Europe

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

Monday - 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

Monday - 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.

EU Court rules plant-based burger labeling lawful

11 Oct 24 - The European Court of Justice ruled that plant-based foods such as burgers and sausages can continue to be labelled with names mimicking their meaty counterpart in a dispute that has lasted over...

Barcelona is turning subway trains into power stations

4 Oct 24 - Barcelona is using its subways’ regenerative braking to power trains, stations and neighbourhood EV chargers. Could other cities do this?

Major gaps between EU farming incentives and Green Deal goals: report

2 Oct 24 - The European Court of Auditors reviewed the EU's reform of agriculture subsidies and found a "noticeable gap" between farming incentives and the EU's overall green targets, the ECA said in a report...

Germany to struggle reaching international climate finance target – govt officials

1 Oct 24 - It will be very difficult for Germany to reach its target of providing developing countries with at least six billion euros in climate finance from its federal budget by 2025, said government...