Green Options » european union http://greenoptions.com/tag/european-union Posts tagged 'european union' 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.”

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/11/13/economic-value-of-ecosystems-and-biodiversity-new-report/feed/ $4.4 Million for WAVE Energy Project in Europe http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/08/44-million-for-wave-energy-project-in-europe/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/08/44-million-for-wave-energy-project-in-europe/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:17:40 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/08/44-million-for-wave-energy-project-in-europe/

Solar Energy. Wind Energy. Now, Wave Energy. Reminds me of Captain Planet.

A Finnish company, AW-Energy, recently signed a $4.4 million (€3 million) contract with the European Union (EU) to implement WaveRoller (wave energy) technology in Portuguese waters. This looks interesting. The location for the project is near a town deemed to be “capital of the waves.”

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/08/44-million-for-wave-energy-project-in-europe/feed/ Is the US Climate Illiterate? http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/02/is-the-us-climate-illiterate/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/02/is-the-us-climate-illiterate/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:29:55 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/02/is-the-us-climate-illiterate/

“The United States is in a sense climate illiterate still,” Hans Schellnhuber, the director of Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said earlier this week.

He wasn’t just comparing the US to the EU, however. Even developing nations seem to know more about the issue and the potential results of inaction.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/02/is-the-us-climate-illiterate/feed/ Green Economy = More Jobs http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/25/green-economy-more-jobs/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/25/green-economy-more-jobs/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:21:53 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/25/green-economy-more-jobs/

A new report released today says that if we shift our economy — to a greener, low-carbon economy — we will have more jobs, not fewer.

Earlier this week, Tony Blair (former prime minister of the UK) and the Climate Group reported that if we worked to avoid climate change we’d create 10 million new jobs by 2020 — worldwide. Another recent study by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council says that such a shift could increase employment in the EU by 2.7 million jobs by 2030.

One more report, released today by the Global Climate Network (an alliance of nine influential think tanks) comes to similar conclusions.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/25/green-economy-more-jobs/feed/ UK’s Tony Blair Finds Climate Action Will Increase Global GDP & Create Millions of Jobs http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/22/uks-tony-blair-finds-climate-action-will-increase-global-gdp-create-millions-of-jobs/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/22/uks-tony-blair-finds-climate-action-will-increase-global-gdp-create-millions-of-jobs/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:18:37 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/22/uks-tony-blair-finds-climate-action-will-increase-global-gdp-create-millions-of-jobs/

Climate Action Will Pay for Itself, and More.

The United Nations (UN) stated earlier this month that the cost of avoiding climate change was at least 1% of global GDP — $500-600 billion dollars. Despite this major cost, Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK, and The Climate Group, presented a report to the UN yesterday saying that a strong climate deal will “boost growth in all major economies & create millions of new jobs.”

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/22/uks-tony-blair-finds-climate-action-will-increase-global-gdp-create-millions-of-jobs/feed/ Largest River Protection Area in Europe — in Croatia and Hungary http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/18/largest-river-protection-area-in-europe-croatia-and-hungary/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/18/largest-river-protection-area-in-europe-croatia-and-hungary/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:51:08 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/18/largest-river-protection-area-in-europe-croatia-and-hungary/

Croatia and Hungary signed an agreement yesterday to protect a major biodiversity area that crosses borders along three rivers. The agreement is being called a “Trans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve” and has resulted in the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) awarding the two countries with a “Leaders for a Living Planet” award.

The reserve will preserve several endangered species, among other environmental jewels. There is also the possibility of the reserve expanding several times over into neighboring countries in the future.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/18/largest-river-protection-area-in-europe-croatia-and-hungary/feed/ Offshore Wind Energy Vital to the Future of Europe http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/15/offshore-wind-vital-to-the-future-of-europe/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/15/offshore-wind-vital-to-the-future-of-europe/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:12:31 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/15/offshore-wind-vital-to-the-future-of-europe/
A new report says that offshore wind “provides the answer to Europe’s energy and climate dilemma” and will soon provide Europe with about 10% of its electricity demand.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/15/offshore-wind-vital-to-the-future-of-europe/feed/ Lights Out: EU Bans Inefficient, Incandescent Light Bulbs http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/04/lights-out-eu-bans-inefficient-incandescent-bulbs/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/04/lights-out-eu-bans-inefficient-incandescent-bulbs/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:59:11 +0000 Jace Shoemaker-Galloway http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/04/lights-out-eu-bans-inefficient-incandescent-bulbs/ Light bulb

