Climate change
Environmentalists worried as UK sells off Green Investment Bank
Britain’s green credentials were called into question on Friday (18 August) after the government announced it had completed the sale of the publically-owned Green Investment Bank (GIB) to Australian investors Macquarie Group Limited.
World’s largest cruise operator closes in on 2020 emissions target
The world's largest leisure travel company, the Carnival Corporation, looks set to achieve a 25% reduction in carbon emissions before a 2020 deadline, after championing liquefied natural gas (LNG) on cruise ships. EURACTIV's partner edie.net reports.
Greece seeks EU help as wildfires rage
Firefighters battled wildfires raging northeast of Athens for a third day yesterday (15 August) as Greece asked for help from its European partners to prevent them from spreading.
Deadly heatwave ‘Lucifer’ hits Europe
Swathes of southern Europe sweltered on Saturday (5 August) in a heatwave that has claimed several lives, cost billions in crop damage and is, scientists warned, a foretaste of worse to follow in coming decades.
UK government adviser warns electric cars are not total air pollution solution
Cars must be driven out of cities to tackle the UK’s air pollution crisis, not just replaced with electric vehicles, according to the UK government’s top adviser. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
German environment minister: Better transport can keep people in rural areas
German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks called for a fundamental change in policy in order to promote emissions-free mobility. In interview with EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel she also warned about competition from China.
Dawn of new EU emissions rules could sound death knell for coal power
New EU rules formally agreed on Monday (31 July) mean power plants will have to cut pollutants, with the cost of compliance estimated to be over €15bn. Environmental groups predict that the logical next step is widespread closures of the most polluting coal-powered plants.
5% chance to save the world as we know it, says new climate study
There is only a 5% chance that the Earth will avoid warming by at least 2 degrees Celsius come the end of the century, according to new research that paints a sobering picture of the international effort to stem dangerous climate change. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
Planet’s addiction to plastic bottles ‘as dangerous as climate change’
A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and the number will jump another 20% by 2021, creating an environmental crisis some campaigners predict will be as serious as climate change. EURACTIV’s partner The Guardian reports.
Europe’s wind capacity grows but concerns persist
The first half of 2017 saw 6.1 gigawatts of extra wind power capacity installed in Europe. But a lack of long-term political commitment has hit investment and market concentration remains problematic.
Fossil fuel subsidies racking up trillions in health costs
Health costs related to fossil fuel use outweigh taxpayer-funded subsidies by 600%, according to a new study that insists governments should stop pumping money into dirty energy sources.
Gove’s ‘green’ Brexit will be hard to achieve
On top of weakening environmental protection in the UK, a hard Brexit would strengthen the influence of the EU’s climate sceptic governments and undermine the bloc’s commitments at home and abroad, writes Joseph Curtin.
UK to reward green consumers, ban dirty vehicles
British consumers could enjoy savings worth billions of pounds as a result of major changes to electricity generation, usage and storage, under new plans by the UK government. Westminster also intends to ban sales of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040.
Time for Europe’s financial community to join the climate fight
Although many lessons have been learnt since the global crisis, the financial system is still not fit for purpose, in one crucial respect, warns Arlene McCarthy.
Winds of change: EU embarks on sustainable finance mission
Disturbing developments on the international political scene have only increased the resolve of the European Union to lead in taking action against the impact of climate change. Flavia Micilotta explains why financing is a key component.
Poland’s cherry picking of EU energy rules makes no sense
When it comes to EU energy policy, Warsaw does not always adhere to the letter and the spirit of EU law and tends to select rules a la carte, adapting them to Poland's narrowly-defined interests, writes Danila Bochkarev.
Trump says ‘something could happen’ with Paris climate accord
US President Donald Trump appeared to hold the door open to a change of position on the 2015 Paris climate change agreement which he pulled the United States out of earlier this year.
Cape Town shares lessons of record drought
Cape Town, South Africa’s second largest city, is experiencing its worst drought in 100 years. Gareth Morgan, trade and investment officer for the city, told EURACTIV.com that the crisis was also an opportunity to seek solutions which could be of use in other parts of Africa.
Green finance group calls on EU to stop funding fossil fuels
A group of financial experts has set out their vision for hardwiring sustainability goals into the European Union’s financial system, calling on 28-country bloc to stop pouring public money into polluting fossil fuels and focus spending on clean energies instead.
Reshaping the financial system as a tool for good
The European Commission's High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance delivered its interim report today (13 July). Ingrid Holmes, one of the members of the group, explains how the financial system can help address long-term challenges such as climate change.
French power sector and NGOs demand clearer climate roadmap
In response to France’s climate package, the electricity sector has called for higher carbon taxes, while NGOs have criticised the vagueness of the country’s plan to increase European ambition on the issue. EURACTIV France reports.
As Zimbabwe’s homes go solar, its businesses lag behind
With more than 100,000 solar power systems installed in homes in Zimbabwe, according to government figures, off-grid solar power is no longer a revelation for homeowners. But despite decades of power shortages, companies are only starting to catch on.
Energy and climate scenarios 2050
The EU has set a long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050. But getting there will be a huge challenge that will require a transformation of our energy system.
Western Balkans cannot track climate action without appropriate monitoring
The European Commission has just announced it will drop a mechanism to monitor progress in limiting greenhouse gas emissions in the Western Balkans. The decision will make it difficult to track and manage the climate goals in a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, warns Dragana Mileusnić.