Europe
This little robot is cleaning up our beaches, one cigarette butt at a time - Happy Eco News
Cigarette butts are the most common type of beach litter. Cigarette butts are the most common and problematic types of beach litter, polluting marine environments with plastics and harmful chemicals. Robot litter picker, the BeachBot, uses AI to detect trash and help clean up beaches.
On the Lemon Trail: Sustainability on the Amalfi coast - Happy Eco News
Italien Amalfiküste Amalfi I'm walking under a lemon-covered pergola, stretching as far as the eye can see. The smell of citrus fills the air; it's almost harvest season, and the plump, golden fruits are dangling heavily above my head. Gaps in the foliage reveal the intense blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea below.
A tropical forest will soon grow in Helsinki and provide all the city's heat - Happy Eco News
A design proposal for a series of tropical islands has just won the Helsinki Energy Challenge. The goal of this contest is to decarbonize heating systems in the capital city by 2030. Projects like Hot Heart by Carlo Ratti Associati are going to make that happen.
Finally, fully biodegradable toothpaste tubes are here - Happy Eco News
How many tubes of toothpaste do you think you've used in your life? Think of a number. Now, think of the fact that it takes the average tube of toothpaste 500 years to break down. When you factor in all the tubes you've used and all the tubes everyone else you know has used, it [...]
A 'dating site' with a difference that's pairing waste with recycling opportunities - Happy Eco News
How can we stop our waste ending up in landfill or even the ocean? The answer is to match material with the people who can reuse it. And a new "dating" site for waste is doing just that. Dutch start-up Excess Materials Exchange is a member of The Circulars Accelerator Cohort 2021 on UpLink.
Lego develops recycled bricks made from discarded bottles - Happy Eco News
Toy brand Lego has created its first prototype bricks using recycled PET plastic from discarded bottles. Created as part of the Danish company 's drive to make all of its products from sustainable materials by 2030, the brick prototypes were created from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), a common thermoplastic used for products such as bottles [...]
New ecolabel will certify 'Whale-Safe' shipping companies and cruise lines
A new eco-label will certify freight and cruise companies that take steps to keep their ships from colliding with whales. To earn the label, companies must have 24/7 monitoring aboard their ships, share whale observation data through a digital platform, have procedures in place to act if a whale is sighted, and follow local speed and navigation rules.
Loci vegan shoes give back to animal conservation efforts
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Battery recycling gains speed as new EU regulation pushes investment
As the popularity of electric vehicles starts to grow explosively, so does the pile of used batteries. Only about half of them are currently recycled. New EU regulation could boost investment in the nascent industry.
Bulgaria cleans up its beaches by renovating its water treatment facilities
Aa Aa For the duration of euronews' Green Week, our magazine and news teams are exploring stories and solutions for a better planet from across Europe. Varna is Bulgaria's third largest city and the heart of summer tourism in the country. The municipality is littered with resorts and that is why water management is so critical there.
24,000-Year-Old Microorganism Revived From Frozen Siberian Permafrost
A bdelloid rotifer feeding on algae and other microorganisms, seen under a microscope. Eduardo Baena / iStock / Getty Images Plus Scientists in Russia have revived a bdelloid rotifer - a type of multicellular microorganism that's accustomed to wet environments - after the invertebrate spent 24,000 years frozen 11 feet beneath the Siberian permafrost.
Poland to close Europe's most polluting power plant by 2036
Poland plans to close Europe's most polluting power plant by the end of 2036, according to a draft document published by local authorities. The document, which is subject to public consultation, is part of the Lodz region's application for support from the EU's Just Transition Fund, aimed at helping regions bear the cost of shifting to a climate-neutral economy.
Can Tiny Forests Breathe Fresh Air Into Our Cities?
Children in Leicester, UK, plant a tiny forest in their school. Leicester City Council By Selma Franssen In 2014 eco-entrepreneur Shubhendu Sharma gave a TED Talk about the value of the mini-woodland ecosystems he was planting across India . He described how they grow 10 times faster, are 30 times denser, and 100 times more biodiverse than a conventional forest .
Sleeping with the fishes: How hibernating zebrafish could help you survive the journey to Mars
Zebrafish can protect themselves against harsh conditions in an induced hibernating state. Prolonged periods of time in space are punishing on the human body.
Dwarf pansy blooms on tiny Scilly island after 16-year absence
The tiny island of Tean was once home to a single resident, a modest chapel, diminutive grazed fields and a dwarf pansy smaller than the tip of a pencil. All these things vanished from the 0.16 sq km Scilly island in the years after it was abandoned by humans seeking larger things.
Swiss prosecutors charge three over scheme to avoid paying for CO2 emissions
Switzerland had introduced measures against CO2 emissions in 2012. Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal case against a former federal roads office official over an alleged scam to avoid fees on carbon dioxide emissions. The Swiss Attorney General's office claims that two board members of a vehicle import company paid the official to edit data that calculated emissions.
Shipping Looks to Hydrogen as It Seeks to Ditch Bunker Fuel
The hydrogen-powered ship "Energy Observer" is sailing on the Elbe in Germany. Credit: Bodo Marks/picture alliance via Getty Images This article is the sixth part of a Financial Times series examining whether hydrogen can help cut emissions across industries from transport to construction The Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo launched its first steam-powered ship, the SS Leopold, on its maiden trip from Antwerp to Congo in 1895.
Bee population steady in Dutch cities thanks to pollinator strategy
Bee hotels, bee stops and a honey highway are some of the components of a national pollinator strategy that the Dutch are crediting with keeping their urban bee population steady in recent years, after a period of worrying decline.
Fixing Fashion initiative hopes to patch up "broken" clothing industry
Dutch designer Dave Hakkens has launched an online academy that teaches users how to fix "99 per cent of their clothing " in a bid to combat the mounting issue of textile waste.
An Island's Path to 100% Renewables
The grid of the future lies 850 miles off the coast of Portugal, on an island in the Azores called Graciosa. The island has always been dependent on fossil fuels. But in 2018, that changed. That's when a group of developers kicked off a hybrid wind-solar-battery storage power plant to slash diesel consumption.
Some guitar makers in pursuit of sustainable manufacturing
Guitar manufacturers use a small volume of some of the rarest exotic woods, but have come under the most pressure to adopt sustainable practices because of their high profile. Over the past decade, manufacturers like Czech-based Furch Guitars and Taylor Guitars in the U.S.
Eat, roam, repeat: Can the bison's big appetite stop Spain's forest fires?
As the temperatures begin to rise, Spain is braced for another summer of the forest fires that over the past 10 years have destroyed about 741,000 hectares (1.8m acres) of forest. Last year, fires consumed 45,000 hectares according to government estimates, the year before 60,000 hectares , and there are signs that, as in California and Australia, the fires are becoming more frequent and more intense.
Lessons from Schoonschip, Amsterdam's floating eco-village
How can people live in harmony with global warming and rising water levels? In Amsterdam , a group of forward-thinking people decided to go with the flow. Schoonschip, a self-sustaining floating community of more than 100 residents, boasts innovative technology like 500 solar panels and a green roof on every house.
Researchers Develop Liquid That Absorbs And Stores Solar Energy For 18 Years
Sweden might have found a solution for the second challenge. They've developed "solar thermal fuel" - a special kind of fuel that is capable of storing the sun's energy for up to 18 years. The device that helps in capturing solar energy is called MOST which stands for Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage System.
Volkswagen's European Factories Up To 95% Powered By Renewables
In 2020, Volkswagen Group increased the share of renewables powering its European factories from 80% to 95% (year over year/YoY), and 10 of its factories became 100% renewably powered. The target is for them to reach 100% renewable power by 2023. In China, Volkswagen Group increased the share of renewables powering its factories from 76% to 91%.
