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A Clean Air Task Force (CATF) study indicates that new CNG buses are not necessarily superior to new diesel buses regarding air quality or climate impact. While CNG buses may have marginally lower particulate matter and volatile organic compound emissions, they can have higher nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the higher purchase price of CNG buses may limit the number of older, high-emitting vehicles retired per dollar of capital funding, potentially resulting in lower fleet-wide emission reductions compared to a diesel fleet update. The climate impact of CNG is heavily dependent on methane leakage rates during production and the choice of Global Warming Potential (GWP) timeframes (GWP20 vs GWP100). Despite these factors, low fuel costs and federal funding structures incentivize transit agencies to choose CNG.

The document analyzes 350 years of British history to show that transitions to low-polluting energy sources are driven by an iterative process of public demand and government response. It argues that while industrialists often weaken initial legislation, sustained demand signals both governments and polluters to seek low-cost, low-pollution alternatives. The author suggests that the transition to a low carbon economy will likely follow a similarly protracted course, influenced by economic prosperity, shocking environmental events, and the availability of competitive low-carbon technologies.

The analysis finds that while CNG buses offer long-term fuel cost savings and lower long-term GHG emissions (GWP100), they have higher upfront costs and higher short-term climate impacts (GWP20) due to fugitive methane emissions. In capital-constrained environments, new diesel buses may provide greater fleet-wide reductions in criteria pollutants because more units can be purchased and older buses retired per dollar spent.

The research evaluates 14 emission control measures for black carbon and methane to determine their impact on air quality and health by 2030. The study finds that full implementation could significantly reduce global surface concentrations of PM2.5 and ozone, avoiding millions of premature deaths annually, with the vast majority of these benefits occurring in Asia.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for groundWork and the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), submitted a statement to the Department of Environmental Affairs on 31 January 2012. The document objects to proposed amendments to the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004’s list of activities resulting in atmospheric emissions, arguing that the changes generally relax emission limits, extend compliance time-frames, and were developed through a non-transparent process that favored industry representatives over affected communities.

The authors identified 14 emission control measures targeting methane and black carbon that could reduce projected global mean warming by approximately 0.5°C by 2050. These measures are estimated to prevent 0.7 to 4.7 million premature deaths annually from outdoor air pollution and increase annual crop yields by 30 to 135 million metric tons from 2030 onwards. The economic benefits of methane reductions (USD 700 to USD 5,000 per metric ton) significantly exceed their marginal abatement costs (under USD 250). Combining these short-term pollutant controls with carbon dioxide reduction measures substantially lowers the risk of exceeding the 2°C warming threshold.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2011-12 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). Key trends include a 30% increase in registered EMIs, a significant rise in Section 24G administrative fines, and a focus on combating rhino poaching. The report provides detailed statistics on criminal dockets, convictions, and industrial inspections, while highlighting landmark court cases and capacity-building efforts for inspectors and prosecutors.

The document finds that GHG mitigation policies significantly improve air quality by reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. In the EU27, this leads to substantial health gains, including an increase in average life expectancy by one month by 2050 and annual economic co-benefits ranging from €44 billion to €95 billion. The analysis also highlights significant benefits in China and India, where life expectancy gains are estimated at 19 and 30 months respectively by 2050. Additionally, mitigation reduces regulatory abatement costs for businesses and lessens the acidification and eutrophication of ecosystems.

H.R. 2401, the 'Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011', seeks to create a multi-agency committee chaired by the Secretary of Commerce to assess the impacts of EPA regulations. The bill mandates analyses for the years 2016, 2020, and 2030, focusing on global competitiveness, electricity and fuel prices, employment, and power supply reliability. It specifically targets rules related to air quality, hazardous pollutants, and climate change, and proposes deferring the final action of certain EPA rules until after the committee's final report is submitted.

The document is a citizen petition submitted to the EPA requesting the promulgation of rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address the lack of public and regulatory information regarding chemicals used in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P Chemicals). The petitioners argue that current regulatory gaps—including the 'Halliburton Loophole' and inadequate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)—allow the industry to conceal toxic fluids that pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment. The petition cites evidence of groundwater contamination, air quality degradation, and animal fatalities across several U.S. states. It specifically requests that the EPA mandate toxicity testing under TSCA section 4, require detailed reporting of chemical identities and volumes under section 8(a), call in records of adverse reactions under section 8(c), and require the submission of all existing health and safety studies under section 8(d).

