It is still strug- ally neglected in Environmental Impact power plant contribute significantly to gling with meeting its energy community Assessments and regulatory processes. the unhealthy levels of pollution that obligation to provide 11 per cent from The estimated health impacts due to the population is exposed to. renewable energy by 2020. However, PM2.5 exposure are 1,250 premature Lauri Myllyvirta, ratification of the Paris Climate Agree- deaths per year. The estimated Greenpeace International ment, a range of international obligations number of babies born with a Air quality and health impacts of the which Ukraine undertook, as well as low birth weight due to the Trypillia coal-fired power plant near Kiev the costs of renewables in the world are http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/ emissions is 440. Global/eastasia/publications/campaigns/ stimulating the country to implement For PM2.5, which is the Climate%20and%20Energy/Trypillia%20 more environmentally-sound policies case%20study.pdf and draw attention to the issues of energy FLICKR.COM / Dimitri Tostovnog cc-by-SA efficiency and the need for renewables. The circumstances are putting the cur- rent energy system and its owners under pressure: to modernise and to change. It’s only a question of time before all the drawbacks of conventional energy sources are carefully evaluated and the goal to phase out conventional energy sources will become a confirmed national target. The question is: How much more time and money will we lose before the mind shift will happen? 3 1 Olexi Pasyuk Average PM2.5 levels in Ukraine (μg/m ) . No officialPM 2.5 measurement data was available in the study region, but satellite-based observations indicate that average PM2.5 levels in and around National Ecological Center of Ukraine Kiev are among the highest in Ukraine and substantially exceed the World Health Organization guideline of 10 μg/m3.

1 Visualized from: van Donkelaar, A., R.V Martin, M.Brauer, N. C. Hsu, R. A. Kahn, R. C Levy, A. Lyapustin, A. M. Sayer, and D. M Winker, Global Estimates of Fine Particulate Matter using a Combined Geophysical-Statistical Method with Information from Satellites, Models, and Monitors, Environ. Sci. Technol, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05833, 2016.

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 19 Soon more than 500,000 electric vehicles on the roads Europe will see more than half a mil- director of T&E, said: “The electromobil- lion electric vehicles ity revolution is underway and Europe is (EVs) on its roads by well placed to take a leading position. To the end of 2016, fully grab this chance, Europe needs four according to the important boosts from regulators: ambi- report “Electric tious European CO2 limits for new cars vehicles in Europe in 2025 including a specific target for EV – 2016” by Transport & sales to stimulate competition amongst Environment (T&E). The carmakers; to accelerate the roll-out of EU doubled the sales of EV charging infrastructure across Europe; plug-in hybrid and electric to ban dirty diesels from cities; and tax vehicles in 2015 reaching breaks for battery electric vehicles.” 145,000 units sold, the biggest sales increase for any year to date. Source: T&E press release, 13 October 2016 (www. Greg Archer, clean vehicles transportenvironment.org)

Greening transport with more electric vehicles A large scale roll-out of electric cars on EU roads would result in significantly lower green- house gas emissions and lower levels of certain air pollutants.

A new briefing from the European per cent by 2050. Overall, an additional as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, Environment Agency (EEA) looks at electrical capacity of 150 GW would be while emissions of sulphur dioxide could the impact of different scenarios for the needed in 2050 to charge electric cars. increase due to the continued use of coal increased use of electric cars and their The resulting carbon dioxide CO( 2) in the electricity generation sector. effect on the EU’s energy system, and emission reductions from road transport Sales and use of electric vehicles are on emissions of greenhouse gases and would outweigh the higher emissions increasing, but they currently only make selected air pollutants. caused by the continued use of fossil up 1.2 per cent of total passenger car sales Two scenarios were explored where the fuels in the power-generating sector. In in the EU. Current estimates also show share of electric vehicles as part of the the EU, a net reduction of 255 million that electric cars only account for 0.15 entire EU car fleet in 2050 on average tonnes of CO2 could be delivered in 2050, per cent of the total car fleet. was assumed to be respectively 50 and equivalent to around 10 per cent of the 80 per cent. They were compared with a total emissions estimated for that year. Source: EEA News, 26 Sep 2016. reference projection in which only 8 per However in countries with a high share EEA Briefing: http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/ cent of cars would be electric in 2050. of fossil power plants, environmental transport/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicles-and- Under the 80-per-cent scenario, the benefits would be lower. energy share of total electricity consumption in An 80 per cent share of electric cars the EU by electric vehicles would increase would also significantly reduce overall from around 0.03 per cent in 2014, to 9.5 emissions of certain air pollutants such

Fotolia.com © weseetheworld 20 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 New diesel cars still emit Fotolia.com © WS-Design up to 15 times too much NOx Over four in five Euro 5 diesel cars produce more than three times their laboratory limit value for NOx when driven on the road, and two-thirds of Euro 6 diesel cars still emit more than three times their limit.

