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One week left to contribute to CIVITAS Forum Conference in Brest (France)
'Brest metropole oceane’, the heart of the Pays de Brest, will be hosting the 11th CIVITAS Forum Conference between 30th September and 2nd October 2013. This year thematic focus will be “Implementing sustainable urban mobility with less”.

One week left to apply for EUR 7,000 funding
Non-commercial enterprises are eligible to register their promotional actions on the "Do the Right Mix" website and apply for up to EUR 7,000 of financial support to boost their campaign initiatives. The application deadine is 31 May.

What Cities Want study looks into tomorrow’s mobility
In "What Cities Want" â€' a current study by the Technical University of Munich, commissioned by MAN Group â€' 15 international cities provide information on how they want to more positively design their urban traffic in the future.

Health and economic benefits of active mobility (Germany)
The German Federal Environment Agency has released a study about the economic aspects of non-technical measures to reduce traffic emissions. It reveals that green mobility can also benefit the economy, public health and people’s individual budgets.

CityMobil2 project launches its website
The FP7 project on automated road transport systems, CityMobil2, is now launching its new website: www.citymobil2.eu.

CIVITAS II Policy advice notes
Policy advice notes on 12 key areas of sustainable travel produced by the CIVITAS II project are now available to download from the Eltis tools section.

Rotterdam launches ECOSTARS fleet recognition scheme (Netherlands)
Lower energy use, less cost, fewer carbon emissions and better air quality are the objectives of the ECOSTARS fleet recognition scheme which Rotterdam has set up under the umbrella of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI).

CIVINET Slovenia-Croatia Network established
Recently, a new CIVINET network between Slovenia and Croatia has been established to share knowledge and experience on sustainable mobility in these countries.

Single firm bids for Skopje tram project (Macedonia)
The Macedonian capital of Skopje hopes to build a new tram system, but lukewarm interest in its tender offer raises concerns about the viability of its build-and-operate financing idea.

Environment committee supports 95g CO2 goal in 2020
The European Parliament's Environment Committee voted on April 24th for any new cars sold to achieve an average fuel economy of 95g per kilometre, or 3.9 litres per 100km, by 2020. Previously, the goal was set at 130 grams.

Powered by Science for Environment Policy (EU)
Probability of rapid increase in trans-Arctic shipping routes is confirmed
New research on climate-driven reductions in Arctic sea ice has predicted that, by 2040 to 2059, new shipping routes will become passable across the Arctic, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. An increase in traffic has implications for the ecosystems of this fragile area.

Long-term exposure to railway noise linked to reduced cognitive performance
Residents living near a busy railway line in Strasbourg were found by researchers to have reduced cognitive function compared to residents in quieter areas, which may be the result of long-term exposure to night-time noise. Psychological tests suggested that they had not adapted to the noise over th …

Tourist cruise ships increase atmospheric pollution in the Arctic
Levels of air pollution significantly increase on the island of Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic when tourist cruise ships are present, according to a recent study. With shipping levels rising in the region, the researchers recommend that stricter emissions regulations are introduced in order to lim …

Ocean acidification reduces fishes' ability to respond to sound
Researchers have found that ocean acidification leads to changes in the ways that clownfish normally respond to sound. As many species rely on hearing for orientation, habitat selection, avoiding predators and communication, ocean acidification could compromise auditory behaviour crucial for surviva …

Europe makes tentative progress in reducing transport’s environmental impact
A new report indicates that some progress has been made towards meeting key sustainable transport targets, but challenges remain. Improvements in passenger vehicle efficiency has led to reductions in emissions, however, reductions in oil consumption are not sufficient to meet targets, with more poli …

Air traffic management to balance CO2 emissions and noise pollution
Speed constraints for aircraft are put in place, at some airports, to minimise noise pollution in local areas, however, such practices can be very fuel-inefficient. New research has now shown that relaxing departure speed limits could substantially reduce CO2 emissions, while maintaining acceptable …

New generation diesel cars are likely to exceed emissions standards on the road
More Europeans are driving diesel cars, with important implications for vehicle emissions. A new study suggests that diesel cars may emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) at levels far higher than emissions standards, even when considering the newest generation of diesel cars. Part of the problem is that tests …

Low emission zones may need complementary local traffic policies
Low emission zones (LEZs) that restrict old vehicles in city centres may need implementation in combination with other traffic policies to have greater impacts on air quality, according to new research. A study that measured emission levels before and after the introduction of LEZs in five Dutch cit …

EU ship emissions directive improves air quality in harbours
To reduce air pollution levels in harbours, EU Directive 2005/33/EC requires all anchored ships to use fuels with low sulphur content. A recent study of air quality in Mediterranean harbours shows that levels of sulphur dioxide have decreased significantly since the Directive was implemented in 2010 …

What makes railway noise annoying? Research investigates
A new study into the impact of railway noise has revealed that it is not just the level of noise that contributes to annoyance for local residents, but also the number of trains and the vibrations they cause. As railway transport is likely to increase in coming years, plans are needed to reduce thes …