The Environment Chronicle

An EEA report released on 15 October 2013, has revealed that over 90% of people in urban areas are exposed to what experts consider dangerous levels of pollutants fine particles (PM2.5) and ozone. Between 2009 and 2011, up to 96 % of city dwellers were exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations above WHO guidelines and up to 98 % were exposed to ozone (O3) levels above WHO guidelines.

On 27 September 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) held a press conference in Stockholm to present the Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group I contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). The Working Group I contribution to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) considers new evidence of climate change based on many independent scientific analyses from observations of the climate system, paleoclimate archives, theoretical studies of climate processes and simulations using climate models.

On 10 June 2013, the International Energy Agency released a special report of its World Energy Outlook, entitled Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map, which highlights the need for intensive action before 2020. The new IEA report presents the results of a 4-for-2 °C Scenario, in which four energy policies are selected that can deliver significant emissions reductions by 2020, rely only on existing technologies and have already been adopted successfully in several countries. The four policies are: Adopting specific energy efficiency measure (49% of the emissions savings). Limiting the construction and use of the least efficient coal-fired power plants (21%). Minimising methane (CH4) emissions from upstream oil and gas production (18%). Accelerating the (partial) phase-out of subsidies to fossil-fuel consumption (12%). Targeted energy effiency measures would reduce global energy-related emissions by 1.5 Gt in 2020, alevel close to that of Russia today.

ON 26 April 2013, the European Commission presented the first Soil Atlas of Africa. Coordinated by the European Commission's in-house science service, the JRC, an internationally renowned group of soil scientists from Africa and Europe has contributed to this atlas. The aim is to raise awareness at all levels – from politicians to the general public - of the significance of soil to life in Africa. The Soil Atlas is a collaborative initiative of the European Union, the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to support and encourage the sustainable use of soil resources in Africa and the Global Soil Partnership for Food Security. The Atlas explains the origin and functions of soil, describes the different soil types and their relevance to both local and global issues. It also discusses the principal threats to soil and the steps being taken to protect soil resources.

On 24 April 2013 Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)launched the European report on the health impacts of coal power generation in German language at a press conference in Berlin.

On 5 March 2013, ChemSec presented information about which companies put some of the most hazardous chemicals on the EU. This information has recently been made publicly available by the European Chemicals Agency following a ChemSec and ClientEarth lawsuit. ChemSec presented compiled information about the companies that have registered production or imports of the chemicals on the SIN List. Information about producers of SIN List chemicals, and in which countries they operate, has been added to the publicly available SIN List database.

Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict that dive will continue, reshaping daily life in the most populated areas of the planet as climate change intensifies. 
 By 2050, a combination of rising heat and humidity is likely to cut the world’s labor capacity to 80 percent during summer months — twice the effect observed today.

Long-term exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) can trigger atherosclerosis, adverse birth outcomes and childhood respiratory diseases, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) review released on 31 January 2013. REVIHAAP – the “Review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution” – also suggests a possible link with neurodevelopment, cognitive function and diabetes, and strengthens the causal link between PM2.5 and cardiovascular and respiratory deaths. The WHO review found new evidence for effects of long-term exposures to ozone (O3) on respiratory mortality and on deaths among persons with predisposing chronic conditions. An impact of ozone exposure on cognitive development and reproductive health, including preterm birth is also suggested. The research was carried out at the request of the European Commission in the framework of the 2013 review of the European Union’s air policy.

Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau studied the effects of seven pesticide products on juvenile European common frogs (Rana temporaria) in an agricultural overspray scenario. Mortality ranged from 100% after one hour to 40% after seven days at the recommended label rate of currently registered products. This study was co-funded by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany.