2015, Green, Pollution and Standards

Minnesota becomes latest state to adopt California clean car standards

Green Car Congress

JULY 27, 2021

Minnesota has become the latest state to adopt California clean car standards; the new standards were finalized by a notice in the state register on Monday. Original map from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The policy will implement two clean cars standards to reduce vehicle emissions.

Minnesota

Minnesota Clean Cleaning Standards

Study finds association between air pollution, coronary atherosclerosis in Chinese population

Green Car Congress

JULY 13, 2019

Researchers from the University at Buffalo (UB), with colleagues in the US and China, have provided pathophysiologic evidence of the effect of air pollution on cardiovascular disease in China. Their findings also suggests that China may need to revise its standard for one type of pollutant. —first author, Meng Wang.

Pollution

Pollution Chinese China Universal

EPA initiates new review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 22, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA established the current standards at a level of 70 parts per billion in 2015 and retained them in 2020, after concluding that there was little new information to suggest the need for revision.

Ozone

Ozone EPA Standards Pollution

Global study links daily exposure to ozone pollution to increased risk of death

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

The findings—based on data from more than 400 cities in 20 countries across the world—show that more than 6,000 deaths each year would have been avoided in the selected cities if countries had implemented stricter air quality standards. g/m 3 (US National Ambient Air Quality Standard), and 160 ?g/m Vicedo-Cabrera et al.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Global South America

Poor air quality to remain a problem in India despite pollution control policies

Green Car Congress

APRIL 1, 2019

in 2030 even if India were to comply with its existing pollution control policies and regulations. The study shows that only about 833 million citizens (about half of India’s estimated population in 2030) would be living in areas that meet India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2030. While current ambient PM2.5

Pollution

Pollution India Emissions 2015

ICL, CMU study associates PM2.5 air pollution in US with >30,000 deaths and reduced life expectancy

Green Car Congress

JULY 23, 2019

excluding Alaska and Hawaii) between 1999 and 2015. The amount of this fine particle pollution in the US has declined since 1999. standard is set at 12 microgram per cubic meter of air (µg/m 3 ). In 2015 the highest concentration was in Tulare County, California (13.2 across all counties in the contiguous US (i.e.,

Pollution

Pollution Los Angeles Fresno Arkansas

Study links ambient PM2.5 and ozone specifically caused by vehicle exhaust emissions to ~361,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2010 and ~385,000 in 2015

Green Car Congress

MARCH 1, 2019

and ozone deaths, associated mortality rates, and population in G20 economies in 2015. and ozone worldwide in 2010 and ~385,000 in 2015, equivalent to 11.7% million years of life lost and approximately $1 trillion (2015 US$) in health damages globally in 2015. Transportation-attributable PM 2.5 Source: The ICCT.

Ozone

Ozone 2015 2010 Exhaust

PM2.5, O3 pollution associated with development of Alzheimer’s disease; new study identifies evolving axonal damage

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 23, 2018

and ozone at or above the current standards have been linked to neuroinflammation and high risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A 2015 study found a 138% risk of increase of AD per increase of 4.34 ?g/m Exposures to concentrations of PM 2.5 g/m 3 in PM 2.5 every day since conception. Calderón-Garcidueñas et al.

Pollution

Pollution Ozone Mexico Montana

EPA proposes tightening primary ozone standards to range of 65-70 ppb; final rule by October 2015

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Counties where measured ozone is above proposed range of standards, based on 2011-2013 monitoring data. Earlier this year, EPA staff had recommended the further reduction of this primary ozone standard from the current 75 ppb (parts per billion) to a revised level within the range of 70 ppb to 60 ppb—and preferably below 70 ppb.

Ozone

Ozone EPA Standards 2015

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

Green Car Congress

JULY 17, 2017

Ozone concentrations were lower than the levels capable of influencing pulmonary function, which is the main basis for current regulatory standards. They monitored indoor and outdoor ozone levels, along with other pollutants. In contrast, only 31 million Americans live in counties where other pollutants exceed EPA standards.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Connected Connect

EPA issues updated air pollution standards for oil and natural gas production; first federal rules for fracked natural gas wells

Green Car Congress

APRIL 18, 2012

In response to a court deadline, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized standards to reduce air pollution associated with oil and natural gas production. These gases can pollute the air and as a result threaten public health. In 2015, all new fractured wells will be required to use green completions.

