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2015
Keep it in the ground campaign: Live Q and A with Alan Rusbridger
theguardian, March 18, 2015
Environment and resources
The Guardian’s editor-in-chief will be live online on Thursday at 11am (GMT) to answer questions about our fossil fuel divestment campaign. Post your questions now in the comments below.
The Article2015
The Pacific islands losing a way of life to climate change – in pictures
theguardian, March 17, 2015
Climate Change
Over 150,000 people living on the low-lying atolls of Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are threatened by rising sea levels and as flooding becomes more common, relocation is the only option left.
The Article2015
NGOs worried by ‘financialisation’ of development
EurActiv.com, March 13, 2015
Sustainability
With three major milestones just around the corner, many NGOs are urging greater caution in the use of private finance in development aid policies.
The News2015
WHO: Cut sugar intake to fight obesity and tooth decay
EurActiv.com, March 6, 2015
Nutrition
Adults and children must cut the amount of sugar they consume every day in fizzy drinks and sweet foods to lower their risk of obesity and tooth decay, the World Health Organisation has said.
The News2015
Academics probe built-in obsolescence of fridges, notebooks
EurActiv.com, March 6, 2015
Sustainability
Researchers at the Öko-Institut and the University of Bonn found that consumers were replacing their fridges, flatscreen TVs and notebooks more and more frequently. But how much of that is down to "built-in obsolescence" is still unclear.
The News2015
Lester Brown: 'Vast dust bowls threaten tens of millions with hunger'
theguardian.com, February 25, 2015
Environment and resources/Nutrition
Over his 50-year career, Lester Brown has become known for his accurate global environmental predictions. As he enters retirement, he warns the world may face the worst hunger crisis of our lifetimes.
The Article2015
EU wants Paris climate deal to cut carbon emissions 60% by 2050
theguardian, February 25, 2015
Climate Change
A major UN climate summit in Paris later this year should call on countries to make tough carbon cuts to avoid dangerous global warming, EU document says.
The Article2015
Alarming report reveals rampant poverty across Europe
EurActiv.com, February 20, 2015
Future viability
More than a third of the population in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Latvia and Hungary are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, according to a new report. In half of the EU's 28 member states, at least one in three children live in poverty.
The News2015
Is Apple going to challenge Tesla with an electric car?
Treehugger.com, February 16, 2015
Sustainability
Will Apple do to the car industry what it did to the phone industry?
The Apple rumor mill has recently given birth to a giant new piece of speculation: That Apple is planning to go head-to-head with Tesla by going in the electric car market. Exhibit A is a Wall Street Journal piece that cites "people familiar with the matter" who claim that a project with the code name of "Titan" is underway, with a thousand-people team under Apple Vice President Steve Zadesky, a former Ford engineer who was on the teams that created the iPod and iPhone, and Johann Jungwirth, who was Mercedes Benz's R&D chief before being hired by Apple last fall.
2015
Solvik-Olsen: Norway leads on electric cars
EurActiv.com, February 16, 2015
Sustainability
Norway has the world's best incentives for buying electric cars. But a zero-emission vehicles' strategy might not work in EU countries with a strong automobile industry, said Norwegian Transport Minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen.
The News2015
5 health benefits of houseplants
Treehugger.com, February 13, 2015
Environment and resources
© sukiyaki
Houseplants have been going in and out of vogue ever since the early Greeks and Romans starting bringing their plants in from the outdoors. The Victorians loved their potted palms and the 70s wouldn’t have been the same without ferns and spider plants … everywhere. Current style dictates a lighter hand with the green things – sculptural stems and succulents rule the roost – but the truth is this: Houseplants should transcend trends.
2015
Clean technology can partially make up for weak CO2 pricing
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, February 2, 2015
Climate change
lean technology support can to some extent make up for weak CO2 pricing and hence help keep the two degrees target within reach, a new study shows. Even if the world climate summit in Paris later this year is successful in striking a climate deal, it might not bring about sharp greenhouse-gas cuts in the near-term.
The Press release2015
Scotland announces fracking ban
EurActiv, January 29, 2015
Environment and resources
Scotland has imposed a moratorium on shale gas planning permits two days after a UK-wide ban was rejected by MPs in Westminster.
The Scottish Parliament will conduct an public consultation and an investigation into the impact of shale gas extraction - known as fracking - on public health before allowing any new permits to be issued.
2015
Carbon pricing: a challenge for the future
EurActiv.com, January 27, 2015
Climate change/Environment and resources
The concept of carbon pricing as a tool to combat climate change is broadly accepted by the international community. But at what price, and under what conditions? As the world looks for ways to cut CO2 emissions, many questions remain unanswered.
The News2015
Waste laws will be binned, despite protests
EurActiv.com, January 23, 2015
Environment and resources/Sustainability
The European Commission’s decision to ditch the Circular Economy package of waste, recycling and incineration laws, was confirmed yesterday (22 January), despite the objections of the EU Parliament and national environment ministers.
The News2015
Health in the EU improves, but remarkable inequalities remain
EurActiv.com, January 19, 2015
Sustainability
EU member states have achieved significant gains in population health over the past decades, but large inequalities remain both inside and across countries, a new report concludes.
The News2015
Dutch rally support for microplastic ban to safeguard their mussels
EurActiv.com, January 14, 2015
Environment and resources
The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Sweden have issued a joint call to ban the microplastics used in detergents and cosmetics, saying the measure will protect marine life – and seafood – from contamination.
The News2015
Save the bees with seed bombs
treehugger.com, January 12, 2015
Sustainability
Seed bombs began as a fun and friendly tactic for greening abandoned lots in urban spaces. “Guerrilla gardeners” throw balls of seeds and fertilizer into fenced-off spaces that are otherwise neglected, such as brownfields or land in zoning limbo.