In order to cut greenhouse emissions, fight climate change and save energy, 27 countries in the European Union (EU) are gradually phasing out traditional light bulbs.  As of September 1st, 2009, 100-watt and frosted incandescent light bulbs can no longer be manufactured or imported, although stores can sell their remaining stock.  

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/09/04/lights-out-eu-bans-inefficient-incandescent-bulbs/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.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/08/24/nearly-4000-airlines-must-reduce-emissions-or-are-banned-in-the-eu/feed/ Green Buyers, Taxes based on Environmental Friendliness, and Carbon Footprint Labels on Products in the EU http://ecoworldly.com/2009/08/17/green-buyers-taxes-based-on-environmental-friendliness-and-carbon-footprint-labels-on-products-in-the-eu/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/08/17/green-buyers-taxes-based-on-environmental-friendliness-and-carbon-footprint-labels-on-products-in-the-eu/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:57:34 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/08/17/green-buyers-taxes-based-on-environmental-friendliness-and-carbon-footprint-labels-on-products-in-the-eu/
In the results of a “Eurobarometer” survey recently released by the EU, we can see some progression in the evolution of green consumerism. EU citizens are taking the environment into account when purchasing products, according to the survey. They are also interested in putting carbon footprint labels on products. And what about green taxes?

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/08/17/green-buyers-taxes-based-on-environmental-friendliness-and-carbon-footprint-labels-on-products-in-the-eu/feed/ The EU and MTV Team Up: Copenhagen Prelude http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/29/the-eu-and-mtv-team-up-copenhagen-prelude/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/29/the-eu-and-mtv-team-up-copenhagen-prelude/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:16:59 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/29/the-eu-and-mtv-team-up-copenhagen-prelude/
The European Union (EU) and MTV are working together to get young people involved in the climate debate. The major entities started their “Play to Stop – Europe for Climate” campaign this month. Working with international music artists and other international celebrities, this is a major campaign to mobilize the youth around the topic of climate change, and especially for the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December.

The campaign targets 11 EU countries — Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The campaign will involve celebrities from the various participating countries.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/29/the-eu-and-mtv-team-up-copenhagen-prelude/feed/ No Love for Animals — 0.1% of European Union Budget! http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/no-love-for-animals-01-of-european-union-budget/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/no-love-for-animals-01-of-european-union-budget/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:17:19 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/no-love-for-animals-01-of-european-union-budget/
The European Union got strongly admonished this month by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) after the release of a report that is more than a decade late and comes to disheartening conclusions. The EU is giving only 0.1% of its budget to nature protection, with drastic consequences. Due to the miniscule investment in protecting wildlife, more than half of European habitats and species are under threat of extinction.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/no-love-for-animals-01-of-european-union-budget/feed/ Ice Cap to Ice Cap, Which Countries Lead the World in Global Warming Emissions? http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/ice-cap-to-ice-cap-which-countries-lead-the-world-in-global-warming-emissions/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/ice-cap-to-ice-cap-which-countries-lead-the-world-in-global-warming-emissions/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:30:21 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/ice-cap-to-ice-cap-which-countries-lead-the-world-in-global-warming-emissions/ Ever wonder who leads the world in global warming emissions? And by how much? A report released this month by the New Zealand government gives us this information.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/07/26/ice-cap-to-ice-cap-which-countries-lead-the-world-in-global-warming-emissions/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.

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]]> 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!

