France sets out ten-point plan to double wind power capacity by 2023
The government said the proposed reforms will cut in half the average time it takes for wind power projects to be completed and connected to the French electricity grid.
Europe
This archive covers progress stories from across Europe, spanning the U.K., Scandinavia, the E.U. and beyond. Readers will find reporting on health, climate policy, social welfare, science and more — drawn from nearly 1,200 articles tracking real gains made by communities, governments and researchers throughout the region.
Norway is aiming for all of its short flights to be electric by 2040
Norway is a leading force in broad adoption electric vehicles. In its latest move, the country has pledged to make all of its short-haul flights electric by 2040.
Britain now generates twice as much electricity from wind as coal
Just six years ago, more than 40% of Britain’s electricity was generated by burning coal. Today, that figure is just 7%.
European Investment Bank invests $150m to fund renewable energy projects in Peru
Expected to be operational in the first half of next year, the two projects will have a combined installed capacity of 312MW.
U.K. bans plastic microbeads in effort to protect marine life
Manufacturing ban means the tiny beads which harm marine life can no longer be used in cosmetics and personal care products
A record majority of Norway’s new cars are now electric or hybrid
Norway crossed an electric vehicle milestone in 2017, with more than half of its new vehicle registrations coming from electric vehicles. The country has a plan to phase out new gas-powered cars by 2040.
Iceland becomes first country to legalize equal pay
The legislation, which came into force on Monday, the first day of 2018, makes Iceland the first country in the world to legalise equal pay between men and women.
Germany begins to enforce new social media hate speech law
Last year, Germany passed a sweeping anti-hate speech law requiring websites to promptly investigate reports of posts illegal under German law and delete them.
U.K. scientists claim they found a drug that significantly reverses memory loss
A team at Lancaster University in the U.K. has discovered that a drug designed to treat type 2 diabetes may hold the key to fighting the memory loss that accompanies Alzheimer’s disease.
Britain has doubled its minimum wage since 2000 with no observable effect on unemployment
The data suggest that the traditional economic idea that rising wage prices reduce the number of available low-paid jobs might not be true.