The world’s biggest rooftop urban farm is now bearing fruit
The 14,000 square meter space in Paris’s 15th arrondissement, known as Nature Urbaine, is now up and running and has planted roughly a third of the available space.
Europe
France to launch ‘railway highways’ in push for greener economy
France’s prime minister vowed to develop “railway highways” to carry food and other goods that now go by truck, part of a government push to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.
U.K. to open citizenship path to Hong Kongers
Eligible individuals from Hong Kong currently can come to the U.K. for six months without a visa. With the rule change, they will have the right to live and work in the country for five years. After that, they will be allowed to apply for settled status and then again for citizenship.
Renewables now E.U.’s biggest source of electricity
Fossil fuels fell by 18 percent, squeezed both by rising renewable generation and a seven-percent fall in electricity demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Electric car subsidies essentially make Renaults free in Germany
The state support is allowing Autohaus Koenig, a dealership chain with more than 50 locations across Germany, to advertise a lease for the battery-powered Renault Zoe that is entirely covered by subsidies.
IKEA’s classic Swedish meatball now has a plant-based version
The furniture company is now hoping to convince more customers to choose a plant-based, carbon-friendly version of its iconic meatball. In August, it will launch a new “plant ball” in European stores. US stores will follow in September.
The Ecosia search engine team has just planted its 100-millionth tree
For eleven years, the search engine Ecosia has used most of the revenue from advertising on its website and app towards planting trees—and this month they planted their 100-millionth tree.
Portugal to close its last coal plant in 2021, two years ahead of schedule
Portuguese energy utility EDP has announced the closure of its Sines coal power plant, bringing forward the planned shutdown of coal-fired power plants in the country by two years, from 2023 to 2021.
Johnnie Walker whiskey to come in plastic-free paper bottles starting 2021
The new bottle, developed in partnership with venture management company Pilot Lite, will be made from sustainably sourced pulp to meet food-safe standards and will be fully recyclable in standard waste streams.
Unilever will now put carbon footprint labels on all its products
“We believe that transparency about carbon footprint will be an accelerator in the global race to zero emissions, and it is our ambition to communicate the carbon footprint of every product we sell.”