International: Europe
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.
Switzerland proposes first UN expert group on solar geoengineering
19 Feb 2024
A draft resolution aimed at creating a space for discussion on sun dimming technologies will be debated at the summit of the UN’s environment body this month.
EU calls for 90% emissions cut by 2040
12 Feb 2024
The EU executive’s recommendation comes as the bloc’s green policies are facing a growing backlash.
The climate denial network behind ‘classic astroturf’ farmers’ campaign
12 Feb 2024
Producers say ‘No Farmers, No Food’ is a populist initiative that serves to “whip up indignation and anger”.
ICC prosecutor wants court to try 'environmental crimes'
8 Feb 2024
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor told AFP that he wants the tribunal to start trying suspects for "environmental crimes" without having to modify its founding statutes.
Paris banned e-scooters. Now it's taking on SUVs
8 Feb 2024
Parisians voted “oui” on a proposal to triple the parking charges for SUVs in the city centre — a vote that was closely watched by the auto industry and city officials across Europe.
As a Swiss glacier melts, a trove of invaluable climate data is being lost
31 Jan 2024
By analysing ice collected from glaciers, scientists can study the past composition of the atmosphere and better understand how humans have altered the climate.
EU warns countries are off track for 2030 climate goal
20 Dec 2023
European Union countries are falling behind on their core climate change target and without stronger emissions-cutting policies risk missing the goal, the European Commission said.
Solar bike paths go online in Netherlands
20 Dec 2023
Two new PV bike-path projects are now operating in the Netherlands under an initiative launched in 2018 by Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch water management agency.
Bollards and ‘superblocks’: how Europe’s cities are turning on the car
19 Dec 2023
In Paris, Barcelona and Brussels, authorities are adopting varied approaches to the task of reducing congestion and pollution.
Portugal just ran on 100 percent renewables for six days in a row
28 Nov 2023
For nearly a week, the country of 10 million met customer needs with wind, hydro and solar — a test run for operating the grid without fossil fuels.
EU greenhouse gas emissions drop 5% in the second quarter
17 Nov 2023
Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU fell by more than 5% in the second quarter of 2023, with the biggest decline recorded in electricity and gas supply.
Australia declares El Nino set to be strongest in decades
Wed 17 Jun 2026
Australia's weather bureau warned on Tuesday that an El Nino weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026 to become one of the strongest in seven decades.
Trump wants to put a $75m coal terminal in this liberal California city. Residents aren’t having it
Wed 17 Jun 2026
Residents of West Oakland, which suffers from toxic waste and high pollution rates, is rallying against a coal export facility.
China's fossil-fuelled power extends rise in May on weak wind output
Today 11:30am
China's fossil-fuelled power generation, mostly from coal but with a small amount from natural gas, rose 2.1% in May from a year earlier, statistics bureau data showed on Tuesday, as lower wind speeds curbed renewable energy growth.
UK rivers face rising risk of climate 'whiplash'
Today 11:30am
Climate change could push UK rivers to dangerous extremes and bring more frequent rapid swings between wet and dry conditions – a phenomenon known as hydroclimatic whiplash – according to research.
Canada signs landmark LNG energy deal with Germany
29 May 2026
Canada has announced a landmark energy agreement with Germany that will see the first-ever long-term shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada to Europe in the coming years.
Solar overtakes gas power in Asia for first time ever
Mon 15 Jun 2026
Solar has overtaken gas power in Asia to become the continent’s third-largest source of electricity, according to new analysis by Carbon Brief.
The Pacific made history in the courts – now we must do it in the negotiations
Fri 12 Jun 2026
Legal clarity alone will not lead to reduced emissions, more finance or stronger national climate plans – political will is key to meeting states’ obligations.
Antarctica’s west coast missing an area of sea ice the size of France as temperatures peak 20C above average
Tue 16 Jun 2026
A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice ‘depressing’.
Aid cuts and climate change drive deadly malaria surge in Zimbabwe
29 May 2026
A surge in malaria cases in Zimbabwe is exposing fragile health systems and growing treatment shortages in rural areas.
Colombia’s climate crossroads: Trumpism casts shadow over presidential battle
26 May 2026
Colombia is a global leader in climate activism. Could US influence drag country to a future of mining and fracking?
Science ‘under attack’ from fossil fuel interests at UN climate talks
Today 11:30am
Dozens of countries have called out growing “coordinated attacks” by fossil fuel interests aimed at undermining the role of climate science in the UN negotiations at the mid-year talks in Bonn.
