NO. 1, APRIL 2017

100% renewable energy Wind and solar are getting much cheaper. This is official according to five techno- logy platforms for renewable energies from the EU. ►► Page 3 Big emissions from small chimneys Domestic wood burning is a major source of air pollutant emissions – a new eco- labelled wood stove is allowed to emit 25 times more health-damaging particles than a ten-year old diesel truck. ►► Page 8

CCS is still a failure After decades of talking and billions of investments there are no large commercial CO2 storage facilities in Norway, Canada, the US or anywhere else in the world. ►► Page 12

EU needs to shut all coal plants by 2030 hÅKANSSON LARS-ERIK ©

The EU will need to phase out CO2 emissions from all of its coal plants in the next 15 years if it is to meet the Pa- Livestock on ris Agreement’s long-term temperature goals, according to a new report. ►► Page 16 leftovers How to get people to eat less meat Greenhouse gas and nitrogen emissions from agriculture in the Nordic countries could be reduced by up to 80 per cent Personality, friends, religion and poli- with a diet of purely organic produce from an almost self-suffi- tical instruments all have an impact on what we eat. cient food system. ►► Page 20 Most of the emissions from agriculture even if emissions per kilogram of product are linked to animal husbandry. There are are reduced. In the other corner, we have Cost-effective to cut several possible strategies for reducing those who promote a totally vegan society. ship NOx emissions these emissions. “No livestock – no emissions” makes The strategy mostly favoured by ag- sense. But this overlooks the positive By supplementing NOx Emission Con- ricultural unions and the food industry biodiversity aspects of grazing animals trol Areas with economic instruments, ship NOx emissions can be cut faster is to make present production more and the resource efficiency of letting and further. efficient, so-called sustainable intensifi- animals forage on feed that cannot be ►► Page 24 cation. But this path has its limitations. used for human consumption. If the consumption of animal products keeps growing, emissions will still increase Page 4 Editorial A newsletter from the Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat, the primary aim of which is to The current production and consump- Nitrogen emission are reduced in almost provide information on air pollution and its effects on health and the environment. tion of food in the western world is equal measure. unsustainable. For example, in the EU The various scenario diets would mean Anyone interested in these matters is invited food consumption is responsible for al- reducing meat consumption by between to contact the Secretariat. All requests for information or material will be dealt with to most one third of the total environmental 50 and 90 percent compared to today the best of our ability. Acid News is available impact. Livestock production is the main and replacing it with domestically grown free of charge. culprit as it is responsible for 90 per cent of legumes. This may sound like a massive In order to fulfil the purpose of Acid News, ammonia emissions reduction, but it is we need information from everywhere, so if and half of methane “a few actually not so dif- you have read or heard about something that emissions in the EU. ferent from the way might be of general interest, please write or The potential to our grandparents send a copy to: steps in that reduce greenhouse ate when they were Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat gas emissions from direction children. Första Långgatan 18, 413 28 Göteborg, The scenarios Sweden livestock with the Tel: +46 31 711 45 15 help of technology would require should not be seen Fax: +46 31 711 46 20 and improvements as a blueprint for a E-mail: [email protected] in management is a far-reaching desired future. It is Internet: www.airclim.org limited. The UN probably not neces- Food and Agricul- transformation sary to apply the Editor: Kajsa Pira Assistant editors: Christer Ågren, Reinhold ture Organization principle of self- Pape & Malin Larsson (FAO) has assessed of current sufficiency quite it to be around 30 this far to achieve Printed by Trydells Tryckeri, Laholm, Sweden. per cent globally, agricultural the same emission ISSN 0281-5087. less in Europe where reductions. There systems are already policy” are also other pos- The Air Pollution and Climate Secretariat highly efficient in sibilities, such as The Secretariat has a board consisting of one representative from each of the following terms of kilograms of product per animal innovative new foods and production organisations: Friends of the Earth Sweden, unit (AN4/2013). systems that were not included in the Nature and Youth Sweden, the Swedish So- In order to have a likely chance of keep- study and should be explored further. ciety for Nature Conservation, and the World ing global warming below 1.5°C, global Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Sweden. The scenarios can emissions need to be negative by 2050. however show us the The essential aim of the Secretariat is to general direction in which we should be promote awareness of the problems associ- Even with the less ambitious target to stay ated with air pollution and climate change, below 2°C, we would need agriculture to heading. and thus, in part as a result of public pressure, contribute considerably more to emission And just taking a few steps in that to bring about the needed reductions in the reductions than can be achieved through direction would require a far-reaching emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse management and technological fixes alone. transformation of current agricultural gases. The aim is to have those emissions To move forward, we need to review policy. Three out of the four Nordic eventually brought down to levels that man and the environment can tolerate without what we produce and consequently what countries in the study are members of suffering damage. we consume. This is a sensitive topic. the EU and governed by the Common In furtherance of these aims, the Secretariat: What we eat is part of our identity and Agriculture Policy (CAP) – one of the 88 Keeps up observation of political trends is perceived as something very personal. EU’s oldest, most influential, most debated and scientific developments. But it cannot be seen as a forbidden area and most costly policies. 88 Acts as an information centre, primarily for The European Commission has just European environmentalist organisations, for policy. but also for the media, authorities, and In a soon-to-be-published report launched a major online Public Con- researchers. prepared for AirClim by the Swedish sultation on the future of the Common 88 Produces information material. University of Agricultural Sciences it is Agriculture Policy (CAP). It is essential 88 Supports environmentalist bodies in other shown that the global warming potential that as many organisations and individu- countries in their work towards common due to our diet could be reduced by more als, from as wide a variety of sectors and ends. 88 Participates in the lobbying and campaigning than 80 per cent by producing food under countries as possible, seize this golden activities of European environmentalist orga- a different agricultural system based on opportunity to tell the Commission that nisations concerning European policy relating local resources, in which animal produc- we all need a reformed CAP that is fair, to air quality and climate change, as well as in tion is limited to feeding on resources that environmentally sustainable, healthy and meetings of the Convention on Long-range are not in direct competition with human globally responsible. Transboundary Air Pollution and the UN Kajsa Pira Framework Convention on Climate Change. food production (see article on front page).

2 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 100% renewable energy in Europe could be possible soon Wind and solar are getting much cheaper. This is official according to five technology plat- forms for renewable energies from the EU. Economic and political conditions indicate a faster transition to renewables than thought possible 2–3 years ago.

In 2015 the European Technology and seriously is that they can also beat existing and unsustainable, energy policy became Innovation Platform on Wind Energy coal and gas, and do it soon. less of a Europe-wide issue and more up (ETIPWind), part of the Energy Union, Acid News 4/2016 reported on a to member states. This may be changing targeted a cost for offshore wind energy 100-per-cent renewable scenario for with the Energy Union. of less than 10 cents by 2020, and less Europe, mainly based on wind and solar, The union wants more security of sup- than 7 cents by 2030. produced by the company ABB in 1992, ply (less dependence on Russia and the At the end of 2016 the winning tender with a 100-year perspective. Now we Mideast), more energy efficiency, more for the huge 600 MW Krigers Flak park know it is feasible much sooner. renewables, more interconnections and in the Danish Baltic Sea came in at 5 But this is not just about economics. less greenhouse emissions. This vision cents, half of the EU target and 4 years The traditional power companies, such includes the ITER thermonuclear fusion ahead of the 2020 deadline. The subsidy as RWE, EDF, Eon/Uniper, Vattenfall, project, but this technology is irrelevant applies to the first 11 years. After that Fortum, Engie, CEZ and others would for energy choices as it will not reach it will pay its own way. This was not a have enormous stranded assets in the the market for several decades, if at all. one-off occurrence, as it was preceded event of a rapid transition to an electricity It also includes advanced nuclear fission by other low-cost projects during 2016. system dominated by renewables. They and (fast-breeder reactors), which likewise By comparison, the UK government will their allies are not going to take this blow will not be around as a power producing guarantee 11 cents per kWh for nuclear sitting down. They have a lot of political technology by 2030, which is a target year power over a 35-year period. clout, and they will use it as best they can. for EU climate policy. The vision also, They are already doing so. Last year theoretically, opens the way for carbon According to another technology plat- the Swedish power industry lobbied sequestration and storage, CCS. Although form for photovoltaic solar, one target successfully to get rid of a nuclear power the EU has heavily promoted CCS, and was to reduce system costs by 20 per cent tax (about .65 euro cent/kWh). They may offered very large funds for projects, for from 2015 to 2020. This may already have avert the threat of more wind power by example in the NER300 programme, been reached by 2016 for large systems, skewing the renewable fuel obligation, there were no takers, so the money went both fixed-tilt and trackers. Investment so that new wind power cannot enter to renewables instead. banker Lazard noted an 85 per cent de- the market soon, but would have a big So if Europe crease in cost from 2009 to 2016, despite impact in 2027–2030. wants to do anything at all incomplete data for 2016. The year saw These measures may possibly save some on energy, it will have to go for renewables auction prices of around 3 US cents/kWh nuclear reactors in Sweden. So-called and efficiency, along the lines proposed in Mexico, Dubai and Chile. The EU cost capacity markets are extending the lives by the technology platforms. target is sure to be reached before 2020. of coal and nuclear power plants in the Renewables are where the action is. Other targets are increased efficiency UK, and more straightforward subsidies Eighty-six percent of new power capac- and longevity and a halving of costs for for coal have been or are currently being ity in Europe came from renewables: 59 building-integrated PV. The jury may still promoted in Poland, Spain and Germany. per cent from wind and 32 per cent from be out there. The member states are vulnerable to photovoltaics. They replaced coal and oil A similar situation applies to targets for lobbying from the power industry, so it power. Wind energy alone supplied more geothermal, concentrating thermal solar, is important what the EU does. than 10 per cent of EU-28 electricity con- and ocean tidal and wave energy. The European Union has been involved sumption, all according to WindEurope’s It is clear that some renewables can beat in energy planning since the early 1950s. annual statistics. Fredrik Lundberg new fossil and nuclear power right now. With the consensus on nuclear power long But what is needed to cut CO2 emissions gone, and coal generally seen as obsolescent

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 3

FLICKR.COM / andrew cc-by Livestock on leftovers Continued from front page

A third strategy, “livestock on leftovers”, mentary feed for cattle is explored in a study by the Swedish and sheep. Only grass and University of Agricultural Sciences, com- by-products were allowed missioned by AirClim, which focuses on in the livestock diets and no four Nordic countries and will be published additional feed was grown, later this spring. Animal production is apart from ley. limited to feeding on resources that are •• The second is an Efficiency not in direct competition with human scenario, developed to improve © LARS-ERIK hÅKANSSON food production. Ruminants are allowed the use of the available resources to graze on semi-natural pastures and (grass and by-products). Cattle and sheep The scenarios were set in 2030 and ap- other animals are given by-products from were allowed to graze on pastures on plied to the cases of Denmark, Finland, food production. arable land, and more grass was used Norway and Sweden using national Other key principles of the study are as winter feed in order to make use of statistics on available arable land and that food should be produced in an organic all ley grown through crop rotation. semi-natural pastures, crop yields and farming system and countries should be In order to use a larger fraction of the nutrient leaching. self-sufficient in the food products that can by-products, up to 40 per cent of grown Drained peatlands were deducted from be produced locally, but are able to import feed was included in the food rations. the available arable area since they cause • other food products such as tropical fruits, • The third is a Capacity scenario, devel- considerable methane emissions when nuts, coffee and tea. Agriculture should be oped to explore the effects of using all cultivated. In Denmark, there is a short- self-sufficient in energy, but should not available land. After land for growing age of natural land, so 15 per cent of the provide energy for other parts of society. plant-based food had been allocated, arable area was deducted to increase the These principles have then been inter- the remaining land was used to grow share of wild nature. preted and modelled in three different feed for animals. In addition to the national cases, a scenarios: common “Nordic” case was modelled, in • To ensure a • The first is a Sufficiency scenario, de- healthy diet with high ac- which all four countries were treated as veloped from a strict interpretation of ceptability to the Nordic population, the an entity. The results presented here focus the principles. The number of cattle scenario diets were based on the Swedish primarily on that case. The projected total and sheep was limited to the minimum nutrient recommendations translated population of all four countries by 2030 needed to graze available semi-natural into food items (SNÖ). This is a model is 28.4 million inhabitants. pastures in each country. By-products diet designed to be similar to the present were used to feed poultry, pigs and Swedish diet while also fulfilling the Nordic The results show quite extensive changes aquaculture fish, and provide supple- Nutrient Recommendations. in comparison to the current diet (box).

