europe

‘Major Hurdle’ Cleared as Youth Activists Advance Historic Climate Case

‘Major Hurdle’ Cleared as Youth Activists Advance Historic Climate Case

By Dana Drugmand An unprecedented climate lawsuit brought by six Portuguese youths is to be fast-tracked at Europe’s highest court, it was announced today. The European Court of Human Rights said the case, which accuses 33 European nations of violating the applicants’ right to life by disregarding the climate emergency, would be granted priority status […]

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    Social and Environmental Justice Activists React to EU Farm to Fork Strategy

    Social and Environmental Justice Activists React to EU Farm to Fork Strategy

    By Katell Ané The European Commission launched a new Farm to Fork strategy in an effort to reduce the social and environmental impact of the European food system. It is the newest strategy under the European Green Deal, setting sustainability targets for farmers, consumers, and policymakers. “Farmers are under extreme pressure,” Stefan de Keersmaeker, European […]

    New Study Finds China and EU Soy Imports Are Increasing Brazil’s Deforestation

    New Study Finds China and EU Soy Imports Are Increasing Brazil’s Deforestation

    By Chris Arsenault A first ever study has provided detailed estimates of greenhouse gas emissions across the entire soy producing agribusiness sector in Brazil. The study, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, found that countries and companies in the European Union and China importing soy from Brazil have driven deforestation there, causing a marked […]

    The Recycling Dilemma: Good Plastic, Bad plastic?

    The Recycling Dilemma: Good Plastic, Bad plastic?

    By Jeannette Cwienk When it comes to recycling and recyclability, very little, it seems is straightforward — even something as seemingly simple as orange juice can present a conundrum. In Germany, many smaller shops sell drinks in cartons or plastic bottles, both of which will end up in the yellow recycling bin. But how do […]

    Europe’s Hot Summer Weather Could Worsen the Effects of COVID-19

    Europe’s Hot Summer Weather Could Worsen the Effects of COVID-19

    By Roman Goncharenko Unseasonably warm temperatures, blue skies and gardens in full bloom — most of Europe is currently enjoying dreamy spring weather. But that’s not how farmers see it. They are hoping for rain, and fear that without it their crops will suffer greatly. And experts say there is a very real prospect that […]

    Italy Goes Into Lockdown to Fight Coronavirus

    Italy Goes Into Lockdown to Fight Coronavirus

    The entire country of Italy has gone into lockdown to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. The measures, announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Monday night, will ban public gatherings for Italy’s more than 60 million people and prevent them from traveling between towns and cities except for emergencies. “There […]

    Greta Thunberg: EU’s New Climate Law Is ‘Surrender’

    Greta Thunberg: EU’s New Climate Law Is ‘Surrender’

    The executive branch of the European Union announced a “climate law” Wednesday that would make it legally binding for the 27-nation group to achieve zero emissions by 2050, but activists including Greta Thunberg say it does not go far enough. “‘Net zero emissions by 2050’ for the EU equals surrender. It means giving up,” Thunberg […]

    Are Cities Europe’s New Biodiversity Hotspots?

    Are Cities Europe’s New Biodiversity Hotspots?

    Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s public urban park in the southwest of the city, is anything but a remote place. Even on a weekday, it’s full of people taking a stroll, playing soccer or chatting with friends on the neatly mowed grass. There are also countless people bicycling on the wide, paved roads — after all, this is […]