New EEA briefing on lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic for sustainability

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted swift and forceful actions by governments and societies around the world. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing reflects on these responses and the link between the pandemic and the environment to draw lessons that could be used in making societies more sustainable. What lessons does COVID-19 offer for sustainability? … Continue reading New EEA briefing on lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic for sustainability →

Offset schemes do little to reduce climate impact of aviation

Almost all airlines now run offset schemes offering customers the chance to invest in green projects to negate the carbon impact of their flight. However, as Madeleine Cuff writes on the inews website, some offset prices fall are below the true cost of removing CO2. So, what would you suggest? Carbon offsetting fees offered … Continue reading Offset schemes do little to reduce climate impact of aviation →

Adding the human dimension to engineering schools to address problems such as climate change

Having more than a narrow, technical education for engineers is not a new concept but Gordon D. Hoople, Assistant Professor of Engineering at the University of San Diego provides a good argument in an article on The Conversation website that a broader education is needed more than ever. Future engineers need to understand their … Continue reading Adding the human dimension to engineering schools to address problems such as climate change →

Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star in Bangladesh writes on the paper’s website about the impact plastic has in the country. A World Bank study shows that there is a fundamental threat to the country’s future growth and prosperity It is a detailed account that all readers should learn from. Column … Continue reading Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living →

The cost of abating the carbon impact of a proposed third runway at Heathrow has doubled since parliament approved the idea of expansion

While air travel has been subdued because of Covid-19, that does not mean that plans are not underway for expansion. In Britain, several years ago Parliament agreed to add a third runway to Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports. However, there is a requirement to offset the carbon emissions of the runway. Recent estimates … Continue reading The cost of abating the carbon impact of a proposed third runway at Heathrow has doubled since parliament approved the idea of expansion →

A green lifestyle is very good for us indeed

Researchers analysed 18 carbon-cutting measures at home and at work in areas such as food, transport and energy and assessed the impact of each on issues such as health, clean air and water quality. Of the 306 categories they looked at, 79 % were positive for wellbeing. Tom Bawden discusses the study in an article … Continue reading A green lifestyle is very good for us indeed →

New EEA reports show there are clear opportunities to decouple Europe’s waste generation from economic growth

In most European countries and in the EU as a whole, waste generation is growing but at a slower pace than the economy. However, there are no signs that the overall objective of reducing the total generation of waste is close to being achieved, according to a European Environment Agency report published recently. The report’s … Continue reading New EEA reports show there are clear opportunities to decouple Europe’s waste generation from economic growth →

Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published two important reports. Mobilizing citizens to invest in energy efficiency One example of a way for citizens to contribute to the low-carbon energy transition is by investing in energy efficiency (EE). However, there are still multiple barriers that make the socially optimal level of adoption … Continue reading Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre →

European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport

The European Commission is proposing more sustainable travel, led by efforts to make Europe’s rail system the default mode of transport. Daniel Boffey discusses in an article on The Guardian website. The Commission’s press release on this proposal is available here. Faster trains and cheaper tickets to boost European rail travel in new strategy … Continue reading European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport →

New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability

Most Europeans live in cities and cities are Europe’s economic, cultural, and political hubs. Cities face environmental and climate challenges but also hold keys to realise Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Two new assessments on urban sustainability, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today, combine several environment and climate themes, calling for better integration of policies … Continue reading New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability →