Archived press release

Britain set to be dirty man of europe again ?

9 June 1999

A proposed environmental Directive to be adopted today in Brussels could once again leave Britain as the Dirty Man of Europe.

The National Emission Ceilings Directive proposes emissions limits for four pollutants causing acid rain and low level ozone, which affect sensitive ecosystems and human health[1]. But the UK Government is not accepting its share of the pollution cuts needed, notably in emissions of sulphur dioxide, the main gas causing acid rain.

If implemented, the proposed Directive would reduce by a third the area of sensitive ecosystems at threat from acid rain by 2010. The UK Government has agreed to make the small cuts needed in emissions of nitrogen oxides, is not offering to make any cuts at all in emissions of hydrocarbons and ammonia, and only just over half of the emissions cuts needed in sulphur dioxide [2].

This flies in the face of growing evidence that reducing sulphur dioxide emissions by fitting abatement equipment to coal- and oil-fired power stations would not be excessively expensive and would protect jobs in the coal industry by allowing greater use of Britain's predominantly high sulphur coal [3].

Lesley James, Friends of the Earth's Acid Rain Campaigner, said:

“We are facing a return to the bad old days when Britain was the Dirty Man of Europe. The Government must play fair and accept its share of the pollution cuts. This won't just help protect Europe's environment and the health of its citizens, but will also help safeguard jobs in Britain's coal industry.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia cause acid rain, which damages forests, other vegetation, waterways and buildings. Low level ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react in the presence of sunlight. Ozone irritates the mucous membrane of the respiratory system, causing coughing, choking and impaired lung function and exacerbating asthma symptoms. Other common symptoms include headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation and chest discomfort on deep breathing. Ozone also damages forests and other vegetation.

[2] Nitrogen oxides - The Government has agreed to the Directive's proposed emissions ceiling of 1181 kilotonnes (kt) by 2010. But this is only slightly lower than the emissions level of 1186 kt which would be achieved under current policies.

Hydrocarbons - The Government is proposing to reduce UK emissions of hydrocarbons to a maximum of 1351 kt by 2010, but this is no improvement over what would be achieved under existing agreements.

Ammonia - The Government is proposing to reduce UK emissions of ammonia to a maximum of 264 kt by 2010, but this is no improvement over what would be achieved under existing agreements.

Sulphur dioxide - The Government is proposing to reduce UK emissions of sulphur dioxide to a maximum of 700 kt by 2010. The UK's fair share under the proposed Directive would be a maximum of 499 kt. Existing agreements would reduce UK emissions to a maximum of 900 kt.

[3] The Fourth Report of the House of Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee on Coal (March 1998) concluded on the use of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)equipment at power stations that “It is not our impression that the generators have had to make vast investments in abatement technology in order to meet these[emission] limits ... Compared with the widespread use of FGD in Europe, notably in Germany, we strongly deprecate the continued failure of British generators to invest in FGD. We have some sympathy with the Environment Agency's view that,if some older coal plants are indeed to be run on beyond 2010, as is now apparently suggested, it cannot be forever acceptable to dismiss FGD as excessively expensive” (para 87)

Eastern Generation, commenting on their decision to retrofit FGD equipment to their West Burton Power Station, stated that “the only practicable alternative to the approach of fitting an FGD operating on UK coal is to use low-sulphur coal ... Since there is insufficient low-sulphur fuel for all five Eastern power stations, it would have to be imported and this would result in the requirement to close UK pits. This process is irreversible and future fuel procurement options would therefore be limited to imports, with potentially serious implications for the security of fuel supplies” (Response to Environment Agency 1998 Consultation Papers and a Review of Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Cost, January 1999)

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust