European Parliament gave its final green light to new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU

Stuart Braun writes on the Deutsche Welle website about new waste targets in the EU. EU lawmakers have given a final green light to a law on slashing the mountains of food wasted in Europe each year, and curbing the environmental impact of fast fashion. EU to slash food and fast fashion waste Following … Continue reading European Parliament gave its final green light to new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU →

There is progress towards meeting 2030 zero-pollution targets in Europe but pollution levels remain too high

This week, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) published the second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report, which provides an overview of the EU’s work to meet the 2030 zero pollution targets. The Commission also published today its fourth Clean Air Outlook report. The reports show that EU policies have contributed to … Continue reading There is progress towards meeting 2030 zero-pollution targets in Europe but pollution levels remain too high →

New EEA report on reducing chronic respiratory disease in Europe

Chronic respiratory disease is one of the leading causes of death in Europe, and more than a third of these deaths are estimated to be caused by environmental factors that are preventable. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published this week, key interventions include reducing pollution, energy poverty, and occupational exposures. Tackling … Continue reading New EEA report on reducing chronic respiratory disease in Europe →

Ships are continuing to discharge huge quantities of air pollutants at ports

Ships calling at the UK’s most-polluted ports produce more nitrogen oxides than all the cars registered in the same cities or regions, analysis has shown. In an article on the Guardian website, Gwyn Topham discusses recent developments. Ships in some UK port cities create more air pollution than cars Ships calling at the UK’s … Continue reading Ships are continuing to discharge huge quantities of air pollutants at ports →

New briefing by EEA on current state of textile waste in Europe

Starting next year, EU Member States must put separate collection systems in place for textiles. The European Environment Agency’s briefing, published this week, shows that most textile waste in Europe currently ends up in mixed waste and that sorting and recycling capacity need to be urgently scaled up to ensure better and more circular use … Continue reading New briefing by EEA on current state of textile waste in Europe →

“The fossil fuel lobby is holding us back from negotiating a treaty that will end the plastics crisis”

The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, is taking place in Ottawa, Canada. This meeting is being held pursuant to the resolution adopted by the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), which requests the UN Environment … Continue reading “The fossil fuel lobby is holding us back from negotiating a treaty that will end the plastics crisis” →

New assessment from EEA and ECHA of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution

The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas, while in others, it is just beginning. This is the finding of a first, joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published this week. The benchmarking … Continue reading New assessment from EEA and ECHA of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution →

Polish court overturns approval for controversial open-cast coal mine that had negative impact on Czech neighbours

Aneta Zachová and Barbora Pištorová write on the Euractiv website about a Polish court decision that defended Czech citizens who were negatively impacted on controversial Polish coal mine. One wonders how the mine was approved in the first place. Polish court sides with Czechs, cancels environmental assessment of controversial mine A Polish court has … Continue reading Polish court overturns approval for controversial open-cast coal mine that had negative impact on Czech neighbours →

98% of Europeans live in areas with unhealthy levels of PM2.5

While air pollution levels have improved significantly over the past 20 years, so much more to do because it is estimated that 98% of Europeans live in areas that the World Health Organization says have unhealthy levels of PM2.5. Helena Horton discusses the findings in an article on the Guardian website. Air pollution levels … Continue reading 98% of Europeans live in areas with unhealthy levels of PM2.5 →

New EEA briefing on environmental impact of textile consumption in Europe

Textile consumption in Europe causes significant pressures on the environment and climate. Part of these pressures comes from returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed and never used for their intended purpose. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing looks at the issue and estimates the share of returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed … Continue reading New EEA briefing on environmental impact of textile consumption in Europe →