Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU Council finally reached on Feb 20th a provisional agreement on new rules to tighten air quality standards across Europe. The headline figures are the proposed new limits on PMs and NO2: For PM2.5 , the annual limit value is to be more than halved from 25 µg/m³Continue reading “EUREKA! EU reaches provisional agreement on tighter air quality limits”
Category Archives: Air Pollution
Very high NO2 and Ozone levels in Athens these days
Ever wonder why some days you feel a heavy, hurting head, a general low energy and quite a bad mood with no reason? Well, if you could see it with your own eyes, you would see that very likely NO2, Ozone and other nasty pollution gases are over the top all around you. Today’s picContinue reading “Very high NO2 and Ozone levels in Athens these days”
Young people to take 32 European countries to court over climate policies
“The Greek government, which has battled with the devastating impact of hundreds of deadly wildfires and floods this summer, said in its defence: “The effects of climate change as recorded so far do not seem to directly affect human life or human health.” What??? It is so sad that the 99% of our politicians stillContinue reading “Young people to take 32 European countries to court over climate policies”
‘A lifeline for dirty cars’: EU backs new air pollution limits, but not until 2035
“The EU has finally voted to clean its air by setting tough limits on pollutants in a move that experts say will save lives and money. The European parliament agreed on Wednesday 13/09/23 to limit the concentration of several dangerous substances to levels put forward by the World Health Organization (WHO). But after a fierceContinue reading “‘A lifeline for dirty cars’: EU backs new air pollution limits, but not until 2035”
Greek Government must do more (and quicker) to promote electric heating in our homes
A couple of days ago the Greek Minister of the Environment Kostas Skrekas proudly announced that Greece is 8th worldwide in terms of Renewable Energy development and raised the RES target for 2030 from 70 to 80%. This is good, but now we need to see this affecting also the energy prices for consumers byContinue reading “Greek Government must do more (and quicker) to promote electric heating in our homes”
Wood is not going to be our friend this winter, and here is why
This blog’s approach to the issue of Air Quality is basically from the bottom up, from the “on my own skin” experience of the quality of air that we all have to breathe in our cities/villages on a particular day. In practical terms, it is an ongoing enquiry that starts at the moment we wakeContinue reading “Wood is not going to be our friend this winter, and here is why”
Greece runs on 100% renewable energy for the very first time in history!
This is a very important landmark for Greece: last week it ran on 100% renewable energy for the very first time in history! This is really a great achievement, well ahead of what we were expecting, but yet, it’s not so easy to rejoice. In fact, we need to ask ourselves where is that renewableContinue reading “Greece runs on 100% renewable energy for the very first time in history!”
New evidence that air pollution contributes substantially to lung cancer – article
Data from a breakthrough study in understanding how air pollution can lead to lung cancer, presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology congress on Sept 9–13, 2022, promise to revolutionise the field of oncology and approaches to public health. See the article here. Although smoking remains the biggest risk factor for lung cancer worldwide, an estimatedContinue reading “New evidence that air pollution contributes substantially to lung cancer – article”
Planning on switching back to oil or wood from natural gas this winter? Don’t. Buy a heat pump instead.
If you are planning to go back to burning oil or even wood from natural gas this winter, you need to know that you are going to be back to releasing a lot more pollution in the air. Which is like setting up your town on fire every night. See the infographic here above. LookContinue reading “Planning on switching back to oil or wood from natural gas this winter? Don’t. Buy a heat pump instead.”
Athens and the C40 Network of cities aiming at sustainability & Clean Air
All people, no matter where they live, deserve to breathe clean air. Right? The C40 network puts together nearly 100 cities across the world with the aim of advancing solutions to address the climate crisis & protect #TheAirWeShare to guarantee a future where everyone can breathe clean air. C40 is a network of Mayors ofContinue reading “Athens and the C40 Network of cities aiming at sustainability & Clean Air”
CleanAir in Greece 