The sufficiency diet: The efficiency diet: The capacity diet: 88 0.5 servings of meat every week 88 1 servings of meat a week 88 2 servings of meat a week 88 2-3 servings of fish a week 88 2-3 servings of fish a week 88 2-3 servings of fish a week 88 1 egg a week. 88 3 eggs a week. 88 3 eggs a week. 88 Half of present consumption of milk 88 2/3 of present consumption of milk 88 3/4 of present consumption of milk 88 A quarter of present consumption of 88 Half of present consumption of cream 88 Half of present consumption of cream cream and cheese and cheese and cheese 88 Almost tripled consumption of beans 88 More than double consumption of 88 Almost double consumption of beans and peas beans and peas and peas 88 Two apples a day and half a litre of 88 Two apples a day and half a litre of 88 Two apples a day and half a litre of berries a week berries a week berries a week 88 Same consumption of exotic fruits 88 Same consumption of exotic fruits 88 Same consumption of exotic fruits and coffee as today and coffee as today and coffee as today 88 Six carrots a week, 4-5 onions a week. 88 Six carrots a week , 4-5 onions a week 88 Six carrots a week, 4-5 onions a week and 600g cabbage and 600g cabbage and 600g cabbage 88 Three tomatoes or 2/3 of a cucumber 88 Three tomatoes or 2/3 of a cucumber 88 Three tomatoes or 2/3 of a cucumber a week. a week. a week 88 More than a sixty percent increase in 88 More than a fifty percent increase in 88 About a fifty percent increase in bread and cereals bread and cereals bread and cereals 88 More than double amount of pota- 88 More than double amount of pota- 88 More than double amount of pota- toes toes toes

4 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 100

a 90 e r a

l 80 a r Sugar beet u l 70 u

c Potatoes i r

Meat consumption is reduced by 89 per g 60

a Legumes

cent in the Sufficiency scenario, by 79 ed 50 Vegetables and other crops z i l per cent in the Efficiency scenario and by t Rape seed u

40 t

52 per cent in the Capacity scenario, and n Cereals 30 rr e replaced by legumes. It is worth noting u Ley and pastures in rotation c

f 20

o Semi natural pastures that some of the changes are due to the fact that the new diets follow health rec- % 10 ommendations, which means an increase 0 in vegetables and fruits. Current Su ciency E ciency Capacity The changes in land use differ between Figure 1. Land-use for the different scennarios in per cent of current utilized agricultural area. the countries; in general land use will be more diversified than today (figure 1). In 100 the first two scenarios there is excess land 90 after providing food for the local popula- 80

tion. This land could be used for different s n purposes, e.g. growing biofuels, food for o 70 ss i i 60 export, providing a buffer for population m Current e

t

growth or turned into wild nature. In the n 50 Su ciency

rr e E ciency Sufficiency scenario the excess land could u 40 c

f Capacity o potentially support another 13 million 30 people with the Sufficiency diet. For the % 20 Efficiency scenario the corresponding 10 figure is 11 million people. 0 Livestock numbers are significantly Ammonia Nitrous oxide Methane reduced. In the Sufficiency scenario the Figure 2. Emissions from agriculture for the different scenarios in per cent of current emissions. number of cattle and sheep is around 30 per cent of present numbers, while poultry are reduced to 16 per cent and pigs to 6 would be possible to replace some of the Methane emissions are reduced by 80 per per cent. The Efficiency scenario allows for pig farming in the scenarios with broiler cent in the Sufficiency scenario, 70 per slightly higher numbers; cattle and sheep chicken production, without extensive cent in the Efficiency scenario and 66 per are reduced to 44 per cent, poultry to 54 changes in the rest of the outcome. cent in the Capacity scenario. per cent and pigs to 16 per cent compared Not included in these calculations is Ammonia emissions are to today. The Capacity scenario has the reduced by 75 soil carbon. The reason for this is the huge highest numbers of livestock but still only per cent in the Sufficiency scenario, 66 uncertainties in terms of the data for this allows half of the number of cattle and per cent in the Efficiency scenario and parameter so far. It is however possible sheep, 57 per cent of the poultry and 68 by 50 per cent in the Capacity scenario, to discuss the factors that influence it. per cent of the pigs. compared to present emissions. (figure 2) Since the total area of ley will decrease There is no specialised beef production However, in the first two scenarios there compared to the present situation and in any of the scenarios. Instead a multi- is excess agricultural land, and if this was the level of production will also decrease, purpose breed is used for both dairy and used to produce food for export, emissions sequestration will probably be reduced. beef. This gives lower milk yields than would go up, but probably no higher than This will be partially offset by the fact the most common breeds in present in the capacity scenario. that organic crops have larger root systems dairy farming, but on the other hand it The effect is even greater for greenhouse than conventional crops. The inclusion of can be sustained on a higher proportion gases. The global warming potential per practices such as winter crops and catch of roughage. capita for the scenario diets (including crop production could also contribute Poultry farming under these scenarios is emissions from imported food) are some- positively to carbon sequestration. also quite different from today. Instead of where between 0.3 and 0.4 tonnes CO2 eq/ having totally separate production systems year. For comparison, the carbon footprint Kajsa Pira for eggs and poultry meat, a dual-purpose of food consumption in Sweden today The report “Future Nordic Diets” will be published breed was used, with cockerels reared for is in the order of 2 tonnes CO2 eq/year. later this spring. meat. The scenarios limited egg production Nitrous oxide emissions are reduced by to 12 kg per capita per year, or 40 per cent 83 per cent in the first two scenarios and more than in the SNÖ diet. However it by 75 per cent in the Capacity scenario.

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 5 Bulgaria faces court for air quality failure

Bulgaria breached EU limits for particulate Five member states have matter (PM10) across all its urban areas received final between at least 2007 and 2013 and its warnings. plans to achieve compliance were “flawed”, according to the advocate general of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Juliane Kokott. FOTOLIA.com © Prazis The plan submitted by Bulgaria to the European Commission to reduce PM10 concentrations had “structural deficiencies” 23 countries are as it lacked a timetable for implementing air quality measures and did not describe breaching air quality laws the improvements they would bring, Kokott said in her opinion for the ECJ. Binding air quality standards are being ity standards for NO2, namely: Austria, It remains to be seen whether the court flouted in more than 130 cities across 23 of Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, will follow the opinion of the advocate the 28 EU member states, according to the Denmark, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, general when it rules on the case, which European Commission’s Environmental Poland, Portugal and the UK. should take place in the first half of 2017. Implementation Review. On 15 February, the Commission sent Poland also faces a similar lawsuit, which Infringement proceedings for PM10 have final warnings (reasoned opinion) to the was brought by the Commission in June been launched for a total of 16 countries: EU’s five largest countries – Germany, 2016 for an alleged breach of PM10 limits Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ger- France, the UK, Spain and Italy – over across 35 ambient air quality zones. many, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary, “repeated, persistent breaches” of the Source: Ends Europe Daily, 16 November 2016. Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Poland, Romania, NO2 limits. The opinion of advocate general Kokott: http:// Sweden, Slovakia and Slovenia. In 2015, Sources: EurActiv.com, 7 February 2017; Com- curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?te mission press release, 6 February 2017: http:// cases against Bulgaria and Poland were xt=&docid=185257&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN& europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-197_en.htm mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=584889 brought to the European Court of Justice. and 15 February 2017: http://europa.eu/rapid/ ‘ Over the last two years, the Commission press-release_IP-17-238_en.htm launched legal action against 12 member states for failing to enforce the air qual- Air pollution linked to fifth of pre-term births

Close to a fifth of premature births world- effects in survivors,” said Chris Malley, wide could be associated with mothers’ the study’s lead researcher. exposure to outdoor air pollution, according According to the European Environ- to a study by the Stockholm Environment ment Agency, around 85–90 per cent of Institute (SEI). It showed that up to 2.7 Europe’s urban population is exposed million of the 14.9 million births world- to PM2.5 levels above the WHO annual wide considered as pre-term, i.e. taking average threshold of 10 μg/m3. place before 37 weeks of gestation, can be linked to mothers’ exposure to particulate Source: Ends Europe Daily, 17 February 2017 matter PM2.5 levels above 10 micrograms The study: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ per cubic metre of air (μg/m3). article/pii/S0160412016305992 “Pre-term births associated with this exposure not only contribute to infant mortality, but can have life-long health

FOTOLIA.com © JackF 6 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 New NEC Directive in force When fully implemented in 2030, the directive will nearly halve the negative health impacts of air pollution, such as respiratory diseases and premature death.

On 17 December 2016 the new National 2019, setting out measures to ensure that experience and best practices. A first Emission Ceilings (NEC) directive was emissions of the five main air pollutants meeting is expected in November 2017. published in the EU’s Official Journal and are reduced by the percentages agreed Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for the it entered into force on 31 December. for the target years 2020 and 2030. The Environment, Fisheries and Maritime The new NEC directive (2016/2284) National Air Pollution Control Programme Affairs, said: “The new European air sets legally binding emissions reduction must be updated at least every four years, quality rules are a significant landmark commitments for the member states’ and the programmes and updates shall in the fight against this invisible killer emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitro- be subject to public consultation prior that is air pollution. Air pollution kills gen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile to finalisation. over 450,000 people in Europe each year. organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia With the new directive, several new This is more than ten times as many as (NH3) and fine particulate matter PM( 2.5). flexibilities are introduced, including: road traffic accidents. Now it is for the Between 2005 and 2030, the emissions •• Adjustment of emission inventories; national governments to start with imple- for all EU28 member states combined are •• Three-year averaging of emissions (in mentation so that people can benefit from to be cut by 79 per cent for SO2; 63 per case of an exceptionally cold winter or cleaner air. We will work with member cent for NOx; 49 per cent for PM2.5; 40 an exceptionally dry summer); states to support them in this challenge per cent for NMVOC; and 19 per cent •• Up to three years delay if non-compliance for improving the health of EU citizens.” for NH3. results from unforeseeable events (such The intermediate 2020 reduction com- as exceptional interruption or loss of Christer Ågren mitments are identical with those that capacity in the power/heat production Source: European Commission press release, 14 member states have already agreed in- system); December 2016 • ternationally in the 2012 revision of the • Up to five years delay (for some coun- The new NEC Directive EU 2016/2284: Gothenburg Protocol under the Conven- tries) if non-compliance occurs despite http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ tion on Long-Range Transboundary Air implementation of all cost-effective TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016L2284

Pollution. Information on and comments measures; and, Commission fact sheet on the new NEC Directive: • to the country-by-country emissions • Deviation from following the linear http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16- reduction commitments can be found reduction trajectory between 2020 4372_en.htm in Acid News No 3, 2016, pages 16-17. and 2030. Member states must transpose the The Commission will Directive into national legislation by 30 set up a European June 2018 and produce a National Air Clean Air Forum composed of national Pollution Control Programme by 1 April experts and stakeholders to exchange

A new more flexible NEC directive in place.

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 7

FLICKR.COM / David Lowry cc-by Big emissions from small chimneys Domestic wood burning is a major source of air pollutant emissions – a new eco-labelled wood stove is allowed to emit 25 times more health-damaging particles than a ten-year old diesel truck. Wood burning is perceived by many as carbon (46%) and the carcinogenic PAH dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as they being natural and therefore environmen- compound bens(a)pyrene (71%). grow, and burning wood simply releases tally benign, but it is in fact a significant Expressed as grams of particles per the same amount of CO2 back into the air. source of several harmful air pollutants, unit of energy, the emission levels from This, however, assumes that the wood fuel including fine particulate matter PM( 2.5), residential wood burning are so high that comes only from forests that are managed black carbon (soot), dioxins, polycyclic they totally overshadow those from other and harvested in a sustainable manner, aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile heat sources (see figure). In addition, and it ignores the carbon footprint of organic compounds (VOCs). detailed measurements from chimneys transporting and drying the wood. These emissions contribute significantly show that emissions of PM2.5 may increase In addition, wood burning generates soot to premature mortality and morbidity up to 30 times if a stove is not operated particles (black carbon) that contribute to and the soot particles also contribute to properly and up to 250 times if it is global warming, especially in the shorter Arctic warming and global climate change. misused, which underlines the fact that term. So even if wood burning may be Moreover, the share of emissions from emission levels can be much higher under largely carbon neutral, it is definitely not residential wood burning in the EU is real-life conditions. climate neutral. expected to increase as other key emission Detailed measurements in residential Key challenges related sources gradually become more efficiently areas in Denmark show that wood burning to residential regulated and because increasing costs of can increase local concentrations of PM2.5 wood burning are the high pollution levels conventional home heating will continue and PAH to levels similar to those found combined with the long lifetime of each to stimulate cheap wood burning. in rush hour traffic in central Copenhagen. unit (usually more than 30 years) and the In European emission inventories, small- Other measurements have shown that intensive use of wood burning because it scale combustion of fuels for domestic wood stoves can give rise to very high is a cheap or sometimes even free method heating is reported under a sector called levels of indoor air pollution, a significant for heating in many parts of Europe. “commercial, institutional and household”. problem especially in the winter period, So how can the emissions from domestic In the EU28, fuel combustion in this sector when people spend most time indoors wood burning be reduced? is the major emission source of primary and ventilation is limited. A first measure is to minimise the PM2.5, contributing 56 per cent of total Biomass fuel is usually regarded as car- heat consumption of houses through emissions, as well as PM10 (40%), black bon neutral, because trees take up carbon better insulation. That way you will ef- fectively reduce the amount of wood burned, independent of whether wood

Old wood stove (g 1990) 930 is a supplementary heat source (stove) or Newer wood stove (1990 g) 740 the primary heat source (boiler). Eco-label stove in lab (2004 g) 320 Then you look for cleaner alternative g 155 New eco-label stove in lab (2015 ) – primarily renewable – heating sources, Old wood boiler (with acc. tank) 900 New wood boiler in lab (no acc. tank) 413 such as solar heat, biogas, and geothermal New wood boiler in lab (with acc. tank) 206 energy, including heat pumps (driven by Wood pellet boiler 30 green electricity). District heating, especially Heat pump (incl. PP) 1 District heating (incl. PP) 1.3 from combined heat and power plants Oil boiler 5.5 that are fuelled by renewables and from Gas boiler 0.05 industrial surplus heat, is another option. Old truck without lter (Euro IV) 5.5 New stoves and boilers, especially those 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 that are eco-labelled, are generally more Particle pollution (g/GJ) efficient and cleaner than old ones, even though they will still generate higher Figure: Emissions of fine particles from different sources, expressed as grams ofPM 2.5 per emissions than the alternative heating gigajoule of energy. sources. Replacing wood logs with pel-

8 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 FLICKR.COM /Thoth God of Knowledge cc-by Information campaigns aimed at wood fuel users to improve stove operation is one of the measures that could be implemented on a national level. lets is usually beneficial, as it reduces the •• Introducing emission-related taxes/fees sensor placed in the chimney that counts influence of bad burning behaviour and on domestic solid fuel burning; the number of hours of use. The Danish inferior fuel quality. •• Introducing ambitious eco-labels for Economic Councils, as well as the Danish Improving stove operation can sig- stoves and boilers to promote front tax authorities (Ministry of Taxation), nificantly reduce emissions – but this is runners in the market; have both calculated in 2016 that this is a complex issue, and even well operated •• Information campaigns to make citi- the most cost-efficient way to regulate wood stoves can still be high emitters. zens in general, and wood fuel users in wood burning. The polluter pays prin- In 2015, the EU’s Ecodesign directive particular, more aware and to improve ciple is then introduced by making the was extended to include energy efficiency stove operation; tax equal the pollution costs depending and emission standards that will apply to on the emission (type of device) and the For example, replacing new solid fuel boilers as from 2020 and old wood stoves health costs (urban/rural area). to new local space heaters as from 2022. with Swan-labelled stoves and replacing The proposal would result in a fairer While these new standards will help to old wood boilers with new boilers could taxation of heat sources by increasing the keep the worst products from entering halve the pollution from private wood fee on the most polluting types. Leading the market, they are much less stringent burning. And if all wood stoves and wood Danish health experts and economists than what can actually be achieved by the boilers were replaced with wood pellet estimated in 2016 that this tax could save best already existing appliances. Conse- equivalents, the pollution from residential about 350 annual premature death in quently there is an urgent need to revise wood burning could be cut by more than Denmark and save Danish society health and strengthen these standards. 90 per cent. costs worth more than €450 million per Because the Ecodesign standards are Economic incentives, such as emission year. Furthermore, incentives to insulate harmonized at EU level, member states are taxes or charges, combined with strict houses would be enhanced, as well as not allowed to introduce stricter national emission limit values, are efficient instru- the promotion, sales and development requirements. But there are a number ments for speeding up the replacement of better stoves and cleaner heat sources. of other measures that can be taken at (phase-out) of heavily polluting stoves national and/or local level, including: and boilers. Kåre Press-Kristensen and Christer Ågren • • Incentivising energy renovation and The Danish Ecological Council has Sources: Information from the EU LIFE project Clean home insulation, as well as small-scale designed a tax proposal for stoves and Heat (www.clean-heat.eu), especially the brochure solar and geothermal energy installations; boilers in Denmark, which is based on “Residential wood burning – Environmental impact •• Banning or restricting the installation the type of installation, varies with emis- and sustainable solutions” and the booklet “Pollu- tion from residential burning – Danish experience and use of domestic solid fuel appliances sion levels and is differentiated for urban in an international perspective.” – especially in highly polluted areas or and rural areas. The tax would be paid per during pollution episodes; hour of pollution (i.e. when the stove/ •• Incentivising quicker replacement or boiler is used), and the hours of pollu- shutdown of old appliances; tion are measured by a small temperature

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 9 The mining curse that haunts lignite towns Lignite is no longer the cash cow it used to be. Local communities in Germany are now struggling with fewer jobs, lost tax revenues and environmentally degraded land.

Lignite mining output in Germany has The town of Neukieritzsch, with less refund obligations. While government declined by almost two-thirds since 1990. than 7,000 residents, formerly benefited secrecy regulations preclude public infor- However, most remaining generation from the highest corporate tax proceeds mation on the actual figures, retroactive plants will still be needed until nuclear in western Saxony. When Vattenfall put payments of well over €100 million have power has been finally phased out in 2022. its 934 MW Lippendorf power plant up been reported by local newspapers. The Renewable technologies are dedicated to for sale in 2015, however, it simultane- total trade taxes returned to Vattenfall filling this supply gap. For the time being, ously reclaimed trade taxes paid as early are likely much greater. therefore, lignite will continue to provide as 2006. Revenues of over €1,600 per With non-transparent taxation practices nearly one-quarter of grid electricity. inhabitant have since been returned by and the uncertain profitability of individual Once nuclear generation has been fully Neukieritzsch to the Swedish corporation. lignite operations, cities and towns con- superseded, however, lignite power sta- Vattenfall sold three additional power tinue to provide potential opportunities tions can be successively retired to meet stations and four mines in Lusatia in 2016, for energy corporations to multiply their greenhouse gas reduction goals. That where widespread communal insolvency capital assets. The state interest rate of six should not be difficult, because many was already emerging. Boxberg, once per cent applies to all tax debt repayments, plants are already unprofitable. Saxony’s most prosperous town per capita, amounting to high-yield lignite industry Germany’s largest lignite producer, with 4,675 residents, has been obliged loans financed at public expense. RWE AG in the Rhine Valley, has ter- to refund millions of euros previously The communities are simultaneously minated 10,000 employees (14% of the received for its 2,575 MW power station. confronted with environmentally detri- total workforce) over the last three years State and local taxes of €40 million mental mining legacies. Reclaimed land is in order to reduce costs. Regular divi- have also been defaulted in Brandenburg agriculturally less productive than native dends to local cities and banks that own for the 2 x 800 MW Schwarze Pumpe soil. Buildings cannot be erected before nearly one-fourth of corporate stock have CHP plant along with the local Welzow the ground has firmly settled. Subsurface been fully eliminated. RWE’s municipal South surface mine. At the 3,000 MW water rising in former mining sites can shareholders are legally required to write Jänschwalde power station near the Polish contaminate local rivers and endanger down losses below the original purchase border, trade taxes totalling more than drinking water supplies. price. For this reason, the city of Essen €29 million have been refunded by the In overcoming these obstacles, the lignite lost €680 million of stock valuation in communities of Teichland, Peitz, and the regions have begun developing their own 2013 alone. Bochum recently divested corporate headquarter city of Cottbus. post-carbon strategies. A great number its 6.6 million RWE shares at a unit price In 2013, Vattenfall affirmed that its of renewable power installations below €15, compared with €100 a decade profits were sufficient to avoid selling have already been located on ago. Most recently, RWE posted a loss of its lignite assets. By the time the the same plots formerly used €5.7 billion for the year 2016. new successor corporation LEAG by the lignite industry. Lignite mines and power plants therefore had been announced in 2016, Jeffrey H. Michel no longer insure regional prosperity. The however, many communities situation in eastern Germany is particu- had already been issued revised larly dramatic. tax notifications with increased

Lignite regions need to take the leap to a post-carbon society.

10 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017

FLICKR.COM / Rudi41 cc-by-NC Comparing vehicle emission standards A report named “Comparative study on •• Oversight of implementation of envi- information on them to regulators, and the differences between the EU and US ronmental standards is placed in the seek prior approval of the use of any legislation on emissions in the automotive hands of organisations with a clear defeat devices under specific derogations; sector” was published by the European environmental mission; •• Greater clarity is provided on the duties Parliament in November. It provides an •• Transparency on the use of emis- of regulators both to monitor in-service overview of technologies used in vehicles sion control devices is improved, with performance, and to identify and pursue to comply with emission legislation and of manufacturers required to provide full cases of non-compliance; differences between theUS and EU with •• Improved EU-level monitoring of the regards to emission standards for air pollut- performance of type approval authorities ants and greenhouse gases; type-approval (TAAs) is introduced, with the option of structures; conformity of production; suspending a TAA’s right to issue type- in-service performance verifi- approvals in the event of persistent cation; implementation and weaknesses in performance. enforcement of legislation and its impact; and legislation The report: www.europarl.europa.eu/ RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/587331/ on defeat devices. IPOL_STU(2016)587331_EN.pdf The report recommends that: •• The flexibility for manu- facturers to choose their regulator is removed;

FOTOLIA.com © pavkis No improvement in fuel Four of world’s biggest Trucks and buses efficiency for years cities to ban diesel cars cleaner than diesel cars

New cars consume on average 42 per cent Diesel vehicles will be removed from The research group International Council more fuel on the road than advertised in Paris, Mexico City, Madrid and Athens for Clean Transportation (ICCT), reports sales brochures, according to Transport by 2025, as part of an effort by mayors to that heavy-duty vehicles (mainly buses and & Environment’s latest Mind the Gap improve the quality of air for their citizens. trucks) tested in Germany and Finland report. Despite auto industry claims These cities also pledged to incentivise emitted on average about 200 milligrams of their vehicles’ ever-improving fuel alternative vehicles and promote walking of NOx per kilometre driven, less than half economy, the gap between real-world fuel and cycling infrastructure. of the average 500–600 mg/km pumped consumption and official figures has grown “Mayors have already stood up to say out in real-world driving by diesel cars from 28 per cent in 2012 and 14 per cent that climate change is one of the greatest that meet the highest Euro 6 standard. a decade ago. In practice this means that challenges we face,” said Anne Hidalgo, As the buses and trucks have larger a typical driver spends around €550 more Mayor of Paris and new Chair of the C40 engines and burn roughly five time more per year in additional fuel costs compared Cities Climate Leadership Group. “Today, diesel per kilometre, this means that heavy to what might be expected from the of- we also stand up to say we no longer tolerate duty vehicles are ten times better than ficial test figures. air pollution and the health problems and light-duty diesel vehicles at reducing Greg Archer, clean vehicles director of deaths it causes – particularly for our most NOx emissions. T&E, said: “There has been no improve- vulnerable citizens. Big problems like air The ICCT report: http://www.theicct.org/nox-europe- ment in the average efficiency of new pollution require bold action, and we call hdv-ldv-comparison-jan2017 cars on the road for four years because on car and bus manufacturers to join us.” carmakers manipulate tests to achieve Source: C40 press release, 2 December 2016. Link: their CO2 targets instead of designing the http://www.c40.org/press_releases/daring-cities- car to be efficient on the road. As a result, make-bold-air-quality-commitment-to-remove- drivers are being tricked and forced to buy all-diesel-vehicles-by-2025 more fuel; governments defrauded of tax revenues; and climate targets undermined.” Source: T&E News, 9 January 2017. Link: https://www. Five times cleaner than transportenvironment.org/news/no-improvement- a Euro 6 diesel car. average-efficiency-new-cars-four-years

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 11

FLICKR.COM /Don Stewart cc-by-ND CCS is still a failure After decades of talking and billions of euros in investments there are no large commercial

CO2 storage facilities in Norway, Canada, the US or anywhere else in the world.

There is much less focus on CCS in the Norwegian debate these days. The reason is that in 2013 the pro- be used for storage of CO2 that may be especially in underground formations in ject to build a full-scale demonstration otherwise removed by other measures. the North Sea. CCS plant was shelved. But maybe the Quite often other types of CC – Car- Statoil, which is most frequently reported results from the oil company with bon Capture – projects are also lumped the Norwegian CCS experience are from most experience in the North Sea, and the together with real CCS projects such as the Sleipner project in the North Sea. operator of Sleipner and the CCS project the Sleipner project. This causes confusion, Proponents of CCS point to Sleipner and there, is optimistic about the long-term and creates a false impression that there are say it is proof that CCS is feasible on a prospects of CO2 storage in the North many real CCS projects around the world. large scale. Among the arguments used Sea. However, at the present time, there This impression is of course useful for the is that it has pumped a million tons of are no large commercial CO2 storage fa- supporters of CCS, so they do not try to CO2 per year – in total 48 million cubic cilities anywhere in the world. The term clear up the misunderstanding, and may metres – down into a sandstone formation “commercial” means a facility that accepts even actively contribute to the confusion. called the Utsira formation since 1996, CO2 from several customers for storage. The problem lies with projects that sepa- without any sign of leakage. According Neither are there any large-scale CCS rate CO2 from exhaust gases, mainly from to Professor Peter M. Haugan at the plants anywhere in Europe that may need coal-fired power stations. These projects Institute for Geophysics, University of a place to store CO2. The price ofCO 2 is are examples of Carbon Capture – CC – Bergen, this may be just pure coincidence also far too low to make a commercial CO2 but the Storage part is missing. The CO2 (or luck, in layman’s term). A careful storage facility economically viable. The from many Carbon Capture plants is study of the reservoir and the cap rocks CO2 price must be at least 50 USD/ton, not stored underground with the express above the reservoir was not carried out while at present the price is just 6 USD/ intention that it should remain there for prior to the start of pumping in 1996. A ton CO2, according to Statoil. a very long period of time. Instead, the later study of the CO2 storage reservoir The Sleipner project is only intended CO2 is often used for industrial purposes, carried out in 2014 showed numerous to store CO2 separated from the natural and eventually released back into the at- cracks and so-called chimneys through gas extracted from the reservoir deep mosphere. (Whenever you open a bottle the cap rock, and some of them reached under the seabed, and does not accept of fizzy sugar drink, the CO2 in the bottle all the way down to the sandstone, where CO2 from other sources. An important is released into the atmosphere.) Another the CO2 is stored. A huge crack was found reason for this is that the CO2 at Sleipner use, which is quite common, is the use in 25 kilometres north of the storage area. has very different properties from CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery – EOR. Here, This could just as well have turned out captured from exhaust gases at a power the CO2 is pumped down into oil and gas to have been above the storage area, but plant. The equipment that handles the reservoirs. This increases the pressure in nobody knew that back in 1996. CO2 is designed to suit these properties, the reservoir, and pushes out more oil and Professor Haugan’s conclusion was that it and cannot handle CO2 with different gas. The CO2 will also find its way back is very costly to research a possible storage properties. The CO2 at the Sleipner field into the atmosphere from the oil and area in order to be sure that it will not leak. arrives at the surface together with natural gas reservoirs, even if it may be delayed The process may take between 3 years at gas under very high pressure and at very for some time. To call this “storage” is the best and 10 years at the worst, before low temperature, and the separation of confusing, since the CO2 captured is not one can draw a conclusion. This conclusion the CO2 from the natural gas is tailored stored underground; it is only delayed is not guaranteed to be positive. A long for this. The pressure makes it easier to on its way to the atmosphere. Lumping and costly process may end with a “No”, pump the CO2 down into the storage area. together CC and CCS projects and calling that the area is not suitable for storage. These are the main reasons why the them all CCS is therefore dishonest, and This also means thatCO 2 storage areas Sleipner project has only limited value as does not reflect the real situation. are a resource with a limited supply, and an example of what is possible regarding In recent years two or three such CC must be treated as such. They should not commercial storage of CO2 underground, projects have been hailed as the next big

