About: Biodiversity
As EU plans offshore wind boom, Greens worry about fish
The European Commission laid out plans on Thursday (19 November) for a massive scale-up of offshore wind, aiming for a 25-fold increase in wind power at sea as part of EU efforts to phase out fossil fuels and combat global warming.
A one-health approach to prevent COVID-21, COVID-22 and other future pandemics
While still in the grips of a global pandemic, it has become painfully apparent that addressing the complex interactions of human, animal, and environmental health needs multilateral and national adoption of a fully integrated One Health approach, write Cristián Samper and Niels Annen.
Plant biodiversity suffers without livestock grazing, says expert
On the back of a recent European Commission-funded report which called for nuance in the livestock vs environment debate, EURACTIV took a look at the importance of EU grasslands and the role of livestock in maintaining them.
Tackling the hidden cost of Europe’s chocolate habit
Chocolate is a cheap treat in Europe, but beneath the wrapper, it is mired in the bitter issues of deforestation, biodiversity loss and child labour.
Hydropower sector has to keep in line with the European Green Deal
Renewable energy is needed to meet our climate goals, but nature must not be destroyed to produce it, argues Martin Hojsik.
Europe needs a system change to meet Green Deal, says EU chief
Europe needs a “systematic approach” to meet the climate targets in the Green Deal and create a “fair and prosperous society”, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in the foreword of a new report on how to achieve the new goals.
Beekeeping: Way to boost biodiversity and halt rural decline in Spain
More and more city dwellers in Spain are looking for ecological and sustainable alternatives to city life, to reconnect with nature and escape from polluted urban environments and unhealthy crowded spaces, particularly in times of the coronavirus.
CAP will remain part of biodiversity’s myriad of funding, despite past issues
The Common Agricultural Policy, voted on this week in the European Parliament and Council, will remain by far the biggest funding source for biodiversity protection schemes at EU level, despite criticisms it has encouraged intensive and damaging farming.
Agroecology in Poland: A thorny path for farmers
You can read this article in Croatian, Spanish, Polish, Bulgarian, and Romanian. The aim of agroecology, according to the declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology, is to find ways to recover the food system destroyed by industrial agriculture. But...
Against the odds, family hotel champions sustainability in Croatia
At the entrance to the Adriatic town of Omiš, right next to the picturesque canyon of the river Cetina, a cosy family hotel is perched on a cliff. But Villa Dvor is not your run-of-the-mill seaside villa. It is a trailblazer of sorts, relying on organic farming and the concept of self-sufficiency.
‘Tipping point’: biodiversity on a knife edge in Europe and beyond
Biodiversity is in critical decline across Europe and the world, which will have a devastating impact on ecosystems and economies.
Romania’s forests – source of biodiversity, resource for ‘wood mafia’
Romania has the largest area of virgin forests in the whole of the EU. Home to a large number of animal and plant species, they are endangered by illegal logging, as seen in a recent documentary starring ultramarathon runner Andrei Roșu.
Preserving biodiversity in Europe: Is sustainability the answer?
While most of the world is focusing on climate change and the steps needed to curb it, another critical environmental aspect - that of biodiversity - is failing to get the attention it deserves.
Kaliakra: a showcase of environmental illiteracy in Bulgaria
Kaliakra is probably the most beautiful Black Sea cape of Bulgaria. But it has also become an illustration of the hectic way in which the government tries to balance the interests of big business, local communities and environmentalists.
Timmermans calls for greater urgency to tackle biodiversity crisis
Voters and the general public need to increase pressure on politicians to act more urgently in order to protect biodiversity, European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans argued on Tuesday (13 October).
No pollinators mean no agriculture, Commission Vice-President warns
Speaking before the European Parliament's plenary, the Dutch Commissioner Frans Timmermans cautioned farmers about the need to change tack on European agricultural policy.
Rewarding farmers for ecological services could help protect biodiversity
As the World Summit on Biodiversity opens on Wednesday (30 September), new measures to halt its decline are being discussed, including the concept of payments for environmental services, which is currently widely debated in France and Europe. EURACTIV France reports.
Britain, Canada, EU throw weight behind 2030 biodiversity protection goal
Britain and Canada on Monday (28 September) joined the European Union in pledging to protect 30% of their land and seas by 2030 to stem "catastrophic" biodiversity loss and help galvanise support for broader agreement on the target ahead of a UN summit.
Time is not on our side: Building back balance through wellbeing
Post-COVID, ‘building back better’ means building resilience to future shocks whilst creating a new vision where the well-being of all citizens is guaranteed over financial growth at the expense of everything else, write Sandrine Dixson-Declève and Aileen McLeod.
Wildlife populations fell 68% since 1970s, new WWF report warns
The way humanity produces food, energy and goods is destroying the habitats of thousands of wildlife species, causing plunging population sizes and contributing to the emergence of diseases such as COVID-19, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2020, released on Thursday (10 September).
France suspends controversial glue-trapping of songbirds
France has suspended the glue-trapping of songbirds this year but stopped short of abolishing the controversial practice which is criticised as barbaric by bird lovers and banned under European Union regulations.
What is the reaction of the pesticides and biopesticides industry to the EU Farm to Fork and Sustainability strategies?
Géraldine Kutas, European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) Director General, discusses the industry's role in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity 2030 strategy
EU’s trade deals can put an end to deforestation
The EU must take an aggressive “stick and carrot” approach to trade deals in order to put an end to deforestation and avert a next pandemic, writes Fazlun Khalid.