European Union

E.U. fossil fuel CO2 emissions hit 60-year low

January 24, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The European Union pumped out 8% less carbon dioxide from the fossil fuels it burned in 2023 than it did in 2022, pushing these emissions down to their lowest level in 60 years. The fall is the steepest yearly drop on record behind 2020, when governments shuttered factories and grounded flights to stop the spread of Covid-19, according to analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

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E.U. agrees to ban exports of waste plastic to poor countries

November 17, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

“The EU will finally assume responsibility for its plastic waste by banning its export to non-OECD countries,” said Pernille Weiss, a Danish member of the European parliament. “Once again, we follow our vision that waste is a resource when it is properly managed, but should not in any case be causing harm to the environment or human health.”

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E.U. agrees to restore 20% of its lands and waters by 2030

November 13, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

In order to meet these goals, member nations must restore a minimum of 30% of the types of habitat covered by the Nature Restoration Law that are in “poor condition” to a “good condition” by the end of the decade, with an increase to 60% by the end of the following decade and 90% by 2050.

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E.U. strikes historic deal to eliminate super-potent greenhouse gases

October 5, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The interinstitutional agreement to phase out fluorinated gases (or F-gases) paves the way for Europe to become the world’s first HFC-free continent by 2050, setting an unprecedented environmental and climate standard on a global scale.

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European Union launches world’s carbon border tariff

October 3, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The European Union has launched the initial phase of the world’s first system to impose CO2 emissions tariffs on carbon-intensive imports like iron and steel, as it tries to stop more polluting foreign products from undermining its green transition.

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Nissan commits to exclusively sell EVs in Europe by 2030

September 30, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Nissan’s Ambition 2030 aims to globally introduce 27 electrified vehicles, with 19 being EVs, by 2030. Additionally, Nissan plans to implement cobalt-free technology to reduce the cost of EV batteries by 65% by fiscal year 2028.

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E.U.’s use of fossil fuels for electricity falls 17% to ‘record low’ in first half of 2023

August 29, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Electricity generated from coal collapsed by 23% and gas fell by 13%, compared with the same period a year earlier. Seventeen E.U. countries generated record shares of power from renewables.

E.U.’s use of fossil fuels for electricity falls 17% to ‘record low’ in first half of 2023 Read more

E.U. requires smartphones to have user-replaceable batteries by 2027

June 22, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

For “portable batteries” used in devices such as smartphones, tablets, and cameras, consumers must be able to “easily remove and replace them,” reducing costs for consumers and reducing e-waste.

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Switzerland amends law to legally recognize that sex without consent is rape

June 6, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The amendment follows similar rulings in Denmark and Spain, where the law was recently changed to define rape as sexual assault without explicit consent.

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Latvia elects the first openly gay head of state in Europe

May 31, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The country’s parliament has elected Edgars Rinkēvičs to be its next president. Rinkēvičs publicly came out as gay in November 2014.

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