About: environmental damage

Brussels wants 10-year prison term for severe environmental damage
The European Commission proposed strengthening the law covering criminal environmental damage on Wednesday (15 December) by proposing harsher sentences, including a maximum term of at least 10 years in prison, and including more nature-damaging activities in the scope.
Europe urged to bolster defences against climate, cyber risks
Nations across the globe should step up preparations against global risks such as climate change and cyber attacks, EU officials say, as these areas remain the most pressing for global experts surveyed ahead of this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place in Davos next week.
Is deep-sea mining worth the risk?
There is no evidence that deep-sea mining will reduce our dependency on land-based mining. We need to end business as usual and act to reduce the demand for these raw materials by making the transition towards a circular economy, write a group of Greens/EFA MEPs.
MEPs open the door for waste water operators in fertilisers regulation
The European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee (IMCO) voted yesterday (13 July) on the amendments to the proposed fertiliser regulation and suggested the introduction of more innovative products such as the ones from
The future of proposed ‘new Panama Canal’ in doubt
Nicaragua's planned development of a competing waterway to the Panama Canal has faced massive opposition due to the impact the project will have on the environment and society. EURACTIV's partner El País - Planeta Futuro reports.
Dakar Rally’s environmental impact criticised
The Dakar Rally is currently tearing its way across South America, where it is generating controversy for its significant environmental and social impact, particularly in Bolivia, where nature protection is enshrined in the so-called "Mother Earth" law. EURACTIV's partner El País - Planeta Futuro reports.
Damage to oceans could be irreparable and deadly
The planet’s oceans protect us from solar radiation and are home to an estimated 70% of all life on earth – but global warming is threatening to destroy entire ecosystems and cause irreparable damage. EURACTIV's partner El País - Planeta Futuro reports.
‘Environmental emergency’ in Spanish river
Brussels authorities have been asked to help tackle a serious environmental problem in a river overrun with invasive plants in western Spain. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Norwegian fund divests from four Asian companies over palm oil
Norway's gigantic sovereign wealth fund announced yesterday (17 August) it was divesting from four large Asian companies over the environmental damage their palm oil activities have on tropical forests.
The last emperor of GDP
Gross Domestic Product is a measure of the size of a country's economy. It represents the value of all goods and services produced over a specific period of time, with year-on-year growth generally considered a sign of good economic health, writes Éloi Laurent.
Brussels to tackle Europe’s ‘alien species’
The European Commission has proposed rules to combat the estimated €12 billion of damage caused every year to EU farming and infrastructure by invasive animal and plant species.
Russian ‘fishing interests’ threaten bid for Antarctic conservation area
EXCLUSIVE / A vote today (16 July) on whether to declare a marine protection area over an Antarctic body of water seven times the size of Germany is hanging in the balance due to Russian and Ukrainian fishing interests, the head of a European delegation to the talks has told EURACTIV.
Poland lobbies against EU shale gas regulation
Poland, long seen as promoting a common European approach to shale gas, has now published a surprising study describing possible EU regulation on the industry as "unfeasible".
Environmental liability: Applying the ‘polluter pays’ principle
Successive man-made disasters have seen the EU adopt rules to enforce the 'polluter pays principle' on companies responsible for major environmental damage.
Shale gas not yet game-changer for Europe
Shale gas cannot be seen yet as a game changer in Europe as it is in the United States, where roughly 50% of the country's needs are met by developing unconventional gas. The conclusion was reached by international experts at a public event held in Brussels yesterday (7 June).