Decarbonizing Europe

Energy Roadmap 2050 (20 page pdf, Communication From the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, European Commission, Dec. 2011)

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Also discussed here: Towards a competitive low-carbon energy sector  (European Commission, Dec. 19, 2011

And here: EU’s “Energy Roadmap 2050” Published (Zachary Shahan, Clean Technica Dec. 27, 2011

While many countries have very modest plans to decarbonize in the short term (e.g. Canada and the US with a 17% reduction target by 2020), few countries have serious plans beyond this. The EU recently released a plan, or rather a series of scenarios, to achieve the required reduction of carbon fuels and a stable global climate by 2050 – if that is not too late for the atmosphere to recover, a question being debated between the carbon energy proponents on the one hand and serious climate researchers on the other who would see the target moved to much earlier. Whatever reductions occur, there will be significant improvements also in air pollution and the health benefits that come from that which is the prime focus of this blog, so that we follow the development of decarbonization plans such as this with much interest. Some of the implications of this roadmap are noted including the need to engage the public and the role of nuclear energy,  energy efficiency, and managing energy demand.

Key Quotes:

“Committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050, the EU is exploring the challenges of decarbonisation”

“With electricity prices set to rise until 2030, investment is needed now in “intelligent” electricity grids and improved technologies to produce, transmit and store energy more effectively”

“In this Energy Roadmap 2050 the Commission explores the challenges posed by delivering the EU’s decarbonisation objective while at the same time ensuring security of energy supply and competitiveness”

“Vulnerable consumers are best protected from energy poverty through a full implementation by Member States of the existing EU energy legislation and use of innovative energy efficiency solutions”

“Decarbonisation scenarios

• High Energy Efficiency. …leads to a decrease in energy demand of 41% by 2050 as compared to the peaks in 2005-2006.
• Diversified supply technologies…Decarbonisation is driven by carbon pricing assuming public acceptance of both nuclear and Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).
• High Renewable energy sources (RES)…leading to a very high share of RES in gross final energy consumption (75% in 2050) and a share of RES in electricity consumption reaching 97%.
• Delayed CCS…decarbonisation driven by carbon prices rather than technology push.
• Low nuclear. .. that no new nuclear is being built …resulting in a higher penetration of CCS (around 32% in power generation).

“Ten structural changes for energy system transformation:

• Decarbonisation is possible – and can be less costly than current policies in the long-run
• Higher capital expenditure and lower fuel costs
• Electricity plays an increasing role
• Electricity prices rise until 2030 and then decline
• Household expenditure will increase
• Energy savings throughout the system are crucial
• Renewables rise substantially
• Carbon capture and storage has to play a pivotal role in system transformation
• Nuclear energy provides an important contribution
• Decentralisation and centralised systems increasingly interact

“Transforming the energy system:

• Energy saving and managing demand: a responsibility for all
• Switching to renewable energy sources
• Gas plays a key role in the transition
• Transforming other fossil fuels
• Nuclear energy as an important contributor
• Smart technology, storage and alternative fuels

Related articles

• Junior still excited about ‘decarbonization’ (junkscience.com)
• Tucker’s Terrestrialism and the Technology of Modernity (junkscience.com)
• EU Energy Roadmap 2050 : time for energy saving and renewable technologies (3eintelligence.wordpress.com)
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) (missenergiser.com)
• EU launches €9 billion energy infrastructure plan | EurActiv (3eintelligence.wordpress.com)
• How California can hit its mid-century emissions reduction goals (arstechnica.com)
• The European Power System – Decarbonization and Cost Reduction: Lost in Transmissions? (3eintelligence.wordpress.com)
• IEEE Spectrum on China’s Nuclear Energy Programme (nextbigfuture.com)
• Gosh! Decarbonizing the atmosphere may be costly and impractical (junkscience.com)
• Europe’s Doomed Flight of Decarbonizing Fancy (junkscience.com)
• EU carbon too cheap, no mention of intervention: draft (reuters.com)

Free Parking and Planning Sustainable Cities

Between the Lines (Dave Gardetta, Los Angeles Magazine, Dec. 1, 2011)

The focus today, as it has been in past reviews, is the craziness involved in cities which give away free parking or set parking rates at the same low rate regardless of the demand- with a prominent example from Los Angeles compared with the more enlightened planners and traffic engineers in San Francisco which has migrated to dynamic parking prices and high tech aids to manage their traffic and parking.

