the European Union
A Pretty Stream in Belgium Is so Polluted Its Water Could Be Used as Pesticide
The idyllic stream that meanders through the Flemish countryside has been called the most polluted stream in Europe. When you think of a polluted waterway, what do you envision? For me, a dark, oil-slicked river studded with garbage comes to…
EU Clean Water Laws Under Attack from Industry Lobbyists
Industry lobbies are mounting a push to roll back EU clean water regulations, even though less than half of the continent’s rivers, wetlands and lakes are in a healthy state. The lobby offensive is aimed at weakening the bloc’s floods…
EU Sets Out Common Methodology to Measure Food Waste
The European Commission has set out a common methodology for food waste measurement to support member states on quantifying it at each stage of the supply chain. The Delegated Act will ensure coherent monitoring of food waste levels across the…
EU Approves Lithuania’s €385m Renewable Energy Scheme
The European Commission has approved a €385 million (£333m) scheme to support electricity production from renewable energy sources in Lithuania. The government intends to introduce the new aid scheme in May for the installation of renewable sources such as wind,…
Deforestation in Tropical Countries Linked to European Diets in New Study
One-sixth of the carbon footprint of the average diet in the European Union can be directly linked to deforestation in tropical countries, according to a new study from researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. The study, due to be…
EU Grants €6m for Energy Efficient Solutions
An investment totalling €4 million (£3.4m) has been granted for further development of energy efficiency services and renewable energy solutions in Europe. Resalta offers tailored energy efficiency solutions to public and private organisations through the Energy Service Company (ESCO) model,…
The Last Straw: European Parliament Votes to Ban Single-Use Plastics
The European parliament has voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans. The vote by MEPs paves the way for a ban…