Belgium vs. Poland

Belgium has a temperate maritime climate characterized by moderate temperatures, predominantly west winds, cloudy sky and frequent rain.

Environmental issues in Belgium are slightly different from the rest of Europe and are evidenced by: urbanization which leads to an increase in soil permeability, water quality which is the result of the small number of sewage drains and inadequate treatment of these waters, low air quality because of the gases emissions from traffic and heating homes, issues that affect not only their own environment but neighboring countries too.

Main tropospheric ozone precursors came from industrial activities and traffic. Tropospheric ozone is a heavy gas with a density  of 1.66 times the air’s density, property that keeps ozone on the ground. The quantity of ozone is variable in time and space and is well known that these precursors are carried over long distance from the sources of generation. Maybe the major effect of this tropospheric ozone is that from the photochemical smog appears (smog that has carcinogenic effects for lungs).An example of how fast photochemical ozone forms and travels is this base case model experiment published in Atmospheric Environment, Volume 30, Issue 2, January 1996 by R. G. DERWENT,* M. E. JENKIN and S. M. SAUNDERS.

The effect of smog in Brussels. Source: http://farm3.static.flickr.com

Tropospheric ozone causes the greenhouse effect too. Main primary pollutants that cause photochemical ozone formation processes are nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane.

Ozone emissions between 1990 and 2002 and the target for 1990-2010. Source: http://www.eea.europa.eu/

From the graph above we can see that Belgium did not achieve the target to reduce emissions for this pollutant by 2010 so the Belgian population was exposed to high ozone concentrations. The European maximum admissible concentration for ozone is 120 μg/m³ . This means that for example in 2003, in Belgium, 70% of all population was exposed to  a concentration higher than the limit. This was the largest exposure over the last decade for Belgium, and was due to the mostly dry and excessive summer of 2003. There is no clear trend, but in comparative weather conditions like the one from 2003, the duration and the intensity of ozone concentrations (and therefore exposure of the population) have decreased in subsequent years. According to the website of the European Environment Agency since 1990 (except 1991 and 2007) the entire Belgian population was exposed to concentrated ozone greater than 120 mg/m3  for at least one day.

Besides the impact in water and air quality, many of the present lethal diseases are noticeable and react at climate change.

One of the conclusions was that from 1961 in Belgium, Ireland, The Netherlands and Great Britain have experienced the biggest increase in deaths related to ozone and greenhouse gases.

Sonian Forest is near Brussels in south-east and covers 3 regions.  For moment, this forest is composed by beech, particularity which made the forest a very fragile ecosystem. Recently this ecosystem and how climate change will affect the forest caught scientists’ attention.  One scenario was simulated and based on its outcomes, by 2100 the climate near Sonian Forest will be like the Loire catchment, situation which will manifest through an increase of 3°C for mean temperatures and with 4°C in summer, a decrease of 15% of precipitations in summer and an increase in winter’s precipitations by 20% and also an increase in winter storms’ frequency and intensity .

Between 1990 and 2006 GHG emissions recorded a decrease in all the sectors, decrease which is the result of the introduction of market economies and restructuring and closing heavily polluting industries.

According to the European Environment Agency’s website, the distribution of emissions of greenhouse gases in Belgium is presented as follows:

• In Flanders emissions are down by around 5% between 1990 and 2007. However, emissions from the transport sector and the commercial / institutional are increasing.

• In Wallonia, emissions decreased considerably between 1990 and 2007. However, road transport related emissions have continued to rise, by about one-third since 1990.

According to these changes, emissions of greenhouse gases in Belgium are expected to increase by 3% untill 2020. The main factors explaining the significant increase after 2010 are high energy demands combined with increased production in industries that are responsible for process emissions.

If current laws remain unchanged average emissions of greenhouse gases could increase by 31% in the 2006-2030 period.

Under the National Climate Comission,  a national climate plan was established. It is based on various regional plans and federal measures and it is called "Belgian national climate change adaptation strategy”.This plan is based on five strategic axes sector. These are:

1. Reducing human and natural vulnerabilities and improving building resilience;
2. Managing water and land to protect natural systems and preserving vital ecosystems, goods and functions;
3. Generating the funding and the institutional governance needed;
4. Accelerating innovation take up and technology diffusion;
5. Overcoming behavioural and institutional inertia.

