International: Europe
Denmark’s radical plan for a plant-based future
25 Jun 2024
The Nordic country is working toward ambitious goals to make its food systems more sustainable — and other nations are following in its path.
Stonehenge covered in powder paint by Just Stop Oil
21 Jun 2024
Part of Stonehenge has been covered in orange powder paint by protesters, the day before celebrations begin for the Summer Solstice at the 5,000-year-old landmark.
How climate change is hitting Europe: three graphics reveal health impacts
19 Jun 2024
A growing body of research reveals the deaths and diseases linked to rising temperatures across the continent.
This city just made it illegal to advertise SUVs. Here’s why.
17 Jun 2024
Edinburgh became the latest European capital city to ban ads for aviation, SUVs and more.
EU hits Chinese EVs with tariffs, drawing rebuke from Beijing
14 Jun 2024
The European Commission said it will impose extra duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese electric cars from July, risking retaliation from Beijing.
Swiss parliament spurns European climate ruling
13 Jun 2024
The Swiss parliament voted to snub a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that accused the country of being ineffective in fighting climate change.
What do the European elections mean for EU climate action?
13 Jun 2024
This week’s European parliamentary election results saw parties on the populist right making big gains in France and Germany, while the historic “green wave” of 2019 receded.
EU climate policies could be slowed in future after rightward shift in election
12 Jun 2024
A more rightward-leaning European Parliament will make it harder to pass ambitious EU climate policies, but the majority of current world-leading green policies are likely to stay put, analysts said.
EU regulator calls for SMEs to be required to report on positive sustainability impacts
7 Jun 2024
EU markets regulator the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued recommendations to adjust proposed sustainability reporting requirements.
Inside the European Commission president's secret climate crusade
6 Jun 2024
The European Commission president fought hard in her first term to get her Green Deal reforms past skeptical colleagues — but then backtracked ahead of the election.
Right-wing pushback on EU’s green laws misjudges rural views
6 Jun 2024
Populist and far-right parties are wooing rural voters in the EU elections by exploiting a backlash against green policies – but new research suggests it may not work.
The warring conmen at the heart of a €5bn carbon trading scam
5 Jun 2024
Emissions trading was supposed to save the planet. But fraudsters quickly learned how to rip the system off, making themselves spectacularly rich.
Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goal, advisors calls for new policy
5 Jun 2024
Germany is likely to miss its 2030 greenhouse gas targets, government climate advisors said, contradicting the climate minister's prediction in March.
‘Unchartered territory’: What Europe’s wetter climate means for hydropower
31 May 2024
Despite increased potential in some countries, hydroelectric plants are having to contend with more extreme conditions.
Herd of bison could help store CO2 equivalent of 43,000 cars, researchers say
17 May 2024
Free-roaming animals reintroduced in Romania’s Țarcu mountains are stimulating plant growth and securing carbon stored in the soil while grazing.
EU countries approve law to slash CO2 emissions from trucks
16 May 2024
EU countries gave their final approval to a law to cut carbon dioxide emissions from trucks, which will require most new heavy-duty vehicles sold from 2040 to be emissions-free.
‘Climate change is here and it kills’: Heat-related deaths rise by 30% in Europe
16 May 2024
Researchers tracking the link between climate change and health say the adverse impacts are far-reaching.
EU proposes first sanctions on Russia’s LNG sector
8 May 2024
Until now, the EU hasn’t targeted Moscow’s lucrative gas sector, newly proposed sanctions would hit about a quarter of Russia’s LNG revenues.
Airlines lobby against EU plan to monitor non-CO₂ emissions
7 May 2024
Global carriers ask Brussels to weaken landmark plans to require monitoring and disclosure of all emissions.
EU investigates ‘greenwashing’ at 20 airlines
2 May 2024
Environmental claims come under scrutiny, including the benefits of offsetting emissions from flying.
EU votes to leave energy treaty as green rules pushed through
29 Apr 2024
EU lawmakers voted overwhelmingly for the bloc to exit a controversial international treaty that is seen by campaigners as protecting fossil fuel investments, in a series of positive votes on green legislation.
