Directive

About: Directive is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5695 publications have been published within this topic receiving 56084 citations.

Analysis of Policy Measures to Reduce Ship Emissions in the Context of the Revision of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive

Abstract: This paper reports on work of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and has received only limited review. Views or opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily represent those of the Institute, its National Member Organizations, or other organizations sponsoring the work. Abstract Maritime activities constitute a significant fraction of anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants in Europe. In 2000, SO 2 and NO x emissions from international maritime shipping in Europe amounted to approximately 30 percent of the land-based emissions in the EU-25. While legislation is in force to control emission from international shipping, the expected increase in the volume of ship movements will compensate the positive environmental impacts of these measures and will lead to a further growth in ship emissions. Under business-as-usual assumptions, by 2020 emissions from maritime activities would come close to the projected baseline emission levels from land-based sources, and surpass the target levels established by the European Commission in its Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution for land-based sources. This anticipated increase in ship emissions will counteract the envisaged benefits of the costly efforts to control the remaining emissions from land-based sources in Europe. While at present emissions from ships are responsible for 10 to 20 percent of sulphur deposition in coastal areas, their contribution is expected for 2020 to increase to more than 30 percent in large areas in Europe, and up to 50 percent in coastal areas. Technologies exist to reduce emissions from shipping beyond what is currently legally required. The study has identified a set of emission control measures that are technically available and that could – if fully applied – reduce by 2020 80 percent of the SO 2 emissions from international shipping, and almost 90 percent of the NO x emissions. Total costs of these measures are estimated at 5.5 billion €/yr. For comparison, the costs of the measures proposed by the Thematic Strategy amount to 7.1 billion €/yr. The study has explored several packages of measures that could reduce emissions at lower costs. These include combinations of seawater sulphur scrubbing, lower sulphur content in residual oil, humid air engines for new built ships, slide valves retrofitting in existing ship engines, as well as the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Marginal costs of these measures are well below the costs of the measures for land-based sources that have been proposed by the Thematic Strategy. To judge the cost-effectiveness …

Mineral policy in the Netherlands and nitrate policy within the European Community

Abstract: In the Netherlands, the manure problem has been on the political agenda for many years as a result of conflicting objectives within society. Since the 1980s, measures have been taken to reduce the environmental impact of manure to meet national and international - mainly European - environmental objectives. The infringement procedures of the European Commission and the court rulings on the Pig Farming Restructuring Act have forced the Dutch Government to tighten its manure policy. The integral approach the Government has opted for, is based on a combination of the MINeral Accounting System (MINAS) and manure disposal contracts, both of which are to be implemented within the framework of the Nitrate Directive of the European Union (EU). The Dutch Government advocates realization of the Directive's objectives but at the same time claims some freedom in selecting the means to attain these goals. This has resulted in points of discussion with the EU. This paper reviews the history of manure legislation in the framework of environmental policy of the Netherlands and the EU, describes the adaptations that the Dutch Government has made to meet the requirements of the EU Nitrate Directive, and discusses the points on which both sides have different opinions.

Do member states make european policies work? analysing the eu transposition deficit

Abstract: This article seeks to systematically describe and explain variation in European Union policy implementation performance across member states and directives. The analyses rely on a new and original dataset comprising comparable information about transposition delay for practically all EU social directives in Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. On the basis of nearly 300 observations, we could establish that only in 42.7 per cent of our cases did member states transpose in time; 17.5 per cent exceeded the deadline by more than two years. The analysis reveals modest variation between social policy areas, more profound cross-country differences and strong cross-area variations within some countries. The need for inter-ministerial coordination and administrative ineffi ciency are strongly associated with transposition delay. Whether a directive is new or merely an amendment is unrelated to transposition delay. The same holds for the directive ’ s complexity and parliamentary involvement in the transposition process. The irrelevance of the latter factors may suggest that member states anticipate some potential challenges to transposition performance and act to mitigate them. Whether and why this is the case merits further research.

Patients' attitudes toward advance directives.

Abstract: Purpose: To explore hospitalized patients' attitudes toward advance directives, their reasons for completing or not completing advance directive forms, and demographic differences between patients who did and did not complete advance directive forms. Design and Method: The convenience sample comprised 30 hospitalized patients in North Carolina. Participants were interviewed using an adapted advance directive attitude survey (ADAS), and were asked five general questions about advance directives. Validity and reliability were established on the adapted tool. Findings: The overwhelming majority of participants had received information on advance directives and they were moderately positive about them. The majority who had completed advance directives were Caucasian, female, over age 65, had less than a high school education, and perceived their health as poor. Most believed that an advance directive would ensure they received the treatment they desired at the end of life. Conclusions: Patients' attitudes alone did not determine who will and will not complete advance directives. Most participants who completed advance directives had specific reasons for doing so. Nurses have responsibility for discussing advance directives with patients, families, and physicians to ensure adequate education about the completion of advance directives.