Country report and climate change mitigation for Belgium. 

Like the other communist countries, Poland has some damages in everything that is environment quality because of the resource exploitation policies that had serious consequences. Studies undertaken after 1989 showed extremely poor quality components environment, air, water, soil and vegetation cover in particularly around industrial centers in Upper Silesia and region Krakow. 

In 1991, Poland had 5 areas classified as "environmental disasters". From these, Upper Silesia is the most affected area is considered as indicators as infant mortality (30 per thousand),diseases of the respiratory system and the circulatory dramatic values ​​were compared with Western Europe. 

To support the information that make from Poland a case of  'air pollution' 

Mieczysław Leśniok, 

Łukasz Małarzewski, 

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź

 's article is a point from where to start.

Transition to a market economy started to improve economic performance and reduce environmental pressures. Air pollution has decreased sharply, SO2 emissions are currently about 25% of what they were in 1980. This transition to a market economy has had an impact and in terms of legislation, thus following the adoption of the Constitution of 1997 (current Constitution of Poland) ensure environmental protection, but at the same time pursuing sustainable development.

Between 1991 and 2000 in Poland there were adopted two national politics for environment.  The 2^nd one is divided in three parts : 2000-2002 (short term), 2002-2010 (medium term), 2010-2015 (long term) and each of these parts has goals for management of natural resources, improving environmental quality, strengthen environmental policies and cooperation for environmental issues of international interest.

Poland's Climate Policy- The strategies for greenhouse gas emission reductions in Poland until2020.

In Poland GHG emissions did not exceed 400 million tones C02 from 1997. However, in 1988 GHG emissions level was much higher (approx. 570 million tones). Between 1988 and 1990 a huge decrease was recorded for CO2 emissions, with a value of 460 million tones. This decrease was the result of some changes in the political and economic field. The main GHG from Poland is CO2 and 82% of the emissions come from fuel combustion both industrial processes and transport.

GHG emissions in Poland 1988-2008

The changes in the amount of GHG in reference to changes in GDP and primary energy consumption and electricity reveal growth observed since 1990 have been accompanied by stabilization (up to 1997), and a further reduction of the greenhouse gases. It should be emphasized that despite the dynamic growth of the economy between 1990 and 2007, the emissions of GHG remained at a stable level due to the widely implementation of modern technologies in industry and introducing more restrictions , including legal instruments, and alternative solutions for energy saving.

Changes in greenhouse gas emissions in Poland (in CO2 equivalent) compared to changes in primary energy consumption, electric energy consumption and GDP in 1990–2008.

Useful link

Great Britain vs. Estonia

 It is world renowned that UK is one of the most involved countries in the entire discussion about climate change. This could be due to some kind of guilt that British Governments were experimenting after the Industrial Revolution who seems to be the event that triggered the increase of CO2 and the other GHG. However, apparently in present, the air quality in UK is the best since 1850 or this is what a governmental report from 2007 says. Despite of this report, some voices spread the idea that the present levels of atmospheric pollution may reduce the life expectancy with 6 months, fact that could have a negative effect on economy because the costs in health care that are estimated at  £20 billion a year.

  
 One of the most stringent problems for UK is represented by air pollution, pollution which is measure by indicators like: particulate matter (PM 10), NO2 and tropospheric Ozone. According to EEA report from 2010 about UK, the target for PM10 for 2004 was that mean values in 24 hours should not be above 50µg/m3 more than 35 times/ year. However the aim was not achieved because in 6 sites values ran above the target mean. 

Annual mean background PM10 concentration, 2008 (µg m-3, gravimetric) Source: http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/gb/eu/annualair/envsryunq/ukmaps2008.doc/manage_document

 For both, PM10 and NO2 concentrations, the main sources of pollution with these two pollutants are represented by major roads. The map below shows that maximum concentrations are around the important industrial centers or important cities (e.g. London with a value above 60µg/m^-3.