12 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 FLICKR.COM / Quinn Dumbrowski cc-by-SA

1 tonne of CO2 melts CCS is still a failure 3 m2 of Arctic ice After decades of talking and billions of euros in investments there are no large commercial Study argues that Arctic summer sea ice can survive only CO storage facilities in Norway, Canada, the US or anywhere else in the world. 2 CCS projects, although they are if global warming is kept below 1.5°C. not. The most recent example has Noting that Arctic ice cover for sum- agreed 2°C global warming target is been touted as America’s first “clean mer has already shrunk by more than not sufficient to allow Arctic summer coal” plant, as it captures CO2 from a half in the past 40 years, the climate sea ice to survive,” noted Notz. coal combustion plant outside Houston, scientists predicted that the remain- The study traces a robust linear re- Texas. However, it is not a CCS plant, ing ice will disappear by the middle of lationship between monthly mean since the CO2 captured is piped 80 miles the century. Published in Science, the September sea ice area and total CO2 to the West Ranch oil field. There theCO 2 study evaluates the future of the Arctic emissions based on the observational is used to force additional oil from the summer sea ice on the basis of obser- record. The methodology addresses the ground. The same article also describes vational data obtained between 1953 disparity problem that long plagued the Kemper Plant, located further east, and 2015. Making a linear connection climate-model simulations regarding the in the state of Mississippi. This is a plant between carbon dioxide emissions and sea-ice loss. According to the study, the that gasifies lignite, a type of coal, into Arctic summer sea ice, the study led by linear relationship makes it clear that a something called syngas, and removes lead author Dirk Notz from the Max loss of 3 ± 0.3 m2 of September sea ice some of the CO2 in the process. The syngas Planck Institute for Meteorology in area per metric ton of CO2 emission is is burned for electricity generation, and Hamburg, Germany, commented that really happening. The damage wrought CO2 from the exhaust gas is also stripped the observed numbers are very simple. by carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas away. Together, the CO2 from both stages “For each ton of carbon dioxide that a is that it keeps the heat retained in the is then shipped to an oil field forEOR – to person emits anywhere on this planet, Earth’s atmosphere and escalates the aid additional oil recovery. In the article, 3 m2 (± 0.1m2) of Arctic summer sea global temperature more and more. both plants are lumped together and ice disappears,” he noted. Source: http://www.techtimes.com/arti- cles/184807/20161105/here-s-how-much-arctic- called examples of CCS, although this is The study argues that Arctic summer patently wrong. There is no permanent sea-ice-you-re-melting-for-every-ton-of-carbon- sea ice can survive only if global warm- dioxide-you-emit.htm storage of the CO2; it will escape to the ing is kept below 1.5°C. by reducing atmosphere after being used in EOR. greenhouse gas emissions including carbon dioxide. “The internationally The Boundary Dam CC plant in Canada is a third example of a plant that captures CO2 and 90 per cent is used for EOR in an oil field not far away. A small part, 10 per cent, is used in an experimental storage facility. A review of most of the plants that CCS supporters are lumping together and calling CCS plants would probably reveal the same facts: carbon capture is mainly done in order to get CO2 for use in EOR – pushing more oil out of the ground. This is not doing anything to reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere, and so cannot be called a climate mitigation measure. Rather the opposite, in fact, since it can be argued that these plants increase the amount of oil available for burning. That is not helpful for the atmosphere, or for humanity and the ecosystems on this planet. Tore Braend FLICKR.COM / Christopher Michel cc-by

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 13 Global warming and its implications for coral reefs At current projected levels of temperature increase it has been suggested that tropical coral reefs could be lost altogether as soon as 2050

Coral reefs are marine structures of much colder water and at great depth. The largest yet dis- limestone built from the skeletons of Most of this overview is focused on the covered cold-water coral animals, and it has taken millions tropical reefs, because they are already coral reef made up of years to build the reefs we see today. heavily impacted by global warming. of eyes corals is Coral reefs occur in at least two types. The projected water temperature increase found off the Lo- Barrier reefs extend along coasts. The will greatly affect the most biodiverse foten archipelago best-known example is the Great Barrier ecosystems of the oceans – the tropical in Norway, and ap- Reef off the east coast of Australia, which coral reefs – which harbour some 25 per pears to cover an area of is the world’s largest coral reef (see more cent of all marine species over an area close to 100 km2 (Fosså below). Coastal reefs form an addition to covering less than 0.1 per cent of the et al., 2003). The high density of an island or a coast. Corals prefer such total ocean surface (Spalding et al. 2001). reefs shown in the North Atlantic most shallow areas where they eventually reach Another side effect of global warming is probably reflects the intensity of research the water surface and create a kind of the increased content of carbon dioxide in this region and further discoveries are platform. in the atmosphere. The liming processes expected mainly in the deeper waters of Coral reefs are also divided into two in the corals are disturbed by increasing tropical and subtropical regions. groups according to the water tempera- carbon dioxide. The global oceans regulate our climate ture and depth of occurrence. The most Tropical coral reefs are found in more and weather conditions, like rainfall and well-known and studied ones are the than 100 countries. This figure refers to floods. The oceans also absorb roughly shallow-water coral reefs in tropical and the warm-water coral reefs, which are by one third of all carbon dioxide emitted subtropical waters, while the other type far the most well known, because they through human activities, and have also occurs in northern temperate areas in occur in very shallow water and even at absorbed some 90 per cent of the extra the present sea water level. heat trapped by the rising concentrations Much less known are the stone corals of greenhouse gases (Gattuso et al., 2015). of temperate waters, which may occur The temperature rises so far experienced at depths from 40 to 3,000 metres mean that three-quarters of the world’s and at temperatures ranging from coral reefs are currently under threat 4 to 13 degrees (Corcoran (Burke et al., 2011). et al., 2006). These reefs As mentioned above, have so far been found tropical coral reefs in 41 countries and are probably among the least resilient ma- their total area is esti- rine ecosystems, as well as the first victims mated to be as great of global warming. These reefs occur in or even greater than shallow water, where the temperature is the tropical coral rarely less than 20 degrees and salinity is reefs (Corcoran et around 3.5 per cent. I have emphasised al., 2006). In the (see below) that the number of fish species North Atlantic has declined significantly, but the most these cold-water destructive effect on the well-being of a reefs are mainly coral reef ecosystem is the effect on the built up of eyes corals reef itself. This process is termed coral (Lophelia pertusa), bleaching. Corals are adapted to live which occur off the within a narrow temperature regime. A Swedish West temperature increase above the corals’ Coast for ex- threshold level by as little as 1–2 degrees ample (www. (C) for 5–10 weeks can lead to coral marbipp.se – 2016). bleaching (Lang, 2002–2014).

14 FLICKR.COM /Biodiversity Heritage Library cc-by ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 China forecasts stable or declining CO2 emissions

China is forecasting a significant drop in CO2 emissions of approximately one per cent, according to Greenpeace East At risk of extinction if Asia’s analysis of China’s National En- water temperatures keep rising. ergy Administration forecasts for 2017. This would be the fourth year in a row of either zero growth or a decline in CO2 Coral bleaching means that the corals lation) and La emissions. Statistics released today from lose their colouration and the underlying Nina. The com- the Statistical Communique on Economic white calcium skeleton becomes visible. bination of those and Social Development show that coal What happens is that the corals’ endos- two weather phe- consumption in 2016 fell for the third year ymbionts, called zooxanthels, lose their nomena probably in a row, by approximately 1.3 per cent. photosynthesising pigments. When coral caused the warmest Data released in January shows that China bleaching occurs, some 60–90 per cent of water temperatures is also smashing records for solar panel the zooxanthels are lost and in addition that “modern” corals installations, installing enough panels to individual zooxanthels can lose as much as have been subjected cover three football pitches every single 50–80 per cent of their photosynthesising to, and it seems likely hour of the year. pigments (Lang, 2002–2014). Some corals, that some of the most US greenhouse gas however, may also have additional fluores- severely damaged reefs cent pigments that are not associated with may require years or even emissions fell in 2015 the zooxanthels and these corals may not decades to recover. Even After two years of increases, greenhouse gas lose all their colour. Bleached corals grow if most coral reefs will emissions fell in 2015, reducing America’s much more slowly than healthy ones, but slowly recover there is a overall climate pollution to below 1994 under extreme conditions such as prolonged chance that local extinc- levels, according to the Environmental temperature rise above what is normally tion of coral species may Protection Agency. The decline in 2015 tolerated by the corals, mass mortality occur, which will lead to was mainly because that year’s mild win- can occur, which may require decades to reduced biodiversity and, ter reduced demand for heat across the recover. Thus, mass coral bleaching events at worst, to less resilience country, and electric power companies are projected to increase in frequency and to future accidents. This were using less coal and more natural intensity, and even preserving more than worst-case scenario may in future occur gas to generate electricity than in previ- 10 per cent of present coral reefs would annually as a consequence of continued ous years, the report says. Emissions fell require warming to be limited to below temperature increase, i.e. cause local or 2.2 percent overall. The draft report is 1.5 C (Frieler et al., 2013). even regional destruction of entire coral required to be produced annually under an In the period 1997–98 warm-water reef ecosystems. At current projected agreement with the United Nations. It is coral reefs all over the world suffered from levels of temperature increase it has open for public comment and scheduled massive bleaching. The major impact was been suggested that tropical coral reefs to be finalised in April, according to an noted in the coral reefs of the Central could be lost altogether as early as 2050 EPA statement. Indian Ocean, where some 90 per cent (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2015) and, in fact, http://www.climatecentral.org/news/americas- of all corals in an area covering several fluctuating and rising ocean temperatures climate-pollution-falling-epa-21165 thousand km2 died, including most corals caused by global warming present the in the Maldives, the Chagos Archipelago largest primary threat to coral reefs. Portugal halts oil and the Seychelles (Lang, 2002–2014). exploration Other coral reefs, e.g. off the coasts of Lennart Nyman Thailand and Vietnam, were also badly The government has scrapped the Tavira damaged but they included more robust The next issue of Acid News will include an over- and Aljezur onshore oil exploration and coral species that allowed the reefs to view of the impact of global warming on regional extraction contracts. The concession con- recover. Even parts of the Great Barrier coral reef ecosystems. tracts covering offshore exploration blocks Reef, Indonesia, the Philippines and the are also to be halted as the government Caribbean area were also damaged but recognises that the Algarve is serious in with a lower mortality of some 20–50 per its opposition to hosting an oil industry. cent (Lang, 2002–2014). These events were No company will be drilling for oil or gas. attributed to a combination of two weather http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/10603- scenarios, ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscil- government-halts-oil-exploration-in-the-algarve- portfuel-deals-scrapped

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 15 EU needs to shut all coal plants by 2030

The EU will need to phase out CO2 emissions from all of its coal plants in the next 15 years if it is to meet the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goals, according to a new Climate Analytics report released in Brussels in February 2017