Gas

Gas Pollution EPA Standards

Ice core data show why air pollution is dropping more slowly in US and Western Europe despite lower sulfur emissions

Green Car Congress

JUNE 1, 2021

Low-sulfur gasoline standards and regulations on power plants have successfully cut sulfate concentrations in the air, reducing the fine particulate matter that harms human health and cleaning up the environmental hazard of acid rain. The air in the United States and Western Europe is much cleaner than even a decade ago.

Pollution

Pollution Emissions Europe Climate Change

EPA proposes updates to emissions standards for refineries

Green Car Congress

MAY 16, 2014

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update the toxic air pollution standards for petroleum refineries. The new rules would further reduce toxic pollution from flaring and other processes and includes new monitoring requirements.

EPA

EPA Standards Emissions Pollution

Tsinghua study finds China’s actions have cut PM2.5 concentrations 21.5% from 2013-2015; PM2.5-related mortality down 9.1%

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Air pollution in China, especially in mega-metropolitan areas, is a matter of concern due to its impact on public health; outdoor PM 2.5 pollution reduced by 9.1% Our study marks the first estimates of the impact of this stringent action plan on pollution levels and mortality rates from 2013 to 2015.

2013

2013 2015 Pollution China

Mayor of London floats action plan to reduce city’s air pollution

Green Car Congress

JULY 7, 2016

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has outlined plans to crackdown on the most polluting vehicles, including an additional £10 (US$13) per day charge for the most polluting vehicles and an extended Ultra-Low Emission Zone. These figures were set by the previous Mayor in 2015.The

London

London Pollution Motorcycles Scrappage

Study warns on possible air pollution link to neuroinflammatory, Alzheimer and Parkinson’s pathologies in megacity children

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Children living in polluted megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer or Parkinson’s disease, according to a study led by University of Montana Professor Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas and her colleagues. —Calderón-Garcidueñas et al.

Pollution

Pollution Mexico Los Angeles New York City

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard compliance rate is 98%

Green Car Congress

MAY 18, 2016

The California Air Resources Board’s report on the state of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program for the compliance year 2015 indicates a compliance rate of 98%, with a total of 5.49 The 2015 annual reports demonstrate exceedingly high levels of overall compliance. million credits generated in the year.

Carbon

Carbon Standards Fuel North America

EPA proposes rules for chemicals and fuels made from plastic waste-based feedstocks

Green Car Congress

JUNE 16, 2023

The proposed rules follow the Agency’s commitment in the draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution to ensure that feedstocks made from plastic waste do not contain impurities and are part of EPA’s overall efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

Waste

Waste EPA Fuel Mercury

China Developing National Emission Standard V, Likely to Be Published in 2015

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) is developing a National Emission Standard V for vehicles, according to Ren Hongyan, Director of Air Pollution and Noise Control Division of MEP. The National Emission Standard V is expected to be published by 2015, according to him. Gasgoo.com.

2015

2015 Standards Emissions China

Canada publishes proposed regulations for criteria pollutants from locomotives

Green Car Congress

JUNE 18, 2016

This marks Canada’s first regulation of air pollutant emissions from locomotives. The proposed regulations will criteria air contaminants (CACs), from locomotives operated by railway companies under federal jurisdiction through increasingly stringent emission standards and reduced idling. Line-haul locomotive emission standards.

Canada

Canada Pollution 2004 Emissions

Berkeley Earth study calculates that air pollution contributes to 1.6M deaths per year in China

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 14, 2015

In an analysis of hourly air pollution data (PM 2.5 ,PM PM 10 , SO 2 , NO 2 , O 3 and CO) from more than 1500 sites in China, Berkeley Earth has calculated that the observed air pollution contributes to ~1.6 million deaths/year previously estimated from a Huai River study using Chinese air pollution measurements and mortality data.

