EU Archives – The Green Optimistic

Plastic Crackdown: Europe Moves to Ban Single-Use Plastic

Matthew Fiala — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 17:50:34 +0000

A Europe-wide ban on plastic could be in place by 2021 Throwaway plastic items such as cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers could soon be banned across Europe backed by measures to drive down the growing mountain of single-use plastic waste. The EU Parliament voted strongly in favour of a complete ban by 2021 on a […]

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Report: A Call for EU Action on Climate

Matthew Fiala — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 11:56:25 +0000

A leaked draft of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) upcoming report on keeping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (oC) gives hope that the target is attainable, but only if urgent action is taken immediately. With global average temperatures just 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, floods, droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather […]

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Why EU Carmakers are Reporting Increased CO2 Emissions

Guest Contributor — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 19:42:28 +0000

On Wednesday, the European Commission claimed that EU carmakers are exploiting a new testing regime to inflate CO2 emissions data in an attempt to skew greenhouse gas targets. We are currently seeing a shift from the old NEDC testing procedure to a new procedure, WLTP. This new claim arrives in the wake of the ‘dieselgate’ […]

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Aldi Is Banning Hazardous Chemicals from Their Shelves

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:23:39 +0000

Discount store Aldi’s stated objective is to create a healthier brand for consumers, being that the pesticides generate political concern over their usage. Customers will know that several different pesticides will be removed, and for different reasons. Thiamethoxam and Chlorpyrifos might pose an autoimmune disorder threat, for example, as it has been found to be […]

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Europe Needs to Update Fuel Economy Test Cycles

Benji Jerew — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:10:30 +0000

Times, “they are a-changin’ but, at least according to some independent testing agencies, environmental regulations, such as those that govern transportation fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions, aren’t keeping up with them. Fuel economy measurements are a big part of marketing green cars. Recently, Toyota announced pricing on the Toyota Prius c, which has the […]

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EU Reached an Agreement on International Scheme for Reducing Aviation Emissions

Mila Luleva — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:57:21 +0000

After months of negotiations and debates, green taxes on flights to and from Europe are still pending a global deal, although international governments finally agreed that airlines should be part of a scheme to reduce carbon emissions. This new development emerged after heated discussions in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The final negotiations are expected […]

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European Nations Look to Extend Carbon Trading Scheme to Foreign Airline Carriers

Adele Hall — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 08:13:44 +0000

Many European nations have expressed the desire to curb airline emissions, but are coming under pressure due to the desire for foreign air carriers to have a carbon trading scheme. Delegates to the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are meeting in Montreal to come to an agreement in order to limit carbon emissions in […]

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EU Parliament Might Limit Biofuel Production, But Should They?

Mila Luleva — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:04:15 +0000

Biofuel production from food crops has been a subject of heated discussions over the past week at the European Parliament. The previously agreed target of 10% of biofuel to be used in transportation by 2020 is now likely to drop down to 6%, as members of the parliament and environmental groups argue that biofuel production results […]

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Emissions Standards a Contentious Subject for EU Politicians

Leigh Hutchens — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:22:27 +0000

European Union politicians cannot seem to agree on emissions standards. In fact, many politicians are divided – some are anxious to enforce green standards and want to keep up with the emissions goals of the US while others do not want the standards to interfere with the luxury car industry. German Christian Democrat member of […]

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EU Airport Pollution Tax Suspended Temporarily

Mila Luleva — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:47:28 +0000

The controversial carbon tax might be suspended for a year on flights to and from non-European nations. This is the proposal given by EU executive during a general meeting on Friday of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard suggested that possible waiver of this tax would be in the […]

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First Affordable Mass Produced Electric Car in the World Comes from Volkswagen

Florin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:17:43 +0000

In Frankfurt - Germany, Europe's biggest car manufacturer, Volkswagen and the Japanese group Toshiba signed an agreement to develop the new VW electric cars together.

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