The report – A stress test for coal in The report outlines two possible path- Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics. Europe under the Paris Agreement, ways showing how the EU could achieve “This new and innovative plant- by climate research institute Climate a complete coal phase-out, and proposes by-plant analysis shows that one Analytics, sets out the first science-based a shutdown date for each of the EU’s 315 of the biggest challenges for Europe analysis of when – and where – each of power plants (738 generating units in total). will be the phase-out of coal fired-power the EU’s more than 300 coal power plants One pathway is based around a “market” emissions by 2030. For any country, in would need to be phased out. perspective, where the economic value of any region, and at any time this would Climate Analytics has calculated that the plant is prioritised over its emissions be a major challenge, both economically to stay within the Paris Agreement’s intensity, and the other is based on a and politically.” long-term temperature limits of “well “regulator” perspective, where plants with “However, the EU already has many below” 2˚C and “pursuing efforts to limit the highest emissions intensity are phased of the key policy instruments in place, the temperature increase to 1.5°C,” the out first. Both yield a phase-out of coal by including those required for fair and just EU’s CO2 emissions budget for coal in the 2030, but the date each specific plant goes transition strategies. The challenge now power sector is around 6.5 Gt by 2050. offline differs significantly between the is for Europe to capitalise on its massive TheEU will exceed its Paris Agreement- two approaches, with different potential investments in climate policy, seize the compatible coal emissions budget by 85 per impacts on regions within a given country. opportunities created by a coal phase- cent if its existing coal-fired power plants To achieve this ambitious phase-out out, and use its institutions to ensure all continue operating to their full lifespan. schedule, the EU will need to design regions benefit from this.” “Not only would existing coal plants enhanced policy settings and approaches Germany is Europe’s largest consumer exceed the EU’s emissions budget, but that complement each other, including: of coal, has built a number of large coal the eleven planned and announced plants •• a more effective EU Emissions Trad- power plants in the last 15 years and would raise EU emissions to almost twice ing Scheme another large one could come online in the levels required to keep warming to the •• a stable and predictable investment 2018. Climate Analytics analysis shows Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature framework “that these plants will need to be shut down goal,” said Dr Michiel Schaeffer, Climate •• bigger targets for renewables – instru- long before the end of their lifetimes to Analytics Science Director. mental in a successful coal phase-out stay within the Paris Agreement’s long- The report shows that emissions from •• strategies and policies at both national term temperature goal and this is already coal in the EU electricity sector need to and regional level to ensure a smooth implied by the German Climate Action be close to zero by 2030 (95% by 2030; transition and maximise usage of so- Plan 2050. 100% by 2031), with a quarter of operat- cioeconomic opportunities. In Poland coal provides 85 per cent of ing coal-fired power plants switched off electricity and it is facing growing extraction Substantial human, institutional before 2020 and a further 47 per cent and costs, dwindling reserves and increased going offline by 2025. financial resources will need to be devoted competition from renewables, as well as “We find the cheapest way for the EU to to maximise the economic, social and large environmental and health impacts, make the emissions cuts required to meet environmental benefits of this essential says the report. Nevertheless the Polish its Paris Agreement commitments is to transformation of the energy sector. government is still favouring coal as the phase out coal from the electricity sector, “It is remarkable that for 25 years the future mainstay of Polish electricity supply. and replace this capacity with renewables European Union has led the way globally Implementing the Paris Agreement means and energy efficiency measures,” said Paola on climate change policy, be it in mitiga- that Poland cannot go ahead with its plans Yanguas Parra, a lead author of the report. tion or adaptation, the legal structures of for new coal plants, and instead needs to “Germany and Poland have the most international agreements, or financing start planning for a phase-out. Policies at work to do on a coal phase-out: they actions in developing countries. Its next the EU and national level for the EU-ETS are jointly responsible for 51 per cent of big challenge is to lead the way on meeting and Renewable Energy need to be com- installed coal capacity and 54 per cent of the 1.5°C limit, holding warming ‘well plemented by long-term planning for a emissions from coal.” below 2°C’ as agreed in Paris,” said Bill sustainable transition, in particular, for the

16 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 Global soil carbon losses in response to warming In a recent study published in Nature, permafrost layer, emissions could be even 50 researchers from around the world more devastating. confirm the concerns that they have had The researchers believe that if we con- for a long time: soils will release a large tinue with a “business-as-usual” scenario, amount of carbon in response to the the soil will release 200 billion tons of rising air temperature. carbon dioxide by the year 2050. Even if The study is a summary of 49 empiri- the planet’s vegetation can reclaim some cal studies that have investigated carbon of this carbon, it will not compensate for

y emissions from the soil in different places the losses that have occurred. -b cc around the world. Although the results L iske varied slightly from area to area, the team Source: The Washington post, 30 November, 2016. Scientists have long feared this ‘feedback’ to the saw a pattern in which the carbon losses climate system. Now they say it’s happening. were higher in those regions that have had the largest rise in temperature so far. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy- omas /Th FLICKR.COM environment/wp/2016/11/30/the-ground-beneath- The largest losses of carbon were seen in our-feet-is-poised-to-make-global-warming-much- In the background the Arctic areas where the soil is warming worse-scientists-find/ Boxberg one of more up rapidly and is quite deep. They also than 300 coal power plants that the EU needs to replace with renewable energy. saw high losses along the mid-latitude areas. The study only considered the upper layers of soil, and if the soil turns regions most affected.While a transition out to release carbon from the deeper would be challenging, there were numer- ous possibilities to replace coal, especially FOTOLIA.com © saylakham given the significant decrease in the cost of wind and solar energy and the potential for biomass, all of which offered Poland Consultation an opportunity to make its power sector cleaner and more diversified. The neces- on CAP reform sary switch away from coal in Poland can The European Commission have positive socio-economic implications. has launched the most. We need broad participation The alternatives in the renewable energy a major online Public Consultation on in this consultation to highlight that the area and energy efficiency will produce the future of the common agriculural current agricultural policy is inadequate large social, economic and environmental policy (CAP) which runs until 2 May for today’s societal challenges.” benefits that will be durable and lasting 2017. Speaking at a press conference, EU Together with Bird Life and WWF, the for the longer term. The European Un- agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan said EEB has launched “the Living Land” cam- ion level policy approaches the need to recent developments such as the Paris paign with the aim to unite organisations acknowledge these issues and ensure that deal on climate change justify discussing and concerned citizens and encourage adequate resources are provided for the CAP reform only four years after the last them to respond to the consultation transformation in Poland. In particular wave of changes. The results of the public consultation EU policies need to assist in developing Welcoming this public consultation, EEB will be published online and presented by structural alternatives and avoid structural EU Policy Director Pieter de Pous said: Commissioner Hogan at a conference in breaks that would have negative socio- “This is an excellent opportunity to show Brussels in July 2017. economic implications for some regions the European Commission that a funda- The consultation: https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/ and create sustainable job opportunities. mental CAP reform is urgently needed. consultations/cap-modernising/2017_en Aside from job creation, a transition from We can’t simply tinker round the edges The Living Land campaign: https://www.living- coal to renewables will also make the and make small cosmetic land.org/ Polish power sector more resilient to the changes to the policy threat of electricity outages experienced this time. Most of the due to increased frequency of droughts CAP budget supports and associated lack of cooling water for the farms that pollute coal power plants, concludes the report.

Source: Climate Analytics press-release, 9 Febru- ary 2017 http://climateanalytics.org/hot-topics/ Suffering from a broken eu-coal-phase-out.html food and farming system? Do as the informed citizen and use liniment before you ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 answer the CAP consultation. 17

FLICKR.COM / Internet Archive Book Images y -SA -b cc ollection C p h oto b ank FLICKR.COM / W orld / FLICKR.COM

Climate change, poverty and hunger must be tackled together The agriculture sectors accounts for at least one-fifth of total emissions of greenhouse gases. A new FAO report discusses the challenge of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time meeting the world’s demand for food.

Emissions from agriculture mainly we must create an understanding of how Agriculture is heavily dependent on ni- come from our livestock and crop pro- carbon and nitrogen cycles interact with trogen; together with water it is the most duction, and the conversion of forests agricultural activities. important element for successful harvests. to agricultural land. In 2050, the global The Paris Agreement calls for meas- Fifty per cent of the nitrogen in food pro- demand for food is projected to be at least ures to conserve and increase sinks and duction depends on fertilisers, while the 60 per cent higher than 2006 levels. In reservoirs of greenhouse gas, and one of other half is found in soil, animal manure, the coming decades, population growth these measures is to promote improved crop residues etc. Unfortunately, much of will mainly take place in those parts of agricultural practices. Soil is the second the nitrogen in the agricultural system is the world with the highest prevalence of most important carbon pool on earth, lost through volatilisation and leaching. malnutrition and high vulnerability to the right after water, and small changes in Those losses are important to consider effects of climate change. The 2016FAO the stock of carbon may result in large since nitrous oxide is the third most vital report – The state of food and agriculture changes in the carbon dioxide in the greenhouse gas. Nitrogen fertilisers also – highlights several key areas relevant to atmosphere. The composition of soil have a direct negative impact on climate the combination of climate change, agri- can vary and it can behave differently change, because of the energy-demanding culture and food safety. It also describes depending on which part of the world it production process. how the agricultural sector can and should is found in. This means that to maximise Six case studies show that sustainable respond to climate change through both carbon sequestration, different agricultural practices in the livestock sector would adaptation and mitigation. There are approaches are needed. But generally, the lead to a reduction of between 14 and many synergies and trade-offs among integration of trees and shrubs in the 41 per cent of the sector’s total emissions the objectives of food security, adaption agricultural landscape prevents erosion of greenhouse gases. For the reduction of and mitigation, and we should therefore and supports carbon sequestration, which methane emissions and for sequestering soil tackle all of them as one. To optimise also improves the resistance of soils to carbon in grazing lands, improved grazing the mitigation potential of agriculture, drought and flooding. management and sowing of legumes were

18 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 the most affordable practices according influence on our health and contributes to the studies. It was shown that these to reduced emissions. WHO air quality measures could reduce emissions by 11 per The report shows estimates of the eco- guidelines – report cent of annual global ruminant emissions. nomic mitigation potential. Regarding all In fact, the potential of changes varies levels of carbon values, the largest mitiga- A new report “Evolution of WHO air within similar livestock systems due to tion potential for agriculture, forestry and quality guidelines: past, present and future”, differences in agro-ecological conditions, land use is found in Asia. Among other was published in February 2017 by WHO farming practices and management of mitigation options, cropland management Europe. It summarises the development the supply chain. In the livestock sector, has the highest potential at lower carbon of the WHO air quality guidelines since improving pasture productivity can limit prices of US$20 per tonne. At higher prices the 1950s and outlines the evolution of the expansion of pasture into tropical of US$100, the restoration of organic soils the scientific evidence on the health ef- forests and enhance the conservation and has the greatest potential. The potential of fects of air pollution and how this was sustainable development of carbon-rich grazing land management and restoration used for setting outdoor and indoor air landscapes. of degraded soils increases with higher quality management strategies worldwide. carbon prices. The FAO report estimate that Current WHO activities and their future By increasing carbon sequestration forestry represents the highest mitigation directions in this field are also presented. and reducing emissions from the value potential in Latin America, at all levels The report: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/ chain, fisheries and aquaculture can also of carbon prices. Forest management, pdf_file/0019/331660/Evolution-air-quality.pdf contribute to climate change mitiga- followed by afforestation, are the major tion. The sector can reduce its fuel and options in OECD countries, Eastern High emissions from energy use through more efficient fishing Europe and Asia. techniques and by improvements along There are several institutional and eco- chainsaws and trimmers the entire supply chain. It is mainly the nomic approaches that can facilitate the Tests organised by the German environ- processing, storage and transportation implementation of agricultural emission mentalist group Deutsche UmweltHilfe of the fish that is the main source of the reductions. The institutional approach (DUH) show that 18 of the 24 tested sector’s contribution to climate change. would include providing information to chainsaws and trimmers significantly Forests are calculated to bind 2.6 billion farmers about agricultural practices that exceed the EU standards for emissions tons of carbon each year and deforestation create adaptation/mitigation synergies, as total of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides currently accounts for about 11 per cent well as access to credit to implement such (HC+NOx). of all greenhouse gas emissions in the measures. The economic approach would In 2016, DUH tested machines from the world. Planting new trees and reducing include positive incentives for farmers to German, Swedish and French markets. or avoiding logging are a few ways to provide and maintain carbon sinks, the Of a total of 33 devices measured, only reduce losses from forests. These goals taxation of nitrogen fertiliser in countries seven complied with the current limit can be achieved by improved education, where it is over-used, and supply-chain values of the EU’s Non-Road Mobile involving rural communities in planning initiatives to market food products with Machinery Directive. and decision-making, increasing the use a lower carbon footprint. According to the DUH, the current lack of new conservation methods, etc. To reduce the negative trends in the of controls and sanctions by the responsible To further reduce agriculture’s negative agriculture sector, FAO suggest that we authorities mean that manufacturers and impact on climate change, our food system should reduce overgrazing, recycle crop traders can bring products into circulation could be improved by minimising losses residues as fertiliser, increase the use of that do not comply with the legal limit and waste, and by promoting sustainable cover crops, intercropping, and agrofor- values. diets. FAO estimates that 30–40 per cent of estry. Further measures include the use of The DUH report: Keep away! http://www.duh. food produced for humans is lost before it improved plant varieties, nitrogen-fixing This tool does even reaches the market, due to inadequate legumes, organic fertilisers and improved de/fileadmin/ not comply routines in agriculture and throughout the water management. user_upload/ with NRMM- download/Pro- supply chain. By improving soil health, directive. Five strategies we need to adopt ac- jektinformation/ improving feed efficiency for livestock cording to the FAO report: improved crop Handgefuehrte_ benefit, favouring pollinators and creating production, improved animal production, Maschinen/ diversified landscapes this number can be improved manure management, improved Background- reduced. In low-income countries, most food utilisation and less protein in diets. paper_Mo- of the food waste is seen at the beginning bileMachin- Malin Larsson ery_2016_ of the supply chain, while the waste in final.pdf high-income countries is caused directly by The state of food and agriculture. Climate change, consumer behaviour and policy regulations. agriculture and food security. A combination of less meat, low intake of A report from FAO (Food and Agriculture Organiza- seafood and variety and balance between tion of the United Nations), 2016. http://www.fao. different products seems to have a good org/3/a-i6030e.pdf

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 19

FLICKR.COM / Tim Miller cc-by-NC-ND How to get people to eat less meat Personality, friends, religion and political instruments all have an impact on what we eat. A successful strategy to reduce meat consumption therefore needs to have a mixed approach that targets different factors simultaneously.