The problem is not just in California, however, as you see the same thing in huge mandated parking lots and set parking fees in the downtown areas of Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto (and probably others too) – which adds to the congested misery of these air polluted, car-addicted cities.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Health Impacts from Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Biomass Fuels

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Respiratory health effects of air pollution: Update on biomass smoke and traffic pollution ( 9 page pdf, Robert J. Laumbach and Howard M. Kipen, Clinical reviews in allergy and immunology, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Jan, 2012)

Also discussed here: Review Hardens Links Between Air Pollution, Health Problems (Christine Hsu, Medical Daily, Dec. 26, 2011)

Today’s review article is very useful overview and updated literature review of two types of pollution that are both increasing in importance and have not been as well researched as ambient air pollution as a major health impact: the burning of carbon fuels inside homes (BMFs) in developing countries and exposure to traffic related air pollution (TRAPs) near roadways. The authors conclude by listing what is known and what is not, some of which is noted below.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Turning Parking Lots and Urban Highways into Parks

In Madrid’s Heart, Park Blooms Where a Freeway Once Blighted (Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, Dec. 26, 2011)

Also discussed here : Parks in, Cars not out? Is that going to be our future? (World Streets, Dec. 27, 2011)

And here: Madrid Rio (8 slides)

Today,  the focus is on an article which reviews the large number of cities worldwide which have replaced  their highways with parks, rivers and areas to be enjoyed by their citizens, instead of adding to the blight of inner city slums intersected  by polluting roads. The highlight is on Madrid Rio in Spain’s capital which appears to have transformed the entire city, as can be seen in the slideshow linked below.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Privitized, Dynamically Priced Parking- a good deal for cash strapped cities?

Chicago Cashing In on Privatized Parking; Could LA be Next?  (Steven Dornfeld, City Watch, Dec. 19, 2011)

Also discussed here: CPM-Chicago Parking Meters

A key example of the value of applying the pricing concept to parking rates is described in the article reviewed today about Chicago where the investment in the new technology needed for smart meters and dynamic rates was covered by leasing the parking system to the private sector. The result is increased revenue to the city, less congestion and vehicle emissions downtown as fewer vehicles have to search for a parking space and a public that is slow to accept it- the director of parking amusingly said “Thank God we don’t have capital punishment” in Illinois”. This reminds us of the slow careful approach used in Stockholm to gain public acceptance of congestion pricing there.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Jane Jacobs and the Sustainable City

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Defining principles: Remembering Mrs. Jacobs, The Power of Jane Jacobs’ “Web Way of Thinking” (Michael Mehaffy, World Streets, Dec.23. 2011)

Also discussed here: Jane Jacobs

Although born as an American and having made significant contributions to the New York City landscape, Jane Jacobs is often fondly viewed by Canadians as one of their own and one of the main influences on how Toronto developed as one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world. Today, we feature a review and a list of Jane’s “lessons” for urban planners, thanks to Eric Britton at the World Streets blog and an article reprinted there by Michael Mehaffy. These tips provide the basis for a sustainable city in all respects.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Speed Kills, But So Do Speed Bumps

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Urban Traffic Calming and Health: A Literature Review ( 152 page pdf, Olivier Bellefleur & François Gagnon, National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy, Institut national de santé publique du Québec,  Nov. 2011)

Today, the focus is on a report that reviews the literature on health aspects of traffic calming. Among several surprising points is that traffic calming is usually aimed at and has benefits related to reduced speed as a prime factor for injuries or fatalities from collisions. But many traffic calming techniques, such as speed humps, cause a variation in speed- a temporary slowing followed by rapid acceleration and THIS results in a doubling of vehicle emissions and lower air quality near the road. The message is to take both pollution impacts and speed impacts into consideration when implementing traffic calming.

To see Key Quotes and key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Health Impacts from Road Dust and Coarse Particulates

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Estimated Short-Term Effects of Coarse Particles on Daily Mortality in Stockholm, Sweden (27 page pdf, Kadri Meister, Christer Johansson, Bertil Forsberg, Environ Health Perspect, Dec. 19. 2011)

The focus today is on the short term health impacts from coarser particles that come from traffic and roads other than through emissions- an aspect not as well studied as the impacts from fine particles. For a number of reasons, both these types of particle and the health impacts from them  are highest in the winter and spring.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Does the Economy Affect Air Pollution and Health for Seniors?