Zum Beitrag2015
The more things money can buy, the harder it is to be poor
theguardian.com, January 7, 2015
Happiness and satisfaction
Over the last few decades we've become a market society where almost everything is up for sale – there are cash incentives for doctors who diagnose dementia patients and for teachers whose students get better exam results. The problem, says Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel, is that where money determines access to necessities such as health and education, inequality matters more than it otherwise would.
The video2015
Researchers link air pollution to heart diseases
EurActiv.com, January 6, 2015
Environment and resources
Responsible for 400,000 deaths each year globally, air pollution has yet to be sufficiently addressed by the world's governments, researchers have warned.
The News2014
Use a 'Minimalist Wardrobe' to simplify your life
Treehugger.com, December 26, 2015
Sustainability
There is a reason why many successful people wear the same thing every day. Not having to worry about one's clothes can be a huge stress reducer.
What kind of morning routine do you have? Is it a relaxing, meaningful time of preparation for the day ahead, or does it involve frantic minutes spent pulling clothes out of the closet and trying on numerous outfits before settling on the right one?
All too often, clothes create unnecessary stress first thing in the morning. Many of us have dressers and closets overflowing with clothes, and yet feel as if we have nothing to wear.
2014
Belo Monte, Brazil: The tribes living in the shadow of a megadam
theguardian.com, December 16, 2014
Environment and resources
Next year the Belo Monte dam will flood vast swathes of Amazon rainforest. Indian tribes living on the river have lost their fight to halt the project – now they await the floods that threaten their entire way of life.
The article2014
Casa Incubo shipping container house is called an "icon of sustainability."
Treehugger.com, December 16, 2014
Sustainability
With the holiday season in full swing and presents piling up under the tree, many parents may be tempted to give children all the toys and gadgets they ask for or use the expectation of gifts to manage children's behavior. Now, a new study from the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois at Chicago found that parents who use material goods as part of their parenting techniques may be setting children up for difficulties later in adulthood.
The News2014
Certain parenting tactics could lead to materialistic attitudes in adulthood
EurekAlert.com, December 16, 2014
Sustainability
With the holiday season in full swing and presents piling up under the tree, many parents may be tempted to give children all the toys and gadgets they ask for or use the expectation of gifts to manage children's behavior. Now, a new study from the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois at Chicago found that parents who use material goods as part of their parenting techniques may be setting children up for difficulties later in adulthood.
The News2014
Coal demand set to break 9bn tonne barrier this decade
theguardian.com, December 15, 2014
Environment and resources/Energy
Environmentalists warn of ‘very dangerous development’ after Lima climate summit fails to agree on greenhouse gas emissions curbs
Global coal use is on an upwards march despite calls to halt fossil fuels demand at a UN climate summit in Peru and will hit a record 9bn tonnes by 2019, according to the International Energy Agency.
2014
World's beaches being washed away due to coastal development
theguardian.com, December 15, 2014
Environment and resources/Climate change
From Florida to the Costa del Sol, costly sea defences are accelerating beach erosion and will ultimately fail to protect coastal towns and cities from rising tides, say experts.
The world’s beaches are being washed away as coastal developments increase in size and engineers build ever higher sea walls to defend against fierce winter storms and rising sea levels, according to two of the worlds’ leading marine geologists.
2014
Rooftop solar could be just a spray away
Treehugger.com, December 15, 2014
Energy/Environment and resources
One of the more promising solar technologies that researchers have been working on for years is spray-on solar cells. The idea is that being able to apply solar cells to surfaces in such a simple way would allow virtually any surface to become a solar panel. House and car roofs, airplane wings, basically anything that is exposed to sunlight.
The Article2014
Tropical rainforests not absorbing as much carbon as expected, scientists say
theguardian, December 15, 2014
Climate change
Findings could indicate some forests are not helping mitigate effects of climate change by removing excess carbon dioxide from atmosphere.
The increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not making trees in tropical forests grow faster, say scientists who have analysed over 1,100 individual trees from forests in Bolivia, Thailand and Cameroon.
2014
California company lets you rent a live Christmas tree
treehugger.com, December 15, 2014
Environment and resources
As the name suggests, The Living Christmas Co. isn’t in the business of cutting down trees. Instead, they rent out live trees in big pots, ready to be decked out for the holidays. When the season ends, the company picks the trees up and houses them in a brownfield that used to be an oil refinery.
The News2014
Europe can learn from Germany's circular economy, experts say
EurActiv.com, December, 9, 2014
Environment and resources/Sustainability
While Germany boasts the highest EU-wide recycling rate, 85% of waste in certain regions within the bloc ends up in landfills. Analysts are worried about the European Commission’s current reevaluation of waste targets.
The News2014
India outperforms Netherlands and Austria on climate
EurActiv.com, December, 8, 2014
Climate change
India’s climate protection performance has been ranked above nine European Union countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland, by climate campaigners.
The News2014
Agriculture development chief: ‘The crisis after Ebola will be a food shortage crisis’
EurActiv,com, November 19, 2014
Nutrition
Food production structures in many West African countries face the threat of collapse – a consequence of the Ebola epidemic that is also likely to affect Europe, says Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The News2014
US climate negotiator: We'll only know how Russia will behave when we walk into the room
EurActiv.com, November 19, 2014
Climate Change
The joint announcement of US and Chinese post-2020 climate targets last week has put valuable momentum behind UN talks to secure a legally binding global target for CO2 emissions, says Todd Stern. But there is no guarantee that Russia will not use the negotiations for political leverage in the Ukraine conflict, he warns.
The News2014
Growth: the destructive god that can never be appeased
theguardian, November 18, 2014
Limits to growth
The blind pursuit of economic expansion stokes a cycle of financial crisis, and is wrecking our world. Time for an alternative.
