The world is facing climate crisis and needs all the help it can get. But amazingly some countries are still playing political football with the environment – not because they are climate change deniers, but because they want to exclude willing volunteers for their own selfish political reasons and prevent certain countries from joining the…
In the first major vote of the new European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, its 28 members today (12 November) decided to reopen the floodgates of overfishing in Europe. By 20 votes against 6 (and 2 abstentions), they confirmed the catastrophic position adopted by the former Parliament in April 2019. Among other things, this position reintroduced…
With the world facing environmental catastrophe from climate change, and calls for Europe to stop using all fossil fuels, why is the EU continuing to allow investment in gas infrastructure? Nord Stream 2 is entering the final stage of its construction after Denmark issued a permit to lay the pipe in its territorial waters. But…
On the eve of the latest round of UN ship climate negotiations at the International Maritime Organisation in London, a new report published by Seas at Risk and Transport & Environment has highlighted how slower ship speeds would massively reduce the damage shipping is causing to human health, nature and the climate. The large positive…
Nearly 150 of the world’s most promising green start-ups are set to compete in a contest designed to help fast-track their businesses. ClimateLaunchpad, billed as the world’s largest green entrepreneur competition, is hosting the Global Grand Final in Amsterdam on 14 and 15 November. The aim is to identify businesses with the best potential to combat…
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) says it backs the Commission’s proposal for implementing national energy and climate plans and points to the key role civil society organisations have to play in nurturing the culture of sustainability essential for Europe’s future. Europe has no future unless it develops a culture of sustainability, one that…
Fisheries, aquaculture and algae cultivation are crucial to increasing sustainable aquatic food production in the EU, promoting food security and creating economic growth and sustainable jobs, says the EESC. It says the potential of the blue bio-economy remains untapped in the EU. The EESC therefore recommends introducing pan-European pilot projects, and based on their results…
TSAI Wenchin is a man with a vision. He is radically rethinking agriculture for the 21st century and inspiring healthier eating habits. He is the founder of the world’s largest vertical farm “YesHealth” Agri-Biotechnology Co. Ltd located to the South of Taipei in Taiwan. His mission is to produce sustainable vegetables that are fresh, nutritious,…
Ahead of the 16-17 December Council meeting on Fisheries, the Commission has adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities in 2020 for 72 stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea. For 32 stocks the fishing quota is either increased or remains the same; for 40 stocks the quota is reduced. The fishing opportunities, or Total Allowable Catches…
A new study by a group of US scientists compared two groups of flame retardants – respectively polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs) – for a number of properties and warns that replacing the former by the latter is likely a regrettable substitution. Significant evidence of the links between exposure to…