Published one year after the Dieselgate limits for diesel cars scandal first hit the headlines, a new study and vans – Fiat and by Transport and Environment (T&E) Suzuki diesel cars reveals that all major diesel car brands are on average pollute selling models that in real-world driving 15 times more than emit far higher levels of nitrogen oxides the legal NOx limit; (NOx) than allowed. Renault-Nissan vehi- More surprisingly, it reveals that cles exceed the limit Volkswagen is currently selling the least- more than 14 times; polluting Euro 6 diesel vehicles. However, Opel/Vauxhall pol- the better performance of Volkswagen Euro lute ten times more; 6 cars has nothing to do with Dieselgate, while Volkswagen Above and beyond the legal NOx limits. Source: T&E but rather with better technology choices diesel cars pollute on French roads (5.5 million), followed made before the scandal burst. twice as much as the Euro 6 standard. by Germany (5.3 million), the UK (4.3 All new diesel cars produced after For Euro 5 vehicles, the ranking of the million), Italy (3.1 million), Spain (1.9 September 2015 have to comply with the worst-performing companies was slightly million) and Belgium (1.4 million). EU’s Euro 6 exhaust emissions standard, different. Renault (including Dacia) pol- Last year, the European Environment which sets a limit of 80 milligrammes lute eight times over the standard, while Agency reported that nitrogen dioxide NOx per km – a significant reduction from Land Rover, Hyundai, Opel/Vauxhall, (NO2), mainly created by diesel engines the previous Euro 5 standard (applicable Nissan, Fiat and Kia all exceed the limit in urban areas, is responsible for an es- 2011–2015) which allowed 180 mg NOx by six times or more. timated 72,000 premature deaths in the per km. But these limits are tested in T&E’s calculations also EU. NOx emissions also contribute to laboratory conditions only. show that 29 excess levels of fine particulate matter Based on emissions test data taken from million Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel cars (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone, which investigations conducted by the British, and vans currently driving on roads in are responsible for more than 400,000 French and German governments, as well the EU can be classified as “dirty” in the premature deaths in the EU. Moreover, as a large public database, T&E analysed sense that in real driving they are at least emissions of NOx cause eutrophication data from around 230 diesel car models. three times over the relevant NOx limit. and acidification of natural ecosystems, It was found that in real-world driving All these vehicles were approved for sale resulting in damage to biodiversity. conditions not one single brand com- by national type approval authorities. The The EU decided last year to tighten plies with the latest Euro 6 air pollution largest number of “dirty” diesels is found the Euro 6 car emissions regulation, with effect from September 2017. But new Dieselgate diesel cars will still be allowed to emit The United States Environmental ing a laboratory test and lowered the 2.1 times the limit value in real driving Protection Agency announced on 18 emissions of NOx so that the vehicle tests (RDE) until 2020, and 1.5 times the September 2015 that diesel cars from achieved the strict US regulatory limit. limit value as from 2021. Christer Ågren model years 2009 to 2015 produced by On the road, the same vehicle produced the Volkswagen Group were breaching up to 40 times more NOx emissions. T&E press release: www.transportenvironment.org the US federal emissions legislation by VW later admitted that it had fitted the The report “Dieselgate: Who? What? How?”: htt- fitting illegal software (defeat device) illegal software to 11 million vehicles ps://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/ to cheat emissions tests. The device worldwide – 8.5 million of which are in dieselgate-who-what-how recognised that a vehicle was undergo- Europe and 500,000 in the US.

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 21 European emission trends updated Overall air pollutant emissions keep on slowly shrinking – sulphur emissions show the big- gest reductions, while there is much less improvement for ammonia and particulate matter.

