Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash Member states have given the green light for a “massive expansion” of renewable energies.After months of blocking, the Council decided to tighten the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Campaigners have greeted the news saying “an investment boom across the EU will be the result.” German Greens MEP Sven Giegold says the revised EU…
Environment
Daikin Tackling Climate Change
Photo by Tobias Rademacher on Unsplash The world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer has launched a four-step initiative which, it claims, can help tackle the climate change crisis. Daikin, a Japanese multinational conglomerate company, believes its new campaign will help ensure a “healthy and sustainable environment and contribute to carbon neutrality.” One of the biggest challenges society is to maximize usage…
Leading Airline Flies the Flag for Sustainability
Emirates’ plans to upgrade the entire interior cabins of 120 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft is really taking off. The ambitious project, representing a multi-billion dollar investment to ensure Emirates’ customers “fly better” for the coming years, aims to be “environmental friendly” and also includes plans for a 4th cabin class, called Premium Economy….
Water Quality at Bathing Sites
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash The EC says that the “majority” of bathing water sites in Europe met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ water quality standards in 2022, according to the latest annual Bathing Water report published last week. The assessment, put together by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the Commission, highlights where swimmers can find the…
Hello Sunshine
Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash It is good news that the UK should have plenty of sunshine this summer – potentially more than much of southern Europe. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts suggests that June, July and August should each be hotter than average. This should be a great opportunity to harness more solar power:…
Greens Attack Populists and Extremists
Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash The Greens have launched an attack on other groups following a vote in parliament.It accused a majority of EPP, Renew, right-wing “populists and extremists” in the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee of rejecting the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Nature Restoration. Previously, the same political alliance had rejected the proposal in…
Factory Farms Must Clean Up Their Mess
Photo by Jack Sloop on Unsplash MEPs responsible for environment policy have voted against proposals to give what campaigners call “industrial-scale cattle farms a free pass to avoid their responsibility in wrecking the climate.” Last month, MEPs in the Agriculture Committee voted to exempt industrial-scale cattle farming exempt from EU rules limiting industrial pollution. Campaigners said they agreed to this…
Support for Environmental Causes Growing
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Despite the recession, philanthropic support for environmental causes is increasing, says a new report. This is one of the key messages to emerge from the 6th edition of an annual assessment. Called “Environmental Funding by European Foundations” it is claimed to be the most comprehensive report that has ever been published on environmental philanthropy across…
Curbing Aviation Carbon Emissions
Photo by Jerry Zhang on Unsplash The aviation industry is taking a “broad set of actions” to curtail carbon emissions, says the Aerospace Industries Association. Such action is urgently needed as aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of the greenhouse gas emissions driving global climate change. Flying is a highly controversial topic in climate debates and accounts…
My Octopus Teacher
Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash The EU has been urged to help put an end to the world’s first commercial octopus farm. It is claimed that around one million octopuses will be reared at the proposed farm in the Port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Spain. The plans have sparked claims that this will cause animal…