Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
Each year about 7600 Swedes die prematurely due to exposure to air pollutants
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has proposed phasing out old wood burning stoves arguing that they cause dangerous pollution, Radio Sweden reported. SEPA says that, according to conservative estimates, around 1000 Swedes die early each year because of pollution from this type of heating. The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association has confirmed that there is a serious problem.
To residents of some Eastern European countries the Swedish concern may seem a bit over the top as Sweden has one of the lowest levels of air pollution in Europe. Nevertheless, there are about 7600 premature deaths in the country annually due to exposure to air pollutants, primarily nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, according to a 2018 study by the Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Umeå University. Each death comes at an annual cost to society of at least SEK 56 billion (€ 5.3 billion).
Around 170,000 housholds in Sweden are warmed by wood burning stoves. To mitigate the financial burden of the transition to more eco-friendly energy sources, SEPA has proposed that small settlements of under 200 inhabitants can keep their wood burning stoves. Modern certified stoves with lower emissions will be exempt from the eventual ban.
A gas furnace typically emits as much fine particulate matter over the entire heating season as an old wood burning stove does for 8 hours, a new certified stove for 24 hours and a pellet stove for 72 hours. This statistic includes only direct emissions. Residual ash that is discarded in the garbage bin is also a potent pollutant but is hard to measure accurately.
Sweden's efforts to comply with the Paris Agreement led to a new climate policy framework, adopted in 2017. The burning of coal for heat and power in the Nordic country will stop in 2022. The long-term target is achieving zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.
A 2018 European Commission report found that solid fuel combustion in households, while constituting about 2.7% of total energy consumption in the EU‐28, contributes more than 45% to total emissions of fine particulate matter, i.e., three times more than road transport.
Last December EU countries reached a deal, sweetened by €100 billion in public and private funds, on making the bloc climate neutral by 2050. The financial commitment by Brussels is expected to help the fossil-fuel reliant EU nations make the transition to lower emissions in a socially acceptable way.
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The previous mayor was forced out of office following a no-confidence vote in the city council
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The German Aerospace Center in Cologne is looking for volunteers for its next bed rest study
The initial legislation didn’t include these public areas as restricted places for smoking pot
These allow car owners to ride for free when heavy winter conditions make driving unsafe
The service will operate during peak hours in the morning and evening
The initial legislation didn’t include these public areas as restricted places for smoking pot
The service will operate during peak hours in the morning and evening
The festivity is also known as the Day of Books and Roses
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team