Latest Environmental News

General Policy Connie Hedegaard 2

Hedegaard becomes new EU climate commissioner

Danish climate and energy minister Connie Hedegaard will head up a new European Commission department dedicated to climate change, commission president José Manuel Barroso announced on Friday as he unveiled his new team of commissioners.

Climate

EU gives US, China CO2 targets cautious backing

The EU has welcomed the carbon reductions announced this week by the US and China but stressed the proposals "will be disappointing to some". It will continue to urge them to "go to the outer limits of what is possible", according to a statement.

Waste & Resources

Irish biodegradable waste down but still over target

Ireland has achieved or is on track to meeting all EU waste targets except for biodegradable waste, according to the country's environment agency. Biodegradable waste going to landfill fell by 19% last year but Ireland is still over target.

Climate, Pollution & Nature

Forest restoration 'can deliver significant CO2 cuts'

Restoring degraded forest land could save as much as or perhaps even twice the amount of carbon emission reductions estimated to be achieved through avoided deforestation, according to a study released on Thursday.

Energy

Regulators urged to ease smart grid investments

National energy regulators must change the rules applied to local electricity distributors to encourage investments in smart grids, power sector representatives said at a conference in Brussels on Thursday.

Climate, Energy

Spanish plan to limit nuclear plants' life to 40 years

Spain's government proposed a binding 40-year limit on the life of nuclear power plants as it unveiled a draft law on sustainable economy on Friday. Most plants have a design lifetime of up to 40 years, but many member states have agreed plans to operate them for longer.