The Article2014
Scientists bury hopes of EU shale gas revolution
EurActiv.com, November 14, 2014
Environment and resources/Climate change
Although there are no scientific grounds to ban fracking, shale gas will do little to solve Europe’s energy supply security problems, according to a new report by the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC).
The News2014
Researchers: Western lifestyle threatens health and the environment
EurActiv.com, November 14, 2014
Environment and resources/Future vaibility
The Western lifestyle, which has proven to increase diabetes rates, obesity, cancer and carbon emissions, is both a global health and environment problem, according to a new study, but three diets can help reverse the trend.
The News2014
US and China strike deal on carbon cuts in push for global climate change pact
theguardian.com, November 12, 2014
Climate Change
Barack Obama aims for reduction of a quarter or more by 2025, while Xi Jinping sets goal for emissions to fall after 2030. The United States and China have unveiled a secretly negotiated deal to reduce their greenhouse gas output, with China agreeing to cap emissions for the first time and the US committing to deep reductions by 2025.
The Article2014
Report: EU underestimates biofuels’ greenhouse gas savings by 50%
EurActiv.com, November 12, 2014
Environment and resources/Climate Change
The European Union has underestimated the greenhouse gas emissions savings offered by biofuels by as much as 50%, according to a report published today. To correctly understand the benefits of biofuels, their emissions should be compared to the fossil fuel emissions they replace in the market, the Ecofys study said.
The News2014
Leonardo DiCaprio confirmed to attend Lima UN Climate Conference
peruthisweek.com, November 11, 2014
Climate Change/Environment and resources
Environmental activist and actor Leonardo DiCaprio invited to COP20 in Lima by Peruvian head of state. Leonardo DiCaprio will be attending COP 20, the Lima Climate Change Conference in December, diplomatic sources have told Peru this Week. Peru this Week can reveal that the environmental activist and actor Leonardo DiCaprio will be participating in COP 20, along with other television personalities and politicians, such as Al Gore.
The News2014
Obesity researcher says the EU's new sugar quotas will increase diabetes rates
EurActiv.com, November 6, 2014
Nutrition
With the liberalisation of the European sugar market planned for 2017, the EU can expect to see a dramatic increase in obesity and diabetes, a researcher has warned.
The News2014
Google, Amazon and Apple less transparent than Gazprom, says report
EurActiv.com, November 5, 2014
Functioning of society
Google, Amazon, and Apple are among the least transparent multinationals in the world, worse than Russian state-owned energy companies Gazprom, and Rosneft, according to a report published today (5 November) by anti-corruption campaigners
The News2014
IEA: Sub-Saharan Africa will produce more gas than Russia
EurActiv.com, October 30, 2014
Environment and resources/Energy
Sub-Saharan Africa will outstrip Russia as a global gas supplier by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), spurring European Union efforts to wean itself off its Russian gas addiction by investing in the region’s development.
The News2014
Denmark wants to be coal-free by 2025
EurActiv.com, October 29, 2014
Climate change/Energy
Denmark is looking into how the country can stop using coal as an energy supply by 2025, the Climate and Energy Minister Rasmus Helveg Petersen said. The Scandinavian country's centre-left government had previously aimed at being coal-independent by 2030.
The News2014
Commission proposes new catch limits to tackle overfishing
EurActiv.com, October 28, 2014
Environment and resources
The European Commission has proposed a reduction in catch limits for some types of Atlantic herring to zero to fight overfishing while increasing limits for horse mackerel.
The News2014
Learn how to clean your house with food
treehugger.com, October 28, 2014
Environment and resources/Sustainability
Say goodbye to toxic cleaners. Look no further than the fridge and pantry to learn how to clean everything from pots and pans to yucky grills to carpets.
The News2014
Artist to collect Beijing's smog & transform it into unique rings
treehugger.com, October 22, 2014
Climate change/Environment and resources
In an effort to free itself of its unfortunate reputation for polluted skies, Beijing officials recently launched a program to get rid of its smog by 2017. But this effort may not be limited to mundane details like controlling the number of cars on the road. Others, like Dutch artist and "social designer" Daan Roosegaarde believe that art has a role to play in shifting people's ideas about how pollution can be part of the solution; he proposes that Beijing's smog be collected and actually re-used -- by transforming it into gems for rings.
The News2014
Make a shake flashlight out of a cardboard tube
treehugger.com, October 21, 2014
Environment and resources/Energy
Shake flashlights are nifty things to have around in case of a power outage or while out camping. A few shakes and you've got light without having to worry about whether you've recently replaced the double A's.
The News2014
New tracers can identify frack fluids in the environment
eurekalert.org, October 20, 2014
Environment and resources
Scientists have developed new geochemical tracers that can identify hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids that have been spilled or released into the environment.The tracers, which were created by a team of U.S. and French researchers, have been field-tested at a spill site in West Virginia and downstream from an oil and gas brine wastewater treatment plant in Pennsylvania.
The News2014
UK bankers breaking bonus cap, says EU watchdog
EurActiv.com, October 17, 2014
Future viability
The bulk of a new type of allowance paid to bankers are in breach of the European Union's bonus cap and must be changed by the end of the year, the EU's banking watchdog said on Wednesday, raising the prospect that banks will have to bump up basic pay or risk losing top staff.
The News2014
‘Stress test’ measures EU’s ability to survive without Russian gas
EurActiv.com, October 17, 2014
Energy
Ahead of the 23-24 October EU summit, on Thursday (16 October), the Commission presented a first-ever analysis of the consequences of a disruption of Russian gas supplies, or even a complete halt of such imports to the Union, and neighbouring states. The result, which was not difficult to predict, is that some countries would be much more affected than others.
The News2014
Digital future: a tale of two Europes
EurActiv.com, October 16, 2014
Future viability
Wide variations in the predicted impact of the digital sector of the future European economy are challenging policymakers' preparation for a radically different jobs market.
The News2014
7 winter vegetables
treehugger.com, October 15, 2014
Nutrition
7 winter vegetables to add to your plate.
The News2014
The Phone Co-op offers UK's first ethical smartphone
theguardian.com, October 15, 2014
Environment and resources
Mobile phone co-operative secures exclusive deal to stock "the most ethical mobile handset on the market".
The Article2014
Activists use GPS to track illegal loggers in Brazil's Amazon rainforest
theguardian.com, October 15, 2014
Environment and resources
Hi-tech undercover operation used GPS tracking on timber trucks for the first time, as well as satellite and aerial images to reveal extent of illegal logging in Brazilian Amazon.
The Article2014
9 out of 10 Australian households are considering switching to solar power
treehugger.com, October 14, 2014
Energy
A new survey of Australian households conducted by Ernst & Young across regional and metro Victoria, NSW and Queensland found 9 out of 10 Australians have considered or would consider switching to solar power. The main motivation is cutting electricity bills, but environmental benefits - especially in a huge coal burner and exporter like Australia - no doubt have appeal too.
The News2014
Anti-TTIP demonstrations seize European capitals
EurActiv.com, October 13, 2014
Growth and prosperity
Some 400 activist groups marched all over Europe on Saturday (11 October) in protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), as the EU-US trade deal crystallises opposition to a wide variety of issues – from shale gas to corporate finance.
The News2014
Global CO2 pricing scheme surfaces ahead of 2015 climate summit
EurActiv.com, October 10, 2014
Environment and resources/Climate change
A team of scholars at Paris Dauphine University has proposed an international carbon trading system, whereby countries with the highest average CO2 emissions pay the most. A simple, yet ambitious scheme that hinges upon cooperation from the world's largest emitter, China.
The News2014
Poland says will cooperate on climate change - for a fee
EurActiv.com, October 10, 2014
Environment and resources/Climate change
Poland says it will need cash and help in curbing its emissions if it is to sign up for a new decade of EU green energy policy at talks this month, according to a document seen by Reuters.
The News2014
Socially responsible investors in EU adopt active role
EurActiv.com, October 10, 2014
Sustainability
Strategies aimed at directly impacting society are becoming more popular among European investors focused on green and social investing, according to a Eurosif report.
The News2014
Fracking Setback in Poland Dims Hope for Less Russian Gas
Bloomberg.com, October 10, 2014
Environment and resources/Energy
Poland’s ambition to achieve energy independence from Russia is being undermined by drillers giving up on the nation’s shale wells after disappointing results.
The News2014
Philip Morris tops NGOs' lobbying spending table
EurActiv.com, October 1, 2014
Functioning of society
Tobacco giant Philip Morris was the company that spent the most money on lobbying the EU last year, according to data compiled by civil society organisations.
The News2014
We won't drop food and safety standards for TTIP, Andriukaitis tells MEPs
EurActiv.com, October 1, 2014
Growth and prosperity
Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner-designate for Health and Food Safety, told MEPs today (30 September) during his confirmation hearing that the EU would not lower its safety standards as result of negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The News2014
33 Things to Eat, Drink, See, and Do Before Climate Change Ruins Everything
Medium.com
Climate Change
You’re the kind of person who likes his boardwalks above water. You don’t have allergies. You like winter. You want your champagne to come from the Champagne region of France—not some unromantic corner of England hundreds of miles to the north. You like cherry pie. You like oysters. You eat fish. You don’t eat jellyfish. You’re the kind of person, then, who needs the Matter handbook to a burning planet, a compendium of real scientific findings that look at how the globe may change over the next fifty years and beyond. Think of it as your guide to the good life before climate change melts it away.
The News2014
EU agrees to €5bn carbon permit giveaway
EurActiv.com, September 25, 2014
Climate Change
The European Parliament's environment committee on Wednesday (24 September) narrowly upheld plans to give billions of euros worth of carbon allowances to heavy industries for free, in order to help them compete in global markets.
The News2014
Climate change is not hysteria – it's a fact
theguardian.com, September 23, 2014
Climate Change
Leonardo DiCaprio at the UN climate summit in New York
The time to answer the greatest challenge of our existence on this planet is now. You can make history or be vilified by it.
2014
Diabetes hitting EU workforce productivity
EurActiv.com, September 23, 2014
Future viability/Nutrition
Investing now in diabetes prevention will reduce the cost of tackling the disease later and maintain a productive European workforce, experts claim.
The News2014
China emits more CO2 per person than the EU
EurActiv.com, September 23, 2014
Climate Change
In 2013, China’s per capita CO2 emissions surpassed Europe’s for the first time ever. In addition, China represented nearly 60% of last year’s total global emissions increase. As a result, the longterm goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees appears increasingly elusive, warns a Global Carbon Project (GCP) report published on 21 September.
The News2014
Living without growth
sustainableman.org, September 23, 2014
Limits to growth/Growth and prosperity
Charles Eisenstein talks about lower rates of economic growth across the planet. As economic growth stalled in 2012, will 2013 be the year we learn to live without economic growth? In this video Charles covers his observations from travelling around austerity stricken Europe and the need to detach our notion of progress from material acquisition. We’ll be releasing a second video with Charles in 2013 where he talks about the systemic change needed in the global money system and debt forgiveness.
The Video2014
Flooding Risk From Climate Change, Country by Country
The New York Times, September 23, 2014
Climate Change
If global carbon emissions and sea levels are affected by climate change, about 2.6 percent of the global population (about 177 million people) will be living in a place at risk of regular flooding.
The Article2014
Bee activist: EU ban on neonicotinoids undermined by national derogations
EurActiv,com, September 22, 2014
Environment and resources
The European Commission's 2013 decision to ban some neonicotinoid insecticides is not working, as some member states have provided derogation for their farmers, says Martin Dermine.
The News2014
Study: Education and health spending compromised by climate change
EurActiv.com, September 22, 2014
Growth and prosperity/Functioning of society
Impoverished states have had to divert large chunks of their budget to adapt to climate change and run the risk of crowding out spending on health and education, a new report suggests.
The News2014
The dilemma of growth: prosperity v economic expansion
theguardian.com, September 22, 2014
Limits to growth
Tim Jackson argues that improving prosperity is not at all synonymous with growing the economy. Rethinking prosperity is a vital task because our prevailing vision of the good life – and the economics intended to deliver it – have both come badly unstuck.
The Article2014
Natural disasters displaced more people than war in 2013, study finds
theguardian.com, September 17, 2014
Environment and resources
Norwegian Refugee Council finds ‘mega disasters’ such as typhoons and hurricanes drove 22 million people from homes. Natural disasters displaced three times as many people as war last year – even as 2013 was a horrific year for conflict – with 22 million people driven out of their homes by floods, hurricanes and other hazards, a new study has found.
The Article2014
August was hottest on record worldwide, says Nasa
theguardian.com, September 16, 2014
Climate Change
2014 is shaping up to be an exceptionally warm year with May and June also the hottest ever. August 2014 was marginally the warmest August worldwide since records began 130 years ago, according to new data from Nasa’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Temperatures measured by government meteorological offices using land, sea and satellite data suggest this year’s global high was very close to those of 2011, 2008, 2006 and 2003. Overall, temperatures were 0.70C above the 1951-1990 baseline temperature average.
The Article2014
Millennium Goals leave the most deprived behind
EurActiv.com, September 15, 2014
Climate Change
A report by the NGO ATD Fourth World highlights the failures of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the struggle against poverty, claiming some performance measures exclude the most disadvantaged.
The News2014
Urban wildlife – in pictures
theguardian.com, September 12, 2014
Environment and resources
Bristol-based photographer Sam Hobson portrays wildlife in British cities, from lapwings on a Manchester roof to fallow deer feeding by a London bus stop. One shot of bright green parakeets flying over a London cemetery reached the final of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards.
The News2014
2050 weather forecasts: why we need stories like this to tackle climate change
thegurardian, Environment Blog, September 11, 2014
Climate Change
The UN’s mock weather forecasts from the future are part of the cultural revolution needed to address global warming.
In her extraordinary book Flight Behaviour, novelist Barbara Kingsolver uses powerful visual metaphors brilliantly to bring the challenge of climate change into rude relief. The plot uses the disruption of the Monarch butterfly’s amazing trans-continental migration as a key twist to illustrate how our natural systems may be bumped brutally into difficult change.
2014
Africa's hidden hunger
EurActiv.com, September 4, 2014
Nutrition
Though great efforts have been made to tackle hunger in Africa over the past decades, chronic manutrition or 'hidden hunger' are not always visible, writes Ramadhani Abdallah Noor.
The News2014
Obama Pursuing Climate Accord in Lieu of Treaty
New York Times, August 26, 2014
Climate Change
The Obama administration is working to forge a sweeping international climate change agreement to compel nations to cut their planet-warming fossil fuel emissions, but without ratification from Congress.
The Article2014
EU-Canada trade deal leak ‘ridicules’ TTIP consultation, campaigners say
EurActiv.com, August 18, 2014
Growth and prosperity/Sustainability
The leaked text of an EU-Canada free trade deal confirms fears that multinationals may sue EU states in special tribunals for enacting laws that upset their profit forecasts, and now campaigners question the public consultation on a free trade deal with the US.
The News2014
E-Bike Sales Are Surging in Europe
The New York Times, August 18, 2014
Environment and resources/Energy/Cities
With a faint electric whir, Iris Marossek pedals her bicycle through concrete apartment blocks in the heart of old East Berlin, delivering mail to 1,500 people a day.
The Article2014
The cost of caring for Europe's elderly nuclear plants
EurActiv.com, August 18, 2014
Energy
Europe's ageing nuclear fleet will undergo more prolonged outages over the next few years, reducing the reliability of power supply and costing plant operators many millions of dollars.
The News2014
How the Commission ‘blocked’ key environmental plans
EurActiv.com, August 5, 2014
Growth and prosperity
Plans to crack down on endocrine disruptors and illegal timber being imported into the EU, were buried by the outgoing President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and his secretary-general Catherine Day, according to a senior EU source.
The News2014
'Fat taxes' do work, EU report finds
EurActiv.com, July 28, 2014
Nutrition
Specific taxes on sugar, salt or fat do cause reductions in consumption, the European Commission found in a new report. But higher taxes may also merely encourage consumers to go for cheaper products, it warned.
The News2014
Shift taxes from labour to environment, EEA tells ministers
EurActiv.com, July 18, 2014
Sustainability
Hans Bruyninckx, he director of the European Environment Agency, has urged ministers to carry out fiscal reforms, such as moving tax from labour, to activities that damage the environment.
The News2014
Our Bees, Ourselves
The New York Times, July 14, 2014
Environment and resources
AROUND the world, honeybee colonies are dying in huge numbers: About one-third of hives collapse each year, a pattern going back a decade. For bees and the plants they pollinate — as well as for beekeepers, farmers, honey lovers and everyone else who appreciates this marvelous social insect — this is a catastrophe.
The Article2014
Carbon market pays off: €89m to fund French projects
EurActiv.com, July 14, 2014
Climate Change/Environment and resources
For the first time ever, the sale of carbon credits will finance projects that help tackle climate change. The EU Commission will fund 19 projects, two of which are in France.
The News2014
UK cities will exceed EU pollution limits until 2030, figures show
EurActiv.com, July 11, 2014
Environment and resources
Air pollution levels in London, Birmingham, and Leeds will exceed European limits until at least 2030, newly-published figures show.
In a case at the European court of justice on Thursday, lawyers for the commission described the UK's failure to act on the breach as "perhaps the longest running infringement of EU law in history."
2014
Blow for Australia government as carbon tax repeal fails
The West Australian, July 10,2014
Climate Change
Australia's conservative government on Thursday suffered a setback when the upper house Senate voted against abolishing a carbon tax, the central platform of its election win last year.
The Article2014
Helsinki's ambitious plan to make car ownership pointless in 10 years
theguardian.com, July 10, 2014
Cities/Sustainability
Finland's capital hopes a 'mobility on demand' system that integrates all forms of shared and public transport in a single payment network could essentially render private cars obsolete.
The Article2014
A leaked document shows just how much the EU wants a piece of America’s fracking boom
The Washington Post, July 8, 2014
Energy/Environment and resources
The European Union is pressing the United States to lift its longstanding ban on crude oil exports through a sweeping trade and investment deal, according to a secret document from the negotiations obtained by The Washington Post.
The Blog2014
Solar has won. Even if coal were free to burn, power stations couldn't compete
theguardian.com, July 7,2014
Energy/Climate Change
As early as 2018, solar could be economically viable to power big cities. By 2040 over half of all electricity may be generated in the same place it's used. Centralised, coal-fired power is over.
The Article2014
10 things you need to know about the circular economy
theguardian.com, June 26, 2014
Environment and resources
A working circular economy could be a practical solution to the planet's emerging resource problems. Here's 10 facts you should know.
The Article2014
Our tips for traveling like a TreeHugger: Margaret: Trying to tread more lightly
treehugger.com, June 25, 2014
Change in awareness/Climate Change/Environment and resources
I’ve been thinking a lot about the impacts of travel recently, with two big reporting trips in the past month. There’s an energy cost and a carbon footprint to almost everything we do, and traveling is no different, but I wanted to share some of the little ways I’ve been trying to tread more lightly.
The News2014
ECJ decision pivotal in debate over Germany’s green subsidies
EurActiv.com, June 13, 2014
Energy
A complaint raised by a Finnish wind turbine operator in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) could add an unpredictable dynamic to the debate over the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), with experts forecasting rising energy costs and the end of exclusively national green energy subsidisation. EurActiv Germany reports.
The News2014
EU slated for ‘cynical’ €113m shale gas subsidy
EurActiv.com, June 13, 2014
Energy
Environmentalists have bitterly condemned a new EU research fund which invites shale gas firms to apply for €113 million of subsidies, under a programme designed to encourage ‘competitive low carbon energy’.
The News2014
TTIP contradicts post-2015 development goals, experts say
EurActiv.com, June 11, 2014
Environment and resources/Growth and prosperity
The planned US-EU trade deal, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), has come up against intense criticism from both sides of the Atlantic. Now development officials have joined the choir, and are warning that the agreement will undermine the UN's post-2015 development agenda. EurActiv Germany reports
The News2014
Europeans test energy cooperatives to boost independence
EurActiv.com, June 10, 2014
Energy/Climate Change
EU officials look at Belgium as an example for cooperative energy projects, as the 28-country bloc looks to de-carbonise and gain more energy independence.
The News2014
The energy payback for a 2-megawatt wind turbine that lasts over 20 years is... 5-8 months
treehugger.com, June 30, 2014
Energy/Climate Change
Talk about a great return on investment!
Some people who are against renewable energy - often when you follow the money you find that they are being financed by fossil fuel interests - spread all kinds of misinformation
2014
EU touts 70% recycling and zero landfill law for 2030
EurActiv, com, June 6, 2014
Environment and resources
Europe could be recycling 70% of its municipal waste by 2030, if a binding proposal that would phase out the environmentally harmful practice of landfill disposal is approved by the European Commission this month, EurActiv has learned.
The News2014
EU proposal scraps mandatory 'dirty' label for tar sands
EurActiv.com, June 6, 2014
Environment and resources
A mandatory EU requirement to label oil from tar sands as more polluting than other forms of crude could be scrapped altogether following years of lobbying from top producer Canada, according to a draft European Commission proposal.
The News2014
Fitting e-waste into the circular economy
EurActiv.com June 6, 2014
Environment and resources
Phones, computers, washing machines - integrating a few core principles, such as the waste hierarchy, into the manufacturing of these products can reduce their environmental impact and allow for a functioning circular economy, according to analysts.
The News2014
Banking sector’s contribution to growth ‘nil or negative’, EU advisors say
EurActiv.com, June 3, 2014
Growth and prosperity
Europe's banking sector is bloated and takes at least as much out of the economy as it adds, academic advisers to Europe's early warning financial risk body said in a report published on Monday.
The News2014
Circular economy: going further with less
EurActiv.com, May 30, 2014
Environment and resources
Transforming waste into resources and reducing the environmental impact of economic growth are priorities for Europe. An EU package on circular economy has been long-awaited.
The News2014
Everything You Need to Know About Thomas Piketty vs. The Financial Times
The New York Times, May 30, 2014
Growth and prosperity
Last Friday afternoon, The Financial Times released an expansive report accusing Thomas Piketty of doing shoddy analysis of data on wealth inequality for his best-selling book, “Capital in the Twenty-First Century.” In the six days since, economists and writers around the world have produced many thousands of words on the controversy. Outsiders have weighed in on the newspaper’s case, the newspaper responded, and Mr. Piketty, on Thursday, provided his first detailed defense.