Urban major urban roads, annual mean roadside NO₂ concentration, 2008, µg m^-3. Source: http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/gb/eu/annualair/envsryunq/ukmaps2008.doc/manage_document

 Information about the strategy of air quality in UK here.

 Climate change is a reality and it is obviously related to air pollution. Even though its effects are not so noticeable in all areas, some of them are already felt globally and there are noticeable efforts made by governments for the stability of atmospheric GHG emissions and  adaptation to the new climate. 

 For UK, these climate trends are exemplified by an increase:

• of CET (central England temperature) with 1ºC since1980;
•   in the frequency of  sever windstorms;
• of sea level with 1mm/year in the 20^th century and 3mm/year in the ’90 decade;
• in winter rainfall from heavy precipitation events.

 The EEA report based on the UK ClimateProjections (UCK09), sums up that average UK summer temperature is likely to rise by 3-4°C by the 2080s, Average summer rainfall across the UK may decrease by 11 per cent to 27 per cent by the 2080s, sea levels are expected to rise, extreme weather events are likely to become more common.

 On the other hand there is Estonia, a less developed European country who struggles with all the international environmental issues. Regarding the NO2 emissions, the concentrations measured at urban monitoring stations show a decrease in the last years and are below the European mean. The principal cause of this is the introduction of catalytic converters on cars.

 NO₂ annual mean concentrations, urban stations. Source: http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/

 On the O3 issue, Estonia records higher values in concentrations at background stations than at urban stations. However, in 2008, at the Lahemaa background monitoring station there were registered 11 overruns for the EU’s target for 8 hours, parameter which has serious implications in population health. 

 As far as we know, the pollution in air can come from different particles such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. For Estonia the red point for PM10 seems to be Tallin, where the main sources of the PM10 emissions in the center of the city apparently are fuel burning in vehicle engines, especially diesel; road abrasion; automobile tire and brake wear and also some construction works. 

All of the Baltic States, adopted the same strategy in the climate change issue, with very similar policies and similar measures to regulate GHG emissions. These States, including Estonia, have participated at EU EST , the EU emission trading scheme and even hosted a few events under the Activities Implemented Jointly programme (AIJ).  For these 3 countries, the policies of reduction the GHG were implemented mainly for gaining access in the EU.

The categories were mentioned in “Climate change mitigation policies in energy sector of Baltic States” and they are: 

• pollution taxes and ecological tax reform;
• feed-in prices for electricity produced from renewable energy sources;
• feed-in prices for electricity produced by combined heat and power (CHP);
• measures to increase energy efficiency;
• emissions trading scheme (EU ETS);
• green tradable certificates (GTC).

 Estonia implemented a CO2 tax in 2005 because of the huge amount of CO2 emissions which came from energy. It is known that in this country, the main raw material used for energy is oil shale. The oil shale is a kind of coal but with a lower caloric energy and a higher ability to pollute the air.

 Here is a very interesting site where you can 'play' with and find some more about pollution in different parts of Europe.

France vs. Romania

The environment and environment related topics are a common interest throughout all of the European countries and Romania makes no exception. Due to its EU membership, this country follows European directives and regulations for environmental issues.

In comparison with 1989, the total GHGs emissions (without considering sinks) decreased by 54.74 % in 2009, while the net GHG emissions/removals (taking into account the CO2 removals) decreased by 60.35%. Based on these observations, it is highly likely for Romania to meet the requirements regarding the reduction of the GHG emissions in its first commitment, 2008-2012. (National Inventory Report of Romania 2011 v. 3.1 National Environmental Protection Agency).

Analyzing the graph above, we can see three phases in the decrease of GHG emissions: one in 1989-1999,one in 1999-2008 and one in 2009(points of view). The 1^st phase is the result of closing several factories based on the decline of economic activities and consumption models that have changed after the removal of the communist regime.  Even in this first phase, there are two sub-phases: the major economic decline in 1989-1992 which leads to a decrease of emissions and another phase from 1996 when the economy becomes more productive and the Nuclear Power Plan from Cernavoda is finished.  The Nuclear Power Plant from Cernavoda provides almost 20% of the energy used in Romania at this time and helps reduce the GHG emissions by over 10 million tons each year. So, since 1997, the emissions decline again and it is predicted that this decline in GHG emissions will increase after the other 3 units will be finished.

