Export of used vehicles a major contributor to air pollution

Millions of used cars, vans and minibuses exported from Europe, the United States and Japan to the developing world are of poor quality, contributing significantly to air pollution and hindering efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The report shows that between 2015… Continue reading Export of used vehicles a major contributor to air pollution

Top 1% of EU households have carbon footprints 22 times larger than climate targets allow

Diana Ivanova, University of Leeds and Richard Wood, Norwegian University of Science and Technology To keep global warming below 1.5°C, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 2.5 tonnes of CO₂ per person per year by 2030. But we recently analysed more than 275,000 household budget surveys from 26 countries for an academic… Continue reading Top 1% of EU households have carbon footprints 22 times larger than climate targets allow

World’s largest public lending bank withdrawing from fossil fuel

EU Bank launches ambitious new climate strategy and Energy Lending Policy that will end financing for fossil fuel energy projects from the end of 2021; instead unlocking EUR 1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainable investment until 2030 European Investment Bank (EIB) Group will align all financing activities with the goals of the Paris… Continue reading World’s largest public lending bank withdrawing from fossil fuel

EU provides €40 million for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific

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The initiative will work with 10 value chains in 10 different countries, aiming to maximise economic returns and social benefits, while minimising the detrimental effects on natural habitats and marine wildlife The EU, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed a €40 million, five-year programme… Continue reading EU provides €40 million for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific

Hydropower project in DR Congo : A Deal for Chinese and European companies

https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaiddrc/19172966721/in/photolist-6mFKzc-7xVfVP-7xZrbo-7xVD1K-s9fVmf-7BwUQu-7xZ7o3-7xZthb-iy4L2j-6mKK5m-7xVmgt-7QpkNT-7xVDxK-6mKAqS-7Bx1yG-6mKHQ3-7xVzm8-6hULEG-7Bx533-7xVAmp-67eAFa-7xZvAA-7xV8qK-7xZ8Rj-7BtgSx-6mFaYt-6mKtM9-7xVFSa-7xZkbu-7xZdcN-6hQDTp-7xZ5tG-6hQH3c-7xZuWG-67eBpn-7xVrGt-6mFtw8-6mFCcg-6hQEYr-6mFieZ-6mFeuD-7xZC37-7xZuxS-7xVLUc-6hUPXo-6mKv2Q-7xVoBg-vdft2K-7xVSt4-7xZCp5

On October 16, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government announced a 14 billion USD joint and exclusive development agreement with a consortium of Chinese and European developers to construct the Inga 3 hydroelectric dam, following years of delay and controversy. The Chinese consortium is led by China Three Gorges, alongside a European consortium, led… Continue reading Hydropower project in DR Congo : A Deal for Chinese and European companies

Why even small hydropower plants shouldn’t be built in protected areas: photo evidence

Pippa Gallop In 2015, Privredna Banka Zagreb (PBZ), part of Intesa Sanpaolo, extended EUR 1 million to a hydropower plant as part of an EBRD-financed sustainable energy credit line. What at first appeared to be a harmless watermill conversion soon turned into destruction of a priceless habitat. It is a remarkable river, teeming with life,… Continue reading Why even small hydropower plants shouldn’t be built in protected areas: photo evidence

Impact of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on Indian Businesses

Ameya Paratkar The scope for GDPR implementation is much wider in India. According to a survey conducted by EY, 70% of Indian respondents see data protection and data privacy compliance as increasing areas of concern. What is GDPR? The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a Regulation of the European Union that protects natural persons (called data subjects) regarding the processing and free movement of their personal data. This… Continue reading Impact of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on Indian Businesses

Spycops targeting NGOs & activists under the spotlight at EU Parliament

Feature photo credit: Matt Brown/Flickr photos/reproduced under an Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial

Police spies targeting campaign groups across Europe are the focus of a European Parliament event on 6th September, where MEPs will hear from activists directly affected by undercover police, along with experts on state surveillance.  Among those speaking in the event is Kate Wilson, deceived into a relationship by undercover officer Mark Kennedy. The unmasking… Continue reading Spycops targeting NGOs & activists under the spotlight at EU Parliament

EU and UNICEF to reach thousands of refugee children in Turkey with Conditional Cash Transfer for Education

The European Union and UNICEF have launched the largest ever EU humanitarian contribution to Education in Emergencies, valued at EUR 34 million. The Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) project aims to increase the number of refugee children enrolled in and attending school in Turkey. The new commitment reflects the objectives of the “No Lost… Continue reading EU and UNICEF to reach thousands of refugee children in Turkey with Conditional Cash Transfer for Education

Modern Communication technology at the centre of better work-life balance: New ILO report

New ILO-Eurofound report shows that the use of modern communication technologies facilitates a better overall work-life balance but, at the same time, also blurs the boundaries between work and personal life. The expanding use of digital technologies such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers for work at home and elsewhere is rapidly transforming the… Continue reading Modern Communication technology at the centre of better work-life balance: New ILO report