Since 1980, total European emissions of Table 2: European countries where the propor- However, because of the lack of effective tion of air pollutant depositions of sulphur sulphur dioxide (SO2) – the most significant and oxidised nitrogen from ships is the most international ship NOx regulation, they acidifying pollutant and an important marked. are likely to increase again as the economy precursor to health-damaging secondary Sulphur NOx-Nitrogen and trade grow. fine particles (PM2.5) – from land-based The data in Table 1 is based on figures emission sources have fallen by 87 per Portugal 26% Norway 28% reported by countries themselves to the cent, from around 53 million tonnes in Denmark 24% Sweden 26% Convention on Long-range Transboundary 1980 to 6.7 million tonnes in 2014. Netherlands 22% Denmark 26% Air Pollution (LRTAP), and was compiled Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), Ireland 20% Portugal 24% by the Centre on Emission Inventories non-methane volatile organic compounds Norway 19% Greece 23% and Projections (CEIP) of the European (VOCs), and ammonia have also gone Spain 18% Ireland 23% Monitoring and Evaluation Programme down, although to a lesser extent. VOCs Sweden 17% Netherlands 19% (EMEP). The Convention’s EMEP keeps and NOx have more than halved (-59 and France 15% Finland 18% track of the ways in which emissions from -52 per cent, respectively) since 1980, while UK 13% Spain 18% one country affect the environment in ammonia emissions – which emanate Italy 13% UK 18% others. The EMEP report also provides an primarily from agricultural activities – overview of calculations for source-receptor Belgium 10% Italy 15% have dropped by only 33 per cent. relationships (including transboundary Greece 9% France 14% Historic emissions of primary particulate movements between countries), covering matter (PM2.5) are not as well documented acidifying, eutrophying, photo-oxidant, as those of other air pollutants, and many and VOCs fell respectively by 55 and 62 and particle pollution. This shows that for countries lack emissions data for the 1990s. per cent. Emissions of ammonia fell by most European countries the biggest share Between 2000 and 2014 it is estimated only 26 per cent. Primary PM2.5 particles of depositions of sulphur and nitrogen that emissions of PM2.5 from land-based were reduced by 27 per cent between emanate from outside their own territory. sources have fallen by 15 per cent, from 2000 and 2014. Since land-based emissions have been 3 to 2.6 million tonnes. falling much faster than those from inter- Although overall emissions continue to Emissions of SO2 from international national shipping, shipping’s contribution fall, the downward trend has flattened out shipping in European waters showed a to pollutant depositions and concentra- over the last decade. This is especially the steady increase up to around 2006, after tions has been getting bigger and bigger case for ammonia and primary particles, which emissions have fallen, primarily as over time. For 2013 it was estimated that which are even reported to be increasing a result of ship fuel sulphur regulations ship emissions were responsible for ten in some countries over the last few years. introduced by the EU and the International per cent or more of the total depositions Looking specifically at the 28 member Maritime Organization (IMO). The emis- of both sulphur and oxidised nitrogen states of the EU, between 1980 and 2014 sion reductions were particularly marked compounds in many countries (see Table the emissions of SO2 came down by as in the northern Sulphur Emission Control 2). In the coastal areas of these countries, much as 92 per cent, while those of NOx Areas (SECA), which cover the Baltic Sea shipping’s contribution to the overall pol- and the North Sea, including the English lution load is even higher. Countries that Channel. It should be noted that the are particularly exposed to air pollution EMEP data for shipping emissions has from shipping include Portugal, Denmark, been updated only up to 2011, which Norway, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, means that no trends after that year have Spain, France and the United Kingdom. been accounted for. Christer Ågren Ship NOx emissions increased steadily for many years, but appeared to stabilise, Report: “Transboundary particulate matter, photo- or even come down somewhat, during oxidants, acidifying and eutrophying components.” the economic crisis of 2008–2009. EMEP Status Report 1/2016. www.emep.int

Ammonia and primary particles are reported to have 22 risen in some countries. ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016

Flickr.com / Tarang Hirani cc-by-NC-ND Table 1: European emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (as NO2), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia (NH3), and particulate matter (PM2.5) (kilotonnes). Data for 2000 and 2014 is from the 2016 EMEP report, while data for 1980 and 1990 is from earlier EMEP reports or from the EMEP website. Russia in the table refers only to the western part of the Russian Federation.