Trends of the aggregated GHG emissions; Source:anpm.ro

Between 1999 and 2008 the emissions of GHG increased again and this fact shows an economic development that was stopped due to the economic crisis that spread across Europe. More information in the National Inventory Report from 2011.( you should use Internet Explorer for this one)

A report from 2000 made by the Ministry of Environment and Forests refers to the mechanism of transferable permits trading, where Romania has protocols with the Netherlands: joint activities to implement the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by implementing energy saving methods and with Switzerland to improve energy efficiency in two thermal plants.  ) these two examples shows how countries with different level of development cooperate to achieve the targets.

Principles in environmental protection in Romania by O.U.G. 195/2005 approved by the Environmental Protection Law no. 265/2006:

• principle of integrating environmental policy into other sectorial policies;
• principle of precaution in making decisions 
• principle of preventive action ;
• principle of retention the pollutants at source ;
• the ‘polluter pays’ principle;
• principle of conservation the biodiversity and natural ecosystems specific to the biogeographic area ;
• sustainable use of natural resources
• public information and participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters ;
• development of international cooperation for environmental protection .

On the other side of the story is France, a developed country which has an insular part as well (the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean) and several overseas territories in North and South America, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. In 2009 GHG emissions for the whole Europe were 4.940 million tons of CO2. Four countries were responsible for over 53% of this amount: Germany, UK, Italy and France. This means that France is placing 4^th with 10.7% of all emissions. With 527 million tons of emitted CO₂ or 8.2 per capita France becomes one of the countries that are developed but their GHG emissions per capita are lower than the average. On multiple occasions, France was named the greenest European country. 

GHG emissions in EU IN 2008; Source: CITEPA, EEA, 

In the context of its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, France, has an objective to stabilize GHG emissions for the period 2008-2012. France succeeded in 2002 to align with current EU levels and since then, the country level remains at values ​​close to the target. In 2007, 71% of France’s GHG emissions came from using fossil fuel and the other 29% came from agriculture, waste processing, industrial processes and fluorinated gases and solvents.

The residential / tertiary saw an increase of GHG emissions by 6% between 1990 and 2007. Burning energy represents 92% of emissions in this sector, with a decrease of 1.4% between 1990 and 2007. But this change is closely related to weather conditions that directly affect the heating requirements. The remaining 8% are mainly related to fluorinated gases, the growing use of which explains the significant increase in this sector.

The most significant decrease of GHG emissions for the period 1990-2007 comes from manufacturing (-26%). Combustion emissions related to the energy industry, which accounts for nearly three quarters of the entire sector GHG emissions decreased by 12% during the period. A major effort to save energy, combined with an increased use of gas and electricity at the expense of coal and oil, has led to the significant decrease. Industrial processes constitute the second largest source of GHG emissions. Their level was halved between 1990 and 2007.

Because this is the 3^rd time I got the flu since I arrived in the UK, I thought that this post should be about climate change and flu. I found some interesting articles that link climate change and the influenza virus which will hopefully catch your eyes.  During the last century, there has been made a lot of research that shows that the expansion of  many diseases is related to climate change; such as malaria , avian flu, swine flu or diarrhea.

This is why some specific regions are more likely to 'benefit' from a distinctive virus.This is why Malaria is not so common in Europe but in the equatorial zone and conversely the avian flu and the swine flu  were more common in Europe and America and affected less Africa and Asia.
Until next time, enjoy your reading and I will make sure that I am stocked up on tissues, meds and tea.

Climate change and temperature rise: Implications on food- and water-borne diseases is one of those articles that is ' in charge of an area' this time Syria, zone that is dealing with different types of diarrhea, because of the water quality issue.

Climate change and the global malaria recession is another article that focuses on an illness that killed a lots of people in the past and which is likely to return as a result of climate change, rising temperatures and poor water quality/

How to avoid the flu and pandemics 

EM of Influenza virus

Useful links:

Climate change vs Flu Pandemics 

Flu pandemics show seasonality?

Seasonality of Influenza