STRASBOURG, France and BARCELONA, Spain, November 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Berlin, Dublin, Krakow and Rotterdam Demonstrate How Switch to Natural Gas Significantly Contributes to Reduced Air Pollution
A new report from the International Gas Union (IGU) highlights how the increased use of natural gas in power generation, heating and transport can significantly reduce air pollution - a direct cause of around 400,000 deaths across the EU in 2012.
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Urban air pollution has become a top priority for local, national and international governments in both developed and developing countries as they seek to reduce severe effects on human health. Cities around the world are increasingly galvanized to take action to reduce the environmental, health and economic impact of air emissions.
The new research also highlights the correlation between reducing air pollutants and the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The report highlights case studies in Berlin, Dublin, Krakow and Rotterdam, where both greenhouse gas emissions and air quality have been significantly improved by the displacement of coal in power generation, space heating, and increased use of natural gas for inner city transportation. The study examines policies, such as fuel switching initiatives, that have led, or are leading to, real progress in improving air quality without sacrificing economic development.
"Air pollution is a significant threat to the environment and human health. The action taken in Berlin, Dublin, Krakow and Rotterdam demonstrates the central role of gas in improving air quality in urban areas. As these case studies demonstrate, switching from coal to gas-fired power is often the fastest and most cost-effective approach to improve air quality and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change," said David Carroll, President of the IGU.
Report highlights:
Berlin:
Dublin
Krakow
Rotterdam
Armed with the latest supporting data, the examples above, and other urban area case studies presented in the IGU's 2015 urban air quality study, the IGU supports policies that reduce GHG emissions and emissions of health-damaging air pollutants such as:
Supporting testimonial from local leader:
Martin Lutz, Senate Department for Urban Development and Environment, Head of Sector Air Quality Mangement, Berlin:
"Having promoted gas for decades as a clean fuel in particular for residential heating, we are now focusing on CNG-vehicles as a clean and mature technology alternative to Diesel in order to meet the air quality standards also in trafficked roads. While we've reached a decent density of CNG filling stations we still need a broader variety of gas-vehicle models offered by Auto Industry."
To download the full report, please visit http://www.igu.org/research/case-studies-improving-urban-air-quality-new-edition
About The International Gas Union (IGU)
The International Gas Union (IGU) was founded in 1931 and is a worldwide non-profit organisation aimed at promoting the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry. The Union has more than 150 members worldwide on all continents, representing approximately 97% of the world gas market. The members of the IGU are national associations and corporations within the gas industry worldwide. The IGU organises the World Gas Conference (WGC) every three years, with the forthcoming WGC taking place in Washington, D.C., United States, in June 2018. The IGU's working organisation covers all aspects of the gas industry from exploration and production, storage, LNG, distribution and natural gas utilisation in all market segments. http://www.igu.org
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