Fireworks are an integral part of many celebrations and are loved by people all over the world. However, a new study from New York has revealed alarming findings about fireworks and particulate pollution that could cast a shadow over the festivities.
Salzburg is about to experience a revolution in public transportation - the introduction of hydrogen buses as part of the ZEMoS project. The Salzburg Transport Association and Salzburg AG are investigating the efficiency of battery-electric and fuel cell-electric technologies in order to find the best solution for emission-free mobility.
Europe is a continent with diverse landscapes, cultures and languages, but also with a multitude of environmental zones and regulations for drivers. Anyone traveling through Europe by car this summer will quickly discover that it is not so easy to keep track of the various environmental stickers and vignettes.
The French metropolis of Lille is preparing to introduce a low emission zone (ZFE-m) from 1 January 2025 in order to improve air quality. This low emission zone will restrict the circulation of vehicles with stickers 4 and 5 as well as unclassified vehicles in order to reduce emissions of air pollutants and improve local air quality. There are already more than 300 such zones in Europe, which have shown positive results in reducing pollutant emissions and improving air quality.
Children who grow up in low emission zones are less likely to have asthma - that is an incontrovertible fact. A new study shows that driving bans for older diesel cars actually have a positive effect on children's health. The analysis of health insurance data showed that children who are exposed to less particulate matter need less asthma medication.
Low emission zones are a controversial topic in Germany. Some cities have abolished them, others have retained them. But what could be the reasons behind this inconsistent approach? And how could the abolition of low emission zones affect air quality?
According to a recent study, carbon dioxide emissions have fallen significantly in parts of the US state of California due to the boom in electric cars. The scientists from the University of California in Berkeley analysed data from dozens of CO2 sensors in the San Francisco region, where electric cars are widespread. Over a period of five years, CO2 emissions fell by 1.8 per cent annually, although only almost 20 per cent of cars in San Francisco are either electric or hybrid vehicles.
The challenge of electromobility is not only the purchase of the vehicles, but also the provision of a nationwide charging infrastructure. The Berlin start-up Ubitricity has come up with a creative solution: converting street lamps into charging stations. But the reality is sobering. According to current figures from the Berlin Senate, not even one in ten streetlights is suitable for conversion. In addition, the costs are considerable at 6000 euros per conversion (without network expansion).
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?
Germany is facing a major challenge: according to a study by management consultants EY, the transport transition could turn out to be a billion-euro grave for the treasury. The switch to electric cars could cost the state around 50 billion euros by 2030. This is a huge sum that not only puts fiscal policy to the test, but also climate and environmental targets.
