EU votes to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars starting 2035
The European Union’s goal is to slash 55 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles by 100 percent by 2035. As part of this ambition, the European Parliament has voted to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2035. This vote Read More...
The EU is going on a cleanse with the world’s biggest chemical ban
From what we now know, the fact that something is convenient doesn’t at all mean it’s safe. Chemical pollution from everyday products is considered responsible for a host of problems from the endangerment of marine life to declining human fertility rates and many other health Read More...
Oslo ahead in reaching no-emission travel by 2030
A new study by a coalition of non-governmental organizations called the Clean Cities Campaign analyzed 36 European cities to see if they are on track to achieving pollution-free mobility before 2030. The coalition looked at factors such as road safety for pedestrians, access to climate-friendly Read More...
The EU signs historic deal that makes its climate goals legally binding
The European Union has signed a major climate deal with ambitious new targets to curb climate change, pledging to make them legally binding. Under the new law, an agreement between member states and the European Parliament, the bloc will cut carbon emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, Read More...
The EU plans to increase its offshore windfarm capacity by 250 percent
The EU’s capacity to generate renewable energy from wind is expected to grow by 250 percent, thanks to new plans drafted by the European Commission that will see windfarms expanding in the North Sea, the Baltic, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. The move comes as the EU is Read More...
Europe’s top court upholds French ban on bee-harming pesticides
In 2018, the French government placed a ban on the use of certain pesticides that harm bees. These pesticides belong to the neonicotinoid group's family of chemicals and are based on the chemical structure of nicotine. They were introduced in the mid-1990s and work by attacking the central nervous Read More...
SeaClear project takes ocean clean-ups to the underwater level
While ocean clean-ups by themselves are not a solution to the pressing environmental crisis of plastic pollution, they are still essential if we are to reduce the problem’s already overwhelming impact on ocean health. But to do that effectively we need to collect not only the garbage that’s Read More...
Central Europe to become a frontrunner in reducing plastic waste
The town of Bled in Slovenia is known for its beautiful lake, picturesque scenery, and cream cakes. But more recently it has also become a flag bearer of good recycling practices in Central Europe, with many tourist spots in the resort town prioritizing sustainable packaging. For much of its Read More...
Germany will say goodbye to single-use plastic as early as 2021
No more single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and food containers for Germany. Starting next summer, the European country will end the sale of plastics including disposable cutlery, plates, stirring sticks and balloon holders, as well as polystyrene cups and boxes. The ban will mean the country Read More...
Insects to become a common food item on European menus
When it comes to food, in Western societies insects don’t necessarily bear the most savory connotations. But in Europe, such perceptions may soon become a thing of the past as the EU’s Food Safety Authority is expected to make insects a common dish choice on restaurant menus. Within weeks the Read More...