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]]> 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/ European Union Votes to Ban Seal Products http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/05/05/european-union-votes-to-ban-seal-products/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/05/05/european-union-votes-to-ban-seal-products/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 16:42:09 +0000 Marika Collins http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/05/05/european-union-votes-to-ban-seal-products/

Members of European parliament voted this morning to ban seal products, further tightening the noose on Canada’s archaic and cruel commercial seal hunt. With members voting 550 to 49 in favor of the ban, Europe has sent Canada a clear message: Europeans do not support the hunt.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) welcomed the EU decision. The ban represents a welcome victory in the IFAW’s forty year campaign to end the hunt.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/05/05/european-union-votes-to-ban-seal-products/feed/ Note to Obama: Promote Carbon Cap and Trade Efforts at the Summit of the Americas http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/15/note-to-obama-promote-carbon-cap-and-trade-efforts-at-the-summit-of-the-americas/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/15/note-to-obama-promote-carbon-cap-and-trade-efforts-at-the-summit-of-the-americas/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:15:23 +0000 Levi Novey http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/15/note-to-obama-promote-carbon-cap-and-trade-efforts-at-the-summit-of-the-americas/ The Fifth Summit of the Americas logoThis week, U.S. President Barack Obama will head to Trinidad and Tobago for the 5th Summit of the Americas. He will meet with leaders from Western Hemisphere Nations and discuss a number of pressing issues such as the worldwide economic crisis, U.S. relations with Cuba, trade, energy, conservation, illegal immigration, poverty, and drugs.

Should we expect anything meaningful to happen on the conservation front as a result of the summit and Obama’s new approach toward international relations?

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/15/note-to-obama-promote-carbon-cap-and-trade-efforts-at-the-summit-of-the-americas/feed/ 70 Bears to Be Killed in Slovenia http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/12/70-bears-to-be-killed-in-slovenia/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/12/70-bears-to-be-killed-in-slovenia/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:50:40 +0000 Jake Richardson http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/12/70-bears-to-be-killed-in-slovenia/ euro bear

The Slovenian Environment Ministry has approved a wild bear kill of 70 animals. The country has between 430 and 480 bears according to one estimate.

Some environmentalists put the number slightly lower. In 2008 the Environment Ministry approved a kill of 75, and in 2007 it was 100. In 2006 it was also 100. That will make 345 wild bears killed in the last four years.  The number of cubs born each year is estimated at 60-90.
(Brown bears in Slovenia are a protected species.)

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/12/70-bears-to-be-killed-in-slovenia/feed/ EU Slaps Anti-Subsidy Biodiesel Tax on US Producers http://gas2.org/2009/03/05/eu-slaps-anti-subsidy-biodiesel-tax-on-us-producers/ http://gas2.org/2009/03/05/eu-slaps-anti-subsidy-biodiesel-tax-on-us-producers/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:23:01 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://gas2.org/2009/03/05/eu-slaps-anti-subsidy-biodiesel-tax-on-us-producers/ European Union

On March 13, the European Union will impose a counter-subsidy tax on U.S. biodiesel producers for “dumping” biodiesel on the European market.

European producers have been complaining about cheap imported biodiesel for quite a while, and it looks like a key European trade panel finally took action. The tax will be specific to each biodiesel producer:

  • ArcherDaniels Midland: 86 cents per gallon; 
  • Cargill: 90 cents; 
  • Imperium Renewables: 96 cents; 
  • Green Earth Energy Fuels: 93 cents; 
  • World Energy Alternatives: 96 cents; 
  • Peter Cremer North America and remaining biodiesel producers will pay $1.36 per gallon.

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    ]]> http://gas2.org/2009/03/05/eu-slaps-anti-subsidy-biodiesel-tax-on-us-producers/feed/ Fox News Cautions Against Obama Green Jobs Plan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/01/fox-news-cautions-against-obama-green-jobs-plan/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/01/fox-news-cautions-against-obama-green-jobs-plan/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:56:46 +0000 Amanda Peterka http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/03/01/fox-news-cautions-against-obama-green-jobs-plan/ Fox News, the champion of conservative politics, is at it again, this time railing President Barack Obama’s plan to create five million green jobs over the next 10 years. The argument is as follows: The European Union and California are at the forefront of creating green jobs, but each continues to see budget and job crises. And the European Union isn’t any closer to meeting its Kyoto target. Looking at these two places, why should we expect that Obama’s green jobs plan should be any more successful, especially in this time of recession?

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