EU Policy: Rapid militarisation jeopardising climate, claim NGOs
26 Apr 2024
Impact of conflict-related carbon emissions should be accounted for and more data from military operations is needed, according to NGOs and lawmakers.
European carbon trading catching less than quarter of airline emissions, data finds
23 Apr 2024
Less than a quarter of airline emissions were caught by Europe’s carbon trading schemes last year, according to new data that illustrates the limitations of one of the key tools to fight pollution from aviation.
Finnish startup making food ‘from air and solar power’
22 Apr 2024
The company's founders hope solein, a protein grown with CO2 and electricity, will cut the environmental impacts of farming.
EU considers bringing emissions removal credits into carbon market
19 Apr 2024
The European Union is looking into whether to bring emissions removal credits into its carbon market, a move that could reopen the market to carbon credits in future years.
EU parliament adopts proposals for power market reform
16 Apr 2024
The European parliament voted for proposals to make electricity prices less dependent on fossil fuel prices, in a bid to boost renewable energy and shield consumers from price spikes.
Russia and Kazakhstan battle record floods as rivers rise further
15 Apr 2024
The city of Orenburg battled rising water levels after major rivers across Russia and Kazakhstan burst their banks in the worst flooding seen in the areas in nearly a century.
The EU’s secret to slashing emissions
12 Apr 2024
Europe proves that putting a price on carbon can dramatically transform fossil fuel–based economies.
Climate protection is now a human right — and lawsuits will follow
11 Apr 2024
Governments be warned: You must protect your citizens from climate change — it’s their human right.
Sweden's new steel mill will reduce the country's total emissions by 7%
11 Apr 2024
Swedish steelmaker SSAB, will invest 4.5 billion euros (NZ$8 bln) in building a fossil-free mini-mill, more than previously expected as inflation and higher contingencies added to costs.
European court rules human rights violated by climate inaction
10 Apr 2024
A group of older Swiss women have won the first ever climate case victory in the European Court of Human Rights.
Help us build wind farms to beat Russian bombs, Ukraine tells EU
9 Apr 2024
Ukraine’s largest private energy firm told POLITICO it wants to build a disparate energy network to better survive Russian attacks — but can’t get capital.
GHGs thousands of times more damaging than CO2 are being smuggled into Europe
9 Apr 2024
The impact of hydrofluorocarbons on global warming can be up to thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide.
Germany's national postal carrier stops using domestic flights to send letters
4 Apr 2024
Deutsche Post says it will no longer use domestic flights to transport letters, in a bid to improve its climate footprint.
A Spanish energy is suing another energy company for alleged greenwashing
27 Mar 2024
Spanish utility Iberdrola has filed a lawsuit against energy company Repsol for alleged greenwashing and unfair competition practices.
Dutch court finds KLM ads were misleading in 'greenwashing' case
22 Mar 2024
A Dutch court ruled that KLM had misled customers with an advertising campaign aimed at improving the company's environmental image, in a case of so-called "greenwashing"
Europe must do more against ‘catastrophic’ climate risks
12 Mar 2024
Europe could suffer “catastrophic” consequences from climate change if it fails to take urgent and decisive action to adapt to risks, a new EU analysis warned.
UN and France co-host forum in Paris to decarbonise construction sector
12 Mar 2024
France and the UN Environment Programme co-hosted the Buildings and Climate Global Forum to find ways to cut the sizeable carbon footprint of the construction sector, a major contributor to climate change.
France is one step closer to taxing fast fashion
7 Mar 2024
Proposed by parliament ministers, a new bill suggests fines of up to 10 euros or 50 percent of the selling price of garments for major players like Shein, aiming to counterbalance their environmental impact.
Iceland is closing the circle on geothermal
6 Mar 2024
Iceland is pioneering a circular economy based on its abundant geothermal energy, offering a replicable template for the world’s net-zero transition.
Spanish power almost free with record renewable generations
5 Mar 2024
Spanish power prices have tumbled in February to a fraction of the price in neighbouring France as record wind and solar power generation in Spain has triggered an extreme slump in prices.
