EURACTIV.com in partnership with The Guardian
Joint CO2 targets must not diminish German industry, CDU leader warns EU
The frontrunner to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor has warned the EU that joint greenhouse gas targets must not come at the cost of diminishing the prowess of German industry, signalling a reluctance to join carbon reduction schemes planned in other European countries.
Nordic countries endure heatwave as Lapland records hottest day since 1914
Nordic countries have registered near-record temperatures over the weekend, including highs of 34C (93.2F) in some places. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Call for global treaty to end production of ‘virgin’ plastic by 2040
A binding global treaty is needed to phase out the production of “virgin” or new plastic by 2040, scientists have said. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Equinor to triple UK hydrogen output with new plant near Hull
Norway’s state oil company Equinor will triple its UK hydrogen output, after setting out plans to build the world’s biggest hydrogen production plant with carbon capture and storage technology near Hull. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
France to ban some domestic flights where train available
French MPs have voted to suspend domestic airline flights on routes that can be travelled by direct train in less than two and a half hours, as part of a series of climate and environmental measures.
Lemurs and giant tortoises among species at risk if global warming reaches 3°C
Unique island species including lemurs and the Galapagos giant tortoise could be at high risk of extinction if the planet warms by more than 3°C above pre-industrial levels, new research warns. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
‘It’s hard, we’re neighbours’: the coalmine polluting friendships on Poland’s borders
Czechs and Germans who live in the shadow of the vast Turów mine claim it is an environmental menace. Some in Poland want to weaponise its defence. EURACTIV’s media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Global heating could stabilise if net zero emissions achieved, scientists say
Climate disaster could be curtailed within a couple of decades if net zero emissions are reached, new study shows. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Semi-automated truck convoys get green light for UK trials
The British government has given the go-ahead for the first trials of convoys of semi-automated trucks on UK motorways.
Most global investors recognise financial risk of climate change, report finds
For the first time a majority of global investor heavyweights recognise the financial risks of climate change, according to the results of a major global index rating how investors manage such risks. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
Lives at risk if Tories choose to cut UK foreign aid target, says Bill Gates
Bill Gates warned Theresa May that should the Conservatives go ahead and abandon the UK’s overseas aid spending pledge it would reduce the country’s influence in the world and mean more lives lost in Africa.
Diesel cars are 10 times more toxic than trucks and buses, data shows
Modern diesel cars produce 10 times more toxic air pollution than heavy trucks and buses, new European data has revealed.
EU stalls pledge to carry out independent checks on car emissions
Plans for independent checks of how much pollution new cars emit are being killed off by EU member states, according to leaked documents seen by EURACTIV's partner The Guardian.
Protected forests in Europe felled to meet EU renewable targets – report
Protected forests are being indiscriminately felled across Europe to meet the EU’s renewable energy targets, according to an investigation by the conservation group Birdlife.
Judge orders closure of low-cost Bridge International schools in Uganda
Uganda's High Court has ordered the closure of a chain of low-cost private schools backed by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, respectively the founders of Microsoft and Facebook.
World on track for 3C of warming under current global climate pledges, warns UN
The commitments made by governments on climate change will lead to dangerous levels of global warming because they are incommensurate with the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report.
Somaliland hopes Brexit will pave way for UK to grant international recognition
Britain’s looming departure from the EU may be a fraught issue at home, yet in one corner of the Horn of Africa hopes are harboured of a very definite Brexit dividend.
HFC deal big step in fighting climate change
They went to Kigali, Rwanda, to eliminate hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and take 0.5C out of future global warming, and the 170 countries that successfully negotiated an amendment to the Montreal protocol treaty agreed to get rid of 90% of them. Not bad for four days and three long nights of hard work.
An energy first as UK successfully transmits data via national electricity grid
Data has been transmitted across a national electricity grid for the first time, in what could be a significant step towards the creation of virtual power stations, where many thousands of homes and businesses combine to manage electricity use more smartly.
World Bank says Paris climate goals at risk from new coal schemes
Slowing down construction of coal-fired power stations will be vital to hit globally agreed climate change goals, the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim, said as he outlined a five-point plan to flesh out last year’s Paris agreement to reduce CO2 emissions. A report by EURACTIV's partner, The Guardian Environment.
Rule of law declines for 70% of Africans over past decade, warns Ibrahim index
Governance across Africa has seen minimal improvement over the past decade, held back by widespread deterioration in safety and rule of law, according to a report published on Monday (3 October).
UK ‘consistently waters down’ reforms of EU farming subsidies
The UK government could have stopped wealthy landowners including aristocrats and a Saudi racehorse owner receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds from the EU’s common agricultural policy, the European commission has said.
More than 25% of UK aid budget will be spent by other ministries by 2020
More than a quarter of UK overseas aid will be spent by ministries other than the Department for International Development (DfiD) by 2019/20 - according to figures that have sparked renewed concern about changes to Britain’s aid policy.