Pollution

Pollution China Coal South Korea

Beijing to implement stricter China V emission standard next month

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 24, 2013

Xinhua reports that Beijing plans to implement the China V emission standard—similar to Euro V—starting next month in an effort to reduce the city’s air pollution. The standard will be applied to new cars on the auto market and motor vehicles that have yet to receive license plates, according to the report.

Standards

Standards China Emissions 2008

Study finds children’s exposure to urban air pollution results in early hallmarks of Alzheimer’s

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

A study by researchers from the US, Mexico and Canada has found that children’s urban air pollution exposures result in systemic and brain inflammation and the early hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The study found that clinically healthy children who live in a polluted environment and who also carry a gene—the apolipoprotein ?

Pollution

Pollution Mexico Montana Ozone

Study: even relatively low levels of air pollution appear to affect a child’s lungs

Green Car Congress

APRIL 12, 2016

In a paper published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care , researchers report that children exposed to higher levels of air pollution—even if relatively low—including fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and soot (black carbon), had worse lung function than those living in less polluted areas. mL; -43.9,

Pollution

Pollution 2002 MPH Boston

EPA proposes new standards to reduce methane and VOCs emissions from oil and gas industry

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 18, 2015

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its latest set of proposed standards to reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the oil and natural gas industry. The proposed updates also add emissions reduction requirements for sources of methane and VOC pollution that were not covered in the 2012 rules.

EPA

EPA Oil Gas Industrial

US MARAD study finds marine use of natural gas substantially reduces some air pollutants and slightly reduces GHG emissions

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 26, 2014

A recently released total fuel cycle analysis for maritime case studies shows that natural gas fuels reduce some air quality pollutants substantially, and reduce major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions slightly, when compared to conventional petroleum-based marine fuels (low-sulfur and high-sulfur). This is an important consideration.

Mariner

Mariner Pollution Gas Emissions

California ARB Adopts Regulation Implementing 33% Renewable Electricity Standard by 2020

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

The California Air Resources Board adopted unanimously a regulation establishing a 33% renewable electricity standard. Work on the standard began immediately following the Governor’s Renewable Electricity Standard Executive Order, signed on 15 September 2009.

Renewable

Renewable 2020 Standards California

KCL study finds London air pollution from traffic improving, but continues to exceed limits in many parts of city

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

New research by scientists at King’s College London suggests that air pollution from London’s roads is improving overall but more work may be needed to tackle some sources of traffic pollution, which continue to breach limits in many parts of the city. No data was available to compare trends in ΔPM 2.5 between the two periods.

London

London Pollution Parts Exhaust

Harvard SPH large-scale study links PM2.5 levels below EPA standards with higher death rates

Green Car Congress

JUNE 5, 2015

Chan School of Public Health found that death rates among people over 65 are higher in zip codes with more fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5 ) than in those with lower levels of PM 2.5. Most of the country is either meeting the EPA standards now, or is expected to meet them in a few years as new power plant controls kick in.

EPA

EPA Standards Pollution 2003

ICCT finds growth in shipping in Arctic could increase pollutant emissions 150-600% by 2025 with current fuels

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2015

While that report projected vessel activity, it did not explore the environmental impacts of increased shipping in terms of air emissions or the potential climate impacts from increases in short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon. Click to enlarge. ships diverting from prior routes to Arctic routes. Regulatory background.

Pollution

Pollution Emissions Fuel Mariner

Obama Administration announces first fuel economy and GHG standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 9, 2011

US President Barack Obama announced fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Heavy-duty engines affected by the final standards are generally those that are installed in commercial medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The standards will phase in to the 2017 levels shown in Table 1.

Fuel Economy

Fuel Economy Standards Obama Economy

EPA updates VOCs standards for oil and gas storage tanks

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 5, 2013

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final updates to its 2012 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) performance standards for storage tanks used in crude oil and natural gas production and transmission. tanks that came online before 12 April 2013 are likely to have lower emissions and must control VOC emissions by 15 April 2015.

EPA

EPA Oil Standards Gas

PHEVLERs are the Zero CO2 Clean Green Machines of the Future

Green Car Congress

APRIL 22, 2016

These vehicles are the green machines that will provide a critical part of the renewable and sustainable society that we need for the future. [ PHEVLERs Provide Value to the Drivers PHEVLERs use the Existing Energy Infrastructure PHEVLERs use Clean Fuels to Reduce Air Pollution. PHEVLERs use Clean Fuels to Reduce Air Pollution.

