Editorial from EEA Executive Director on reaching our desired destination: a sustainable, resilient Europe

The Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, Leena Ylä-Mononen, has published a very insightful and valuable editorial this week as the new policy cycle begins in the European Union. Time to speed up towards a sustainable and resilient Europe Europe’s economy and wellbeing of its citizens depend crucially on a healthy and resilient … Continue reading Editorial from EEA Executive Director on reaching our desired destination: a sustainable, resilient Europe →

New EEA briefing on the use of “forever chemicals”

Reducing the use of PFAS —known as forever chemicals— in clothing, furniture and other textile products, is important to increase recyclability and the transition to a more circular economy according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week. Safe and sustainable alternatives could reduce use of PFAS in textiles and enhance reuse … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the use of “forever chemicals” →

European Commission unveils State of the Energy Union Report 2024

This week, the Commission has published the State of the Energy Union Report 2024 which describes how the EU has managed unprecedented challenges in the energy policy landscape during this Commission's mandate, equipping the EU with a regulatory framework for pursuing the clean energy transition and laying the foundations for renewed economic growth and competitiveness. … Continue reading European Commission unveils State of the Energy Union Report 2024 →

Energy upgrade the building stock, IEA tells UK government

Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, in a column in the September issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, takes a look at a new report from the IEA which highlights the need for the UK to address the energy efficiency of existing buildings. Appraisal of the UK’s energy policy Every … Continue reading Energy upgrade the building stock, IEA tells UK government →

EEA publishes updated European city air quality viewer: Uppsala is Europe’s cleanest city

Published this week, European Environment Agency’s (EEA) updated European city air quality viewer shows that people in Uppsala and Umeå, Sweden, and Faro, Portugal, can enjoy the cleanest city air in Europe. Three out of four Europeans live in urban areas and most of them are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution. Improving air … Continue reading EEA publishes updated European city air quality viewer: Uppsala is Europe’s cleanest city →

Olympic sports and their sustainability strategies

Thomas Cuckston, Professor of Accounting and Ecology, University of Birmingham writes on The Conversation website about the sustainability of the sports that participated in the recent Paris Olympics. The final paragraph sums up the results very well: “While some sports are showing impressive leadership, others are falling behind. Some are not showing any signs of … Continue reading Olympic sports and their sustainability strategies →

Nobel winners hit out at removal of fossil fuels from draft UN pact

Nearly 80 Nobel prizewinners and former world leaders have hit out at the removal of a specific mention of fossil fuels from the draft of a UN climate pact at the centre of a summit in New York next month. Nina Bo Wagner discusses the letter in an article on the Research Professional News website. … Continue reading Nobel winners hit out at removal of fossil fuels from draft UN pact →

Global “backlash” against climate action was being stoked by the fossil fuel industry

In an article on the Guardian website, Fiona Harvey writes that the UN says a global ‘backlash’ against climate action is being stoked by fossil fuel companies. This is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. But how? ‘Massive disinformation campaign’ is slowing global transition to green energy Fossil fuel companies are running … Continue reading Global “backlash” against climate action was being stoked by the fossil fuel industry →

Tackling climate change and its consequences needs urgent investment

Moazzam Malik, managing director at the World Resources Institute and honorary professor at the UCL Policy Lab writes on the Climate Home News website, stating that a new global deal on financing is needed. He argues that a more effective framework led by the UN could involve a binding financial target, a role for emerging … Continue reading Tackling climate change and its consequences needs urgent investment →

EEA briefing on how to future-proof sustainability policies

To become sustainable, Europe must change some of the ways people live, work, produce and consume. Using policy to achieve such complex and large-scale transformations is not easy. This briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA) explores how to future-proof sustainability policies and avoid blind spots through a foresight-based framework, which includes several participatory exercises … Continue reading EEA briefing on how to future-proof sustainability policies →