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Understanding Pro-cyclical Mortality Use a mirror (45 page pdf, Ann Huff Stevens, Douglas L. Miller, Marianne E. Page, Mateusz Filipski, National Bureau of Economy, Dec. 2011)

Also discussed here: Why Boom Times Kill (Robin Hanson, Overcoming Bias,  Dec. 19, 2011)

We know that the elderly are more vulnerable to health impacts from air pollution than other age groups but a further complication is the impact on how well these people are cared for during cycles in the economy. Today’s review is on an analysis of the link between unemployment rates and the care for the elderly in nursing homes and shows that lower unemployment generally results in fewer nursing assistants being available- at least in the USA where the study was based. In addition, because more elderly in nursing homes are women, the impact is greater for them. The broader point is that taking steps to improve air pollution during boon times would have specific health benefits for women.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click  HERE

Air pollution and congestion charges in London, England

Pay as you go: managing traffic impacts in a world-class city (55 page pdf, John Whitelegg, Eco-Logica Ltd, Lancaster, Dec. 2, 2011)

 

 

The report reviewed today looks back at almost a decade of experience with London’s congestion charge system and analyses the reasons for its success as well as its weaknesses. Several interesting points are made including the way that free parking at work offsets the advantages of road pricing, the process of persuasion needed to gain public support and the degree to which trucks and heavy vehicles are the source of road damage and should therefore bear higher congestion fees for road use.

 

 

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To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Lessons Learned from Stockholm’s Congestion Charges

The Stockholm congestion charges – lessons after 5 years  (18 page pdf, Börjesson, M; Eliasson, J; Beser Hugosson, M; Brundell-Freij, K., Centre for Transport Studies, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Dec. 2011)

An excellent analysis of the social, economic and political aspects of the Stockholm congestion charges is the focus of today’s review. The report explains why the public which was against the charges initially come to support it, after they saw it worked- and traffic was permanently reduced by just under 20%.  Also, the revenue generated was directed to improved public transit, already supported in Stockholm to a higher degree than in the USA or Canada with the exception of New York City, making it easier for commuters to make the switch from cars to transit. This factor, also seen in Sweden, no doubt led to the local New Yorker’s support for the proposed congestion charge scheme which was stopped in the end, not at the municipal but at the state level. Probably the most important lesson learned is the understanding and acceptance of pricing the value of a public good or service after following the approach taken by the Swedes, whether it is transportation and congestion, or by extension of the concept, to other municipal services such as waste, water or electric power.

(average number of passages across the cordon per weekday (6 am to 7 pm) for each month from January 2005 through September 2010)

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reprts abut this post, click HERE

 

What You Liked Best in 2011

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Here is the list of the most visited posts over the last year:

1.The Cleanest (and Dirtiest) Cities in the World

2.Health Effects of Noise

3.Traffic-Related Air Pollution Literature Review

4.Masdar City – zero carbon, zero waste

5.Global Health Impact of Air, Land and Water Pollution

6.Impact of Traffic Air Pollution on Health in Toronto

7.Low and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB)

8.Health Effects of Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles

9.Roundabouts, Cleaner Air and Safer Intersections

10.Health and Urban Poverty

The most popular one posted in 2011 was #7 on zero energy buildings. The perennially most popular post since the blog began in 2009 is #4 on zero -waste Masdar City.

As we begin 2012, the posted reviews will be reduced to three a week, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in order to maintain a high content quality.

Happy New Year!

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Taking a week off to recharge the batteries.

New posts will begin again on January 3, 2012

Best wishes to all for a healthy and happy New Year!

To see Links about this post, click HERE

Planning the Ideal Town

Planning the Perfect Place – From Scratch(Tim Halbur, Planetizen, Nov. 28, 2011)

How would you design a town if you started from scratch? This is the question and challenge that faced Claude Lewenz after he decided that his native USA was not ready and decided to go to New Zealand to live. Today we review an interview that Tim Halbur had with Mr. Lewenz which highlights some of his guiding principles to create a sustainable community in both economic and social respects. This starts with the intelligent design of small self-sustaining communities.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Freeways: divide and pollute cities today – greenspace tomorrow?