These drones look for trash in waterways-and then send sailing drones to clean it up
Click here to view original web page at These drones look for trash in waterways-and then send sailing drones to clean it up In a river in the Danish city of Århus, a small machine called the WasteShark now autonomously sails through the water collecting trash, bringing it to shore, and then recharging itself.
Belgium bans biofuels made from palm oil, soy
Belgium will ban biofuels made from soy and palm oil from 2022 onward as part of its effort to combat deforestation, said Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Zakia Khattabi on Tuesday.
France moves to ban short-haul domestic flights
EPA/ Getty Images image captionFrench lawmakers want the train to take the strain French lawmakers have moved to ban short-haul internal flights where train alternatives exist, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions. Over the weekend, lawmakers voted in favour of a bill to end routes where the same journey could be made by train in under two-and-a-half hours.
France Bans the Use of Wild Animals in Traveling Circuses
Photo: Stock Photos from MARTIN MECNAROWSKI/Shutterstock Traveling circuses have wowed viewers around the world for over 100 years. Acrobats, trained elephants, and clown cars are standard fare under the "Big Top." However, animal rights activists have long critiqued acts which use wild animals.
Students design skateboard wheels made from chewing gum
Chewing gum: it's a type of plastic pollution that we're just not talking about enough. Most modern chewing gums are made from synthetic plastic polymers that don't break down or biodegrade. That means when you toss your used chewing gum on the sidewalk or stick it underneath a bench, you're littering.
Turtle conservation hits the SPOT in North Cyprus
Green and loggerhead turtle nest counts have increased by 162% and 46% respectively in less than two decades on North Cyprus in the Mediterranean. The increase has been achieved through preventing nests being raided by dogs and foxes, and protecting the beaches from tourism development.
The secret ingredient in Paris' green public housing
Grist / Amelia Bates Winter in Paris is notoriously clammy, and this winter was no exception. But Gregory Ferembach didn't need to turn on his heat much. One reason? The walls in his public housing building are lined with one of nature's best insulation materials: hemp.
Greta Thunberg: a True Advocate for Environmental and Women's Rights
In 2018, 15 years old Greta Thunberg became the face of climate change action and took the world by surprise. What started as a "school strike for climate" for a young girl inspired a global student movement that advocated for climate change .
Good vibrations: bladeless turbines could bring wind power to your home
'Skybrators' generate clean energy without environmental impact of large windfarms, say green pioneers The giant windfarms that line hills and coastlines are not the only way to harness the power of the wind, say green energy pioneers who plan to reinvent wind power by foregoing the need for turbine towers, blades - and even wind.
These Eye-Catching Bricks Are Made from Textile Waste
Closeup of a brick made from upcycled textile waste. FabBRICK Clarisse Merlet was a French architecture student in 2017 when she became alarmed about the amount of textile waste created each year.
Conservation actions see Iberian lynx claw back from brink of extinction
By 2002, the Iberian lynx was extinct in its native Portugal and down to fewer than 100 animals in Spain, well on track to becoming the first cat species to go extinct since the saber-toothed tiger 12,000 years ago.
Denmark's Braunstein Taphouse building is reusable and recyclable
With the potential threat of rising sea levels giving developers around the world a good reason to second guess ocean-adjacent construction, Adept Architecture in Denmark has created a stunning example of sustainable and reusable building design.
Seville's plan to turn oranges into electricity
Spanish engineers have updated the old citrus cliché, bringing it into the eco era - when life gives you oranges, make electricity. In Seville, they're repurposing the many tons of fruit that the city's 48,000 orange trees drop in the streets.
Adorable goat playground raises awareness of upcycling waste
NOMAD architects and Karina Aramanda have transformed wood waste into GO[A]T WASTE?, an educational pavilion and animal playground that raises awareness about the merits of upcycling . Installed in the town of Ādaži in Latvia, the eco-friendly project was inspired by the architects' research into construction's impact on climate change and environmental pollution; according to Latvia's Ministry of Environment, the building industry is one of the biggest waste producers in the country.
