Government’s plans to reduce one of the most harmful types of air pollution do not go far enough or fast enough, according to the chief executive of a green technology company which has developed technology to help tackle the problem. George Eustice, the environment secretary, has proposed that the limit on fine particulate matter in England should be cut by 2040 from an annual average of 20 … [Read more...]
EU risks undermining national low carbon drive
The -55% climate target announced last week makes the EU Green Deal the most ambitious climate initiative in the world, said green group Transport & Environment. But European Commission president Ursual von der Leyen risks undermining her own efforts with a plan that would undercut national action to cut pollution from cars and trucks added the pressure group. Emissions trading would be … [Read more...]
Lockdown seems to have improved air quality
The overwhelming majority of drivers have noticed a positive improvement in local air quality according to a survey into driver attitudes and behaviours during lockdown. The survey by nationwide electric car charge point installer Smart Home Charge, found almost all respondents noticed less congestion and noise pollution(99.3% and 88.3% respectively), with 98.3% agreeing that electric cars would … [Read more...]
Cars are an escape from Coronavirus
Cars, councils and the country make strange bedfellows, but they now depend on one another to fight Coronavirus-19. After decades of being squeezed out, criticised and taxed as a milk-cow it now seems that councils and the country cannot survive without cars. All the investment pushed into public transport at the expense of improving roads and parking seems to be wasted as the country is told to … [Read more...]
Air pollution warning over CV19 easing
Easing the lockdown and more commuting will lead to a rapid rise in air pollution, say engineers. In response to the news that the need to return to the workplace could see an increase in car use and a rebound in CO2 emissions following a reduction due to Covid-19 lockdown, Dr Jenifer Baxter, Chief Engineer at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said, “The Institution has for many years … [Read more...]
Uber blamed for rising pollution in urban areas
Uber is adding more polluting car trips to already-clogged European cities such as London and Paris, new analysis suggests - contributing to air pollution and climate change and exploding the company’s sustainability claims. Data compiled by Euromonitor for European research and campaign group Transport & Environment shows a surge in the number of Uber drivers officially registered as … [Read more...]
Newslines 18 October
A free app has launched that will forever change the way drivers buy car insurance and make it cheaper for drivers – and young drivers in particular - to get covered. honcho, which is the first reverse-auction marketplace app in the UK, requires insurers to bid against each other for customers, competing for their custom in real-time and the bidding process takes just 30 seconds, with three … [Read more...]
Key-in your thoughts on air pollution in Wales
The Welsh Government wants to hear public views on their final package of measures to improve air quality on Welsh roads. At the end of July, Welsh Government published an interim supplemental plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations alongside the UK Government’s plan 2017 - Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations in Wales. This supplemental plan contained … [Read more...]
‘Dirty’ cities want history brushed under carpet
Nine EU Member States have asked the European Commission for permission to pollute above national limits set in EU law. Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland and Luxembourg have all asked for the limits that should have been met in 2015 to be raised so that they no longer appear to have breached them. The European Union’s National Emission Ceilings Directive … [Read more...]