Are freeways doomed? -Several cities are tearing down highways, creating bold new public spaces — and building a future without cars (Dream City, Nov. 30, 2011)

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A number of cities in the USA have seen the light and replaced expensive, ineffective, polluting freeways that divide communities with parks and tourist vistas that unite them. The article under review today summarizes the situation across the country in recent days from New jersey to San Francisco to New York to Minneapolis. Soon many more will reap the benefits and quality of life that freewayless cities such as Vancouver BC have enjoyed for years.

Bottom line “Improved traffic flow, fewer roads to maintain, nicer neighborhoods — what’s not to love?”

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Road Noise from Motor Vehicles in Europe

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Proposal for a Regulation on the Sound Level of Motor Vehicles (12 gage pdf, Commission Staff Working Paper- Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment, Dec. 9, 2011)

The focus today is on a new proposal to reduce by 25% the vehicle noise which impacts the health of almost 21 million citizens of European cities. Past efforts to accomplish this have little success because of the introduction of wider noiser tires, increasing urban traffic and the slow transition from noisy to more modern quieter vehicles- despite the advent of electric vehicles which are soundless (but represent less than 5% of the cars on the road) . The situation is summed up by this quote: “After air pollution, noise is the biggest environmental health problem in Europe”.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Global Overview of Health Impacts from Particulate Matter

Premature Mortality and Particulate Matter: A Critical Challenge in Urban Management – A Global Perspective on Effects, Placed in an Asian Context (57 page pdf slides, Bob O’Keefe, Sixth Regional EST Forum in Asia, New Delhi, India, Nov. 9, 2011)

Today, we review the keynote address to The Sixth Regional EST Forum in Asia,sponsored by the World Health Organization  with the Theme: Sustainable Mobility. The author provided highlights of recent  research into the health impact associated with air pollution, pointing out the risks of proximity (within 300-500 m) of most urban populations to traffic.

To see key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Proximity to Traffic, Autism and Impacts on the Brain

The Hidden Toll of Traffic Jams – Scientists Increasingly Link Vehicle Exhaust With Brain-Cell Damage, Higher Rates of Autism
(Robert Lee Hotz , Wall Street Journal, Nov. 8, 2011)

Today, we return to a review of studies on the health impacts on the brain for those who breathe air near traffic. The studies indicate that the while the vehicle emissions affect everyone for periods as short as 30 minutes,  impacts near traffic include the intelligence and emotional stability of children and the brain activity of seniors. There is evidence also that congestion pricing’s role in improving air quality has beneficial health impacts.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Tolls, Congestion and HOT Lanes in Canadian Cities

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Congestive Traffic Failure: The Case for High-Occupancy and Express Toll Lanes in Canadian Cities (9  page pdf, Benjamin Dachis, C.D. Howe Institute, Aug. 31, 2011)

The difficulty on introducing tolls as urban cities become more and more clogged with traffic is addressed in the report reviewed today which suggests high-occupancy toll ( HOT) lanes for Canada’s five largest cities. HOT lanes could generate more than $1 B/ year in much needed  net revenue in these cities where congestion costs more than $5 Billion or $410 per capita pm average.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Making Paris Mobile in a Cleaner Environment

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The greening of Paris

( Manisha Gutman, The Hindu,Feb. 3, 2008)

Paris received an award recently for its Mobility Plan which was aimed at replacing its car culture with other and less polluting forms of transportation, including innovative bicycle and car sharing schemes, extensive information communication systems making known the availability of the alternatives and improved public transit based on the concept of “slowth”,  not fast and growth.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

How Expensive are Roads Built only for Cars?

Combating the Myth That Complete Streets Are Too Expensive (Tanya Snyder, World Streets DC, Dec. 8, 2011)

Today, we look at reasons to build streets for uses other than driving (such as cycling and walking) and find that this is not only economical but also adds to the overall quality of life for cities that take this approach. Making roads more narrow for driving also reduces costs.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Health Impacts from Exposure to Emissions from Traffic

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Health Update – Association Between Exposure to Traffic and Heart Disease (6 page pdf, Air Resources Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, Feb. 24, 2005)

Today we review a briefing to the California Air Resources Board on the health risks faced by those who travel on or live near freeways. Results “provide evidence for an association between exposure to traffic and its pollutants and increased risk of heart attacks and heart disease risk factors, even in healthy, young adults”.

