The EU is committing big money to boosting biodiversity in Europe
We have fantastic news from the climate front in Europe. This week, the European Commission has committed to protecting 30% of the EU’s land and oceans by 2030 as part of the European Green Deal, in a plan tentatively welcomed by environment groups who warned far-reaching ambitions must not only Read More...
Newly discovered remains may be earliest evidence of humans in Europe
The oldest evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe previously placed the first humans on the continent between 45,000 to 41,500 years ago. Now, new evidence discovered in a cave in Bulgaria shows that humans may have walked the area as far back as 46,000 years ago. A team of researchers found the Read More...
Belgium welcomes new wolves as it becomes the “wolf crossroads of Europe”
Belgium is becoming “the wolf crossroads of Europe”, a conservation charity has said as it reported new sightings from France and Germany, while Flemish authorities separately announced the imminent arrival of wolf puppies. Over the weekend the charity Welkom Wolf announced that four wolves Read More...
Researcher says COVID-19 will reduce European emissions by 24 percent
Yesterday we shared a story about how the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrates society’s ability to act fast in the face of a crisis. If we choose to apply this amazing human capacity for action to the climate crisis, we may already have a bit of a head start with massive emissions drops due to the Read More...
Investments into sustainable funds more than doubled in Europe in 2019
According to research firm Morningstar Inc, European funds devoted to sustainable investing pulled in a record 120 billion euros ($132 billion) from clients last year. That’s more than double the previous year’s total. On top of that, assets managed by funds in Europe that incorporate Read More...
Coal power is becoming ‘uninsurable’ as major insurance firms refuse coverage
It was a historic year in the fight against coal power as ten major insurance firms moved to restrict the insurance coverage they offer to companies that build or operate coal power plants, taking the global total to 17. 2019 saw the number of insurers refusing coverage for coal projects more than Read More...
Europe could switch to 100% organic farming and still feed its population
With recent research revealing a steep decline in global insect populations, the need to phase bug-killing pesticides out of agriculture is at an all-time high. The common belief in the world of farming, however, is that we need pesticides if we want to grow enough food to feed a growing Read More...
Deadly cost of pollution prompts new regulation
The cost of air pollution in Europe is deadly. In 2010, 400,000 Europeans died prematurely as a result of poor air quality, according to a recent report by the European Environmental agency. The cost of such pollution to member countries of the EU is around 23 billion Euros per year. And though Read More...
Pierre Rabhi: Working to resolve world hunger
David Servan-Schreiber says Pierre Rabhi is a humble man who deserves praise for his environmental approach. David Servan-Schreiber | Jan/Feb 2009 issue Pierre Rabhi is a small, modest-looking man whose stature reflects neither the breadth of his thoughts nor the power of his character. At age 20, Read More...
Growing appeal
The resurgence of timber in European buildingLuke Disney | December 2003 issue Who wood have thought it? Centuries after Europeans largely abandoned it in favour of more fire-resistant, stronger and more ‘modern’ alternatives, timber is showing signs of staging a comeback on the continent’s Read More...