Europe’s carbon price crash looks like serious market myopia
1 Mar 2024
The emissions trading system is too clunky to deliver the required impetus to decarbonisation.
EU's appetite for Beyond Meat lifts share price
1 Mar 2024
At first glance, the fourth quarter earnings report published in February by the plant-based foods company Beyond Meat is nothing to write home about.
EU poised to OK major plan to meet climate goals despite farmer protests
29 Feb 2024
The European Union is on the brink of approving a major plan to fight climate change and better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc after protests from farmers.
Flooded Greek lake a warning to European farmers battling climate change
28 Feb 2024
Sitting in a small motorboat, farmer Babis Evangelinos glides over land he once cultivated on the Thessaly plain in central Greece, the nearby trunks of his fruitless almond trees submerged by floodwater.
Spain’s plan to ban domestic flights where you can take a train in under two and half hours
26 Feb 2024
Spain is banning some short-haul domestic flights as part of its plan to reduce carbon emissions.
UK government acted unlawfully by approving climate plan, High Court told
22 Feb 2024
The UK government was “not even aware” of the risks involved with implementing its strategy to meet the climate targets, the High Court has been told.
Danish farmers must cut production to achieve climate goal, says government advisor
22 Feb 2024
Denmark’s farmers must reduce production by as much as one-fifth by 2030 if the country is to achieve its ambitious climate goals, a government-commissioned group said.
Climate trial against oil giant Eni opens in Italy
21 Feb 2024
The case coincides with a new Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon report showing Eni’s technical consultants have wide links to climate denier groups.
Developers in England will be forced to create habitats for wildlife – here’s how it works
21 Feb 2024
Most new developments – everything from a few houses to large solar farms or new roads and railways – will now have to provide a 10% net gain in biodiversity, maintained for at least 30 years.
South Korean decision to close all coal-fired power plants by 2040 sounds alarm for Australian exports
Wed 19 Nov 2025
Decision announced at Cop30 climate conference signposts risks for Australia’s reliance on fossil fuel exports, analysts say.
Trump’s anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds
Today 10:30am
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries.
China’s diesel trucks are shifting to electric. That could change global LNG and diesel demand
Today 10:30am
China is replacing its diesel trucks with electric models faster than expected, potentially reshaping global fuel demand and the future of heavy transport.
Scotland's first wind farm 'supercharged' after upgrade
11 Nov 2025
Scotland's first commercial wind farm will be able to deliver five times more clean power than before after being upgraded.
The hidden dangers in Canada’s oil and gas ambitions
Tue 18 Nov 2025
Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith thinks global demand for oil will grow to 2050, perhaps beyond, and the Alberta industry will be viable for a hundred years.
South Korean growers sue state power utility, blaming climate change for crop damage
Mon 17 Nov 2025
Five South Korean farmers recently sued the state utility Korea Electric Power Corporation and its power-generating subsidiaries, alleging that their reliance on coal and other fossil fuels has accelerated climate change and damaged their crops.
Pacific Islands rue lost chance to host COP climate summit
Today 10:30am
Pacific islanders decried on Thursday a wasted chance to draw eyes to their climate troubles, after their bid to co-host next year's COP climate summit was brushed aside.
Scientists discovered something alarming seeping out from beneath the ocean around Antarctica
13 Oct 2025
Planet-heating methane is escaping from cracks in the Antarctic seabed as the region warms, with new seeps being discovered at an “astonishing rate".
What do African countries want from COP30?
11 Nov 2025
At the UN climate summit, African negotiators are seeking more “debt-free” financing that would allow them to implement climate solutions – from adaptation to just transition.
Ecuador’s voters protect rights of nature, reject proposal to rewrite constitution
Wed 19 Nov 2025
Ecuadorians handed their Trump-allied president a resounding defeat, choosing to maintain their “ecological constitution” and rejecting an attempt to allow foreign military bases in the country.
COP30 climate talks evacuated after fire breaks out
Today 10:30am
The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil.
