To ensure that cars meet EU limits on NOx emissions, tests under real driving conditions must be more stringent, said the Environment Committee on Tuesday. The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee adopted on Tuesday an amendment to EU rules on measuring emissions from light passenger and commercial cars (Euro 5 and Euro 6) […]
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Air pollution affects brain development
90% of brain development happens by the age of four, so scientists want to understand the effects of air pollution at the earliest stages of life. Barcelona as an example Between 1981 and 1989, 26 outbreaks of asthma were reported in the Spanish city with many cases centred around the harbour. Local scientists eventually […]
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Greater circularity in the buildings sector can lead to major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions
Improving efficiency and reuse of materials to construct houses and other buildings can open significant new opportunities to further reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing. The EEA briefing, ‘Cutting greenhouse gas emissions through circular economy actions in the buildings sector’, says actions like reducing the use of concrete, cement […]
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A study by the University of Almeria details the important microbiological diversity in the fight against desertification
The members of the soil microbiology laboratory of the University of Almeria – CIAIMBITAL – have published a study in the prestigious journal ‘Science of the Total Environment‘. 00 The Tabernas desert is important not only because of the great movie stars that have stepped on it, but also because of its great ecological and […]
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A biodegradable food packaging solution that also promises to increase food shelf life
Whilst developing biodegradable food packaging, the EU-funded project YPACK has discovered that integrating zinc oxide and oregano essential oil helps biopapers protect against bacterial contamination in food packaging. This promises to increase the shelf life of fresh products such as meat, fruit, vegetables and fresh pasta. Zinc oxide and oregano essential oil are compounds that […]
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EU agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries
The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU. Travel restrictions should be lifted for countries listed in the recommendation, with this list being reviewed and, as the case may be, updated every two weeks. Based on the criteria and conditions set out in […]
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Online tools for SMEs and public sector to better adopt renewable energy sources
An EU-funded initiative has introduced a search engine and a repository to gather data, share information, and match the needs of public procurers and SMEs in embracing renewable energy sources (RESs). Green public procurement (GPP) is a system where public sector organisations use their purchasing power to choose environmentally friendly goods, services and works that […]
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Longer-lasting electronics benefit environment, climate and circular economy
Extending the lifetime and delaying obsolescence of electronics can significantly reduce their environmental and climate impacts and contribute to meeting the European Union’s (EU) environment, climate and circular economy objectives. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today, smartphones, televisions, washing machines and vacuum cleaners all are used on average for shorter periods […]
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Time to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, says European civil society
As Europe slowly emerges from the coronavirus crisis, the climate emergency is starting to regain the place it deserves, coming back to the top of the EU agenda. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which brings together civil society organisations from all Member States, developed this Opinion in response to a request by the […]
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