Air pollution from vehicles is killing tens of thousands of people every year in the UK alone, write Jean Lambert, Molly Scott Cato & Keith Taylor, an outrage set into stark focus by VW's 'test cheating'. The EU's response? To relax tests and allow cars to be more polluting - with the full support of the UK government.
… Time to crack down on car pollution - the silent killer with … The EU's response? To relax tests and allow cars to be more polluting - with the full … most significant causes of air pollution is cars. Nitrogen Oxide emissions from diesel …
Right wing MEPs in the European Parliament including UK conservatives today voted car makers a 'get out of jail free' card over air pollution that's killing tens of thousands of citizens a year, allowing their vehicles to emit double the legal limit for nitrogen oxides.
… MEPs vote for killer car pollution at double the legal limit … including UK conservatives today voted car makers a 'get out of jail free' card over air pollution that's killing tens of …
Low Emissions Zones have their place in cleaning up the UK's worst air pollution hotspots, writes Richard Howard. But we also need to adopt fiscal measures to encourage a shift away from diesel vehicles, at once delivering cleaner air, increased tax revenues, and lower carbon emissions.
… air, increased tax revenues, and lower carbon emissions. There is an air pollution … Matter (PM) in London, and within this diesel cars and vans are the main culprits. Diesel … first time, CO 2 emissions from new petrol cars were lower than emissions from diesel …
Fewer than half the UK's inhabitants even have a driving licence, writes Chris Church. So how come the UK's transport policies are all about meeting the needs of drivers? After all, even drivers are pedestrians the moment they step out of their cars. Now a new campaign group is forming to give a voice to non-drivers - and demand a better deal.
… pedestrians the moment they step out of their cars. Now a new campaign group is forming to … steadily worse. Government us running scared of car owners Professor David Begg, chairman of …
The new Manchester Airport Enterprise Zone is causing the piecemeal environmental destruction of Green Belt countryside, reports Rose Bridger - all sacrificed to an archaic vision of fossil-powered economic growth.
… News Aviation Climate Change UK Politics maez-car-park.png The new Manchester Airport … an Enterprise Zone, link road and 9,000-space car park is proceeding apace in the face of … 43 warehouses, office space and a 1,473 space car park on former greenbelt land around …
Transport emissions are a political hot potato - mobility is often associated with as 'freedom', while the most environmentally aware are also most addicted to high carbon emissions from travel, writes Scott Cohen. To cut transport emissions means tackling four big political taboos.
… aware are also most addicted to high carbon emissions from travel, writes Scott … reduction objectives. Globally, the number of cars is expected to double by 2035, and the … we need tougher regulation on planes and cars, but there's no political willingness to …
Public transport often doesn't work for travellers because it's fragmented, deregulated and operated for short-term profit, writes Rupert Read. A Green transport policy would force operators to coordinate their schedules, integrate multiple transport modes, and entice travellers out of their cars building a real public transport 'system'.
… modes, and entice travellers out of their cars building a real public transport … contribution to reducing the UK's overall carbon emissions by 80% of the 1990 level by … Party) or policy framework aimed at reducing carbon emissions attributable to travel and …
It's not just that the government does not seem to care about the millions of Britons that have died prematurely from traffic pollution, writes Donnachadh McCarthy. It's that every policy intervention they have made is making the problem worse! Join us this Saturday to demand a sane transport policy that will make our roads safe for people, and our air fit to breathe.
… Stop the UK Treasury's transport carnage! Donnachadh McCarthy | 10th February 2017 Activism Pollution … not just that the government does not seem to care about the millions of Britons that have …
Climate policy should be the big issue for voters heading for the polls in May's Euro elections, writes Olaf Corry - the EU's emissions are plenty high enough do matter, and the European Parliament is at the heart of the action.
… to strengthen climate policy further. New EU carbon standard for cars Just last week the Parliament also voted to lower the required average carbon dioxide emissions (grams per kilometre: …
The basic premise of this week's budget is that 'growth is good' and must be sought at all costs. But as Rupert Read writes, this is transparent nonsense. Growthism is an outdated ideology that must be thrown out - and replaced with 'ecologism'.
… metrics. British Leyland produced a lot of cars. It had a lot of GDP. Nobody wanted the cars but nobody seemed to care." They are talking sense - but are they …
As the UK Government's green policies come under sustained attack from Tory and UKIP right-wingers, Lib-Dem Leader Nick Clegg nails his green colours to the mast.
… another across the Despatch Box: ‘you don't care about the environment, we're the … now turn the accusation on its head: ‘you care too much about the environment, you're … was their one and only green pledge - a decarbonisation target - with a policy that …
When US Trade Representative Michael Froman testified before Congress last week, he made impressive claims for the benefits of Fast-Tracking the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership, writes Ben Beachy. Just one problem - all those claims were either untrue, or profoundly misleading.
… Congress in the driver's seat (of a runaway car, without brakes or a steering wheel) … talking about Fast Tracking the TPP , the car is already going 60mph. As a couple of … and the resulting burden on programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the Obama administration's …
MEPs vote today on proposals to cut air pollution by setting up an independent EU monitoring body to ensure that a scandal like Dieselgate never happens again, writes Keith Taylor. However fears are growing that Brexit promises the UK a bonfire of environmental laws including those on air pollution. We need a strong, new Clean Air Act now!
… action. The scandal implicated most major car manufacturers in a concerted, deliberate … to trick laboratory tests into thinking their cars produced much lower levels of nitrogen … itself, which excoriates their friends in the car industry. The inquiry's Tory rapporteur …
Today the Green party announced a doubling of its membership since January - 500 this last weekend alone, writes Ian Sinclair. They offer an increasingly attractive alternative to the 'mainstream' parties, who have little to offer but a bleak package of privatisation, neoliberalism and never-ending austerity.
… make it more likely domestic labour and childcare could be more evenly balanced between … key Green Party concern is to reduce private car use and increase funding for public … to thousands of deaths a year . Fewer cars would also mean less traffic noise, which …
Only one party is challenging the mainstream concensus on transport, write Rupert Read, Sandy Irvine and Bennet Francis - massive spending on roads and HS2, and the little that's left for everything else. It's time to throw away the old thinking and commit to an effective, sustainable transport system that begins with local needs.
… that scrapping costly investment in the high-carbon economy would be a no-brainer. Yet with … can become an effective replacement for carbon-intensive road and domestic air travel, … infrastructure for sustainable transport. Cars needed for growth? The age of mass …
Just when the UK's government might want to be boosting its green credentials it has chosen to do the precise opposite, writes Steffen Böhm: giving tax breaks and subsidies to oil and gas, while attacking renewables and energy efficiency. We must unite to oppose these destructive and short-sighted policies
… government ever " . In: fossil fuels, roads, cars; out: renewables, energy efficiency But … building, financed by a new system of green car taxes . New roads will not help reduce the … share of the UK's private transport system in carbon emissions and will increase the …
In his final State of the Union address, George Bush announced his support for the adoption of biofuels on a massive scale. But is the plan such a good idea? By Pat Thomas
… Politics Lobbying Biofuel Agribusiness Carbon Dioxide Global Warming Climate Change … burning plant-derived energy we are burning a carbon-neutral fuel, because the CO 2 released … stop consuming. To solve this we need to look carefully at our total energy landscape: how …
That’s what I would do if I were energy minister, says the former environment minister
… out Michael Meacher | 1st February 2007 News Carbon Rationing Climate Change Politics Carbon Dioxide Comments And Analysis Climate … much earlier date of 2030 if we are to keep carbon concentrations in the atmosphere below …
When the UK joined the EU in 1973, it was dubbed the 'dirty man of Europe' thanks to its out of control pollution, writes Craig Bennett. Since then EU laws have forced us to clean up our act. But if we leave, all that may go into the reverse, with terrible impacts on our air, water, health, and wildlife.
… with tougher EU standards. EU targets for carbon pollution from cars is driving investment in electric cars by the global car giants, despite the VW …
A handful of 'climate sceptic' billionaires, owners of most of the UK's biggest selling newspapers, have used their media dominance to spread a false narrative on climate change, and undermine prospects for effective action to curb fossil fuels, writes Donnachadh McCarthy. Campaigners must fight back - beginning with a series of actions that begin outside the Daily Mail this month.
… against the media billionaires Donnachadh McCarthy | 12th October 2015 Activism Media … to curb fossil fuels, writes Donnachadh McCarthy. Campaigners must fight back - … £1,000 of new taxes imposed on low emission cars, while reducing taxes on polluting cars. …
Now here is an ecological pub quiz question: who wrote the following phrase and when?
… We took one look at the traffic jams in the car park and mercifully turned around. There … petrol station. Everywhere – on a Sunday – cars were dutifully streaming into the …
Environmentalists are near unanimous in believing the UK should remain in the EU, writes Harry Blain. Yet that puts us in the same camp as many of our fiercest enemies - neoliberal governments and corporate lobbyists for fossil fuels, cars and other polluting industries. Meanwhile the EU itself is increasingly undermining its own environmental protections as it pursues 'free trade' agreements around the world. Time for a rethink? You bet!
… and corporate lobbyists for fossil fuels, cars and other polluting industries. Meanwhile … article for openDemocracy UK in February, Caroline Lucas, MP, wrote: "To me, it's … remains a key pillar of the proposed treaty. Caroline Lucas writes that "some of our …
London Mayor Sadiq Khan promised electors that he would be the 'Greenest Mayor ever'. In spite of his apparent support for a new Thames road crossing in East London and an expanded London City Airport, he still has huge opportunities to make good his pledge. And Green Assembly Members will be working hard to make sure he does.
… ever'? Sadiq Khan still has a lot to prove Caroline Russell | 30th September 2016 Comment … required to challenge the status quo of a car-dependent transport system. This is badly … places to live, and will release space from car parking for other uses. The huge …
President Trump comes into office determined to discard huge swathes of his predecessor's legacy on day one, writes Mark Barteau. But he will struggle to undo Obama's clean energy regulations. It's not just that they are legally robust, it's also that energy markets in the US and the wider world have shifted firmly, and irreversibly, towards efficiency and renewables. Sorry, Mr Trump.
… Trump comes into office determined to discard huge swathes of his predecessor's legacy … , where, as EPA Administrator Gina McCarty had said since well before the election, … may repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but it is difficult to see some of …