Europe

Greece faced 9,500 forest fires this year, says minister

Friday - About 9,500 forest fires, including one on the outskirts of Athens, consumed nearly 44,500 hectares of land this year, Greece's hottest and driest on record, official said on Tuesday.

EU’s new energy chief vows to end Russian fuel ties for good

Friday - Momentum for quitting Moscow’s revenue driver has stalled. “Something new needs to happen,” Dan Jørgensen told POLITICO.

Sails make a comeback to cut shipping’s huge carbon footprint

Monday - The international merchant fleet of more than 100,000 ships transports more than 80% of global trade. But it’s also responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Europe’s cruise ships produce toxic sulphur emissions equivalent to 1 billion cars, study finds

5 Dec 24 - Cruise ships are producing higher levels of toxic air pollutants than they did before the pandemic, according to a new study by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E).

Spain’s new ‘climate leave’ gives workers four days off during extreme weather

2 Dec 24 - The law on paid leave protects the rights of workers not to go to work in the event of catastrophes or climate-related weather alerts that could put them in danger.

France, Germany, Sweden urge EU battery sector push to avoid China reliance

2 Dec 24 - France, Germany, and Sweden have jointly urged the forthcoming European Commission (EU) to prioritise the autonomy of the EU's battery sector to avoid over-reliance on China amid the green transition.

Europe’s Azerbaijan gas gambit is good news for Russia

22 Nov 24 - Europe keeps striking deals with Azerbaijan, even at COP29. And while it might not be Russian gas, Moscow is still likely to benefit.

Billionaires, frequent flyers, oil and gas: Who could fund COP29’s $1tn finance target?

21 Nov 24 - “It makes common sense to tax mega polluters and the mega-rich to ensure that we have the money needed for climate action at home and globally” according to one campaigner.

EU all but guaranteed to miss global deadline for climate targets

14 Nov 24 - Europeans want other countries to promise ambitious action but are behind on their own plans.

Shell wins landmark climate case against green groups in Dutch appeal

14 Nov 24 - Oil giant Shell has won a landmark case in the Dutch courts, overturning an earlier ruling requiring it to cut its carbon emissions by 45%.

Want food security? Eat less meat, major report says

12 Nov 24 - Europe’s top farming university is calling for smaller livestock herds and a shift toward plant-based diets.

Prince William begins a visit to South Africa that focuses on climate and the environment

5 Nov 24 - Prince William will speak with young environmentalists and local fishermen during a visit to South Africa starting Monday that will see his annual Earthshot Prize award $1.2 million in grants to five...

Austria's alpine refuges and trails crumble as climate warms

5 Nov 24 - Experts say warmer temperatures across the Alps are accelerating glacier melt and thawing permafrost, the year-round ice that binds together giant slabs of rock.

Spain’s apocalyptic floods show two undeniable truths: the climate crisis is getting worse and Big Oil is killing us

4 Nov 24 - COMMENT: If past experience is any guide, the world’s reaction to the floods in Spain last week will be similar to that of motorway drivers at a crash scene: slow down, take in the horror, outwardly...

Spain battles deadliest flood disaster in decades as death toll rises

31 Oct 24 - Spain is enduring its worst flooding disaster in decades, with at least 95 people dead and dozens more missing, after huge rains swept the eastern province of Valencia and beyond.

Mercedes-Benz opens Europe’s first battery recycling plant

31 Oct 24 - Mercedes-Benz has opened Europe’s first battery recycling plant with an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process, making it the first car manufacturer to close the battery recycling loop with...

Greek PM deplores worst climate conditions in four decades

24 Oct 24 - Wildfire-plagued Greece has suffered its worst year in terms of climate conditions in four decades in 2024, its prime minister told parliament on Wednesday.

Germany earmarks $3 billion for decarbonisation subsidies

23 Oct 24 - The German government has earmarked up to 2.8 billion euros to support 15 industrial companies in their bid to decarbonise under its first round of "climate protection contracts".

The EU’s (vague) climate aid stance: Want more money? Get more donors

14 Oct 24 - The bloc won’t say how much money it’s willing to put up before other details are firmed up.