The House of Representatives of the Parliament of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has voted to ban the construction of small hydropower plants across the Federation, in a huge win for communities who depend on the rivers. The decision followed a lengthy campaign by local communities and activists from the national Coalition for the Protection…
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has just voted on measures to reduce greenhouse gases in international shipping. The decision to “amend the Regulation on monitoring, reporting and verifying carbon dioxide emissions from shipping”, also known as the “MRV Regulation”, will in future oblige large ships not only to report detailed data on their CO2 and…
Earlier last week, intensive rains resulted in the largest flooding in the south-west of Ukraine in the last 50 years, with several casualties and damage to hundreds of homes. To alleviate the first needs, the Ukrainian authorities activated the EU protection mechanism, Sweden responded immediately and offered 1.2 kilometres of flood barrier, 250 hoses and…
The European Green Deal is a major focus in the European Parliament this year and it involves a ‘Renovation Wave’ to ensure that buildings within the European Union are sustainable and energy efficient. Back in March, the Commission outlined in its new Circular Economy Action Plan that the Renovation Wave would lead to significant improvements in energy…
In the European Union, with the Green Deal aiming to make the continent ‘climate neutral’ by 2050, low-carbon technology in transport will be key to reducing emissions. A Belarusian electric bus manufacturer has caught the attention of transport authorities in the UK, Poland and Spain with its innovative electrical system. BKM Holding is a tram,…
Interview with Gary Cartwright by Nikolas Wilson, Correspondent
The European Commission has approved an investment of €83 million from the cohesion fund to improve the metro network in Lisbon, Portugal. The project will improve the connection, efficiency and safety of the metro lines. It will better link Lisbon’s busy Yellow line, which serves the area with the highest employment density, with the Green line,…
More than 50 scientists have signed a statement calling for action by the European Commission, European Parliament and EU member states to end overfishing “as an urgent and necessary response to biodiversity and climate crises”. The scientists are urging the EU to set fishing limits within scientific advice, and recognise that “ecosystem-based fisheries management is critical to…
Poland’s largest oil refiner, PKN Orlen, declared its preliminary readiness for direct financial involvement in the construction of the 1GW Ostroleka-C coal power project only if it is converted into a gas unit. The announcement by PKN Orlen, which only last month acquired EnergaSa – one of the companies behind the Ostroleka C project, means…
Denmark’s Minister of Employment, Peter Hummelgaard The Danish government has announced that a way forward has been found on regulating the demolition and installation of Man-Made Vitreous Fibres (MMVF), more commonly known as mineral wool. The material is a building insulation material that has been the subject of longstanding health concerns, including fears over a possible increased…