Livestock farming contributes to emis- that influence someone to become veg- however independent from other factors sions of air pollutants and greenhouse etarian. such as identity and moral beliefs. gases, including more than 90 per cent of Adequate knowledge and values are Gender is found to be one of strongest the EU’s ammonia emissions and about not always enough, however. Cognitive factors predicting level of meat consump- half of the EU’s methane emissions. dissonance is a negative feeling that occurs tion. Men tend to eat more meat than Decreased meat consumption has been a when you have multiple contradictory women and are also less willing to reduce recurring recommendation to bring these ideas simultaneously. Common strategies their consumption. There are also signs of emissions down. to reduce such dissonance include denial a generational shift where young people In a meta-study, researchers from Greif- and delegation. The latter can be to blame have the highest proportion of vegetarians swald University have studied barriers politicians or food corporations instead and are more open to “flexitarian” eating, and opportunities for reducing meat of taking responsibility oneself. meaning to actively omit meat from some consumption in developed and transition Day-to-day routines are an often-identi- meals without excluding meat completely countries. They found 155 studies that fied barrier to reduced meat consumption. from the diet. covered the topic in different ways. Bar- “Convenience” is important in an age riers and opportunities were categorised when many people feel that they have Fatty meats are nowadays associated with into three main types: personal factors, little time, lack of knowledge or interest in low-income groups and poor education in socio-cultural factors and external fac- cooking. That they like the taste of meat is many western countries. The proportion tors (table). often mentioned as a reason when people of vegetarians increases slightly with level Some of the factors are similar to those are asked to justify a high level of meat of income. However, in emerging econo- that predict other types of behaviour consumption. Taste preferences are not mies, such as China, meat consumption that have an environmental is still seen as an indicator impact. Awareness of the Factors Barriers & Opportunities of wealth. negative consequences is Personal factors Personality traits also needed in order to bring Awareness and skills Awareness of the impact of meat-eating; degree play a role. Not too surpris- of cooking skills about change. Awareness of ingly, conscientious people Values and attitudes Priority on values that favour low meat-con- the environmental impact of sumption are better at reducing their animal products has grown, meat consumption than Emotions and cognitive Cognitive dissonance blocks awareness and but is still quite low. In one dissonance value through denial and defence mechanisms people who are not. Open- study, only 30 per cent of Habits and taste Day-to-day routines and taste preferences ness and agreeableness people identified meat and Sociodemographic variables Gender, age, class and personality predict food are also traits linked to livestock as a significant con- and personality traits preferences environmentally conscious tributor to climate change. Perceived behaviour control Perceived ability to control behaviour correlates behaviour. Many people also believe with the actual ability to behave in that way The perceived ability to that meat is necessary for a Socio-cultural factors control behaviour is also meal to be nutritious. People Culture and religion There are cultural beliefs and symbolism con- important in changing nected to meat. In several religions, meat-eating also need skills to change is associated with different taboos one’s behaviour. People their behaviour, such as a Social identity and lifestyle What you eat is a social marker in the construc- who lack the feeling of knowledge of vegetarian tion of identity and lifestyle self-efficacy tend to regard cooking. Social norms, roles and Perception of normative behaviour by socially barriers such as high prices Values have a strong im- relationships connected peers will influence food choices and poor supply as greater pact on people’s behaviour. External factors than people who do not. Studies have shown that Political and economic Political targets and recommendations, subsi- Many people see meat- moral values, particularly factors dies and taxes, internalising environmental costs eating more as a cultural concerning animal welfare, Food environment Presence of facilities that offer affordable, norm than active choice. healthy and tasty non-meat alternatives are one of the key factors There are also several cul-

20 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 FLICKR.COM /Fairphone cc-by-SA Peer pressure should not be underestimated. Having vegetarian friends is a way to reduce your own meat consumption. tures and religions where meat-eating is people to choose them. There has been lead, such as Paul McCartney, Bill Clin- surrounded by various restrictions and a massive growth in vegetarian alterna- ton, Mike Tyson and Kate Winslet. They taboos, e.g. Lent in Christian tradition and tives in recent years, but availability can can help and encourage people to do the the importance of not hurting other living vary, even between neighbourhoods in right sustainable thing even if they are creatures in Buddhism and Hinduism. the same city. surrounded by sceptics. Peer pressure should not be underesti- Though there is growing institutional Finally, they call for more political mated. One study shows that for men, the awareness about the negative environmental and economic measures, “these include number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian impact of meat and livestock production removing harmful subsidies from live- friends is the greatest predictor for their this has not yet translated into policy. Nev- stock production, imposing taxes and level of meat consumption. The behaviours ertheless, steps have been taken. Germany more generally internalising social and of others in social occasions can work both has included reduced meat consumption environmental externalities in food pro- as a barrier and an opportunity. in its national climate goals and China duction costs”. What you eat is also a social marker of is running a campaign to halve meat Kajsa Pira identity. The concept of flexitarianism that consumption. Private companies such as has emerged in the past few years offers IKEA are promoting vegan alternatives in Reducing meat consumption in developed and an opportunity for people to identify with their restaurants. transition countries to counter climate change a diet low in meat without going vegan The researchers argue for a mixed ap- and biodiversity loss: a review of influence fac- or vegetarian. proach to encourage synergies between tors, by Susanne Stoll-Kleemann and Uta Johanna Schmidt, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/ the different factors they identified. Dif- s10113-016-1057-5 Among the external factors, economy is ferent groups need to be targeted with one of the more obvious ones. Livestock different arguments. For older people and products are directly and indirectly sub- men, health arguments and flexitarianism sidised in many countries and price has a (reduced meat consumption) are believed strong influence on people’s food choices. to be more effective. The food infrastructure also plays a They also stress the importance of part. Supermarkets and restaurants must prominent role models – actors, musicians, offer meat-free alternatives in order for politicians and sport heroes – taking a

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 21 Stronger air quality measures needed Air pollution remains the single largest environmental health hazard in Europe, resulting in a lower quality of life due to illnesses and nearly half a million premature deaths per year.

Air quality in Europe is slowly improving, Moreover, in the 41 countries considered, Table 2 shows the best estimate figures according to a new report by the European 467,000 premature deaths in 2013 were for total mortality due to exposure to Environment Agency (EEA). Using data attributed to PM2.5 exposure and 71,000 PM2.5, NO2 and O3 per country, for all from official monitoring stations across and 17,000 premature deaths to nitrogen the European countries included in the Europe, and including more than 400 dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) exposure, analysis. cities, the report presents an updated respectively. In the EU28, the numbers of The report also overview and analysis of air quality from premature deaths attributed to PM2.5, NO2 shows country-by- 2000 to 2014. and O3 exposure were 436,000, 68,000 country data on the estimated number The good news is that annual average and 16,000, respectively. of years of life lost (YLL) and the YLL levels of PM10 have fallen in three-quarters per 100,000 inhabitants due to exposure of the monitored locations during the EU environmental to the different pollutants. In theEU 28, period 2000–2014, and average PM2.5 the YLL attributed to PM2.5, NO2 and concentrations have also decreased between indicators O3 exposure are 4,668,000, 723,000 and 2006 and 2014. More action is needed to protect the 179,000, respectively. Despite these improvements, almost natural environment and people’s When considering YLL per 100,000 all city dwellers continue to be exposed health. This is the main conclusion of inhabitants due to PM2.5, the largest impacts to pollutants at levels deemed unsafe by the EEA’s new report on environmen- are observed in the central and eastern tal indicators, which gives a snapshot the World Health Organization (WHO). European countries, which is also where of progress made so far in meeting a In 2014, around nine out of ten urban the highest concentrations are observed, selected number of EU policy objec- citizens in the EU were exposed to fine i.e. Kosovo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Poland, tives that are relevant to achieving 2.5 Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, the particulate matter (PM ) and ozone the three key priority objectives of levels above the WHO guideline values. the EU’s 7th Environment Action Czech Republic and Slovakia. See Table 1. Programme: natural capital; resource- The largest health impacts attributable efficient, low-carbon economy, and people’s health and well-being.

The report and briefings: http://www.eea. europa.eu/airs

Elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone are still a hazard for both crops and people.

22 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 Table1. Percentage of the urban population in the EU28 exposed to air pollutant concentrations Table 2. Estimates of premature deaths at- above EU and WHO reference levels (2012–2014). tributable to exposure to PM2.5, O3 and NO2 in 40 European countries. Pollutant EU reference Exposure estimate WHO air quality Exposure estimate PM O NO value (%) (%) 2.5 3 2

3 3 Austria 6,960 330 910 PM2.5 Year (25 μg/m ) 8–12 Year (10 μg/m ) 85–91

3 3 Belgium 10,050 210 2,320 PM10 Day (50 μg/m ) 16–21 Year (20 μg/m ) 50–63

3 3 Bulgaria 13,700 330 570 O3 8-hour (120 μg/m ) 8–17 8-hour (100 μg/m ) 96–98

3 3 Croatia 4,820 240 160 NO2 Year (40 μg/m ) 7–9 Year (40 μg/m ) 7–9 Cyprus 450 30 BaP Year (1 ng/m3) 20–24 Year (0.12 ng/m3) 88–91

3 3 Czech Rep. 12,030 370 330 SO2 Day (125 μg/m ) < 1 Day (20 μg/m ) 35–49 Denmark 2,890 110 60 Estonia 690 30 Colour coding: < 5% 5–50% 50–75% > 75% Finland 1,730 80 France 45,120 1,780 8,230 to NO2 exposure and expressed as YLL per of biodiversity. In 2010, seven per cent of 100,000 inhabitants, are found in Italy, the total EU ecosystem area and five per Germany 73,400 2,500 10,610 Belgium, the UK and Serbia. Regarding cent of the Natura 2000 area were exposed Greece 13,730 840 1,490 ozone, the countries with the highest to acidifying depositions exceeding the Hungary 12,890 460 390 rates of YLL per100,000 inhabitants are limits of nature’s tolerance. Ireland 1,520 50 30 Greece, Italy, most of the countries in the Emissions of NH3 and NOx also disrupt Italy 66,630 3,380 21,040 western Balkans and Hungary. land and water ecosystems by introducing Latvia 2,080 60 110 It should be noted that the impacts excessive amounts of nutrient nitrogen, Lithuania 3,170 90 estimated for each pollutant may not causing eutrophication, an oversupply Luxembourg 280 10 80 be added to determine the total impact of nutrients, with resulting impacts on Malta 230 20 attributable to exposure to the three pol- biodiversity. In 2010, nearly two-thirds Netherlands 11,530 270 1,820 lutants. Because concentrations – especially of the total EU ecosystem area and three- Poland 48,270 1,150 1,610 those of PM2.5 and NO2 – are correlated, quarters of the Natura 2000 area were additions may result in double counting, exposed to nitrogen deposition exceeding Portugal 6,070 420 150 On top of the health impacts, air pollu- the critical eutrophication limits. Romania 25,330 430 1,900 tion continues to damage vegetation and Slovakia 5,620 200 Commenting on the ecosystems. Elevated concentrations of report, EEA Slovenia 1,960 100 150 ground-level ozone damage agricultural Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx Spain 23,940 1,760 4,280 crops, forests and plants by reducing pho- said: “Emission reductions have led to Sweden 3 020 160 tosynthesis. In 2013, the EU’s long-term improvements in air quality in Europe, but UK 37,930 710 11 940 objective for the protection of vegetation not enough to avoid unacceptable damage Total EU28 436,040 16,120 68,180 was exceeded in 81 per cent of the total to human health and the environment. Albania 2,010 100 10 EU We need to tackle the root causes of air agricultural area, and the critical level Andorra 40 for the protection of forests was exceeded pollution, which calls for a fundamental Bosnia & Herz. 3,620 180 80 in 68 per cent of the total EU forest area. and innovative transformation of our Iceland 80 Excess deposition of sulphur and nitrogen mobility, energy and food systems. This Kosovo 3,530 100 230 compounds (from emissions of SO2, NOx, process of change requires action from Lichtenstein 20 10 and NH3) contribute to the acidification us all, including public authorities, busi- of soil, lakes and rivers, causing the loss nesses, citizens and research community.” Macedonia 3,360 100 210 Monaco 20 10 Christer Ågren Montenegro 600 30 30

Note: PM in ambient air originates both from Norway 1,590 70 170 primary particles emitted directly into the air and San Marino 30 from secondary particles produced as a result of Serbia 10,730 320 1,340 chemical reactions of PM precursor pollutants, Switzerland 4,980 240 1,140 namely sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx),

ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds Total all 466,650 17,260 71,410 (VOCs). New research shows that PM concentrations EEA: Air Quality in Europe - 2016 report can be considerably reduced by additional cuts

in agricultural NH3 emissions.

Air quality in Europe - 2016 report. EEA Report No 28/2016. Available at: http://www.eea.europa.eu/ publications/air-quality-in-europe-2016

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 23

FLICKR.COM / Pierre Metivier cc-by-NC Cost-effective to cut ship NOx emissions By supplementing NOx Emission Control Areas with economic instruments, ship NOx emissions can be cut faster and further.

