Sustainable Development
Emission-busting aviation taxes gain ground, despite airline pushback
Ryanair in April became the first airline to be included among Europe’s top ten polluters, with some calling the airline company ‘the new coal’ industry. Large economies like France and Germany have begun seeking impact-reducing alternatives to air travel by imposing new taxes.
Europe takes on China’s global dominance of rare earth metals
A new industry association was launched in Brussels last week with the aim of bringing together all the players in the supply chain of rare earth metals, which are vital to renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Pittsburgh mayor: Europe should be proud of its climate action
In an interview with EURACTIV France, Bill Peduto speaks about Europe's good track record on climate protection, despite the decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
Romanian national parks and forest at risk
Romania hosts the largest remains of natural and old growth forests in the whole of the EU. However, they are not on the safe side yet, writes Luc Bas.
French nuclear to suffer after exclusion from EU’s green investment label
The European Parliament's decision to exclude the nuclear energy sector from the list of investments that can benefit from the EU's green investment label will have consequences for the sector, particularly in France. EURACTIV France reports.
Austro-German road-charging debacle reignites pan-EU toll debate
After the EU Court of Justice ruled against Germany's plans to introduce a highway toll, the debate about an EU-wide motorway toll has once again been ignited. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska.
Statistics are at the heart of achieving SDGs, says gender equality advocate
In an interview with EURACTIV France, Fatiha Hassouni, head of the gender equality unit of the intergovernmental organisation Union for the Mediterranean, spoke about statistics being a crucial tool for assessing sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially with regards to gender equality.
Today’s diets are eating away at our future food supplies, but we can change this
Thousands of overlooked yet beneficial crop species are threatened unless we learn to conserve, farm and consume them, writes Juan Lucas Restrepo.
A bitter taste
Europe’s chocolate habit is driving the world’s fastest rising deforestation rates. We need new EU laws to stop this, writes Julia Christian.
Will the newly elected MEPs tackle one of the most serious threats to our planet?
The importance of nature to human life is often forgotten, even though we depend on it for fresh water, productive agriculture and many more economic activities. Encouragingly, it seems that there is a growing awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity amongst the general public, writes Janice Weatherley-Singh.
Plastic production on the rise worldwide but slowing in Europe
While the global production of plastics is increasing, it is slowing down in Europe, according to PlasticsEurope, the leading pan-European association of plastics manufacturers. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement reports.
France orders fast food chains to quickly sort their waste
Fifteen fast food chains are being ordered by France's Ecological Transition ministry to sort their waste in at least 70% of their restaurants by the end of 2019. This has been a legal obligation since 1 July 2016. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Timmermans: A green candidate in the red corner
Frans Timmermans, the Socialists’ leading candidate, has promised a sustainable Europe if he is given the nod to lead the next European Commission. But how sustainable are the Dutchman’s green credentials?
Bas Eickhout: EU carbon market needs alignment with 2050 goal
The next European Commission will have to reopen the Emissions Trading Scheme directive if it is serious about reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, argues Bas Eickhout, warning the next Commission chief will need to find a broader majority in the European Parliament than his predecessor.
Manfred Weber: ‘Environmental issues are one of my areas of expertise’
The lead candidate for the centre-right in this week’s European elections says “Europe must move towards net-zero emissions by 2050,” voicing his belief in innovation and new technologies to drive the decarbonisation agenda if he becomes the next president of the European Commission.
Today, the EU has used up nature’s budget for the year
Did you think Europe was doing relatively well, environmentally speaking? EU Overshoot Day is your reality check. The EU elections and the response of EU leaders will be crucial to turn the tide, writes Ester Asin.
EU nations are living far beyond the Earth’s means, WWF warns
The European Union's 28 countries consume the Earth's resources much faster than they can be renewed, and none of them has sustainable consumption policies, a report released on Thursday said, as EU leaders meet to discuss priorities for the next five years.
Human society under urgent threat from loss of Earth’s natural life
A landmark UN report published yesterday (6 May) reveals 1 million species are at risk of extinction, with agriculture and fishing the primary causes of the deterioration, which also threatens humankind. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Karmenu Vella on circular economy: ‘Nothing to gain from waiting’
Circular economy wrangling has kept the EU busy for the last few years, from withdrawn policies to far-reaching recycling strategies. The EU's outgoing environment boss, Karmenu Vella, insists that industry is still critical to waste-reducing efforts and that “there is nothing to gain from waiting”.
Jan Zahradil, champion of ‘common sense’ EU environmentalism
The lead candidate for the European Conservatives at next month’s EU elections has made climate policy and other environmental issues one of his key election themes. But can he square up his green agenda with his passion for national sovereignty? EURACTIV tried to find out.
Scotland and Wales declare climate emergencies
The devolved Scottish and Welsh parliaments have separately declared climate emergencies, citing the threats of climate change, just as Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party is expected to push Westminster to do the same for the whole of the UK.
French professional League and WWF join forces to boost sustainability in football
The French professional football governing body and the environmental NGO WWF signed a partnership in April to reduce the ecological footprint of football clubs.
Seven benefits of having an aquaponics garden at home
The European Parliament research service recently listed aquaponics – the symbiotic cultivation of fish and plants – as one of the ten technologies that could change our lives, producing local food without any chemical fertilisers, writes Robert Woods.