Aaron

Don’t avoid the difficult issues, deal with them early on

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In policy-making, there is usually a concern that is driving the agenda.  I’ve spent many years working on air quality. The concern was that ultra-fine particulate matter, PM 2.5, had the greatest health effects. Over time, with new studies and evidence, the idea became mainstream. The idea had been around for a decade or more. … Read more

So you want a piece of law adopted

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From time to time, I have been asked how to get an idea taken up and put into an EU law. I got round to putting the practicalities of doing so into a few chapters of a book published in a few days time (link). After having done it a few times, my standard line … Read more

Environment Committee back challenge E171 RPS measure

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This evening, 7 September, the Environment Committee backed the challenge by 51 votes to 11 against and 16 abstentions. The Commission announced their intention of withdrawing the proposed measure if the vote went against them. You can re-watch the exchange of views here.   ______________________________________________________________________________________ The memo not to poke the European Parliament when it … Read more

The role of chemicals delivering the modern world

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People use chemicals every day.  We use synthetic (man-made) and natural chemicals. According to the BBC, my body is made up chemicals http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/the-making-of-me-and-you#/results/top To stay alive, your body is full of toxic arsenic, mercury, radioactive uranium, and the precious metals of silver and gold.  You also carry oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, chlorine, … Read more