KLM makes first regular flight with sustainable synthetic fuel
Air France-KLM's Dutch arm operated a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Madrid that the carrier says was the first in the world to use sustainably derived synthetic aviation fuel. The Boeing Co. 737-800 narrow-body plane carried 500 litres of the fuel produced by Royal Dutch Shell Plc, equating to more than five per cent of the total requirement for the trip, KLM said in a statement Monday.
Bat boxes, 'greened' streets and bug hotels: Barcelona embraces its wild side
When Barcelona's inhabitants emerged from a six-week lockdown at the end of April last year, they found that while the city had lain dormant, nature had been busy transforming the streets and parks into a bucolic wilderness.
Norway's trillion-dollar wealth fund sold the last of its investments in fossil fuel companies
Norway's trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund has sold the last of its portfolio of oil and gas companies in a major step away from the country's reliance on its petroleum industry. Trond Grande, deputy CEO of the fund, made the announcement of the final sale, which occurred at the end of last year, in a phone call on Thursday .
The European bison population is no longer vulnerable
The European bison's population has increased sufficiently for it to be removed from IUCN's list of vulnerable species. Thanks to long-term conservation work, the population has increased to more than 6,200, up from a 2003 figure of only 1,800. Rather than vulnerable, the European bison is now classified as "almost threatened."
Milan announces ambitious scheme to reduce car use after lockdown
Milan is to introduce one of Europe's most ambitious schemes reallocating street space from cars to cycling and walking, in response to the coronavirus crisis. The northern Italian city and surrounding Lombardy region are among Europe's most polluted, and have also been especially hard hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Birdwatching Can Increase Happiness as Much as a Pay Raise, Study Shows
Amid the ongoing pandemic, finding a little extra happiness in even the smallest things is key to survival. And although buying new things to accommodate your new indoor lifestyle may be a tempting way to boost your mood short-term, there are several ways to do so that are more sustainable, and that won't cost you a pretty penny.
Norway's electric car drive belies national reliance on fossil fuels
Norway became the first country to sell more electric cars than petrol, hybrid and diesel engines put together last year, new data shows, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for two-thirds of sales in the final months of 2020.
EU Bans Exporting Unsorted Plastic Waste to Poorer Countries
EU will no longer allow exports of hazardous plastics to countries like Malaysia, pictured, as of Jan. 1, 2021. Mohd Rasfan / AFP / Getty Images By Jessica Corbett The European Union's executive branch on Tuesday announced new rules for plastic waste shipments-including a ban on some exports to poorer countries-that will take effect on January 1 as part of the bloc's Circular Economy Action Plan and European Green Deal .
This modular prefab office space offers sustainable solutions
London studio Boano Prišmontas is no stranger to projects that highlight sustainable workspaces . Once the pandemic hit, the need for affordable, easy-to-assemble remote work solutions became even more urgent. Enter "My Room in The Garden," a low-cost prefab home office that can fit a yard of any size and takes less than a day to install.
'Major Hurdle' Cleared As Youth Activists Advance Historic Climate Case
An unprecedented climate lawsuit brought by six Portuguese youths is to be fast-tracked at Europe's highest court, it was announced today. The European Court of Human Rights said the case, which accuses 33 European nations of violating the applicants' right to life by disregarding the climate emergency, would be granted priority status due to the "importance and urgency of the issues raised".
Are Concrete Blocks the Next Batteries?
Energy storage is an increasingly large problem with renewable energy . Energy Vault wants to solve it by storing extra energy as potential energy in concrete blocks. The company recently received a major investment from Japanese holding company SoftBank. That money will allow Energy Vault to build its first full-scale prototypes.
Study: Birds Are Linked to Happiness Levels
A new study demonstrates the link between birds and happiness. TorriPhoto / Getty Images A new study reveals that greater bird biodiversity brings greater joy to people, according to recent findings from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research. In fact, scientists concluded that conservation is just as important for human well-being as financial security.
"Ecocide" could soon be punishable by law
International lawyers are now working together to define the new crime of ecocide. By criminalizing ecosystem destruction, they hope to both punish and deter those who wantonly harm the earth. Swedish parliamentarians requested that the Stop Ecocide Foundation launch the project. It's timed to coincide with the 75 th anniversary of the start of 1945's Nuremberg war crimes trials.
The Ocean Cleanup launches sunglasses made from ocean plastic
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a floating island of waste located in the Pacific Ocean. Several organizations have taken part in cleaning up the area and transporting the garbage back to shore, where it is mostly hauled to landfills.
Iberdrola Aims for Green Hydrogen Leadership Role in Europe
Iberdrola's green hydrogen plans call for 800 megawatts of production, which is 20 percent of Spain's 2030 target. (Credit: Iberdrola) Spanish utility Iberdrola is aiming to become one of Europe's top green hydrogen producers with a 200-megawatt electrolyzer project and plans for 600 MW more.
This Norwegian Start-Up Wants To Build Houses Out of 100% Recycled Plastic
Artist's impression of an Othalo community, imagined by architect Julien De Smedt. Othalo By Victoria Masterson Using one of the world's problems to solve another is the philosophy behind a Norwegian start-up's mission to develop affordable housing from 100% recycled plastic .
'Strong and successful without men': Why two women spent a year in the Arctic
Aa Aa This year, Sunniva Sorby and Hilde Fålun Strøm became the first women to overwinter in the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard without men. 140 kilometres away from their nearest neighbours, the pair spent the entirety of winter and several months beyond in a 20 square meter cabin without running water or electricity.
AirBird is a smart sensor that chirps to highlight indoor air pollution
GXN, the innovation arm of Danish architecture studio 3XN , has developed a twittering air-quality sensor that hopes to draw attention to the negative effects of air pollution within our homes and offices. Called AirBird , it takes the shape and colour of the bright yellow canaries that used to be brought into coal mines to warn workers of carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
Zsuzsanna Horvath makes lamps from laser-cut plywood
Hungarian designer Zsuzsanna Horvath uses laser-cut birch plywood to make the Illan Pendant Light for Italian light company Luceplan. Horvath piqued Luceplan 's interest when she displayed a prototype of her design at Salone Satellite during last year's edition of Milan Furniture Fair.
New Conversion Kit Turns Your Classic Mini Cooper Into A Timeless EV
Fans of classic cars and restomods rejoice! There is now a fully realized and, more importantly, genuinely affordable kit to help you turn your classic Mini Cooper into a fast, clean, and modern EV. And, best of all, it is more true to the original Mini philosophy than you have any reason to hope for.
Raised circular cycling path gives 360-degree views of Belgian forest
Belgian studios BuroLandschap and De Gregorio & Partners have created a circular track called Cycling Through The Trees as part of the cycling network in the province of Limburg. As its name suggests, Cycling Through The Trees is a raised path that takes cyclists up to a height of 10 metres above the ground so that they can ride amongst the treetops.
This reusable packaging could help stop the massive amounts of e-commerce waste
If you order a sweater or t-shirt from the clothing brand Eliou , you don't have to get it in a plastic or cardboard mailer. Instead, you can choose to have it sent in a reusable package.
Wind-powered cargo vessel promises sustainable ocean shipping
Oceanbird is a massive sailing cargo ship designed to reinvent sustainable ocean shipping and reduce transatlantic travel emissions by 90%. The Swedish collaborative project is still in its sea trials stage but is poised for full-scale production by late 2021 and deliveries by 2024.
Dutch Firm Awarded a Juicy $55 Million to Make Lab-Grown Meat Commercial
We have all heard about alternatives to meat like steak made from peas and seaweed and those actually grown in a lab . Now, the company who grew the first burger in a laboratory seven years ago has received $55 million in funds to develop their advanced tech, according to Unilad .
