article thumbnail

WHO issues new, lower Global Air Quality Guidelines for classical pollutants

Green Car Congress

New WHO has issued new Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) that reduce levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. Since WHO’s last 2005 global update, there has been a marked increase of evidence that shows how air pollution affects different aspects of health. Source: WHO. nitrogen dioxide (NO?)

Pollution 435
article thumbnail

Upwards of 90% of EU city dwellers exposed to PM2.5 and O3 pollution at levels deemed harmful by WHO

Green Car Congress

Despite a decline in emissions of the main air pollutants in Europe in the period 2002–2011, around 90% of city dwellers in the European Union (EU) are exposed to PM 2.5 Lower proportions of EU citizens were exposed to levels of these pollutants exceeding the limits or targets set out in EU legislation. Click to enlarge.

Pollution 223
article thumbnail

EPA, NHTSA issue One National Program Rule; EPA withdraws CA waiver for GHG and fuel economy

Green Car Congress

criteria pollutants—is not affected by the action. EPA said that the legal basis for withdrawing the California waiver is under CAA section 209(b)(1)(B), which covers compelling and extraordinary conditions. The California waiver authority exists because California has uniquely difficult problems with ozone-forming pollutants.

article thumbnail

Cutting Non-CO2 Pollutants Can Delay Abrupt Climate Change; The Fast Action Climate Agenda

Green Car Congress

HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases originally developed as substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals. A binding legal agreement exists that can cut HFCs now—the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty—and many alternatives to HFCs have already been developed and are waiting for the right regulatory incentive from the Montreal Protocol to be deployed.

article thumbnail

London and Paris launch car scoring initiative based on real-world emissions; ICCT the technical lead

Green Car Congress

This new undertaking will capture detailed information on pollutants from vehicle exhaust using remote-sensing equipment and portable emissions monitoring systems. The new initiatives will award each car model a score based on all of the air pollutants they release during real-world, on-road conditions. Earlier post.).

London 150
article thumbnail

House Chairmen Waxman, Markey Release Draft of Energy and Climate Legislation; Among the Many Provisions Are Cap-and-Trade, Harmonization of CAFE and California Vehicle Regulations, and Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Green Car Congress

The draft requires states to establish goals for reducing global warming pollution from the transportation sector and requires large metropolitan planning organizations to submit transportation plans to meet those goals. Title III, Reducing Global Warming Pollution , (the cap-and-trade title), has eight subsections.

Climate 186
article thumbnail

EPA proposes new standards to reduce methane and VOCs emissions from oil and gas industry

Green Car Congress

Sources already subject to the 2012 NSPS requirements for VOC reductions that also would be covered by the proposed 2015 methane requirements would not have to install additional controls, because the controls to reduce VOCs reduce both pollutants. Costs and benefits.

EPA 150