Friends of the Earth Europe
A green bailout must put Europe’s energy poor first
To weather the COVID-19 crisis, Europe’s energy poor urgently need a green bailout – providing decent, zero-carbon homes for all, writes Clémence Hutin.
Last year the EU slashed single-use plastics. Now it needs to do the same for all other resources
Last year the EU passed ambitious new laws to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics. That same thinking now needs to be applied to the economy as a whole, argues Meadhbh Bolger, saying Europe can get started by setting targets in its upcoming Circular Economy Action Plan.
EU protein plan: will the cure be worse than the disease?
On 17 December, EU agriculture ministers will discuss ideas published by the European Commission to reduce the amount of unsustainable overseas soy imported into the EU – by growing more here, writes Stanka Becheva.
UN’s latest stark climate report is proof the EU must end fossil fuel age
On Saturday, as top climate scientists were putting the final touches to the latest shattering UN report on climate science, thousands of people were protesting against the expansion of one of Europe’s biggest, dirtiest coalmines, writes Jagoda Munic.
The EU needs to speak up to avoid ‘backdoor’ GMOs on our plates
When is a genetically modified organism (GMO) not a GMO? This is the question that the ECJ will soon rule on after a complaint from a coalition of French agriculture groups reached the EU’s highest court, writes Mute Schimpf.
There’s no escape from the ‘economics of enough’
If we want to reduce the use of natural resources and energy in absolute terms, a sufficiency strategy is needed to complement the eco-efficiency and circular economy approaches, write Riccardo Mastini and Leida Rijnhout.
UN Treaty negotiations: A chance for the EU to champion human rights
Would people still stop for a red traffic light or respect the speed limit if everyone knew they would not be fined? The same applies to corporate accountability, writes Anne van Schaik.
Multilateral Investment Court: an utterly flawed and unjust system
The European Commission's plans for a Multilateral Investment Court sanctions a biased and ineffective arbitration system, leaving people and the environment exposed to international investors' whims, writes Fabian Flues.
Juncker’s secret 6th scenario already exists
In March, President Juncker outlined his five scenarios for the future of Europe, which boiled down to a simple question: more or less of the status quo? His recent admission of a mysterious “sixth scenario” must mean a radical, sustainable, people-focused rethink of the European project, write Leida Rijnhout and Paul de Clerck.
Future of Europe debate lacks vision one year after Brexit
One year after the Brexit referendum, the Juncker Commission has refrained from talking about ‘what kind of Europe’ citizens need and focused on narrow, uninspiring questions about levels of integration, writes Magda Stoczkiewicz.
Commission must double efforts towards a sustainable financial system
The European Commission is taking steps towards a more sustainable financial system in Europe, but must double its efforts to create a truly resilient system that Europe needs, writes Anne van Schaik.
A healthy environment means healthy citizens and a more vibrant EU
Europeans have some of the highest rates of anxiety, depression and other non-infectious diseases in the world. Today, on World Health Day, nature is an overlooked remedy, argues Magda Stoczkiewicz.
Bayer-Monsanto’s ugly offspring
As safety watchdogs battle over just how toxic and dangerous Monsanto’s controversial weed-killer glyphosate actually is, the even more toxic half-brother from Bayer, glufosinate, is making a timely return, warns Mute Schimpf.
Binding rules for business, rights for people
Legally-binding rules for transnational corporations on human rights are extremely important, as voluntary measures are not enough, and it’s an opportunity for the EU to take a leading role, explains Anne Van Schaik.
Will bioplastics repeat the biofuels saga?
It took years for politicians to wake up to the destructive impact of biofuels, in no small part because of their green-sounding name. With bioplastics we risk falling into the same trap, argues Meadhbh Bolger.
New GM crops once again fail the safety test
As the world focuses elsewhere, two untested varieties of genetically modified maize are slowly manoeuvring their way through the legislative hoops of the European institutions towards Europe’s fields, writes Mute Schimpf.
Wallonia’s red card for CETA is a chance for the EU to be a beacon to the world
We are at a crossroads for international trade policy. The failure of TTIP and CETA would pave the way for a fairer and more democratic world, argues Paul de Clerck.
There’s silver lining in Brexit for the EU’s climate and energy plans
A lot of good can come out of the Brexit vote if the European Commission makes it 100% clear that continued action on climate change and energy savings are crucial issues which transcend politics and pro or anti-EU sentiment, writes Brook Riley.
Commission fails ‘Better Regulation’ test on Circular Economy Package
Better regulation, rather than providing better protection has served as an entry point for some business lobby groups to delay and weaken one of Europe’s major environmental policies, writes Magda Stoczkiewicz.
Time has come for the European Parliament to tackle conflicts of interest
After almost four years since the European Parliament’s code of conduct was updated in the wake of a scandal, it is clear that it still lacks clarity, fails to provide appropriate limitations on MEPs’ second jobs and is only very weakly enforced, writes Paul de Clerck.
Commission pushing catastrophically inadequate action on Paris agreement
This week, the European Commission will release its assessment of the global climate agreement struck in Paris in December. Extracts that have been leaked are shockingly, disgracefully bad, writes Brook Riley.
TTIP’s proposed Investment Court System should fool no one
Commissioner Malmström’s proposal for an Investment Court System in the transatlantic trade agreement has relied on the argument that it is a ‘public court’, based on democratic principles. However, Natacha Cingotti argues there is simply no need for special investors’ privileges and tribunals in TTIP.
Financiers fanning the flames of Indonesia’s forest fires
After the COP21 talks in Paris, many eyes are again focusing on the role that companies and financiers can play in reducing climate change, writes Anne van Schaik.