The Article2014
Bioenergy push needs land ‘three times the size of the UK’
EurActiv.com, May 28, 2014
Climate Change/Environment and resources
A planned doubling in Europe’s use of crops and wood for fuel, transport and heating by 2030 will leave a 70.2 million hectares (Mha) land footprint, equivalent to the combined size of Poland and Sweden, according to a new report by the Vienna University.
The News2014
Why adhocism is the best kind of recycling
theguardian.com, May 15, 2014
Environment and resources
Recycling can be a downward spiral, but upcycled, repurposed design transforms rubbish into something more valuable.
The Article2014
U.S. Climate Has Already Changed, Study Finds, Citing Heat and Floods
The New York Times, May 6, 2014
Climate Change
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, scientists reported Tuesday, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The Article2014
Brazil's 'chainsaw queen' takes on environmentalists
theguardian.com, May 5, 2014
Environment and resources
Outside the political hothouse of Brasilia, there are probably few who can name the head of Brazil's powerful agricultural lobby, yet the woman in question, Kátia Abreu, is rapidly becoming the country's most interesting, important – and dangerous – politician.
The Article2014
Michigan Loses ‘Right To Farm’ This Week: A Farewell To Backyard Chickens and Beekeepers
inquisitr.com, May 2, 2014
Environment and resources/Nutrition
Michigan residents lost their “right to farm” this week thanks to a new ruling by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development. Gail Philburn of the Michigan Sierra Club told Michigan Live, the new changes “effectively remove Right to Farm Act protection for many urban and suburban backyard farmers raising small numbers of animals.” Backyard and urban farming were previously protected by Michigan’s Right to Farm Act. The Commission ruled that the Right to Farm Act protections no longer apply to many homeowners who keep small numbers of livestock.
The News2014
Welcome to Modelgate: Brussels’ justification for a small climate target is based on a big lie
energy post, April 28, 2014
Climate Change
The European Commission has recommended a low greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030, because it says that higher targets would hurt the European economy. But according to its own impact assessment, the opposite is true, writes Brook Riley of Friends of the Earth Europe. According to Riley, the Commission’s impact assessment shows that a more ambitious target has a more positive impact on GDP than a less ambitious one.
The News2014
Plastics industry ‘on right track’ to eliminate landfilling, EU says
EurActiv.com, April 28, 2014
Environment and resources
As the European Commission prepares to review the EU’s waste targets, the plastics industry, a symbol of the EU’s ‘throw-away society’, is one of the focal points in discussions on resource efficiency.
The News2014
Container vegetable gardening can provide fresh homegrown produce in small spaces
treehugger.com, April 23, 2014
Nutrition/Environment and resources
If you've got the urge to grow at least some of your own food, but don't have the yard space for a vegetable garden outside, or have a landlord that won't allow you to dig up part of the lawn for a garden plot, you may be still be able to produce fresh homegrown food with container vegetable gardening
The Blog2014
Circular economy advances in France
EurActiv.com, April 22, 2014
Environment and resources
The revaluation of waste is a central theme in France. Although Ségolène Royal is fond of the idea, 'circular' economics is still only a theory. EurActiv France reports.
The News2014
A rich life with less stuff: The Minimalists at TEDxWhitefish
YouTube.de, April 18, 2014
Change in awareness
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, better known to their 2 million readers as The Minimalists, are the authors of several bestselling books, including EVERYTHING THAT REMAINS. They spoke at TEDxWhitefish about minimalism, the value of community, and discovering what makes people rich.
The Video2014
Britain's honeybee colony deaths among worst in Europe, study reveals
EurActiv.com, April 9, 2014
Environment and resources
A landmark study has revealed the UK is suffering one of the worst rates of honeybee colony deaths in Europe.
In the cold winter of 2012-13, 29% of honeybee colonies in the UK died, with only Belgium suffering a higher rate of losses (34%) of the 17 countries surveyed. By contrast, only 5% of colonies in Italy were lost. Summer losses of colonies were also high in the UK, at 9.7%, with only France (14%) exceeding this
2014
Climate impacts 'overwhelming' - UN
BBC News, March 31, 2014
Climate Change
The impacts of global warming are likely to be "severe, pervasive and irreversible", a major report by the UN has warned.Scientists and officials meeting in Japan say the document is the most comprehensive assessment to date of the impacts of climate change on the world.
The Post2014
Russian pressure could stall life-saving shipping pollution cut
EurActiv.com, March 7, 2014
Environment and resources
A bid to limit dangerous Nitrogen Oxide (Nox) emissions from new ships is in danger of being delayed until 2021, because of pressure from Russia that may be felt in a meeting of EU diplomats today.
The News2014
Europe abandons hopes of US-style shale gas revolution
EurActiv.com, February, 28, 2014
Environment and resources
Shale gas has had a “minimal impact” on the US’s manufacturing industry, and will have even less significance for Europe, according to a new report by the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). In Europe, industrialists are abandoning hopes of a similar revolution, at least in the short- to medium-term.
The News2014
VIDEO RELEASE: Family Farmers + You = A Well Nourished World
foodtank.com, February 27, 2014
Nutrition/Environment and resources
Family farmers not only produce nearly 60 percent of the world's food, but they are the essential ingredient in alleviating hunger and poverty throughout the world. Food Tank's new video, "Family Farmers + You = A Well Nourished World," produced in collaboration with Greener Media, reveals that when farmers have the right tools, they have limitless potential. The video calls upon eaters, business leaders, policy makers, funders, and donors to ensure that family farms receive more attention, more research, and investment.
The Video2014
TTIP ‘challenged’ by environmental critics, EU says
EurActiv.com, February 27, 2014
Growth and prosperity/Environment and resources
Plans for a sweeping EU-US free trade deal known as TTIP risk being blown off course by civil society fears about the damage it could wreak on environmental and social protections, according to a leaked EU document seen by EurActiv.
