Ecology
MEPs vote to ban the use of palm oil in biofuels
MEPs have voted overwhelmingly to ban biofuels made from vegetable oils including palm oil by 2020, to prevent the EU’s renewable transport targets from inadvertently contributing to deforestation. A new palm oil regulation, minimum sustainability criteria, customs duty reforms and…
European Coal Emissions Slump 11 Per Cent
The pressure on the European coal power sector was again underlined this week, with the release of new data showing emissions from coal power plants covered by the EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) fell 11 per cent last year. An…
Reports: Diesel Drivers Could Face Pollution Charge in 35 English Towns and Cities
Diesel cars, coaches, trucks and vans could reportedly face additional charges of up to £20 to travel through town and city centres across England under new air pollution measures drawn up by the government. The charges would apply to 35…
Smart Meters to Help Reduce Food Wastage in UAE Hotels
With the staggering amounts of food waste around the world, the UAE leadership has recently taken action to drastically reduce food waste in the country. Ever since UAE Food Bank was announced to give excess food to the needy, Dubai…
Why Cities are Outpacing Countries in the Race to Curb Climate Change
Cities from Oslo to Sydney are setting goals to curb climate change that exceed national targets, causing tensions with central governments about who controls policy over green energy and transport and construction. More than 2,500 cities have issued plans to…
Brazilian Urban Farming Project Could Reduce Carbon Emissions by 20 Percent
A controversial elevated highway in one of the largest urban centers in the world, São Paulo, Brazil, may be undergoing an urban agricultural renewal in the near future. The Minhocão, a 3.5 km elevated highway in São Paulo, the Brazilian…
This Is how Santiago, Chile Plans to Fight Against Climate Change
Reducing inequality, securing water supplies and strengthening disaster prevention is crucial to bolster Chile’s quake-prone capital against climate change and other hazards, Santiago’s authorities said. In a new strategy to make the city more resilient, they laid out plans this…