European Union

Abandoned factory full of colorful textiles

E.U. bans the destruction of unsold clothing in bid to reduce waste and emissions

By / / Good News For Humankind

The European Union has officially adopted groundbreaking legislation banning the destruction of unsold clothing, apparel accessories, and footwear to drastically reduce waste and emissions. As part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, this new ban directly targets the massive environmental impact of fast fashion overproduction. Following France’s lead as the first country to implement such a ban, the E.U. is forcing large corporations to reuse, donate, or recycle excess inventory instead of incinerating it. This policy sets a powerful global precedent for transitioning the fashion industry toward a truly circular economy.

Wind turbine through the trees

Wind and solar supply more power than fossil fuels in Europe for first time ever

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a landmark achievement for the energy transition, wind and solar power have generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the European Union for the first time over a full year. According to the 2026 Ember report, renewables accounted for 30% of the EU’s electricity in 2025, surpassing the 29% from coal and gas. While gas use rose slightly due to weather conditions, a 20% surge in solar generation and a historic low for coal (9.2%) secured this major victory for clean energy.

Solar farm

Solar was E.U.’s biggest source of power for the first time ever in June 2025

By / / Good News For Humankind

At least 13 E.U. countries saw solar output hit a new monthly high in June, according to an analysis from energy think tank Ember. Solar amounted to more than 40% of generation in the Netherlands and 35% in Greece. Coal generated just 6 percent of electricity, a new monthly low. Fifteen E.U. countries are now coal-free, including Austria, Belgium, and Ireland. Analysts say that the June surge in solar power helped Europe weather a brutal heat wave, which saw temperatures soar upwards of 110 degrees F Analysts say that the June surge in solar power helped Europe weather a brutal heat wave.

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Marine litter on the E.U. coastline down by almost one-third since 2015

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The new E.U. Coastline Macro Litter Trend report has found that the amount of marine macro litter in the E.U. coastline has dropped by 29% between 2015-2016 and 2020-2021. While the largest reduction in terms of percentages is seen at the Baltic Sea (45%), major efforts at the Mediterranean and the Black Sea have led to impressive reductions in the absolute amount of litter on European beaches. This achievement is the result of multilateral, national, regional, and citizen efforts triggered by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Electric bus

Nearly half of new E.U. city buses were zero-emission in 2024

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49% of all new E.U. city buses were zero-emission in 2024, making city buses one of the early success stories of the European Green Deal. This growth is due to the faster-than-expected uptake in fuel cell buses, making up 3% of new E.U. city buses in 2024. Battery-electric, however, remains by far the dominant powertrain, with a 46% share. This success is due to both the new European regulation last year sending a clear market signal that the days of diesel buses are numbered and city-level policies such as zero-emission zones and fleet targets.

Island off the shore of the Azores

The Azores creates largest marine protected area network in the North Atlantic

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The Azores, an autonomous Portuguese archipelago, has approved legislation to create the largest marine protected area (MPA) network in the North Atlantic Ocean. Spread across about 110,800 square miles, the new MPA network covers 30% of the ocean surrounding the archipelago. Half of the network is “fully protected,” and half is “highly protected.” In the “fully protected” parts, extractive or destructive activities like fishing are not allowed, while activities such as diving, swimming, and marine tourism are regulated.

Person happily holding a trans pride flag

European court rules member states must recognize trans people’s names and genders

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The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that member states must recognize legal documents from other countries that reflect a person’s changed name and gender identity, regardless of the member state’s own laws on changing one’s name and identity. Marie-Hélène Ludwig, senior strategic litigator with the LGBTQ+ rights organization ILGA-Europe, said in a statement, “This judgement will have an immensely positive impact, increasing legal protection for all trans people in the E.U…”

France to trial ban on mobile phones at school for children under 15

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France is to trial a ban on mobile phones at school for pupils up to the age of 15, seeking to give children a “digital pause” that, if judged successful, could be rolled out nationwide from January. Just under 200 secondary schools will take part in the experiment that will require youngsters to hand over phones on arrival at reception. It takes the prohibition on the devices further than a 2018 law that banned pupils at primary and secondary schools from using their phones on the premises but allowed them to keep possession of them.

Wind turbines amid flower farm

E.U. surpasses 50% renewable power share for first time ever in first half of 2024

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Electricity industry association Eurelectric has released figures showing that 50% of public electricity generation in the E.U. came from renewables for the first time in history earlier this year. The association said Europe was decarbonizing at an unprecedented pace, with just over 50% coming from renewable energy and nearly 75% coming from non-fossil-fuel sources, up from 68% last year.

Liechtenstein town

Liechtenstein legalizes same-sex marriage

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Liechtenstein’s parliament has voted to legalize same-sex marriage, making it the 22nd country in Europe to do so. Lawmakers in the German-speaking microstate voted nearly unanimously in favor of the measure, with 24 of the 25 MPs supporting it, Liechtensteiner Vaterland reported.