Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Air Pollution and Legal Framework

In course

ENG-474: Environmental impact assesment

Présentation des bases des études d'impact, du contexte et des outils d'évaluation de chacun des sujets et des chapitres. Illustration par de nombreux cas réels, et par un travail de groupe. Discussion des limites des EIE et des nouveaux outils tels que le ...

Description

This lecture covers the legal bases and environmental impact studies related to air pollution, focusing on fine dust, ammonia, nitrogen deposition, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency measures. It discusses the impact of pollutants on health, ecosystems, and climate, as well as the regulations and recommendations set by Swiss authorities to mitigate air pollution. The lecture also addresses the critical loads of nitrogen for different ecosystems, the effects of excessive nitrogen deposition, and the measures to combat air pollution in various sectors such as road construction, industry, and transportation.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Instructor

Félix Schmidt

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions (abbreviated as GHG emissions) from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Carbon dioxide (), from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is one of the most important factors in causing climate change. The largest emitters are China followed by the US, although the United States has higher emissions per capita. The main producers fueling the emissions globally are large oil and gas companies.

Air pollution

Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. It is also the contamination of indoor or outdoor surrounding either by chemical activities, physical or biological agents that alters the natural features of the atmosphere. There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules.

Greenhouse gas

Greenhouse gases are those gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. What distinguishes them from other gases is that they absorb the wavelengths of radiation that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. The Earth is warmed by sunlight, causing its surface to radiate heat, which is then mostly absorbed by water vapor (), carbon dioxide (), methane (), nitrous oxide (), and ozone (). Without greenhouse gases, the average temperature of Earth's surface would be about , rather than the present average of .

Climate change

In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to Earth's climate. The current rise in global average temperature is more rapid than previous changes, and is primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel use, deforestation, and some agricultural and industrial practices increase greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane.

Ecosystem

An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the system through photosynthesis and is incorporated into plant tissue. By feeding on plants and on one another, animals play an important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity of plant and microbial biomass present.

Related lectures (33)

ReCLEAN: Nitrogen Impacts and Climate Nexus

Introduces the ReCLEAN Joint Initiative, focusing on the impact of reactive nitrogen at the Climate, Energy, Agriculture, Water, and Health Nexus.

Air Quality Modeling Techniques: Addressing Health and Climate

Explores advanced air quality modeling techniques to address health and climate issues, emphasizing the interconnectedness of air pollution and climate change.

Climate Change: IPCC AR6 Overview

Covers the IPCC AR6 report, emission scenarios, and the urgency for climate action.

Climate Change: Paris Agreement & COP 27

Explores the Paris Agreement, emission gaps, IPCC assessments, and COP 27 targets to combat climate change.

Climate Change: The Assessment