Clean

Clean Cleaning Future Green

CCM: demand for ternary Li-ion batteries in China to more than double to 10 GWh in 2016 from 4.4GWh in 2015 due to subsidy fraud and response

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 5, 2016

The firm forecasts an immediate boom in demand for ternary Li-ion batteries—mainly used to power alternative energy vehicles—from 4.4GWh in 2015 to 10 GWh in 2016. China started giving state aid to alternative energy vehicles (AEV) makers in 2009 to promote the development of green vehicles to help tackle air pollution.

Li-ion

Li-ion 2016 2015 China

Next 10 report finds California must increase GHG reductions to 4.9%/year through 2030 to meet target

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 23, 2020

The largest one-year emissions drop California has ever achieved was at the height of the Great Recession in 2009, when climate pollution fell 6.1%. Key findings of this year’s California Green Innovation Index include: Total emissions rose 0.83 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (MMTCO 2 e) to 425.3 lower and 8.3%

California

California 2018 2019 2017

Transport for London package of measures to tackle pollution levels at the busiest roads in central London; Dust suppressants and Eco-marshals

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 22, 2011

Transport for London (TfL) recently announced a package of measures to tackle pollution levels at the busiest roads in central London. The start of a greening program to trap pollution—a row of 50 green towers (six foot tall planters) have been installed along Lower Thames Street, one of central London’s most polluted roads.

London

London Pollution Transportation Taxi

UNEP: export of used cars to developing world creating significant environmental problems

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2020

Millions of used cars, vans and minibuses exported from Europe, the United States and Japan to the developing world are of poor quality, contributing significantly to air pollution and hindering efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Morocco

Morocco Nigeria Netherlands Gambia

Obama directs EPA and DOT to develop and issue next phase of fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by March 2016

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

President Obama has directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop and to issue the next phase of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards by March 2016. Earlier post.) Earlier post.) vocational vehicles such as transit buses and refuse trucks.

Obama

Obama EPA Standards Tax Credit

Sandia Labs project team building fuel cell cold ironing system for deployment at Port of Honolulu in 2015

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2014

A Sandia National Laboratories project team, including a number of industry partners, is designing and building a cold-ironing fuel cell system that will be deployed in the Port of Honolulu in 2015. Ports have been a major source of water and air pollution in the US, but remained relatively unregulated until recent years.

Honolulu

Honolulu 2015 Fuel Building

Toyota to pay $180M penalty for Clean Air Act reporting violations

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2021

The complaint filed in Manhattan federal court alleges that from approximately 2005 until at least late 2015, Toyota systematically violated Clean Air Act automobile defect reporting requirements designed to protect public health and the environment from harmful air pollutants. Toyota’s Conduct from Approximately 2005 to 2015.

Toyota

Toyota Clean Cleaning EPA

ICCT study examines current & projected use of heavy fuel oil in Arctic shipping; growth in BC emissions points to need for policies

Green Car Congress

MAY 8, 2017

A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates heavy fuel oil (HFO) use, HFO carriage, the use and carriage of other fuels, black carbon (BC) emissions, and emissions of other air and climate pollutants for the year 2015, with projections to 2020 and 2025. Click to enlarge. —Comer et al.

Oil

Oil Panama Emissions Fuel

ADB approves $499M loan to establish facility for improved air quality in greater Beijing area; includes hydrogen transport

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 16, 2017

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors approved a €428-million ($499-million) loan to set up a regional emission-reduction and pollution-control facility as part of a multiyear and multisector support program to improve air quality in the greater Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, which suffers from heavy air pollution.

Transportation

Transportation Hydrogen Pollution Financing

Study finds significant slowdown in decrease of NOx emissions in US; implications for air quality management

Green Car Congress

MAY 1, 2018

NO x emissions have not been decreasing as expected in recent years (2011–2015) when comparing top-down estimates from satellites and surface NO 2 measurements to the trends predicted from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s emission inventory data, according to a new study by an international team of researchers.