To see key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Pricing Parking Policies and Principles in Delhi, India

Image via WikipediaParking Policy for Delhi (126 slides PowerPoint file, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Dec, 2011)

Parking Policy for Delhi(126 slides PowerPoint file, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Dec, 2011)

Today’s review article comes from Delhi, the 100 year old Capital of India (as of today), where the need for an improved policy toward congestion and parking is proposed to relieve congestion and the amount of space used for parking of the millions of vehicles. Options considered include pricing parking spaces by location and time of day and a congestion charge for vehicles other than public entering the urban core. Many of the policies and approaches would seem to apply to other cities.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Health Benefits from Mitigating Climate Change in Transportation

Health co-benefits of climate change mitigation – Transport sector (156 page pdf, Jamie Hosking, Pierpaolo Mudu, Carlos Dora, Health Impact Assessment, World health Organization, Dec., 2011)
Today the focus is on a report issued by the World Health Organization in connection with the Climate Change  Conference held at Durban, South Africa. The report examines the positive impacts on health by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and the advantages and disadvantages of certain strategies such as the results of congestion pricing (positive) or the shift to diesel fuel (negative).

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Are Pollution Hotspots Legal in Ontario?

Pollution, hot spots and environmental justice (Dianne Saxe, Environmental Law and Litigation, Dec. 5, 2011

 

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Topping the reviews today is a blog post by a lawyer who examines the potential inconsistency of environmental law, as expressed by the 1993 Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights, when applied to varying levels of air pollution across the province. Although she looked only at industrial examples (burning tires and stack emissions), the basic issue presented is whether the law could extend to differences in pollution at the neighbourhood level and, by extension in our mind, to pollution hotspots created by heavy traffic on urban public roads.

 

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

The Health Impact of Emissions from Light Traffic

Heavy vehicle traffic is related to wheeze among schoolchildren: a population-based study in an area with low traffic flows ( 8 page pdf, Martin Andersson, Lars Modig, Linnea Hedman, Bertil Forsbergand Eva Rönmark^, Environmental Health, Oct. 13,  2011,

The review today looks at research in northern Sweden and the health impact for children within 200 m of relatively low flows of traffic (100-250 vehicles per day). The results indicate a respiratory health risk, not only for those near low traffic but also a possibility of underestimated risks near high traffic flow.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Health Impacts from Road Traffic and Railway Noise

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Exposure to road traffic and railway noise and associations with blood pressure and self-reported hypertension: a cohort study ( 11 page pdf, Mette Sørensen, Martin Hvidberg, Barbara Hoffmann, Zorana J Andersen, Rikke B Nordsborg, Kenneth G Lillelund, Jørgen Jakobsen, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad and Ole Raaschou-Nielsen,Environmental Health, Oct. 28, 2011)

Today we review some research from Denmark which tried to assess the impact of road traffic and railway noise on blood pressure and hypertension, after taking into account the additional impacts of air pollution. There was a weak link with both sources, although it was thought that those who were most sensitive to noise (especially seniors) may have taken medication that reduced the impacts, compared to non-medicated people.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Do the Suburbs Have a Future?

The Death of the Fringe Suburb (Christopher B. Leinberger, New York Times, Nov. 25, 2011)

Today we look at the future of traditional North American cities with sprawling suburbs and large malls that can only be reached by car. Population trends toward an older society, the rise of carbon fuel costs and the desire for a better life style have shifted home buyers to the urban core from the suburban fringe- with huge impacts on what is left in the suburbs and the future priorities for transportation.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Estimating the Risk of Death from Air Pollution

Assessment of Deaths Attributable to Air Pollution: Should We Use Risk Estimates based on Time Series or on Cohort Studies? ( 6 page pdf, N. Künzli, S. Medina, R. Kaiser, P. Quénel, F. Horak, Jr., and M. Studnicka, American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 153, No. 11, 2001)

Today’s review looks at an analysis of the two ways of estimating the risk of death from air pollution- as an event from immediate pre-death conditions over a short time (using time series) or as a cumulative result over a lifetime using cohort groups. The authors suggest that each risk estimate has value and each has strengths and weaknesses. The analysis could be useful in suggesting what and how often to monitor and how to use the data.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

The Health Impact of Indoor Air Pollution

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Method to Estimate the Chronic Health Impact of Air Pollutants in U.S. Residences (29 page pdf, Logue JM, Price PN, Sherman MH, Singer BC, Environ Health Perspect, Nov.17, 2011)

Today we review research into indoor air quality as it effects health on a long term basis. The main sources of the three main pollutants (aside from radon), formaldehyde, acrolein and particulate matter are emitted from materials around the house and from tobacco smoking- with some PM coming from outdoor sources. The total health impact is  1,100 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Where are Cars Going Globally in the next 15 years?

