The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest nuclear facility in Europe, has once again become the centre of alarming events. On August 11, 2024, a fire broke out at the plant, demonstrating that Russia is willing to jeopardize not only Ukraine’s safety but also all of Europe’s to achieve its aggressive goals. The fire…
Environment
Environment-friendly river boats take to the Thames
Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash Sightseers and commuters in London are being given the chance to make more eco-friendly journeys. This is thanks to “Earth Clipper”, Europe’s first hybrid high speed passenger ferry. Built to the High-Speed Craft Code it is the first of three new passenger ferries operated by a UK company, “Uber Boat by Thames…
Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines
We publish here in full the text of the address of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the International Conference entitled “Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future.” Today, mines and unexploded ordnance continue to remain an acute problem posing threat to people’s security across many countries. Along with jeopardising…
European Elections Vital for Green Deal
The upcoming European elections are “crucial” to stop the far right from seizing power and dismantling the Green Deal. That is according to the European Greens, who took part in a high profile Eurovision debate between the candidates vying to be the next president of the Commission. The live debate, from parliament’s main chamber, took…
Copernicus Publishes State of Climate Report
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash The EU Copernicus Climate Change Service has published jointly with the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) its state of the climate report. It came out on Monday: Earth Day 2024. The report is based on scientific data and analysis and showcases the “continued alarming trend” of rising temperatures and climate change impacts across…
EU Declares War on Methane
Photo by Katie Rodriguez on Unsplash Members of the European Parliament will this week vote for agreement on the EU Methane Regulation. With this regulation, the EU will for the first time adopt binding measures to reduce methane emissions. Methane is the main component of natural gas and is also released during oil and coal production. There are already…
Need to Step Up Wind Power Development
Photo by Mike Setchell on Unsplash Wind power is a key component of the green transition but there is an urgent need for expanded and modernised energy grids. So says the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). A strong wind industry could improve the EU’s environmental, economic and social well-being, is the main idea of the EESC opinion drafted…
King Philippe of Belgium Calls for Unity in the Fight Against Climate Change
Photo by Li-An Lim on Unsplash The King of Belgium has highlighted Europe’s role as a “geo-ecological actor”, and called for the defence of democracy in the face of autocratic trends. In his address to the European Parliament on Wednesday, King Philippe stressed that in recent years, Europe has been marked by crises, and that in “these times…
Environmentally Friendly Skies for EU?
Photo by Géraud Gordias on Unsplash The EU Council presidency and European Parliament’s negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the reform of the Single European Sky. The aim of the reform is to try to reduce aviation’s impact on environment and climate. It also hopes to improve the performance, organisation and management of European airspace. The legislative package consists of an amended proposal for the recast of the Single European Sky regulation and a proposal for a regulation amending the EU Aviation Safety Agency basic…
Fuel Energy Consumption
Photo by Gabriel Côté on Unsplash A new draft law on energy consumption has fuelled anger among some MEPs New draft EU legislation has been branded “too burdensome” by some MEPs. Centre-right deputies have come out strongly against the new directive on the energy performance of buildings. Buildings account for 40% of the EU’s final energy consumption and 36% of its energy-related…