• Brussels urged to end delays on air pollution

    A group of four NGOs has written to the environment commissioner, Janez Potocnik, urging him to activate the revision of two directives that are central to improving air quality and other related benefits.

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    The four (T&E, EEB, AirClim and Health & Environment Alliance) wrote earlier this month, pointing out that the National Emissions Ceilings directive from 2001 should have been revised in 2005 and in its current form is totally inadequate for reaching health and environment targets due to be achieved this year.

    The four also want the 2005 directive on the sulphur content of marine fuels to be tightened, because nothing is forcing ship owners to use readily available cost-effective means of reducing air pollution from ships by up to 90%, and air polluting emissions from ships continue to increase. Several studies have shown that the costs of cutting air pollutant emissions from ships are lower – sometimes much lower – than the cost of further reducing emissions from land sources.

    The Commission has consistently postponed the revisions of both directives.