September 18th, 2017 Emissions from diesel cars rigged to appear eco-friendly may be the cause of 5,000 premature deaths annually across Europe, a study published today has revealed. The new study, published in Environmental Research Letters, found that half of the estimated annual 10,000 deaths linked to pollution from light-duty Read more…
September 17th, 2017 Scientists and NGOs have reacted with dismay to a European decision to allow member states to increase their levels of timber harvesting up to 2030. On 13 September, the European Parliament passed an amended policy framework for future EU land use policy, particularly regarding forestry. Land Use, Read more…
September 13th, 2017 The Irish Wildlife Trust has written to the European Commission about Ireland’s failure to tackle illegal wild fires and protect threatened wildlife in our uplands as required under the Birds and Habitats Directives. In its formal complaint to the Commission, the conservation charity presented evidence of 97 Read more…
September 7th, 2017 The legality of the controversial Investment Court System (ICS) in the EU-Canada free trade deal is set to be scrutinized by Europe’s highest court following a request from the Belgian government. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Didier Reynders, yesterday officially requested that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) provide Read more…
September 1st, 2017 Greenpeace campaigners from across Europe have joined protests against illegal logging in Poland’s protected Białowieża Forest in violation of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) interim ban. Activists from 12 European countries arrived in the forest in late August to support Greenpeace Poland activists blocking state-run logging Read more…
September 1st, 2017 The head of Ireland’s environmental watchdog is set to take up a new role as chair of the management board of the European Environment Agency (EEA). Laura Burke will replace the outgoing Austrian chair, Elisabeth Freytag-Rigler. She will retain her position as Director General of the Environmental Read more…
Auguts 28th, 2017 Members of the European campaign group WeMove are set to travel to Poland’s ancient Białowieża Forest to show solidarity with those protesting against logging in the protected woodland. In May 2016, the Polish government sanctioned intensive logging in the forest in eastern Poland, resulting in outrage from Read more…
August 23rd, 2017 The European Commission has launched an investigation into Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto over concerns for competition in pesticide, seed, and crop markets. The proposed $66 billion (€56bn) merger of the two agricultural giants would create the largest integrated pesticides and seeds company in the world. The Read more…
August 1st, 2017 Ireland is among nine EU countries seeking “get out of jail free cards” from the European Commission for breaking air pollution ceilings, according to Europe’s leading environmental NGOs. The move has been criticised by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), ClientEarth, Transport & Environment, AirClim and the Health Read more…
July 28th, 2017 An immediate ban on logging in Poland’s ancient Białowieza Forest has been issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) due to fears that irreparable damage will be done to the forest. The European Commission referred Poland to the Court earlier this month for increased logging in Read more…
