A trade deal between the EU and the US risks opening the backdoor for the expansion of fracking in Europe and the US, reveals a new report released today [1]. As part of the deal currently being negotiated, energy companies could be allowed to take governments to private arbitrators if they attempt to regulate or …
Commission must end love-affair with toxic crops
The European Commission must bend to overwhelming public and political opposition and ban a new controversial genetically modified (GM) maize, according to Friends of the Earth Europe. The maize, owned by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, is damaging to butterflies and has unknown impacts on bees and other pollinators. In a vote in the European Council today, …
Danger of flood of tar sands imports to Europe
New figures released today by the US Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) show that if Europe does not act, its imports of tar sands, one of the dirtiest fossil fuels, would likely skyrocket from about 4,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2012 to over 700,000 bpd in 2020 [1]. The resulting emissions increase in transport …
Europe must reduce its use of world’s land
A report published today by the United Nations International Resource Panel highlights how global land consumption is unsustainable in a world of finite resources. [1] The findings echo research by Friends of the Earth Europe on Europe’s global land footprint. [2] Increasing demand for limited land – to grow food, to produce energy and wood, …
EU 2030 climate plan disregards science
EU plans to tackle climate change by the year 2030, announced in Brussels today, have been heavily criticized by environment group Friends of the Earth Europe. The policies proposed by the European Commission disregard climate science which makes it clear the need to drastically cut emissions to avoid catastrophic levels of global warming is getting …
Europe opens doors to dangerous fracking
Europe is opening its doors to dirty and dangerous unconventional fossil fuels, Friends of the Earth Europe and Food & Water Europe said today. The warning comes as the European Commission publishes a framework to guide member states on how to regulate shale gas which fails to provide mandatory protection for Europe’s citizens against the …
