Green Options » European Commission http://greenoptions.com/tag/european-commission Posts tagged 'European Commission' Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:02:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Economic Value of Ecosystems and Biodiversity — New Report http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/13/economic-value-of-ecosystems-and-biodiversity-new-report/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/13/economic-value-of-ecosystems-and-biodiversity-new-report/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:02:23 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/13/economic-value-of-ecosystems-and-biodiversity-new-report/

A new report, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), attempts to bring to the world’s attention the truly great economic value of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the benefits of taking these into account when making policies.

The value of the world’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity is something lacking in most economic analyses. Lack of value for what is truly priceless doesn’t just hurt the environment, however. It is also a sort of economic suicide. This new report, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme and supported by key EU, UK, German, Swedish, Dutch, and Norwegian bodies, attempts to bring all of this to our attention more and show some positive case studies of how taking the environment into consideration can actually save us money.

As the report says: “the failure of markets to adequately consider the value of ecosystem services is of concern not only to environment, development and climate change ministries but also to finance, economics and business ministries.”

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/13/economic-value-of-ecosystems-and-biodiversity-new-report/feed/ Nearly 4,000 Airlines Must Reduce Emissions or Are Banned in the EU http://cleantechnica.com/2009/08/24/nearly-4000-airlines-must-reduce-emissions-or-are-banned-in-the-eu/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/08/24/nearly-4000-airlines-must-reduce-emissions-or-are-banned-in-the-eu/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:51:45 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/08/24/nearly-4000-airlines-must-reduce-emissions-or-are-banned-in-the-eu/

The European Union (EU) released a 94-page list of airlines that must reduce their emissions or will be banned from European airports two days ago. These are airlines of various sorts from all around the world. Some top players include United Airlines, US Airways, and the US Navy.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/08/24/nearly-4000-airlines-must-reduce-emissions-or-are-banned-in-the-eu/feed/ Europe Says Financial Crisis Doesn’t Trump Climate Change http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/europe-says-financial-crisis-doesnt-trump-climate-change/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/europe-says-financial-crisis-doesnt-trump-climate-change/#comments Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:30:03 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/europe-says-financial-crisis-doesnt-trump-climate-change/
In a meeting with environment and energy ministers from other European countries yesterday, Sweden’s Minister of Environment, Andreas Carlgren, said that global economic problems should in no way slow movement to address climate change. Other leading European ministers agreed.

Economic problems today are in many ways a result of environmental missteps in the past. If we want a healthy economy in the future, we have to take the environment into account more than we have. The Swedish Minister of the Environment agrees and says that there should be no hesitation to combat climate change due to the current economic situation.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/europe-says-financial-crisis-doesnt-trump-climate-change/feed/ 4 New Eco-Design Rules for the EU — Saving as Much Power as Austria and Sweden Use Annually http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/4-new-eco-design-rules-for-the-eu-saving-as-much-power-as-austria-and-sweden-use-annually/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/4-new-eco-design-rules-for-the-eu-saving-as-much-power-as-austria-and-sweden-use-annually/#comments Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:29:11 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/4-new-eco-design-rules-for-the-eu-saving-as-much-power-as-austria-and-sweden-use-annually/ The EU is cutting electricity use equivalent to Sweden and Austria’s annual usage. In total, after previous ecodesign regulations, the savings will be greater than Italy’s total consumption by 2020.

The European Union (EU) agreed to cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 earlier this year. They stated: “The challenge is to spark a new industrial revolution that will deliver a low-energy economy, whilst making the energy we consume more secure.” In another move to spark this new industrial revolution, the European Commission added 4 new eco-design standards this week to the 5 they had previously set.

The four new eco-design measures will save as much electricity as Sweden and Austria use annually. Combined with the previous five measures, the electricity savings will be more than the total annual usage of Italy!

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/25/4-new-eco-design-rules-for-the-eu-saving-as-much-power-as-austria-and-sweden-use-annually/feed/ Britain’s Worst Carbon Polluters Set For Multi-Million Pound Windfall http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/15/britains-worst-carbon-polluters-set-for-multi-million-pound-windfall/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/15/britains-worst-carbon-polluters-set-for-multi-million-pound-windfall/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:54:43 +0000 Andrew Williams http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/15/britains-worst-carbon-polluters-set-for-multi-million-pound-windfall/ An in-depth investigation by The Guardian newspaper has revealed that many of Britain’s most polluting companies stand to receive a windfall of hundreds of millions of pounds, with no benefit to the environment.

The huge handout comes as a result of the over allocation of carbon permits to some of the biggest names in world business, including Ford, Toyota and pharmaceuticals giant Astra Zeneca.

Under the European Union’s flagship carbon trading scheme, permits are distributed to companies by the government, and are intended to account for their carbon emissions over the following five year period. However, figures published by the European Commission reveal that many recipients have been allocated far too many permits, which they can sell for cash. The total over-allocation runs to nine million permits across 200 companies. At the current price of £21, these could be sold for a total of £189 million (around $340 million).

Read more of this story »

]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/15/britains-worst-carbon-polluters-set-for-multi-million-pound-windfall/feed/