Emissions

Emissions Ozone Pollution EPA

Satellite study suggests California clean air regulations working to reduce PM2.5 emissions in state

Green Car Congress

JUNE 8, 2018

pollution in the state. is especially burdensome in California and accounts for the greatest percentage of health impacts attributable to air pollution. km-resolution MISR aerosol properties over Southern California for years 2001–2003, 2007–2009 and 2013–2015. to predict PM 2.5 Most monitors do not track individual PM 2.5

Los Angeles

Los Angeles California Clean Cleaning

Minnesota becomes latest state to adopt California clean car standards

Study finds association between air pollution, coronary atherosclerosis in Chinese population

EPA initiates new review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Global study links daily exposure to ozone pollution to increased risk of death

Poor air quality to remain a problem in India despite pollution control policies

ICL, CMU study associates PM2.5 air pollution in US with >30,000 deaths and reduced life expectancy

Study links ambient PM2.5 and ozone specifically caused by vehicle exhaust emissions to ~361,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2010 and ~385,000 in 2015

PM2.5, O3 pollution associated with development of Alzheimer’s disease; new study identifies evolving axonal damage

EPA proposes tightening primary ozone standards to range of 65-70 ppb; final rule by October 2015

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

EPA issues updated air pollution standards for oil and natural gas production; first federal rules for fracked natural gas wells

Ice core data show why air pollution is dropping more slowly in US and Western Europe despite lower sulfur emissions

EPA proposes updates to emissions standards for refineries

Tsinghua study finds China’s actions have cut PM2.5 concentrations 21.5% from 2013-2015; PM2.5-related mortality down 9.1%

Mayor of London floats action plan to reduce city’s air pollution

Study warns on possible air pollution link to neuroinflammatory, Alzheimer and Parkinson’s pathologies in megacity children

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard compliance rate is 98%

EPA proposes rules for chemicals and fuels made from plastic waste-based feedstocks

China Developing National Emission Standard V, Likely to Be Published in 2015

Canada publishes proposed regulations for criteria pollutants from locomotives

Berkeley Earth study calculates that air pollution contributes to 1.6M deaths per year in China

Beijing to implement stricter China V emission standard next month

Study finds children’s exposure to urban air pollution results in early hallmarks of Alzheimer’s

Study: even relatively low levels of air pollution appear to affect a child’s lungs

EPA proposes new standards to reduce methane and VOCs emissions from oil and gas industry

US MARAD study finds marine use of natural gas substantially reduces some air pollutants and slightly reduces GHG emissions

California ARB Adopts Regulation Implementing 33% Renewable Electricity Standard by 2020

KCL study finds London air pollution from traffic improving, but continues to exceed limits in many parts of city

Harvard SPH large-scale study links PM2.5 levels below EPA standards with higher death rates

ICCT finds growth in shipping in Arctic could increase pollutant emissions 150-600% by 2025 with current fuels

Obama Administration announces first fuel economy and GHG standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles

EPA updates VOCs standards for oil and gas storage tanks

PHEVLERs are the Zero CO2 Clean Green Machines of the Future

CCM: demand for ternary Li-ion batteries in China to more than double to 10 GWh in 2016 from 4.4GWh in 2015 due to subsidy fraud and response

Next 10 report finds California must increase GHG reductions to 4.9%/year through 2030 to meet target

Transport for London package of measures to tackle pollution levels at the busiest roads in central London; Dust suppressants and Eco-marshals

UNEP: export of used cars to developing world creating significant environmental problems

Obama directs EPA and DOT to develop and issue next phase of fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by March 2016

Sandia Labs project team building fuel cell cold ironing system for deployment at Port of Honolulu in 2015

Toyota to pay $180M penalty for Clean Air Act reporting violations

ICCT study examines current & projected use of heavy fuel oil in Arctic shipping; growth in BC emissions points to need for policies

ADB approves $499M loan to establish facility for improved air quality in greater Beijing area; includes hydrogen transport

Study finds significant slowdown in decrease of NOx emissions in US; implications for air quality management

Satellite study suggests California clean air regulations working to reduce PM2.5 emissions in state

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