Brussels, July 18, 2011– The European Commission is expected to release the names of seven voluntary certification schemes tomorrow, approved to certify biofuels according to the ‘sustainability criteria’ set out in the Renewable Energy Directive. This follows a lawsuit filed by environmental law organisation ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE), FERN and Corporate Europe …
Lufthansa’s green claims don’t fly
Brussels/Berlin/Hamburg, July 15, 2011 – Lufthansa launches its first controversial bio-fuelled flight today, amidst outcry from green groups [1]. Fuelling aeroplanes with biofuels presents Lufthansa and the aviation industry with a convenient smokescreen, greenwashing their image, facilitating the airline industry’s expansion plans and diverting political attention from the real need to cut air travel in …
NEW REPORT: Biofuels for Europe driving land grabbing in Africa
Brussels, Belgium and Benin City, Nigeria, August 30, 2010 – The amount of land being taken in Africa to meet Europe’s increasing demand for biofuels is underestimated and out of control, new investigations by Friends of the Earth reveal today. [1] The research, which looked at 11 African countries, found at least five million hectares …
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World Bank land grab report comment:
Brussels, 8 September 2010 – Commenting on a new World Bank report published today in which the Bank backs the practice of nations selling vast agricultural lands to foreign investors [1], Mariann Bassey, African food and agriculture coordinator for Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria said: “Rural communities and the environment in poor countries …
NEW REPORT: Half a million new jobs could be created in Europe by recycling more
Brussels, September 14 – At least 500,000 new jobs would be created in Europe if countries recycled 70% of their waste finds a new study, ‘More Jobs, Less Waste’, launched by Friends of the Earth today. [1] This is the recycling rate already achieved by Flanders in Belgium. President of the European Commission José Manuel …
NEW REPORT: Half a million new jobs could be created in Europe by recycling moreRead more
Launch of ‘responsible soy’ label faces global opposition
BRUSSELS, 8 June 2010 – A proposed new label for ‘responsible’ soy will not stop deforestation, 235 civil society groups from across the globe warned in a letter today, ahead of a conference set to finalise the labeling scheme in Sao Paulo, Brazil. [1] The 235 groups, including Friends of the Earth International and Corporate …
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