Automotive landscape 2025: Opportunities and challenges ahead (90 page pdf, Ralf Kalmbach, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhart, Philipp Grosse Kleimann, Dr. Marcus Hoffmann, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, March 2011)

The report reviewed today looks at the major global trends expected –geopolitical and population shifts , environmental trends, technology- and what they imply:“the automotive industry will undergo the greatest transformation it has experienced in its history”. A major aspect is the growth of China, both in population terms and as an automobile manufacturer and consumer.  A second major aspect is the degree of connectivity between the internet and the new technology built into future cars.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports, click HERE

 

Does Canada’s Largest City Want Congestion Charges?

Torontonians Open to Congestion Charge to Fund Transportation System  (8 page pdf, Angus Reid Public Opinion, Nov. 6, 2011)

The answer to the question posed today seems to be yes, judging from a poll taken recently in Toronto which interestingly also found a dislike for tolls or taxes aimed at drivers. The time to travel to work issue seems to be the main factor affecting a commuter’s decision to take their own vehicle, take transit, cycle or walk. The reduced travel time and improved air pollution levels found in London and Stockholm after several years of congestion pricing appear to be a valid argument in favour of implementing this in other large cities which suffer from congestion, especially those with small congested Central Business Districts, such as Ottawa .

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Evaporative Cooling

Evaporative Cooling – Overview (Consumer Energy Center – California Energy Commission)

This technology , based on known scientific principles, cuts the need for electrical power used for air conditioning by 90% and has already been demonstrated (and won a national energy award) for the large amount of cooling needed for a large computing data centre in Colorado. It could be the solution for mitigating the part of climate change that comes from heating/cooling homes and buildings- especially in sunny, hot dry areas where cooling of buildings is so needed and where evaporative cooling works best. The other major emitter of greenhouse gases is transportation and the carbon-fuel  burning vehicles which has been the focus of this blog.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Sprawl and Health Impacts in Ontario, Canada

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Report on Public Health and Urban Sprawl in Ontario – A review of the pertinent literature (53 page pdf, Riina Bray,Catherine Vakil MD, David Elliott,  Environmental Health Committee, Ontario College of Family Physicians, Jan. 2005)

Today we review a report from the environmental health community on the negative impacts that sprawl has on the province of Ontario. The report emphasizes health impacts and air pollution that accompany sprawl driven, literally, by an increase in commuting traffic on municipal roadways.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

The Health Benefits of Cycling’s Impact on Air Quality

Air Quality and Exercise-Related Health Benefits from Reduced Car Travel in the Midwestern United States (39 page pdf, Maggie L. Grabow, Scott N. Spak, Tracey Holloway,Brian Stone Jr., Adam C. Mednick, Jonathan A. Patz, Environmental Health Perspectives, Nov. 2, 2011)

We all know that cycling is good for one’s fitness, as well as providing an emission-free mode of transportation which benefits the ambient air environment. Today, we review research that quantified the benefits of substituting cycling for trips by motor vehicle of less than 8 km using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP). Results indicate 1,100 fewer deaths and $7 billion of savings or 2.5% of the total costs for health care in the U.S  mid-west

per year per 12 x 12 km2 gridbox.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports abut this post, click HERE

Action on Health Impacts of Climate Change

Adapting to health impacts of climate change: a study of UNFCCC Annex I parties (10 page pdf, A C Lesnikowski, J D Ford, L Berrang-Ford, J A Paterson, M Barrera2 and S J Heymann, Environmental Research Letters, Oct. 31, 2011)

The focus today is on how Annex 1 states (members of the OECD and former USSR) are preparing for impacts expected from climate change, viewed as “one of the main challenges facing public health this century”. The majority have taken no action to adapt to health vulnerabilities. Flooding, general extremes, and air quality were recognized as the main threats and extreme cold as the least. Overlooked by many is the vulnerability of their elderly- whose numbers will double over the next few decades at the same time as periods of extreme heat and high pollution increase as a result of climate change.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

Is there a Link between Climate Warming and Hospital Infections?