Sulphur dioxide Nitrogen oxides VOCs Ammonia PM2.5 1980 1990 2000 2014 1980 1990 2000 2014 1980 1990 2000 2014 1980 1990 2000 2014 2000 2014 Austria 360 74 32 16 246 195 210 151 437 276 164 110 52 65 67 67 24 17 Belgium 828 362 174 42 442 401 347 197 274 315 227 122 89 120 83 66 41 28 Bulgaria 2,050 1,100 861 189 416 249 145 133 309 620 99 99 144 133 41 31 23 34 Croatia 150 174 59 16 60 95 84 55 105 113 76 60 37 51 41 26 15 19 Cyprus 28 31 50 17 13 17 22 17 14 17 13 7 8 5 6 5 4 1 Czech Rep. 2,257 1,876 301 127 937 742 283 170 275 374 261 138 156 157 92 69 41 23 Denmark 452 176 32 11 307 275 224 113 194 166 174 106 138 114 98 73 24 18 Estonia 287 274 97 41 70 74 37 33 81 70 45 23 24 25 10 13 22 8 Finland 584 263 79 44 295 323 201 137 210 239 166 75 39 38 38 37 41 24 France 3,214 1,354 628 169 2,024 1,865 1,610 886 2,734 2,589 1,681 639 795 704 748 708 311 169 Germany 7,514 5,292 645 388 3,334 2,882 1,925 1,224 3,224 3,128 1,600 1,041 835 692 696 740 158 104 Greece 400 473 591 144 306 329 450 242 255 268 312 174 79 85 57 51 66 38 Hungary 1,633 1,010 428 27 273 238 206 120 215 205 176 116 157 124 94 84 37 26 Ireland 222 182 142 19 73 121 137 77 111 93 112 87 112 107 115 105 21 15 Italy 3,440 1,794 754 145 1,585 2,014 1,456 790 2,032 2,015 1,524 849 441 468 453 393 163 152 Latvia 96 105 15 4 83 65 44 35 152 102 102 54 38 48 14 17 25 18 Lithuania 311 222 37 18 152 158 51 51 100 108 72 69 85 84 39 41 19 17 Luxembourg 24 15 3 2 23 39 42 28 15 19 14 11 7 5 5 6 3 2 Malta 26 29 23 5 9 14 9 6 2 8 5 3 5 1 2 2 1 1 Netherlands 490 192 73 29 583 566 395 235 579 477 239 143 234 355 182 134 25 13 Poland 4,100 3,210 1,451 800 1,229 1,280 844 723 1 036 831 575 606 550 508 284 265 157 135 Portugal 253 295 250 35 158 234 262 160 189 295 248 169 96 63 65 49 61 44 Romania 1,055 1,311 818 176 523 546 291 218 829 616 393 319 340 300 183 162 159 116 Slovakia 780 542 127 45 197 215 107 85 252 122 67 106 63 66 32 37 23 30 Slovenia 234 198 93 9 51 60 52 39 39 55 53 32 24 20 21 19 12 12 Spain 2,913 2,097 1,464 243 1 068 1 224 1,300 745 1 392 1 006 960 599 285 316 397 371 95 67 Sweden 491 105 42 24 404 269 207 135 528 359 224 184 54 55 59 54 25 21 UK 4,852 3,707 1,217 308 2,580 2,885 1,798 949 2,100 2,762 1,567 819 361 360 322 281 121 105 Total EU28 39,044 26,463 10,486 3,093 17,441 17,375 12,739 7,754 17,683 17,248 11,149 6,760 5,248 5,069 4,244 3,906 1,717 1,257 Albania 72 78 10 13 24 22 15 19 31 43 29 30 32 28 18 21 8 9 Belarus 740 888 170 91 234 379 194 161 549 497 228 180 142 215 115 155 58 51 Bosn. Herz. 482 484 192 214 79 73 35 31 51 48 52 35 31 21 17 20 16 14 Iceland 18 21 35 71 21 27 27 21 8 12 8 5 3 3 3 5 1 0 Macedonia 107 110 106 101 39 46 32 33 19 21 29 18 17 15 10 8 14 11 Moldova 308 175 8 4 115 131 23 18 105 123 25 27 53 61 17 15 11 10 Montenegro 0 0 14 40 0 0 9 13 0 0 10 9 0 0 6 3 4 5 Norway 136 52 27 17 191 190 202 140 173 289 379 138 20 20 26 26 42 27 Russia 7,323 4,330 1,807 1,518 3,634 4,641 2,777 2,157 3,410 3,772 2,692 1,999 1,189 1,191 551 541 723 793 Serbia 406 593 474 327 192 165 144 113 142 158 145 118 90 74 82 86 39 34 Switzerland 116 41 15 8 170 145 108 69 323 289 143 80 77 73 66 54 11 8 Ukraine 3,849 3,921 1,390 1,161 1,145 1,753 888 667 1 626 1 053 574 421 729 682 302 271 388 360 Total Non-EU 13,557 10,693 4,248 3,565 5,844 7,572 4,454 3,442 6,437 6,305 4,314 3,060 2,383 2,383 1,213 1,205 1,315 1,322 Total Europe 52,601 37,156 14,734 6,658 23,285 24,947 17,193 11,196 24,120 23,553 15,463 9,820 7,631 7,452 5,457 5,111 3,032 2,579 Int. ship: Baltic Sea 139 168 170 69 215 236 285 271 5 8 9 7 - - - - 19 11 Int. ship: Black Sea 35 45 50 53 52 62 83 79 1 2 3 2 - - - - 6 6 Int.ship: Mediterran. 725 858 931 976 1,000 1,234 1,578 1,497 21 41 47 45 - - - - 104 109 Int. ship: North Sea 277 361 406 163 395 508 677 644 9 18 20 17 - - - - 45 27 Int.s.: N.E. Atlantic 550 384 433 452 772 565 733 695 15 19 22 21 - - - - 48 50 Total internat. ship. 1,726 1,816 1,990 1,713 2,434 2,605 3,356 3,186 51 88 101 92 - - - - 222 203 Tot. Europe + ships 54,327 38,972 16,724 8,371 25,719 27,552 20,549 14,382 23,641 15,564 9912 10,385 7,631 7,452 5,457 5,111 3,254 2,782 Turkey 1 030 1 519 2,335 2,147 364 691 840 1,055 359 636 955 967 321 373 482 1,085 471 539

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 23 Industry does not need CCS

Swedish steel group SSAB, the country’s top CO2 emitter, foregoes CCS. It opts to replace coal with hydrogen. The cement industry and refineries also show low-CO2 potential soon, and without CCS.

