E.U. bans almost all coal mining
Every unprofitable coal mine in the European Union must cease production by the first day of 2019, the date on which all public funds for the mines will come to an end.
European Union
This archive collects solutions-journalism stories and milestones connected to the European Union — from policy advances and clean-energy progress to social initiatives and scientific achievements. It tracks meaningful developments across member states and E.U.-wide institutions.
E.U. agrees deal on single-use plastic ban
The single-use plastic ban was introduced earlier this year and yesterday the European commission agreed a deal to set the ban in place.
The EU says it is aiming to become the first major economy to go “climate neutral” by 2050
Net-zero by 2050 just got its first major champion: the European Union has unveiled a strategy that would make it the first large economy to commit to full climate neutrality. The plan leans on technology that already exists today — scaling solar and wind to 80% of electricity, insulating homes, and restoring forests to absorb what can’t be eliminated. Alongside the climate benefits, the EU estimates the shift could cut energy import costs by up to three trillion euros a year and reduce premature deaths from air pollution by 40%. A coalition of ten member states, including Sweden, is already pushing to move faster — a sign that ambitious climate leadership is becoming Europe’s mainstream expectation rather than its fringe.
Two thirds of E.U. cities have climate change plans
66% of EU cities have a mitigation or adaptation plan in place. The top countries were Poland — where 97% of cities have mitigation plans — Germany (81%), Ireland (80%), Finland (78%) and Sweden (77%).
E.U. votes to increase 2030 renewable energy goal to 35%
The European Union Parliament voted Wednesday to increase its renewable energy goal for 2030 from a goal of 27% to a new target of 35%, which will now be taken to EU member states in upcoming talks.
China to join forces with Canada and EU to continue fight climate change despite Trump withdrawal
Environment ministers representing Canada, China and the European Union will co-host a meeting in Montreal later this month to advance implementation of the Paris climate change agreement.
$890 million E.U. package to help 79 developing nations combat climate change
The European Union (EU) will support 79 developing nations in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) with a €8 million ($891m) to implement a global deal to combat climate change.
E.U. mounts legal challenge over Hungary’s record on democracy
The European Union has launched a legal action against Hungary in a deliberate swipe at a country that stands accused by many in Brussels of backsliding on its commitments to democracy.
E.U. court rules U.K. mass surveillance program illegal
Europe’s top court struck a blow against U.K. mass surveillance in 2016, ruling that blanket retention of citizens’ web history, location, and app data couldn’t be justified in a democracy. The case, brought by two MPs from opposing parties, challenged laws letting 48 public bodies access a year of everyone’s data. It drew a clear line: targeted surveillance, yes — indiscriminate collection, no.
Banksy’s “Girl with Balloon” appears on London streets
Banksy’s Girl with Balloon first appeared on a Shoreditch wall in 2002, a stenciled silhouette reaching for a red heart drifting just out of reach. Over two decades, the image traveled from London streets to the West Bank barrier to a Sotheby’s auction floor, quietly reshaping how the public thinks about where art belongs.