Seasonal and Temperature-Associated Increases in Gram-Negative Bacterial Bloodstream Infections among Hospitalized Patients ( 6 Page pdf, Michael R. Eber1, Michelle Shardell, Marin L. Schweizer, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Eli N., Perencevich, PLoS ONE, Sep. 26, 2011)

Today’s review summarizes analysis of the incidence of bloodstream infections in hospitals with higher outside air temperatures. The results indicate a rise in infections by 12 to 51% comparing winter to summer and an increase of 3-10% with every 10 degree F (5 deg C) rise in temperature. The implication for an additional health impacts of climate change is clear – unless year-round precautions are taken by hospitals during hot spells and, in general, as climate warming progresses, we will see more infections. It is worth noting that the spread of insect-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus is also a growing threat in countries such as Canada where winter cold has lessened and allowed insects and birds to carry the disease further north. Also, the convergence of more urbanization, greater use of emission producing vehicles and the large role these vehicles play in causing climate change points to the other major factor and potential solution in reducing these health threats in cities.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Assessment of Local Air Pollution Impacts on Health

Methodological considerations in developing local-scale health impact assessments: balancing national, regional, and local data (12 page pdf,  Bryan J. Hubbell & Neal Fann & Jonathan I. Levy, Air Qual Atmos Health, Mar. 31, 2009)

Today’s review article compares the factors that need to be considered when carrying out a local or urban scale health impact assessment compared to a national one- as well as the differences to be expected in adding up local scale assessment where possible for a national total.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

How Freeways Came About from Cities Designed for Cars

Planning for Cars in Cities – Planners, Engineers, and Freeways in the 20th Century (18 page pdf, Jeffrey R. Brown, Eric A. Morris, and Brian D. Taylor, Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 75, No. 2, Spring 2009)

Today’s review article describes the development of major roads in cities, how and why they evolved from the original concepts for urban planning 100 years ago with examples from Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, through the introduction of the national interstate highway system and ending with the state of roads in most cities today- which seem deem as “traffic sewers” but others call urban freeways.

To see Key Quotes and Links to key reports about this post, click HERE

 

Traffic Accidents and Optimum Congestion Charges

Traffic Congestion and Accidents(26 page pdf, Andrea Schrage, University of Regensburg Working Papers in Business, Economics and Management Information Systems, Nov.9, 2006)

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The report reviewed today looks at the calculation of optimum congestion charging with the cost of accidents included in that calculation. To do that the author considered the timing of the accident (earlier or later during the daily rush hour) and how an accident could be factored into the modelling needed to estimate an optimum pricing.

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Estimating Health Impacts on Major Streets Using Oxidative Potential of Particulates

Contrasts in Oxidative Potential and Other PM Characteristics Collected Near Major Streets and Background Locations (32 page pdf, Hanna Boogaard, Nicole A.H. Janssen, Paul H. Fischer, Gerard P.A. Kos, Ernie P. Weijers, Flemming R. Cassee, Saskia C. van der Zee, Jeroen J. de Hartog, Bert Brunekreef, Gerard Hoek, Environ Health Perspect, Oct. 20, 2011)

Today’s review article looks at how particulates near heavy traffic on major streets generates hydroxyl radicals and how this in turn may be a better measure of health impacts than simply monitoring PM 2.5 or PM 10. The results indicate the oxidative potential near heavy traffic was 4 to 6 times greater than in suburban locations.

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Urban Heat Islands, White Roofs and Climate Change

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Effects of Urban Surfaces and White Roofs on Global and Regional Climate (Abstract, Mark Z. Jacobson, John E. Ten Hoeve, Journal of Climate, Sep. 12, 2011)

From the meteorological modelling community comes an article today examines the significance of urban heat islands as a factor in climate change- turns out that it is not.  It also tests the hypothesis that painting roofs white would reduce the amount of warming of the atmosphere and thereby delay climate change. The model shows that the converse is true because there would be less heating at the surface resulting in less convection and less cloud which globally would allow more sunlight to warm the atmosphere.

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How to Cure Congestion: more roads, more public transit, or congestion pricing?