If R&D effortsare successful they may power producer Vattenfall were launch- that power prices are low and are expected be replicated all over the world, and pay ing an R&D effort to use hydrogen as a to stay low. part of the cost for the introduction of reductant, hoping to achieve zero carbon, With an increasing share of renewables, hydrogen as transport fuel. and using direct reduction or iron sponge power prices are expected to fluctuate Blast furnaces produce large amount technology. more: higher when there is little wind of CO2, since coal is used to reduce iron Hydrogen is a very clean fuel and can and lower when it is windy. In Germany oxides to iron. be zero carbon if produced by electrolysis and Denmark there are sometimes even So far, the approach to producing CO2- from zero-carbon electricity. This is techni- negative prices, which is not viable. free steel has been dominated by CCS in cally possible anywhere in the world. In This is a problem hydrogen/iron can combination with improved fuel efficiency, Sweden, the prospect of very low carbon actually help to solve. With some flex- at least in Europe, as manifested in the power is not that distant. ibility in either iron production or some Ulcos/Hisarna1 project in the Netherlands. Electricity in Sweden is produced mainly storage of hydrogen, use of electricity at CCS has also dominated the Swedish from hydro, nuclear, wind and biomass. So peak price can be avoided for perhaps approach to CO2 reduction in all heavy the CO2 emissions are low now, and can several hundreds of hours per year. This industry. The Confederation of Swedish stay low when nuclear power is phased would lower its cost considerably, for a Enterprise was very clear about this in out. Vattenfall, SSAB and LKAB expect small loss in production. May 2015 at a seminar about carbon it to be replaced with more renewables. That way SSAB and LKAB would act as cuts2. Nothing was, however, mentioned SSAB emitted 21 per cent of Sweden’s virtual power plants, so real peak power about costs and who is supposed to pay. ETS emissions in 2015. Another three per plants will not be needed even with much Swedish steel group SSAB, the country’s cent came from LKAB mining, mainly more wind power. 4 top CO2 emitter, foregoes CCS. It opts to from sintering/pelleting of iron ore. The time perspective is early 2030s, replace coal with hydrogen. Neither company has elaborated, but i.e. 15–18 years. But in April 2016, SSAB announced3 that an obvious factor is that SSAB and LKAB This is at least as fast as CCS. Accord- they together with miner LKAB and believe that after Paris, “coal forever” is ing to the IEA, as of 2013, CCS for huge no longer an option, while CCS is not blast furnaces “will not be available before making much headway. Another factor is 2030–40”5. Both technology choices involve technical and economic risks, and the demonstration phase needs public support. But hydrogen solves the CO2 problem for good.

Using wood instead of concrete reduces

CO2 emissions.

