Sustainable Development
FIFA commits to carbon-neutral 2022 football World Cup
FIFA aims reach carbon neutrality at the next World Cup, to be hosted by Qatar in 2022, in spite of the numerous environmental challenges linked to the location of the event, according to a recently released sustainability strategy.
Sinkevicius: Dealing with PFAS chemicals in revised tap water rules was a ‘great move’
The inclusion of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the EU's Drinking Water Directive was a step forward that showed the EU's commitment to address these chemicals, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
LEAK: EU’s new circular economy plan aims to halve waste by 2030
The European Commission will aim to “absolutely decouple” economic growth from natural resource use in a draft circular economy action plan due to be unveiled in March.
Finland’s paperworkers start three-week-long strike
Some 9,000 workers at Finnish paper mills will start a three-week strike on Monday (27 January) after wage talks broke down, their labor union said in a statement, the latest in a series of labor conflicts to hit Finland.
Rome airport tests pioneering eco-friendly tarmac
Rome’s Fiumicino airport is testing a pioneering tarmac developed by an Italian company, made of a material that has twice the lifespan of traditional asphalt and is better for the environment as it uses a waste plastic.
Just Transition Fund won’t come ‘at the expense’ of Cohesion, EU’s Ferreira claims
The creation of a Just Transition Fund to help poorer EU regions move towards a climate-neutral economy cannot come at the expense of the bloc's Cohesion Policy, the EU's regional policy Commissioner has said.
Business strategies for cost-saving circular economy solutions
Circular economy principles offer compelling strategic and operational benefits for the manufacturing industry. These include substantial cost savings, which companies should take advantage of, writes Rafael Go.
Hoffenheim on tree-planting mission in Uganda
Football club 1899 Hoffenheim is planting trees in Uganda to help protect the environment. In the past, sustainability in football meant switching off the stadium lights in the evening, but many clubs are now breaking new ground.
Boosting circular economy requires joint effort, experts warn
If Europe wants to transition towards a circular economy model, the practices have to be mainstreamed and all actors should be involved in the process, experts warned during an event hosted by EURACTIV.
Europe must uphold key EU law protecting freshwater fishes
Europe is no exception to the decline in freshwater biodiversity, due to many threats such as agricultural pollution, or the overwhelming development of hydropower, writes Dr Steven Weiss. Dr Steven Weiss is an associate professor at the Institute of Biology,...
EEA chief: ‘We need systemic-type environmental policies’
You can never reach a decarbonised economy by making the combustion engine perform better and become more efficient, says Hans Bruyninck. Breakthrough technologies, not incremental efficiency gains, will bring Europe to its 2050 objectives, he argues.
Europe’s environment ‘at a tipping point’, EU agency says
Europe faces environmental challenges “of unprecedented scale and urgency,” according to a comprehensive overview of air, land and water ecosystems published on Wednesday (4 December) by the European Environment Agency.
Devastating marks for Europe’s environment policies
The verdict of the EEA’s “State of the Environment Report 2020” is scathing. But if we get it right, the European Green Deal can provide us with a unique opportunity to turn the tide, writes Ester Asin.
COP25: Is transport decarbonisation pragmatic enough?
Stakeholders will be meeting in Madrid for the COP25 Climate Change Conference over the next two weeks (2-13 December), and transport decarbonisation is expected to take centre stage in the discussions.
Agricultural emissions: Not enough cash for solutions
European policies on tackling agricultural emissions are insufficient, according to auditors. Although solutions do exist, the cost and time factors often mean farmers are not capable of implementing them.
Ex-finance minister: Gentiloni’s SDG-oversight will be ‘key’
Italy's former finance minister Domenico Siniscalco insists that sustainable finance is going from strength to strength and that it will hold the key to effectively combating climate change. He also believes that compatriot Paolo Gentiloni will play a crucial role.
Sustainable finance: Going green’s crucial ingredient
The scale of the energy transition required in Europe and the wider world is huge, as is the financial bill attached to the shift. Companies are already starting to align their business models around green policies but is there appetite...
Construction clean-up looms as Green Deal approaches
Cleaning up the construction industry will be one of the major challenges for EU policy over the next decade, given the scale of emissions produced by the sector. Policymakers and industry leaders insist they are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Vella: EU leadership on oceans governance is a priority for my successor
The EU's outgoing Fisheries Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, warned that climate change and biodiversity loss were putting the earth's ecosystems dangerously close to a tipping point, and pleaded for his successor to carry on the International Ocean Governance (IOG) put in place during his five-year mandate.
Northvolt ‘will source directly from the miners’ to ensure clean supply chain
A short supply chain “will make it possible for us to trace our materials” and ensure they come from responsible sources, said a senior executive at Northvolt, the Swedish startup aiming to supply Europe with green electric batteries.
Breaking new ground: The EU’s push for raw materials sovereignty
A new pro-mining investment policy, more free trade deals, and an incoming "geopolitical" European Commission signals the EU will stake more claim on critical raw materials.
China in focus as West debates critical minerals challenge
Western powers will attend talks in Brussels next week on curbing China's dominance of rare earths and other critical resources and EU officials will present their vision to create entire green supply chains.
EU to assess five critical minerals in low carbon quest
The European Commission is assessing five new minerals for possible inclusion in a revised list of critical raw materials to be published next year, as it seeks to bolster supply chains for a low emissions economy, a senior Commission official said.