The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: Evidence from US Cities  ( Abstract, Gilles Duranton and Matthew A. Turner, American Economic Review, Oct. 2011)

Yet another paper is reviewed today from an economic viewpoint, concluding that congestion pricing is the only way to reduce congestion. Not even more public transit offers relief. Where pricing has been used, the results in terms of revenue, pollution reduction and less congestion are so evident that public acceptance is clear.

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Danish Plans for Road Pricing and Congestion Charging

Congestion Charging in The Greater Copenhagen Area  (18 page pdf, The Municipal Forum, June 2008)

Copenhagen appears to be on the road to implement congestion charges (or road pricing beyond the city) after the publication of a report (reviewed below) by their Municipal Forum which attempts to build on the successes of London and Stockholm. An interesting aspect is the amount of consideration given to uses of the revenue generated with specific examples to benefit cyclists, public transit and traffic management.

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Why are City Politicians Nervous when Congestion Charging Comes Up?

The political calculus of congestion pricing: credible commitments, hostages and opportunities for implementation (33 page pdf, David A. King, Transport Futures Mobility Pricing Conference, Feb, 2011)

The reason why congestion charging is seen as political suicide is the focus for today’s post based on a survey of municipal politicians and urban planners in Los Angeles.  Among the reasons for objections is a feeling of mistrust between the municipality and state on sharing revenue as well as the feeling that congestion on city streets comes mainly from freeways that cross cities and not from conditions on the streets themselves, and notably the lack of confidence on where congestion charging revenue would be spent. That confidence can be built by emulating London’s example of improving public transit before implementing tolls.

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Neighbourhood-Scale Air Pollution Exposure, Walkability and Heart Disease

Health Impacts of the Built Environment: Within-urban Variability in Physical Inactivity, Air Pollution, and Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality (34 page pdf, Steve Hankey, Julian D. Marshall, Michael Brauer, Environ Health Perspect, Oct. 17, 2011)

Today we review some research into the link between physical inactivity, air pollution and health impact at the inter-urban scale. The results indicate that while inactivity has the greatest single health impact, this impact can be increased in densely inner city neighbourhoods with higherer levels of PM pollution.

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Exposure of Schoolchildren to Traffic-Related Air Pollution

Heavy vehicle traffic is related to wheeze among schoolchildren: a population-based study in an area with low traffic flows (31 page pdf, Martin Andersson, Lars Modig, Linnea Hedman, Bertil Forsberg and Eva Ronmark, Environmental Health, Oct. 13, 2011)

Today the focus is on a study of the health threat posed by emissions from traffic within 200 m of schoolchildren in a cold climate. The results indicate that these emissions pose a threat even when the traffic is not heavy and this implies an even greater link between traffic and pollution generally.

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The State of Air Pollution in Europe

The European Environment – State and Outlook 2010 – Air Pollution (46 page pdf, European Environment Agency, 2010)

The report reviewed today is an overview of the progress (or lack of progress) being made or forecast in Europe to meet EU objectives. Clearly, the main challenge has to do with particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide and managing the main sources: hydro plants and transportation. One striking observation is that as electric vehicles are introduced to reduce urban emissions, rural areas may suffer as the sites of expanded electric generating utilities.

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The Application of Air Quality Models in Europe

The application of models under the European Union’s Air Quality Directive: A technical reference guide  (76 page pdf, European Environment Agency, Sep. 2011)

Today’s focus is on the application of air quality models in Europe, noting the limitations and benefits of models in combination with ground-based or space-based monitors. There are several very useful tables showing the policy standards for a range of air pollutants for various applications and scales.

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Population Exposure to Vehicle Emissions

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Honing the Methods: Assessing Population Exposures to Motor Vehicle Exhaust  (28 page pdf, Chris Van Atten,Michael Brauer,Tami Funk,  Nicolas L. Gilbert,Lisa Graham,Debra Kaden,Paul J. Miller,Leonora Rojas Bracho,Amanda Wheeler,and Ronald H. White,  Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Nov, 2004)

Today’s article under review is the result of a major international workshop convened in Montreal Canada in 2003 to consider recommendations for assessing exposure to vehicle emissions and the resulting health impacts, especially to young children and the elderly. It points out one application of a California law forbidding school sites within 500 ft of traffic. A caution is expressed about the widespread urges of urban planners towards intensification which may present new health hazards to the denser populations in the urban core.

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