Fotolia.com © Michael Flippo

24 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 Kraków will ban solid Even if CCS could operate earlier than There are also huge amounts of similar hydrogen it would involve huge costs ash of volcanic origin. Another cement fuel for domestic heating being written off over just a few years. substitute is slag from steel production. City authorities in southern To go for both would mean paying twice. Neither emits CO2. Poland have won a legal vic- One reason why hydrogen may be In Sweden, wood is often used as an tory over the introduction faster is that blast furnaces have to be alternative to concrete, sometimes com- of new rules to combat local made very large to make economic sense. bined with magnesium oxide, for example air pollution. The regulation, Direct reduction iron plants exist today, in making boards. passed by the regional coun- with natural gas as fuel. They can be made If construction companies demand cil of Małopolska, which smaller and also more flexible to operate. greener building materials and methods, as 7 includes Kraków, is set Blast furnaces also have to run continu- they sometimes do, they can start a chain to come into force in ously, so carbon capture must not stop reaction in the market. Low environmental September 2019 and them at any time. This calls for very careful impact is an important competitive factor, Flickr.com / Wackystuff cc-by-NC will ban the use of solid The 19th century just planning, tight schedules for installing as many customers want their buildings to fuel such as coal for heat- called, they want their the huge parts, and clarification of all the be certified as LEED Platinum or Gold, source of heating back! 8 ing in households, offices, legal details regarding responsibilities, where low-CO2 concrete can earn points . government buildings and guarantees, indemnification etc., or the There is a discernible market dynamic, restaurants. plant owner cannot take the risk. perhaps even without government inter- Client Earth lawyer Małgorzata Smo- Sweden has the wrong geology for CO2 vention, but certainly with it. lak, who represented the city authorities, storage, so long pipelines to Norway or the Refineries are also big point sources described the decision as a “breakthrough Baltic Sea may have to be built from the of CO2. These emissions can be tackled victory” for the people of Kraków and two furnaces, which are 1,000 km apart. in at least three other ways than CCS. A Poland more widely. Although it is likely higher share of biofuels means less emis- to be appealed, “the court has shown that Another huge global problem, for which sions from vehicles and from refineries. local authorities have in their hands an CCS has been touted as the only solution, This has happened in Sweden to some effective tool to combat air pollution,” is cement production. But other ways to extent, especially for diesel-from-wood. she said. reduce emissions have recently appeared, Hydrogen is used in large quantities Poland’s air quality is among the worst again in Sweden. in refineries, but is now of fossil origin. in Europe, and in December 2015, the CO2 is released when quicklime (CaO) The biggest refiner in Sweden, Preem, is European Commission referred Poland to is produced from limestone (CaCO3), investigating the production of “green the EU Court of Justice over its persistently and accounted for almost six per cent of hydrogen”9. 6 high levels of particulate matter (PM). global CO2 emissions in 2013. On top Finally, if electric cars and hydrogen cars, Source: Ends Europe Daily, 29 September 2016. of that fossil fuels are used for heating and biofuels such as methane, ethanol, the lime in kilns. and methanol take more market share, Riksbyggen is a cooperative developer oil refineries can be phased out. Offshore wind booms and manager of apartment blocks. The The market for offshore wind turbines is Fredrik Lundberg company has set a number of green going to grow explosively over the next 1 requirements for an apartment block to www.ulcos.org/en/research/isarna.php 15 years in Denmark, and beyond the 2 www.svensktnaringsliv.se/fragor/miljo-energi- be built in Gothenburg soon, and claims North Sea area and Europe, according to to be able to reduce the carbon footprint klimat/basindustrin-siktar-mot-nollutslapp_619454. html (in Swedish) the OECD in a new analysis, “The Ocean for the concrete framework by 30–35 per 3 www.ssab.com/GlobalData/News-Cent- Economy in 2030”. The number of jobs in cent compared to standard concrete. They er/2016/04/04/05/32/SSAB-LKAB-and-Vattenfall- the sector is expected to rise by a factor of are doing so in cooperation with Cementa launch-initiative-for-a-carbondioxidefree-steel- 12 to 435,000 full time employments, and (part of Heidelberg Cement), mainly by industry offshore wind over the coming period is 4 http://news.vattenfall.com/en/article/renewable- changing the recipe for the cement, by expected to grow from one to 8 per cent decreasing the share of quicklime and electricity-and-hydrogen-solution-co2-free-steel 5 http://ieaghg.org/docs/General_Docs/IEAGHG_ of the global, sea-based economy. The increasing the share of fly ash. Presentations/S._Santos_-_Grangemouth_Wk- Swedish company Vattenfall has won the Another Swedish company, Thomas shp_Final_Version_v_1.0.pdf rights to build the largest wind farm in 6 Concrete Group, has started marketing http://cdiac.ornl.gov/ftp/ndp030/global.1751_2013. the Nordics, the Danish Kriegers Flak, a products with 30 per cent fly ash, as a ems 7 600 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic substitute for Portland cement. http://www.skanska.co.uk/services/cementation-pil- ing-and-foundations/sustainability/green-concrete/ Sea. The winning tender represents one Fly ash is produced in large quantities 8 http://flyash.com/data/upfiles/resource/TB%20 of the lowest costs per MW hour in the at coal power stations, also from bio- 28%20Fly%20Ash%20in%20LEED%20NC%20Ver- world for any offshore wind power project, power. So far much of it has been used as sion%202.2%202015.pdf coming in at just €49.9/MWh, according 9 landfill, which is becoming more difficult https://preem.se/framtiden (in Swedish) to Clean Technica News Service. in countries such as the US and India. Source: cleantechnica.com, 10 November 2016