The News2014
Achim Steiner: shale gas rush 'a liability' in efforts slow climate change
theguardian.com, February 26, 2014
Climate Change
UN's top environmental official says switch from coal to natural gas is delaying critical energy transition to renewables.
The News2014
EU scientists’ biofuels warnings were ignored
EurActiv.com, February 20, 2014
Climate Change
The European Commission ignored an internal recommendation from its own scientists for mandatory carbon accounts and crop-specific measurements in a proposal to address the Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) from biofuels production.
The News2014
A thousand cities back 2030 energy efficiency target
EurActiv.com, February 18, 2014
Climate Change/Energy
An alliance representing more than a thousand European cities wrote to Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, yesterday (17 February) calling for binding 2030 targets of 40% for energy efficiency, and 30% for renewable energy, in line with a European Parliament proposal.
The News2014
U.S. Solar Prices More Than 60 Percent Ahead of Government’s Cost-Competitive Goal
Ecowatch, February 17, 2014
Climate Change/Energy
In just three years, the U.S. solar industry is more than 60 percent of the way to achieving what the Department of Energy (DOE) deems as “cost-competitive, utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity.”
The News2014
Orange juice? That's like drinking soda for breakfast!
treehugger.com, February 17, 2014
Nutrition
Why does drinking juice seem to go hand-in-hand with childhood? Ever since I became a parent, I’ve noticed that orange juice is everywhere that children are – play groups, nursery schools, birthday parties, and post-extracurricular activities. For some reason, it’s assumed that children should always drink orange juice because "it is healthy and contains vitamin C.” Unfortunately, that is a serious misconception. Juice of any kind is not particularly healthy, and contains as much sugar as a can of soda, which is the last thing children struggling with obesity or diabetes need in their diets.
The News2014
African Union: We cannot ignore the plight of Berkshire any longer
The Daily Hawk!, February 14, 2014
Climate Change
Responding to popular calls from the Daily Mail and Nigel Farage, African leaders met in Kinshasa yesterday to discuss the growing floods crisis in the United Kingdom.
The News2014
Underestimated Methane Leaks Make Natural Gas Dirtier Than Previously Thought, Says Study
Forbes, February 13, 2014
Climate Change
Methane emissions are worse than the conventional wisdom would have you believe, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford University.
Methane, which is the primary component of natural gas, is an especially powerful greenhouse gas, packing more than two dozen times as much global warming potential than carbon dioxide.
2014
Parliament backs strong EU stance on 2030 clean energy goals
EurActiv.com, February 6, 2014
Climate Change
The European Parliament sent a “strong message” yesterday (5 February) in favour of an ambitious EU energy and climate policy for 2030, backing legally-binding goals for CO2 emissions, renewables and energy efficiency.
The News2014
Future near perfect: How humans can still save the day by 2050
grist.org, February 4, 2014
Climate Change
Though scientists and environmentalists often feel obligated to hawk the apocalyptic view of the world-to-come, there is a neglected version of the future well worth considering: the one where we win.
The Blog2014
This Guy Stopped Charging Clients And He Has Zero Regrets
Huffingtonpost.com, February 4, 2014
Growth and prosperity
That guy there, with the incredibly cute baby, is a Philadelphia web designer named Adrian Hoppel. A couple of years ago, he decided that working a traditional job was "toxic."
The Article2014
The truth about David Cameron's fracking fairytale
theguardian.com, January 26, 2014
Environment and resources
Cameron's story about how shale gas will save the British economy is demonstrably and devastatingly false.
The Article2014
'Low carbon leakage' begins as EU prepares to junk efficiency goal
EurActiv.com, January 16, 2014
Climate Change
Fears of a relocation of Europe's clean energy industry abroad - low carbon leakage - have been fanned with news of a factory closure by a German insulation company that has a billion-dollar annual turnover.
The News2014
U.N. Says Lag in Confronting Climate Woes Will Be Costly
The New York Times, January 16, 2014
Climate Change
Nations have so dragged their feet in battling climate change that the situation has grown critical and the risk of severe economic disruption is rising, according to a draft United Nations report. Another 15 years of failure to limit carbon emissions could make the problem virtually impossible to solve with current technologies, experts found.
The Article2014
Farm produce prices to remain stable, EU report says
EurActiv.com, January 15, 2014
Nutrition/Environment and resources/Growth and prosperity
The prices of Europe’s agricultural commodities, such as wheat, sugar and meat, are expected to remain "favourable" over the next seven years, according to a report by the European Commission.
The News2014
New global food table: Europe feasts while Africa fasts
EurActiv.com, January 15, 2014
Nutrition/Growth and prosperity
Three northern European countries enjoy the planet’s cheapest, healthiest and most plentiful diets according to a new Oxfam ‘Good Enough to Eat’ index, while three African countries have the worst.
The News2014
EU study predicts clean energy, climate failure by 2050
EurActiv.com, January 9, 2014
Climate Change
The EU's decarbonisation of its energy sector will only cut emissions by half the amount needed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius in 2050, according to a business-as-usual scenario quietly released by the European Commission over the Christmas period.
The News2014
Jack Monroe's ready-meal challenge
theguardian.com, January 7, 2014
Nutrition
Pushed for both time and money, many of us have come to rely on processed convenience food. But, with a little effort, you can make cheaper, tastier and healthier versions of the same dishes in your own kitchen.
The Article2013
The truth behind sugar: anything but sweet
Oxfam New Zealand, October 2, 2013
Environment and resources/Sustainability
Too often, the sugar in your favourite food and drinks is sourced by kicking farmers and their families off their land. This leaves people homeless and hungry. But you can change this. Tell Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Associated British Foods (ABF) to make sure their sugar doesn’t lead to land grabs.
The Blog