The report analyzes the relationship between rising temperatures and ground-level ozone formation, projecting that climate change will increase ozone concentrations and exacerbate respiratory health issues. Using the EPA's BenMAP model, the authors estimate that by 2020, the 'climate penalty' could result in 2.8 million additional acute respiratory symptoms and $5.4 billion in health costs. By 2050, these impacts are projected to rise significantly, with 11.8 million additional respiratory symptom occurrences. The report emphasizes that while precursor emissions are declining, warming temperatures may offset these gains, particularly in California, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic.

The report examines the World Bank's 3.75 billion dollar loan to Eskom for the Medupi coal-fired power plant, asserting that the Bank's Economic Analysis ignored critical environmental and social costs. It highlights failures to assess transboundary impacts on Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, as well as domestic risks regarding water scarcity, water quality, and air pollution. The authors argue that this pattern of under-valuing externalities leads to over-investment in large-scale centralized fossil fuel projects at the expense of decentralized renewables.

The document argues that public health professionals have an ethical obligation to communicate the health risks of climate change, as there is a significant disconnect between professional knowledge and public awareness. It recommends framing climate change as a human health problem rather than an environmental one, localizing the issue to make it concrete, and emphasizing 'win-win' health co-benefits of mitigation actions. The guide identifies key target audiences, including journalists, government decision-makers, and vulnerable populations, and suggests specific outreach methods such as using opinion leaders, issuing local scientific reports, and testifying at government hearings.

The report examines the Swedish hybrid-electric vehicle TIS between 1990 and 2010, finding that while early efforts were driven by urban air quality and concept vehicles, later developments shifted toward fuel efficiency and CO2 reduction. It highlights the role of state-funded R&D programs in maintaining technical knowledge and the significant impact of international dynamics, such as the success of the Toyota Prius and EU emission directives, over national governance in driving commercialization.

The document argues that media outlets have a duty to connect the dots between a warming climate and the devastating weather events of 2010, such as heatwaves in Russia and flooding in Pakistan. It asserts that climate change will increase the frequency of severe weather, decrease crop yields, and worsen air quality, providing a list of scientific and journalistic resources to support this coverage.

In a letter to the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Gareth Morgan MP disputes government claims that air quality in St Helena Bay is safe. He argues that fish factories emit toxic hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), which accumulate due to factory operating patterns and cause severe respiratory and neurological damage. Morgan highlights the vulnerability of children and the lack of government investigation into health impacts, citing international studies to link these emissions to conditions such as Bronchiolitis Obliterans and potential carcinogenic effects. He demands that factories stop using rotten fish, improve cleanliness, and install scrubber systems.

The document examines the 'source problem' (energy supply) and 'sink problem' (pollution) within endogenous growth frameworks. It argues that while resource scarcity can drag down growth, it also creates incentives for directed technological change and efficiency gains that can sustain long-run development. The authors compare stylized analytical models with complex CGE-models, noting that the latter are better for sector-specific policy analysis but often act as 'black-boxes'.

The report documents that commuters in cars, buses, trains, and ferries are routinely exposed to high levels of diesel exhaust, with ultrafine particles (UFPs) serving as the most sensitive marker of fresh diesel emissions. Findings indicate that diesel soot dominates roadway particulate matter and that in-vehicle exposures are significantly higher than ambient outdoor air, particularly in 'pull' trains and highway tunnels. The study concludes that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are highly effective at eliminating the soot plume behind vehicles, significantly improving air quality for following commuters and pedestrians.

The SAEMC project focuses on improving air quality management in South American megacities by establishing operational chemical weather forecasting and developing regional emission and climate change scenarios. Key achievements include the creation of an online emission database for cities such as Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Medellín, Santiago, and São Paulo, and the implementation of chemical weather forecasting for Santiago by the Chilean Weather Office. The project has also operationalized a linked climate modeling system for South America and is developing traffic and aerosol emission inventories for Bogotá, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo.

The document outlines a proposal to mandate the use of diesel emission reduction options on off-road equipment for federally funded transportation projects. It recommends that Congress allocate a significant portion of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program funds to cover the costs of these requirements via change orders. The principles prioritize projects in PM2.5 nonattainment or maintenance areas and define specific eligible technologies, including exhaust controls, engine upgrades, repowers, and idle reduction technologies verified by the U.S. EPA or California Air Resources Board.