A new study has analysed the effectiveness, to a Danish study, ship emissions cause costs and health benefits of applying two about 50,000 premature deaths per year in specific policy instruments for reducing Europe. In several coastal countries, ship jointly by IVL Swedish Environmental NOx emissions from shipping in the emissions are responsible for more than Research Institute and CE Delft (see AN Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English one fifth of the total fallout of sulphur and 3/2016). Projections were given for two Channel up to 2040. One instrument was oxidised nitrogen – pollutants that cause main scenarios – one business-as-usual to establish a NOx Emission Control damage to ecosystems and biodiversity (BAU), and another with a NECA in Area (NECA), the other to supplement through acidification and eutrophication. place from 2021. In addition, the study the NECA with a NOx levy, where the As a result of both EU and global evaluated several policy instruments revenue would be used to fund the uptake regulations, sulphur emissions from ships that could be implemented in addition of NOx abatement measures in the sector. are expected to gradually come down, but or as an alternative to the NECA. These Emissions of air pollutants – including there is currently no regulation that will policy instruments would address NOx sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides ensure any significant cuts in theirNO x emissions from the entire fleet, not only (NOx) and small particles (PM2.5) – from emissions (see box). from newly built ships. shipping in European sea areas, contrib- An analysis of the potential for reduc- This new study ute significantly to serious damage to ing NOx emissions from shipping was builds on the one from health and the environment. According presented last year in a study prepared last year by using the same emission pro- jections. It has been expanded to include a more in-depth analysis of the abatement Ship NOx control costs and new estimates of the resulting health benefits, thus making it possible The only existing regulation of NOx 88 Exhaust gas after-treatment, where to compare the monetised health benefits from international shipping is in Annex the main option is selective catalytic with the costs. It has also estimated the VI of the MARPOL Convention under reduction (SCR). resulting reductions in nitrogen deposition the International Maritime Organiza- 88 Combustion modification using tion (IMO). However, the NOx emission techniques such as exhaust gas on land and at sea. recirculation (EGR) or methods where standards in this regulation solely apply Current NOx emissions from ships in water is introduced into the engine. to newly constructed ship engines, and the Baltic Sea and the North Sea were 8 8 Switching from marine fuel oils to, for estimated to amount to 830,000 tonnes. the currently (since 2012) applicable example, liquefied natural gas (LNG) Tier II standard accomplishes just a or methanol. Under the BAU scenario, emissions in modest 15 to 20 per cent emission 88 Reduced fuel consumption, e.g. 2040 are expected to come down slightly, reduction compared to an unabated through slow steaming. by about 14 per cent, to 715,000 tonnes. Tier I engine. Assuming that a NECA is in place from There is however a stricter Tier III SCR, EGR and using LNG as fuel can all reduce NOx emissions to Tier III levels. 2021, emissions in 2040 would instead be standard that requires emission reduc- reduced by nearly two-thirds, to 306,000 tions of about 80 per cent compared Of these, SCR has the longest history of tonnes. to a Tier I engine, but this applies only marine applications, LNG is increasingly Introducing a levy & fund on top of the to newly built ships in designated NOx being used as a marine fuel, and while NECA NO Emission Control Areas (NECA), which EGR is said by engine manufacturers to could reduce ship x emissions currently only exist in North America. live up to the standard, so far there is further and much faster. As early as 2025, While the Tier II standard can be ac- limited data from practical applications. emissions could be cut by more than hieved by internal engine modifications Because the NOx standards apply two-thirds, and by 2040 they could be that adjust combustion parameters, only to newly built ships and ships have cut by three-quarters, to 220,000 tonnes bigger changes are needed to reach the a very long lifetime, the introduction of (see Figure). economic instruments such as a levy & Tier III standard. It should be noted that the study used fund can provide a very useful com- There are several different abatement the rather cautious assumption that only options for reducing emissions of NOX plement, by also ensuring significant emission cuts in the short term. three-quarters of the existing ships would be from marine engines, including: retrofitted with emission abatement tech- nology. Despite this, the use of economic

24 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 Table: Calculated costs and benefits for the NECA and the combined NECA + levy & fund scenarios (million euro).

Year NECA NECA + levy & fund Benefits Costs Net benefits Benefits Costs Net benefits VOLY VSL VOLY VSL VOLY VSL VOLY VSL 2021 80 240 30 40 210 1,220 3,950 820 400 3,130 2025 350 1,190 170 180 1,020 1,490 5,050 940 550 4,110 2030 620 2,200 300 320 1,900 1,450 5,150 870 590 4,280 2035 880 3,360 430 450 2,930 1,420 5,320 760 670 4,560 2040 1,150 4,520 560 580 3,960 1,390 5,490 720 670 4,770

FLICKR.COM /joel dinda cc-by-nc-sa & IGOR Botamino cc-By 2020–2040 12,700 - 6,200 6,600 - 28,300 - 16,500 11,800 - accumulated instruments would cut NOx emissions by about 500,000 tonnes per year on average 1000 throughout the 2020s. For comparison, 900 BAU NECA Levy & Fund this is nearly as much as the current an- 800 nual total land-based NOx emissions of 700 Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland combined. 600 Altogether over the 20-year period 500 2021–2040, the establishment of a NECA 400 would cut ship NOx emissions in the Baltic 300 Sea and the North Sea by 4.5 million tonnes at a cost of about €6.2 billion. 200 Using the lower health valuation (VOLY – 100 value of life year lost), the accumulated 0 health benefits amount to €12.5 billion, 2010 2020 2028 2029 2030 2038 2039 2040 2005 2015 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 resulting in a net socio-economic benefit of €6.6 billion. Figure 1: NOx emissions from international shipping in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Eng- lish Channel 2005–2040 under a) business-as-usual (BAU); b) a NOx emission control area (NECA), When the NECA is combined with a levy and; c) a NOx levy & fund system. & fund system, the accumulated emission reductions would more than double to 2040 A C reach 9.9 million tonnes, increasing the E 2035 N

y

monetised health benefits to €28.3 bil- l 2030 n o lion (VOLY). The costs would amount to 2025

€16.5 million, also more than a doubling,

d resulting in a net socio-economic benefit n Bene ts u F of €11.8 billion. 2040

& Costs

y

A comparison of annual costs with v 2035 e L

+ 2030

annual monetised health benefits that A instead uses the higher health valuation C E 2025 VSL N ( – value of statistical life) results in 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 even higher benefit-to-cost ratios, where € million the benefits exceed the costs by between five and eight times. Figure 2: Comparison of costs and monetised health benefits V( SL) for the NECA and the com- bined NECA + levy & fund scenarios (million euro). Not surprisingly, it is the coastal countries that will gain the most from ship NOx reductions – the biggest health improve- areas would be reduced by up to 80,000 noticeable health and environmental ments are expected in France, Germany, tonnes per year, and inputs of nitrogen to benefits shortly after its enforcement. UK, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and the Baltic Sea and the North Sea would Christer Ågren Denmark. be cut by up to 45,000 tonnes per year, which equals approximately 20 per cent of The study “Cost-benefit analysis ofNO x control for On top of ships in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea” (March these significant health benefits, the current annual deposition of oxidised 2017) was commissioned by AirClim and prepared there will also be environmental gains nitrogen to these two sea areas. by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. as a result of lowered input of eutrophy- The authors conclude that a levy & fund It can be downloaded at: www.airclim.org ing nitrogen to terrestrial and marine appears to be a very effective complement ecosystems. The nitrogen fallout on land to a NECA, with the potential to bring

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 25 Ships and planes keep on increasing GHG emissions Under measures already in place, shipping and aviation will thus undo land transport in the EU is expected to almost half of the already insufficient consume 43 Mtoe (million tonnes of oil progress made by cars, vans, trucks, rail equivalent) less energy per year in 2030 and inland navigation. than it did in 2010, according to a study Bill Hemmings at Transport & Envi- by CE Delft. Even this 43 Mtoe cut is less ronment (T&E), said: “Planes and ships than half of what will be required from are free riding at the expense of land land transport under the EU’s proposed transport’s already insufficient efforts to 2030 Effort Sharing Regulation. Yet ships cut emissions. This is not only unfair but and planes in Europe will consume 19 a roadblock to the EU meeting its own Mtoe more fuel annually in 2030 than climate commitments. Governments need they did 20 years earlier. The growth in to think again and include shipping in the FLICKR.COM / Roger W cc-by-sa emissions trading system and strengthen GHGs from the sector, with the actual its aviation provisions.” implementation date possibly many years Globally, shipping is projected to ac- further away. count for 17 per cent of total emissions by 2050. Yet the International Maritime Source: T&E press release, 6 December 2016. Link: Organization recently decided to delay http://transenv.eu/2hdAGaV by at least seven years any agreement on introducing a global measure to reduce Greetings from some Chinese ship emission free-riding means of transport! control areas

FLICKR.COM /Don...The UpNorth Memories Guy... Harrison cc-by-nc-nd Last year Chinese authorities introduced three domestic sulphur emission control High air pollution levels areas (ECA) – setting a maximum limit on sulphur in fuel of 0.5 per cent – in found on cruise ship’s deck ports in the coastal regions of the Yangtze River Delta (from 1 April 2016), the Pearl Undercover measurements of harm- NABU’s transport policy officer, Daniel River Delta (from 1 October 2016), and ful ultra-fine particles (PM) on the sun Rieger, warned that the results are most in the Bohai Sea (from 1 January 2017). deck of a European cruise ship revealed likely indicative of the poor air quality From 1 January 2018, ships will have to concentrations up to 200 times higher on nearly all cruise ships. But it wouldn’t shift to low-sulphur fuel before berthing than natural background levels and 20 be difficult for cruise ships to reduce at all ports located within the three ECAs, times worse than in the busy city cen- emissions – improvements could be and from 1 January 2019, the 0.5-per-cent tres with heavy traffic, according to the made by switching to cleaner fuel, ide- fuel sulphur limit will extend to ships German environmental group Nature and ally road diesel or liquid natural gas, and operating within the designated ECAs Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). by installing particle filters and nitrogen and they will be required to make the The measurements were made for the catalysts, he said. fuel changeover prior to entry. The ECA French documentary television series boundaries have been clearly designated, Thalassa. Previously, NABU had made a Source: NABU press release, 24 January 2017: https:// mostly extending 12 nautical miles from en.nabu.de/news/2017/21870.html series of air pollution measurements in shore. several port cities and next to cruise ship The Telegraph, 1 February 2017: http://www. Towards the end of 2019, the Chinese terminals in Venice, Hamburg, Marseille telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/air-pollution- government is scheduled to determine if levels-200-times-higher-on-cruise-ships/ and Barcelona. the fuel sulphur limit in its domestic ECAs We promise you an unforgettable holiday FLICKR.COM / Carlo Mirante-cc-by should be reduced to 0.1 per cent. This with beautiful horizons and PM levels few would bring the Chinese ECA require- have experienced since the Great Smog. ments into line with regulation MARPOL Annex VI of the International Maritime Organization. Source: green4sea.com, 19 December 2016.

26 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 Coal project in Croatia stopped Croatian electricity company HEP Proizvodnja was proposing that a new 500 MW unit re- place the ageing Plomin 1 plant, at the site of the existing Plomin Power Station. As a result, the Plomin Power Station capacity would have increased from 335 MW to 710 MW

“After five yearsof campaigning against the construction of the harmful Plomin C coal power plant, a big victory was achieved,” reported the Croatian envi- ronmental organisation Zelena Akcija last year. The Minister of Economy, Tomislav Panenić, had stated that the realisation of this project had been cancelled. In a press statement Zelenya Akcia said: “We are sure that after convincing arguments against the construction and the circumstances that occurred, the Government had no other choice but to stop Plomin C. We send a big thank you to all the citizens that supported us in this big campaign. During the campaign we have reported extensively on the harmful environmental and health consequences, low economic feasibility and the negative impact of this project in terms of climate change, as well as its incompatibility with EU regulations, and constantly advocated for the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. We organised around 40 activities, performances, lectures and other FLICKR.COM / Carlo Mirante-cc-by After years of protests the Minister of Economy has declared that the coal power plant Plomin events, conducted several studies on the in Istria, Croatia will not be expanded as the electricity company HEP Proizvodnja wanted. legality, economics and energy efficiency of the project. We also initiated three court producing extremely expensive electricity constructing this power plant was rejected cases and one case was sent to DORH (the and contributing to climate change. This last year in a referendum by 94 per cent of Croatian State’s Attorney Office); we sent project started seven or eight years ago and Labinština’s inhabitants, and according to around 10 letters to potential investors was promoted by the old HDZ (Christian research conducted by the IPSOS agency and banks arguing the harmfulness of Democrat or centre-right) government, two years ago, 64 per cent of Croatian the project; organised a big campaign and later, with the same enthusiasm, citizens were against the Plomin C project. before the advisory (local) referendum by the Kukuriku coalition government Zelenia Akcija concluded that it will in Labinština; and communicated with (centre-left), as well as some ministers continue to keep track of the process and try the European Commission pointing out in the current government (right-wing). to ensure a good energy policy in Croatia that the planned contract between HEP With the discontinuation of Plomin C, that won’t allow projects like Plomin C. (Croatian Power Utility) and the Japanese the opportunity for a big step forward If some unreasonable, incompetent or investor is unacceptable.” in the energy sector has finally been cre- corrupt government official decides to Zelenia Akcija summarized that “all of ated. It will now be necessary to ensure a restart this project, it will surely know how these activities, in conjunction with the good energy strategy and a strategy for to respond and continue the campaign.” increased European practice of abandon- low-carbon development, which can’t ing coal, have led to the current situation include new coal power plants, but must Source: Zelena Akcija press release 15 June 2016: http://zelena-akcija.hr/en/programmes/energy_ where the realisation of the Plomin C be based on energy efficiency and the use and_climate_change/we_stopped_the_harm- project is no longer possible. As a result, of renewable energy sources.” ful_coal_project_plomin_c Croatia has been saved from a power plant Zeleny Akcija send a big thank you to that would run on imported coal and pol- all the citizens that supported this big lute the air for the next 40 years, while campaign. As a reminder, the idea of

ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017 27 B ECONOMIQUE

Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat Första Långgatan 18 Coming events 413 28 Göteborg Sweden Air Pollution 2017. 25th International conference on modelling, monitoring and management of air pollution. Cadiz, Spain, 25 Recent publications from the Secretariat - 27 April 2017. Information: http://www.wessex. ac.uk/conferences/2017/air-pollution-2017 Reports can be downloaded in PDF format from www.airclim.org

AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE SERIES

Briefing November 2015 Climate policy EU informal meeting of environment minis- 35 A 1.5 target is Short Paper Climate change in the Baltic Sea region: Short Paper on the UNFCCC needed to save Structured Expert Dialogue on ters. Malta, 25 - 26 April 2017. Information: www. A 1.5 target is needed to the 2013–2015 Review, with a on the UNFCCC the Baltic Sea particular focus on the 1.5°C target consilium.europa.eu/en/press/calendar/ save the Baltic Sea By Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Michiel Schaeffer, Bill Hare. Climate Analytics Structured Expert Effects of global temperature increases on the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. (March 2016). By Dialogue on Health Effects Institute Annual Conference. by Lennart Nyman PhD Lennart Nyman. Ef- the 2013–2015 Alexandria, Virginia, USA, 30 April – 2 May 2017. fects of global tem- Review (Nov 2015). Information: https://www.healtheffects.org/ peratures increases By Climate Analyt- annual-conference. on the biodiversity ics. Review, with a of the Baltic Sea. particular focus on UNFCCC First sessional period in 2017. Bonn,

Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat 1 Germany, 8 - 18 May 2017. Information: http:// Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat the 1.5°C target. unfccc.int/

AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE SERIES 34 Phasing out fossil Paths to a 6th International symposium on ultrafine Phasing out fossil gas gas in Europe sustainable particles: Air quality and Climate. Brussels, in Europe Paths to a sustainable agricultural system Pathways to a Nordic agricultural and food system with (March 2016). By reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants agricultural Belgium, 10 - 11 May 2017. Information: http:// Fredrik Lundberg. system (March ufp.efca.net The natural gas 2016). By Kajsa Pira industry faces et al. An agriculture 6th ICP Forests Scientific Conference 2017 strategic choices. and food system - Air pollution, climate change and forest /Policy brief with reduced emis- ecosystems. Bucharest, Bulgaria, 16 - 17 May sions. 2017. Information: http://icp-forests.net/events/ task-force-meeting-of-icp-forests-2 Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat

The impacts of nitrogen pollution on air, water ICAPC 2017: 19th International Conference on and soil cost the EU AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE SERIES between €70 and €320 AIR & billion a year. AIR & EU citizens in urban Air Pollution and Control. London, UK, 25 - 27 Carbon Capture areas are exposed to AGRICULTURE dangerous levels of air 33 ROAD VEHICLES pollution through the air they breathe. Passenger Ruminants, such as cows and goats, are the main sources contributing to emissions of owerful cars and vans are a major Carbon Capture and he agricultural sector is of methane from agriculture. Methane is both a p house gases, including both air pollutants and green one precursor (see Air & Climate cause of this pollution. May 2017. Information: https://www.waset.org/ ia (NH ) emissions. It also emits greenhouse gas and an oz and Storage in 95% of the EU’s ammon 3 factsheet). T e matteroad (PM) transport [1]. is a major source of methane (CH4) and primary particulat of pollutants including nitrog air pollution that harmsthe human burning h of agricultural Storage in Norway Primary PM mainly originates from amount of air pollution citizenen oxides (NO Ammonia is emitted mainly from animalR manure and synthetic ) and particulategal in most matter Member (PMealth States, and the b environmentut ophication,above acidification these limits, mainly and waste,due to higa spractice should breathe, thatx is illebut people in ur . Vehicles emit a range fertilisers. It contributes to eutr The health impactsto satellite of observations). The EU [2]. has set limit values for the m condary which is stillh concentrations common according of passenger carsban an areas are still exposed to levels of – The moon landing that failed other changes in ecosystems. It can also turn into se aximum alth. coal power generation are conference/2017/05/london/ICAPC PM which harms human he d vans in these areas [1]. NO and PM well Norway (2nd edi- EU legislation estimated at more than 2 2nd Edition • In order to reduce urban air p 18,300 premature deaths, EU legislation ve has helped to the maximum amount of p ollutionthe thelarger EUabout has • setThe 8,600 limits Nitrates extra for Directi cases of are partly • Although emissions ollutionfrom that can be emitted from anagement at • Agricultural emissions vehicles [2]. Vehicles are theref ed improve nitrogenconditions. m Unfortunatel issions poultry and pig facilities are regulatchronic bronchitis, and over mary aim addressed by the National Em car can be put on the market toore ensu laboratory-tested nationalbefore the level. Howeverreproduce its thesepri condit y the current test cycle fails to accuratel AIR & under the Industrial Emissions Directive,4 million lost working days n water Ceilings (NEC) Directive, which sets overallreal emissions on the road is to address nitrogen pollution i ions and is therefore not repres those from cattle (responsiblere for compliance. 60% However of how European citizens y caps on pollutants such as ammonia.measured in the laborat are much higher thaneach -emi not yearair pollution. in the EU. tion, March 2016). of EU ammonia emissons) remain life. The so called “ drive their cars in their everydayentative However methane and PM are not yet ory tests. ssions cycle beating” techniques developed • This is becauseunaddressed. passenger cars ts of air carmakers enable vehicles to INDUSTRYcovered by the existing directive. on a rolling road, with the l and vans are tested in a laborator gap between the emissions meameet the limits during tests. This by CLRTAP Working Group on Strategies and a drive cycle that is intend emissions in real life dr28 ), particulateevel matter of emissionsBaseline (PM), scenariosmeasured for over agryicultural emissions in the EU- sured in the laboratory and the 2 ed to reproduce real world driving in the real world with emissionsiving conditions l means non compl phur dioxide (SO Emissions (kton) Source: IIASA, February 2014 FACTS AND FIGURES), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), imits. iance ndustrial installations – in particular the biggest2 ones – emitticular large concern amounactsheets). both12000 for

pollutants in Europe.x Emissions), carbon dioxide of sul (CO ByTore Braend. The TONNES 10000 Initrogen oxides (NOAMMONIA FACTS AND FIGURES mercury (Hg), cadmium, lead, nickel and dioxins are of parNITROGEN EMISSIONS 3.2 MLN 8000 Review. Geneva, Switzerland, 31 May - 2 June human95% health and ecosystems (see Air & Health and Air & Ecosystems f FACTS AND FIGURES NO TO ATMOSPHERE EVERY [3]. LOST AS NH 3 x comprises a mixture of nitric IN EU ARE FROM AGRICULTURE dioxide (NO E-PRTRYEAR IN EU register [3]. ). NO 6000 oxide (NO) and nitrogen The average contribution emissions also2 contribute2 is a totoxic acidificat gas harmful for he The European Pollutant of local traffic to urban NO Release andcausing Transfery PM, serious Registerwhich damage is known t THE COST OF AIRalth. POLLUTION NO 169 billion in EU legislationAmmonia emissions form secondar 4000 ion and eutrophication,x and PM 2 Norwegian interest o ecosystems. 10 concentrations is (E-PRTR) remature[2] was established deaths annually from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe The Industrial Emissionsto provoke Directive around 400,000 p estimated at 64 % and 34 %, • to improveaverage public life access expectancy of amounted to between €102 and (IED) aims toin theboth EU, bringingprevent down the respectively [4]. to environmental data. The 20002009. This amounts to €200-330 a year for every 2017. Information: www.unece.org/env/lrtap/ and control Europeanspollution by fromapproximately register 6-12 contains months information [4].Road transport is the main s 40% European [4]. It is estimated that 6-1 around 50,000 large installations about the quantity of emissions91 types [3] and accounts0 for 4 ource of NO NO EMISSIONSs are currently exposed to 2015 2020 80%2025 2030EU urban population is exposed2% of the operating in many fields2/3 of including EU ecosystemX of pollutants emittedin annually urban areas. 2005 2010 x NO 0% of emissions 2 levels above the EU limit valu energy, the productionmore nitrogen and depositioby moren than than they 28 000 can of copethe with methane approximatelyammonia 80% of the u to largest industrial facilitieson [5]. methane (CLE) ammonia (CLE) e and that in CCS depends processing of metals,and minerals 1 in 10 receivesand too much acid depositi isammonia exposed (MTFR) to PM rban population in Europe. Unfortunately, chemicals, waste management CLE - Current legislation 10 levels exceeding the DIESEL CARS:the register does not give guidelines n on MTFR - Maximum Technically Feasible Reductions WHO and the intensive rearing ofThe pigs impacts information of nitrogen about pollutio emissions welcome.html 1 g/km and poultry [1]. REAL-WORLDair, water andconcentrations soil VS. cost the or otherEU between Installations are granted a permit70 and 320parameters billion euros that a allow year the[6]. • comparison of environmental COMMON HEATHER based on the Best TESTAvailable NO 0,8 g/km X EMISSIONSperformance. (Calluna vulgaris) Techniques (BATs) in their field. he Mediterranean basin exceeded the0,5 g/km is one of many species that are on the oil and gas In theBATs mid constitute 1990s, 12% “state of t of the art” n a business as usualU level scenario, by EU Member this outcompeted by grass when nitrogen thresholdenvironmental for nitrogen performance impact. I and 0,1894% g/km OF INSTALLATIONS= share will reach 69% by 2Test050 NO [7]. depositions are high [5]. [4] are detailed in BAT Referencex emissions Documents (BREFs) which are developed at E EURO 36% OF INSTALLATIONS= 1/4 OF DAMAGE States, industry andReal environmental world emissions NGOs. 3/4 OF DAMAGE EURO 5 • The conclusions of these documents are formally adopted by values EU European Biomass Conference and Exhibition sector. Member States and need to be complied with within 4 years after publication. BAT IMPLEMENTATION • The IED also sets specific minimum binding emission limit The benefits of applying BATs to industrial activities (ELVs) for certain air pollutants and certain sectors such as for Large outweigh the costs by a ratio of between 3 to 1 (low Combustion Plants (LCPs) and Waste (Co)Incineration - the so-& estimate) and 10 to 1 (high estimate), even without called “safety net”. Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat taking into accountreduce damage the tonumber ecosystems. of casesIt could of (EUBCE). Stockholm, Sweden, 12 - 15 June 2017. • Some sectors are exempted from the IED despite their significant chronic bronchitis by 14.000 each contribution to air pollution, for example cattle farms (see Air year and the number of days on Agriculture factsheet). h) irective to which people have to limit their activity for health reasons by 24 en 1 and 50 megawattsutants (PM, Medium scale combustion plants (1-50MWt million. The annual net benefits are In December 2013, the European Commission proposed alimits D differ COSTS estimated between €28-59 billion [5]. limit emissions from combustion plants betwe BENEFITS or boilers, existing or Information: http://www.eubce.com/home.html thermal (MWth). It proposes EU wide limits for three air egimepoll despite x). The ambition level and entry into force of the SOx, NO according to the type of installations (enginesmber States [3]. new). The Commission did not propose a permitting r this already being in place in several Me EU Environment Council. Luxembourg, 19 June 2017. Information: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/ Gasping for Air (Sep 2014).Twelve factsheets on press/calendar/ agriculture, climate, cultural heritage, domestic heating, economy, ecosystems, health, industry, Innovative solutions for sustainable manage- non-road machinery, road vehicles, shipping and ment of nitrogen. Aarhus, Denmark, 26 - 28 solvents. June, 2017. Information: http://sustainablenconfer- ence.dnmark.org 1.5 Stay Alive (April 2015). Short doucumentary about IMO MEPC 71 (Marine Environment Protec- climate change in the coastal zones of the Carribean tion Committee). London, UK, 3 - 7 July 2017. region. Winner of the Golden Sun award 2016. Contact Information: www.imo.org [email protected] for access. CLRTAP EMEP Steering Body & Working Group on Effects. Geneva, Switzerland, 11 - 15 Subcribe to Acid News via email September 2017. Information: www.unece.org/env/ lrtap/welcome.html Are you receiving the printed copy This way, you’ll get access to Acid UNFCCC Second sessional period in 2017. of Acid News but missing out on the News at least two weeks before the Bonn, Germany, 6 - 17 November 2017. Informa- online version? Sign up on our website printed copy arrives in the mail. tion: http://unfccc.int/ to receive an email announcement airclim.org/acidnews/an_subscribe.php CLRTAP Executive Body. Geneva, Switzerland, when each issue of Acid News becomes 11 - 14 December 2017. Information: www.unece. available online. org/env/lrtap/welcome.html

28 ACID NEWS NO. 1, APRIL 2017