Parliament on Tuesday voted to boost the deployment of renewable energy, in line with the Green Deal and REPowerEU plans. The update of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), already agreed upon between MEPs and Council, raises the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member states should strive to […]
Read MoreThe EU-backed FIRE-RES project is joining the battle against Europe’s forest fires with its new platform and app.
Wildfires are becoming a major threat worldwide. In Europe alone, they are responsible for around 85 % of annual burned areas. To help address this problem, the EU-funded FIRE-RES project is developing an integrated fire management strategy that will focus on fire prevention and preparedness, detection and response, and restoration and adaptation. As part of […]
Read MorePreventing groundwater and surface waters pollution in the EU
Clean water is essential for humans and healthy ecosystems. Find out what the EU and European Parliament are doing to safeguard it. According to the European Environment Agency, water pollution in the EU decreased between the 1990s and 2010s. However, progress has slowed with pollution in 58% of surface water since 2016. In addition, only […]
Read MoreWhat is the European Union doing to reduce air pollution?
Poor air quality can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. But its devastating effects also extend to biodiversity, as it poisons crops and forests, causing significant economic losses. As part of the zero pollution ambition set out in the EU’s European Green Deal, the European Parliament has proposed setting stricter air quality standards […]
Read MoreCommission wants to address challenges related to wolf returns
The return of the wolf to EU regions where it has been absent for a long time is increasingly leading to conflicts with local farming and hunting communities, especially where measures to prevent attacks on livestock are not widely implemented. President von der Leyen said: “The concentration of wolf packs in some European regions has […]
Read More€411m of EU funds for Murcia-Almería high-speed railway
€411 million from the European Regional Development Fund will support the construction of the Nonduermas-Vera and Los Arejos-El Puche sections of Spain’s Murcia-Almería high-speed railway line following approval by the Commission. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said: “This key transport infrastructure will have a positive impact on the entire region, and beyond. It will […]
Read MoreHow to reduce rising sea level risks on European coasts
A new modelling study sheds light on adaptation measures that can protect cities and urban areas along Europe’s coasts. Europe’s coastal areas are highly urbanised and already experiencing the consequences of climate change. Adaptation strategies to protect coastal urban communities from rising sea levels have traditionally taken the form of hard structures such as dikes […]
Read MoreEnhancing EU resilience: A step forward to identify critical entities for key sectors
The Commission has adopted a list of essential services in the eleven sectors covered by the Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER), which entered into force on 16 January 2023. Critical entities provide essential services in upholding key societal functions, supporting the economy, ensuring public health and safety, and preserving the environment. Member States will have to identify the […]
Read MoreWildfires: EU provides crucial assistance to the Mediterranean region
As several countries grapple with rapidly spreading wildfires, the EU steps in to reinforce firefighting efforts and provide much-needed support to the affected communities with over 490 firefighters and 9 firefighting planes deployed to Greece and Tunisia since 18 July. The two Mediterranean countries have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the EU has […]
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