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Archives for European Commission

Biofuels and pornography: time to reconsider the EU’s biofuels policies?

28 September, 2007

During a recent seminar organised by the German Marshall Fund in Brussels, I heard EU commission expert for biofuels Paul Hodson express his growing frustration with all the negative news about the agro-fuels in the last twelve months. “Once I was proud of what I was doing”, Paul said, “but now I feel more and… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Agro-fuels, Bio-energy, Biofuels, Climate change, European Commission, European Union

Green consumers: attitudes yes, behaviour no

23 July, 2007

With the European Commission on the verge of publishing its long-awaited communication on sustainabable consumption and production, it should have a look at a new American market research study summarised by Joel Makower on his blog. The “Going Green” survey organised by market researcher Yankelovich shows that US consumers are not really that concerned and informed as some media… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

European Commission, sustainable consumption

CAP "health check" or "eco-sustainability check"?

20 July, 2007

In November 2007, the European Commission is due to present its first ideas on what has been called the 2008 “health check” of the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). The phrase “health check” has been carefully chosen to prevent any fears that the Commission will start a new “review” of its most controversial policy area.… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, Common Agricultural Policy, European Commission, European Union, sustainability

Climate change: EU starts debate on how to adapt

1 July, 2007

On Friday 29 June, the Commission published it long-waited Green Paper “Adapting to climate change in Europe“. The Green Paper starts a consultation phase with civil society on how to deal best with the effects of the climate change that is already unpreventable. On Tuesday 3 July, the Green Paper will be the main topic… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, European Commission, European Union

Of waves and tsunamis. Another Green Week story

17 June, 2007

Danish Mogens Peter Carl, the boss of the Commission’s Environment Directorate-General is said to be an excellent manager and a tough negotiator. But there are two things which he is certainly not as we were able to see during the closing session of Green Week. First, he is not a good communicator. The way he… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

China, Climate change, European Commission, European Union, Global Warming, sustainable development

Green Week 3: will we lose the “right to fly?”

15 June, 2007

Day three of Green Week and I attended two sessions. The first one (which I had to moderate) was on the climate change impact of aviation. The second one was the Transatlantic video dialogue between EU and US policymakers on the state of play on climate change and energy security on both sides of the… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

aviation, Climate change, European Commission, European Union, US climate policy

Green Week Day 2: A tale of one city and a bunch of technocrats

13 June, 2007

Today’s Green Week session on the role of cities and regions for climate change policies and sustainability turned out to be a huge disappointment. This is all the more unfortunate if one agrees (like I do) with Margot Wallström’s remark made yesterday that the “fight for sustainability will be lost or won in the cities”.… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, European Commission, European Union, Green cities, sustainable development

Green week opening: Wallström sees key role for cities

12 June, 2007

“Past lessons, future challenges” is the overall title of this year’s Green Week organised from 12 to 15 June in Brussels and was also the topic of the first high-level opening session this morning. Commission President Barroso started the session with a remarkably optimistic evaluation of the recent G8-meeting and a positive picture of EU… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, ecological economics, European Commission, European Union, Global Warming, Green cities

EU Green Week: follow it here!

11 June, 2007

Tomorrow, 12 June, will see the start of the European Union’s yearly Green Week. The 2007 edition will look back at successes and failures of fifty years of environmental policies at European level and will look forward to some of the main challenges today: climate change, environment and health issue, natural resources depletion, waste policy… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, Dimas, European Commission

News Alerts: IPCC agrees on 3rd report; Commission applauds its environment policy

4 May, 2007

In Bangkok, climate change scientists and country delegates have reached on deal on the third IPCC report for this year. The 35-page report describes the urgent actions needed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to acceptable levels and the costs this would incur on the global economy. More in International Herald Tribune and CNN.… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, Dimas, European Commission, European Union, Global Warming, sustainable development

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