European Union News - Environmnet

A consortium of researchers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Finland and the United Kingdom set out to redesign engines, so that they could adapt to non-conventional fuels. They tackled the challenge by rethinking each component's finishing, as opposed to modifying their traditional structures. With this idea the team has come up with a solution that could eliminate the corrosive effect of biofuel and restore faith in biofuels.

New European research has shown that a North Sea wind farm provided a new natural habitat for organisms living on the seabed and it has little negative effect on the fauna around it. This North-Sea wind farm, which has the total capacity to provide energy for up to 100,000 households, contributed significantly to the biodiversity of the area, with their research turning up organisms such as mussels, anemones and crabs. Furthermore, the Dutch researchers warn that the impact of a wind farm depends on its location and on the depth of the surrounding sea.

This tool developed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is a plug-in to IUCLID 5 designed to help companies to carry out their Chemical Safety Assessments (CSA) and preparing their Chemical Safety Reports (CSR). This new version of the tool enables the users to generate the exposure scenarios for communication to downstream users.

The Joint Research Center through its Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) developed a software package to improve its oil pollution detection system. This software will supplied the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in order to help Member States authorities to improve their response and prevention activities to pollution from ships.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the EU published two special reports which highlights that the current drought in the Greater Horn of Africa is creating the most serious food insecurity situation in the world.

The European Commission proposed new legislation that will make the use of jet skis and sailing boats less harmful for European waters. The proposed revision of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) sets that propulsion engines will have to be designed and constructed to emit 20% less of HC+NOx emissions and 34% less of particulate matters. The proposal also clarifies some safety requirements.

The European Commission adopted a new legislation which has as main aim to boost the investments in new technologies that reduce CO2 emissions from new cars. Motor manufactures will receive recognition for CO2 savings by fitting new cars with approved "eco-innovations" which reduce emissions.

According to the outcome of the Virobathe research, in almost 40% of more than 1,400 bathing water samples collected from coastal and inland areas in nine European countries, there were viruses discovered. While the concentrations are low, the research suggested that the presence of infectious adenoviruses and noroviruses in water samples could pose a risk to health.