Category: World
How sunlight and CO2 can be turned into sustainable fuel
In a recent article published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels, researchers present a new process that uses sunlight to convert CO2 into methanol. This methanol can be used as a sustainable fuel. This sounds promising, but is it too early to be jubilant?
Manhattan introduces congestion charge!
The New York Transport Authority has made a sensational decision: From 17 June, a city toll will be levied in the vibrant metropolis. Anyone who wants to drive to the southern part of Manhattan in future will have to pay 15 US dollars per day. This would make New York the first city in the USA to introduce such a charge, reports the New York Times.
Airbus and the zero-emission fuel cell: are clean flights finally coming?
In January 2021, Airbus will put its first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell into operation. This is an important step towards the development of a hydrogen-powered aircraft. By opening a development centre for hydrogen technologies in Lower Saxony, Airbus is strengthening its presence in Germany and underlining its ambitions in the field of climate-neutral aviation.
Electric cars and particulate matter: how do they go together?
Air pollution has been with us since the beginning of industrialisation. It is omnipresent, especially in cities. However, with technological progress and the relocation of factories away from city centres, air quality has improved in most wealthy countries. A major source of air pollution, the internal combustion engine, seems to be slowly being replaced by electric cars. But are electric cars really the environmentally friendly alternative they appear to be?
Water shortages and the emergence of new environmental zones - climate change and its impact on soil moisture
The climate crisis, one of the greatest challenges of our time, is becoming ever more tangible and its effects ever more evident. Paradoxically, one of the main causes of the alarming rise in CO2 emissions is the lack of water. This leads to dry soil, which in turn produces more particulate matter and favours the creation of new environmental zones.
Bangkok suffocates in smog
Air pollution in the Thai metropolis of Bangkok is alarming. According to IQAir, a company specialising in international air quality monitoring, particulate matter levels are currently 15 times higher than recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This makes Bangkok one of the ten most polluted cities in the world.
Sandstorm and particulate matter: battling the elements in China
The relentless and unstoppable force of nature has once again manifested itself in China in the form of a massive sandstorm that has been raging in the north-west of the country since mid-February 2024. This force of nature, together with the existing fine dust pollution, poses major challenges for the world's most populous country.
Emissions from the construction industry: first steps towards the zero emissions target
Construction sites and the construction industry itself are major emitters of CO2, particulate matter and other substances that contribute to air pollution in environmental zones and urban centres in general. However, the industry has already taken important steps towards zero emissions and climate neutrality: construction vehicles are becoming increasingly electric!
The rude awakening: Fine dust, dirt and soot on New Year's Day
Every year: New Year's Day, the day when the smell of sulphur is still in the air and grey smears cover the sky. Rubbish and soot everywhere on the streets, damaged cars here and there.
Electric flop: buses in Oslo break down in the cold
100 million euros in the sand - or snow. That is the sad result of the first onset of winter in Oslo. After the city invested this enormous sum in new electric buses in the spring, they have now simply broken down in the cold. Instead of emission-free local transport, the city has thrown a lot of money down the drain. It remains to be seen what the manufacturer Solaris will now do to avert the debacle.