Europe’s many regions are expected to face worsening impacts of climate change over the next decades. A compilation of several existing maps published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today illustrates how drought, heavy rain and flooding, forest fires and sea-level rise could affect some selected regions in Europe, including Central Europe, the Iberian peninsula, […]
H2020. New biotechnologies to remediate harmful contaminants: Europe-China cooperation
Pollutants resulting from human action are detrimental to ecosystems at different functional levels, representing an important economic load for society. Specific Challenge Environmental pollution is a major global issue affecting natural resources and the environment in generic terms and creating important concerns for human health in particular. Scope Proposals should cover the following activities: Research […]
CryoSat brings us closer to understanding what happens in the Antarctica’s biggest glacier
Ice loss from Pine Island Glacier has contributed more to sea-level rise over the past four decades than any other glacier in Antarctica. The way this huge glacier is thinning is complex, leading to uncertainty about how it is likely to raise sea level in the future. Thanks to ESA’s CryoSat mission, scientists have now […]
Biodiversity loss: Impact and EU measures
Biodiversity, or the variety of all living things on our planet, has been declining at an alarming rate in recent years, mainly due to human activities, such as changes in land use, pollution, and climate change. Biodiversity Biodiversity is traditionally defined as the variety of life in all its forms. It includes the number of […]
H2020. Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials: Addressing wild pollinators decline and its effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services
Wild pollinators are declining in occurrence and diversity in the EU and numerous species are threatened with extinction. Specific Challenge This is a serious cause for concern because pollinators are an integral part of healthy ecosystems, where they play a central role in the maintenance of ecosystem functioning. Without them, many plant species would decline […]
EU ecodesign and energy labels improving energy efficiency
EU action on ecodesign and energy labelling has contributed to greater energy efficiency, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors. The regulatory process was significantly delayed, creating a situation in which the impact of the policy risked being overestimated. In addition, non-compliance with the regulation by manufacturers and retailers remains a significant issue, […]
The EIB will finance Grupo Ruiz to renew its most polluting buses
The EIB support will enable Grupo Ruiz to replace more polluting diesel buses with 32 electric and 141 compressed natural gas alternatives. The new vehicles will provide public transport services in Madrid, Majorca, Badajoz, Toledo, Salamanca and Murcia, covering both urban and intercity lines. This services will enter service over the next two years and […]
The European Parliament reiterates the need to protect pollinating insects
MEPs want to stop the decline of bees and other insect pollinators in the EU and are calling for more measures to protect the diversity of pollinator species. With pollinator populations declining in Europe and other parts of the world, the European Parliament has repeatedly called on the European Commission to propose more measures to better protect […]
Cleaner Air in 2020: 0.5% sulphur cap for ships enters into force worldwide
From 1 January 2020, the maximum sulphur content of marine fuels is reduced to 0.5% (down from 3.5%) globally – reducing air pollution and protecting health and the environment. Sulphur Oxide (SOx) emissions from ships’ combustion engines cause acid rain and generate fine dust that can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as […]