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 25 CO2 levels above 400 ppm reality for many generations Globally averaged concentration of 2015 and had a strong impact from industrial, agricultural and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached well into 2016. This triggered domestic activities. the symbolic and significant milestone of droughts in tropical regions The real elephant in the 400 parts per million for the first time in and reduced the capac- room is carbon dioxide, 2015 and surged again to new records in ity of “sinks” like forests, which remains in the at- 2016 on the back of the very powerful vegetation and the oceans mosphere for thousands of El Niño event, according to the World to absorb CO2. These sinks years and in the oceans for Meteorological Organization (WMO) currently absorb about half even longer. Without tack- CO2 levels had previously reached the 400 of CO2 emissions but there is ling CO2 emissions, we cannot FLICKR.COM / ppm barrier for certain months of the year a risk that they may become US Geological Survey cc-0 tackle climate change and and in certain locations but never before saturated, which would in- Excuse me, but I believe we keep temperature increases on a global average basis for the entire crease the fraction of emitted have a serious problem with to below 2°C above the pre- radiative forcing here. year. The longest-established greenhouse carbon dioxide which stays in industrial era. It is therefore gas monitoring station at Mauna Loa, the atmosphere, according of the utmost importance Hawaii, predicts that CO2 concentrations to WMO. that the Paris Agreement does indeed will stay above 400 ppm for the whole Between 1990 and 2015 there was a 37 enter into force well ahead of schedule of 2016 and not dip below that level for per cent increase in radiative forcing – the on 4 November and that we fast-track its many generations. warming effect on our climate – because of implementation,” the WMO said. The growth spurt inCO 2 was fuelled long-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon Source: WMO press release, 24 October 2016 by the El Niño event, which started in dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide (N2O) Little progress on climate policies Planet could warm by 10°C The planet would warm by a searing those made available by new extraction The rapid entry into force of the Paris 10°C if all fossil fuels are burned, accord- technologies. Agreement has created the legal basis ing to a new study published in Nature The researchers used a series of so- for countries to increase their level of Climate Change, leaving some regions phisticated climate models and found action and ambition to meet the 1.5°C uninhabitable and wreaking profound this rise in CO2 would lead to surface warming limit over the next two years in damage on human health, food supplies temperatures rising by an average of 8°C the lead-up to 2018. The Climate Action and the global economy. across the world by 2300. When the effect Tracker (CAT) has evaluated the starting The Arctic, already warming fast today, of other greenhouse gases is added, the point for this process and found there has would heat up even more – 20°C by rise climbs to 10°C. been little progress on national climate 2300 – the new research into the extreme The heating predicted by the models policies in the eleven months since the scenario found. was not uniform across the globe. In the Paris Agreement was adopted. “I think it is really important to know Arctic, the higher CO2 levels led to 17°C Government pledges and climate action what would happen if we don’t take any of warming, with another 3°C from other commitments made under the now-ratified action to mitigate climate change,” said greenhouse gases, across the year. These Paris Agreement will lead to a warming Katarzyna Tokarska, at the University rises are higher than indicated by previous, of 2.8°C, with a likely chance of holding of Victoria in Canada and who led the less comprehensive models, which are less warming below 3.1°C. TheCAT has also new research. accurate at modelling how the oceans take assessed current government policies and If recent trends in global emissions up heat. In February, parts of the Arctic found little change since Paris. Policies continue, about two trillion tonnes had already recorded temperatures 16°C still lead to a warming of 3.6°C, will be emitted by the end of above normal. now even further from the the century. The warming caused by burning all fossil globally agreed warming The new work considers fuels would also have enormous impact on limit of 1.5°C. the impact of emitting rainfall. The new research shows rainfall Assessments have been five trillion tonnes of car- decreasing by two-thirds over parts of updated for 25 countries, bon emissions. This is the Central America and northern Africa amounting to 69 per cent lower-end estimate of burn- and by half over parts of Australia, the of global emissions, and no ing all fossil fuels currently Mediterranean, southern Africa and the government has gained an FLICKR.COM / USFWS known about, though not Amazon. upgraded rating. Endangered Species cc-by Bored? No, I am just waiting for including future finds or Source: The Guardian, 23 May 2016 Source: Climate Action Tracker, governments to impress me with 10 November 2016 some kick-ass climate action.

26 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 FLICKR.COM / Matt Kieffer cc-BY-SA

NOAA: Reefs are boiled to death The soaring temperature of the oceans is the “greatest hidden challenge of our generation”and global coral bleaching continues for a third year due to global warming.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric and losers among the 4.3 billion people in reefs have been essentially boiled to death Administrations (NOAA) and its project the world who rely heavily upon fish for in parts of every ocean basin on earth. Coral Reef Watch reports that the world sustenance. In Southeast Asia, harvests Abnormally hot waters have turned vibrant is in a third year of coral bleaching across from fisheries could drop by nearly a coral communities into pale white ghost the globe. “This is the most widespread, third by 2050 if emissions are not severely communities as heat has sapped coral of longest coral bleaching event ever to oc- curtailed. Humans are also set to suffer the algae they need to survive. There are cur globally,” Mark Eakin, the director of from the spread of disease as the ocean only two other global coral bleaching NOAA Coral Reef Watch, said. continues to heat up. The IUCN report events to precede this one: in 1998 and The soaring temperature of the oceans found there is growing evidence of vibrio 2010. Both came during El Niño years. is the “greatest hidden challenge of our bacterial disease, which can cause cholera, This event is different, it started in 2014, generation” that is altering the make-up and harmful algal bloom species that can when El Niño was just beginning, and it’s of marine species, shrinking fishing areas cause food poisoning. People are also be- still going strong in the middle of 2016 and starting to spread disease to humans, ing affected by more severe, if not more despite El Niño’s passing. according to a new International Union numerous, hurricanes due to the extra Reefs in many countries have been for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report energy in the ocean and atmosphere. hit (see map from NOAA), 40 per cent on ocean warming. of reefs have been affected globally, and Ocean acidification, where Warming is already causing fish, seabirds, rising carbon 70 per cent of US reefs, including the sea turtles, jellyfish and other species to dioxide absorption increases the acidity of Florida Keys. Other locations affected change their behaviour and habitat, it the water, is making it harder for animals include the US Virgin Islands, Puerto says. Species are fleeing to the cooler such as crabs, shrimps and clams to form Rico, and reefs near Hawaii, Guam and poles, away from the equator, at a rate that their calcium carbonate shells. the Commonwealth of the Northern is up to five times faster than the shifts Coral reefs, which support around a Mariana Islands. The Great Barrier Reef seen in species on land. Even in the north quarter of all marine species, are suffer- has also been hit hard with up to 93 per Atlantic, fish will move northwards, with ing from episodes of bleaching that have cent of the reef showing signs of bleach- shifts already documented for pilchard, increased three-fold in the past 30 years. ing. Other parts of the ocean have been anchovy, mackerel and herring. The warm- This bleaching occurs when prolonged equally devastated, including some of the ing is having its greatest impact upon the high temperatures cause coral to expel most pristine reefs on the planet that lie building blocks of life in the seas, such its symbiotic algae, causing it to whiten in the middle of the Pacific. as phytoplankton, zooplankton and krill. and ultimately die. The movement of fish will create winners NOAA says that over the past two years, Compiled by Reinhold Pape Sources:

Link to NOAA Coral Reef Watch report: http:// coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/analyses_guid- ance/global_coral_bleaching_2014-17_status.php

Link to IUCN report: http://www.iucnworldcon- servationcongress.org/news/20160905/article/ global-warning-ocean-warming

Coral bleaching forecast, 60% probability for coral bleaching thermal stress for June to September 2016. Source: NOAA Coral Reef Watch

ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016 27 B ECONOMIQUE

Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat Första Långgatan 18 413 28 Göteborg Sweden Recent publications from the Secretariat Coming events

Reports can be downloaded in PDF format from www.airclim.org 7th International Nitrogen Initiative (INI AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE SERIES 35 A 1.5 target is Briefing November 2015 Climate policy Short Paper 2016). Melbourne, Australia, 4 - 8 December 2016. Climate change in the Baltic Sea region: Short Paper on the UNFCCC needed to save Structured Expert Dialogue on A 1.5 target is needed to the 2013–2015 Review, with a on the UNFCCC Information: http://www.ini2016.com/ the Baltic Sea particular focus on the 1.5°C target save the Baltic Sea By Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Michiel Schaeffer, Bill Hare. Climate Analytics Structured Expert Effects of global temperature increases on the CLRTAP Working Group on Strategies and biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. (March 2016). By Dialogue on the by Lennart Nyman PhD Review + Executive Body. Geneva, Switzerland, Lennart Nyman. Ef- 2013–2015 (Nov 13 - 16 December 2016. Information: www.unece. fects of global tem- 2015). By Climate org/env/lrtap/welcome.html peratures increases Analytics. Review, the biodiversity of with a particular EU Environment Council. Brussels, 19 December the Baltic Sea. focus on the 1.5°C 2016. Information: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/

Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat 1 target. press/calendar/

AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE SERIES IMO PPR 4 (Sub-Committee on Pollution Phasing out fossil Paths to a 34 Prevention and Response). London, UK, 16 - 20 Phasing out fossil gas gas in Europe sustainable Paths to a sustainable agricultural system in Europe Pathways to a Nordic agricultural and food system with January 2017. Information: www.imo.org (March 2016). By reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants agricultural Fredrik Lundberg. system (March EU Environment Council. Brussels, 28 February The natural gas 2016). By Kajsa Pira 2017. Information: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/ industry faces et al. A agricultural press/calendar/ strategic choices. and food system /Policy brief Air Pollution 2017. 25th International confer- with reduced emis- ence on modelling, monitoring and manage- sions. ment of air pollution. Cadiz, Spain, 25 - 27 April Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat 2017. Information: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/

AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE SERIES conferences/2017/air-pollution-2017 33 Carbon Capture Carbon Capture and CLRTAP Working Group on Strategies and Storage in Norway and Storage in – The moon landing that failed Review. Geneva, Switzerland, 31 May - 2 June 2nd Edition Norway (2nd edi- tion, March 2016). 2017. Information: www.unece.org/env/lrtap/ ByTore Braend. The welcome.html Norwegian interest IMO MEPC 71 (Marine Environment Protec- in CCS depends tion Committee). London, UK, 8 - 12 May 2017. on the oil and gas Information: www.imo.org sector.

Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat UNFCCC First sessional period in 2017. Venue to be decided. 8 - 18 May 2017. Information: http:// unfccc.int/ ICAPC 2017: 19th International Conference on Grasping for Air (Sep 2014).Twelve factsheets on Air Pollution and Control. London, UK, 25 - 27 agriculture, climate, cultural heritage, domestic May 2017. Information: https://www.waset.org/ heating, economy, ecosystems, health, industry, conference/2017/05/london/ICAPC non-roadmachine, road vehicles, shipping and solvents. European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE). Stockholm, Sweden, 12 - 15 June 2017. 1.5 Stay Alive (April 2015). Short doucumentary about Information: http://www.eubce.com/home.html climate change in the coastal zones of the Carribean region. EU Environment Council. Luxembourg, 19 June Winner of the Golden Sun award 2016. 2017. Information: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckMVASFRxUk press/calendar/ UNFCCC Second sessional period in 2017. Venue to be decided. 6 - 17 November 2017. Subcribe to Acid News via email Information: http://unfccc.int/ Are you receiving the printed copy This way, you’ll get access to Acid CLRTAP Working Executive Body. Geneva, of Acid News but missing out on the News at least two weeks before the Switzerland, 11 - 14 December 2017. Information: online version? Sign up on our website printed copy arrives in the mail. www.unece.org/env/lrtap/welcome.html to receive an email announcement airclim.org/acidnews/an_subscribe.php when each issue of Acid News becomes available online.

28 ACID NEWS NO. 4, DECEMBER 2016