Morocco has a target of achieving 52% of its electricity requirements from renewable energy production by 2030. But according to Tarik Hamane the Executive Director and Head of Development of Masen, the country is on track to exceed this target sooner than expected. “I cannot forecast exactly the margin by which we shall exceed our…
Environment
Calls for the EU and UK to tackle MMVF health risks in 2020
In a year that will have a packed agenda, calls are being made for the health risks of Man-made Vitreous Fibres (MMVF), also known as mineral wool, to be prioritised, both by the European Union and the UK post-Brexit. MMVF is used for thermal and acoustic insulation in homes and businesses. Since asbestos was banned…
Etihad Ecoflight to Brussels
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, yesterday operated a special ‘eco-flight’ from Abu Dhabi to Brussels, featuring a range of initiatives designed to illustrate the airline’s broad commitment to sustainable practices in the air and on the ground. Flight EY 57, which arrived in Brussels at 7.00am, was operated with a…
EU Climate Neutral By 2050
The European Union says it is committed to becoming the first climate-neutral bloc in the world by 2050. This requires significant investment from both the EU and the national public sector, as well as the private sector, it says. The European Green Deal’s Investment Plan – the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan – presented today will mobilise…
Becoming a Fossil-Free Society
The European Commission has launched proposals for a package to help workers and communities make the shift to fossil free societies – a policy Friends of the Earth Europe and unions have for years demanded. The proposal is part of the EU Green Deal, unveiled in December 2019. However, €7.5 billion public funding for the…
Modernisation of Grupo Ruiz
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is set to finance the modernisation of Grupo Ruiz’s bus fleet by facilitating €27.5 million for the introduction of 173 safer, less polluting and more modern vehicles. EIB Vice-President Emma Navarro and Grupo Ruiz CEO Gregorio Ruiz signed the agreement in Madrid. The project is supported by the European Fund…
Launch of Path to COP 26 to Address Climate Emergency
A campaign in the run-up to the UN summit in Glasgow has been launched to bring the world’s finance sector together to address the climate emergency. The Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) will host a series of events in London, the USA, Gulf States and Asia ahead of the pivotal COP26 summit in November. The…
Green Deal: No More Investment in Fossil Fuels
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the Green Deal, visited the premises of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg yesterday where he addressed the EIB staff. The commission said that to achieve the ambition set by the Green Deal there are significant investment needs. “We will only be able to meet these investment needs if we mobilise both the public and…
New Regulation for Car Safety
The EU’s revised General Safety Regulation will enter into force this week. The new rules require that, as of July 2022, all new vehicle models introduced on the European market are equipped with advanced safety features. These include technology to detect drivers’ drowsiness and distraction, improved impact zone to mitigate the risk of injury to pedestrians and…
Agreement Reached on Drinking Water Directive
The Commission says it welcomes the provisional agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on the recast Drinking Water Directive. The agreement is based on the proposal adopted by the Commission in February 2018, as a direct follow-up to the Right2Water European Citizens’ Initiative. It aims to improve the quality of drinking water and access…