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Revision of EU air quality legislation: Setting a zero pollution objective for air
Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in the EU and causes significant damage to ecosystems. As part of the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, on 26 October 2022 the Commission tabled a proposal for a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives. The proposed directive would set air quality standards for 2030 that are more closely aligned with the Word Health Organization's recommendations, as updated in 2021. It would also include a mechanism for the standards ...
Pollutants in EU waters: Update of chemical substances listed for control
As required by EU water legislation, and in line with the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, on 26 October 2022 the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise the lists of surface water and groundwater pollutants that need to be monitored and controlled for the purpose of protection of EU freshwater bodies, and the associated environmental quality standards. The proposal also seeks to remedy shortcomings identified in the current framework as regards chemical pollution in waters, ...
Raising ambition levels at the IMO for 2050 | An overview of the key issues at stake at MEPC 80
The briefing provides an overview of the key positions taken ahead of MEPC 80 with a focus on both the setting of ambitious GHG targets under the revision to the IMO GHG Strategy and the further discussion of the basket of mid- to long-term measures needed to deliver this enhanced level of ambition.
Revising the Effort-sharing Regulation for 2021-2030: 'Fit for 55' package
The EU's effort-sharing legislation covers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in sectors not included in the EU emissions trading system. A wide range of sources – such as fuels used for road transport, energy used for heating and cooling in buildings, animal digestion and fertilisers used in agriculture, waste treatment, and small industries – account for these emissions. To cut the emissions in these sectors, the EU Effort-sharing Regulation (ESR) establishes collective and national binding targets ...
Updating Euro emission standards (Euro 7)
The Commission mobilised considerable time and resources to prepare this initiative, in an extensive 'back to back' (ex post evaluation and ex ante impact assessment) process that started in 2018 with the set-up of the Advisory Group on Vehicle Emission Standards. The IA draws on numerous external studies, stakeholder consultations, relevant data sources and approved modelling tools (SYBIL and COPERT). In spite of some weaknesses in the definition of the problems and objectives, the intervention ...
Revising the standards for surface water and groundwater pollutants
The impact assessment is informed by the findings of the European Commission's fitness check of the water directives, in line with the Better Regulation Guidelines' 'evaluate first' principle. The IA's strong points include a dynamic baseline that takes into account the likely changes to emissions, the current and proposed legislation, and external factors. The IA proposed a satisfactory range of options and was transparent in reporting the limitations of assessing the costs and benefits, which depend ...
Cleaner Air for Europe
The IA clearly identifies the current AAQDs' shortcomings, provides references to the updated WHO guidelines and lists the fitness check findings, stakeholders' opinions, and supporting data. It sets a general objective to further improve air quality in the EU and diminish the impact of air pollution on human health and the environment. It does not make it clear however whether the translation of the general objective into specific objectives, as formulated, fully addresses some relevant drivers. ...
Revision of the Effort-Sharing Regulation
The EU's effort-sharing legislation covers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in sectors not included in the EU emissions trading system (ETS). To reduce the emissions in these sectors for the 2021-2030 period, the Effort-Sharing Regulation (ESR) establishes binding national targets and sets up annual emissions allocations (AEAs) for each Member State, defining the trajectory it should follow to cut the emissions. On 14 July 2021, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation amending ...
Klimaatactie in België: Actuele stand van zaken
De lidstaten zijn op grond van de bindende klimaat- en energiewetgeving van de EU verplicht nationale energie- en klimaatplannen (NECP’s) voor de periode 2021-2030 vast te stellen. In oktober 2020 heeft de Europese Commissie voor elk NECP een beoordeling gepubliceerd. Het Belgische klimaat- en energiebeleid is het resultaat van gecombineerde inspanningen van Vlaanderen, Wallonië en het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest. Een groot deel van de Belgen (60 %) vindt dat de verantwoordelijkheid voor het aanpakken ...
Climate action in Spain: Latest state of play
The EU's binding climate and energy legislation for 2030 requires Member States to adopt national energy and climate plans (NECPs) covering the period 2021 to 2030. In October 2020, the European Commission published an assessment of each NECP. A high proportion of Spaniards (67 %) expect national governments to tackle climate change. Spain accounts for 9 % of the EU's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Between 2005 and 2019, the country reduced emissions by 27 %, performing better than the EU ...