DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 'Liquid gold': An olive oil shortage is fueling record prices and food insecurity fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Extreme hot weather and persistent drought conditions have dealt a severe blow to olive oil production in southern Europe, resulting in a significant surge in prices. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesA shortage of olive oil, sometimes referred to as "liquid gold," has driven prices to record highs, fueled a crime surge and pushed the industry into crisis mode. The decline extends a downward trend, after olive oil prices reached an unprecedented peak of 9.2 euros in January. But analysts said that dwindling olive oil reserves would likely keep markets on edge for sudden price spikes over the coming months. Olive oil thefts

Persons: Kyle Holland, Holland, De Rust, Rodger Bosch, Vito Martielli, Martielli, Helena Bennett, Bennett, Xylella, Mintec's Holland Organizations: European Union, Anadolu, Getty, Centre, Market, Mintec, CNBC, Afp, Rabobank, Green Alliance UK, European Environment Agency, Nurphoto Locations: Europe, Anadolu, Spain, Italy, Greece, Spain's Andalusia, Olive Estate, De, Cape Town, Netherlands, Olive, Lecce, Puglia

☆ Oxford-Cambridge boat race rowers warned to avoid water after E. coli find
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Billy Stockwell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

To meet the UK Environment Agency’s inland bathing water quality standards, E. coli levels should be below 1,000 CFU per 100ml. “It would be terrific if the Boat Race drew attention to it. It also adds that rowers should refer themselves to a healthcare professional if they accidentally swallow river water. The guidance has been issued to both universities in briefing packs ahead of this weekend’s race, River Action said. The Oxford boat sinks after only half a mile, during the annual University boat race against Cambridge on March 24, 1951.

Persons: Sean Bowden, ”, James Wallace, coli, ” Feargal Sharkey, “, Sienna Somers Organizations: London CNN, Cambridge, CFU, Environment, Oxford, Thursday’s Telegraph, British Rowing, Rivers Trust, University, Keystone, Hulton, UK Environment Agency, Thames Water, BBC Locations: Oxford, London, United Kingdom, Hammersmith, England, floodwater, Thames

☆ EU Countries to Demand Bloc Does More to Help Farmers, Draft Statement Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jan Strupczewski and Kate AbnettBRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union country leaders will urge the EU to work quickly on more measures to support farmers in response to months of protests by angry agriculture workers, draft conclusions for an EU leaders' summit showed. The EU has already watered down some environmental policies in response to the sometimes violent protests, but with farmers still taking to the streets this week in Belgium and France, Brussels is under pressure to do more. Draft conclusions for an EU summit on 21-22 March, seen by Reuters, showed EU country leaders plan to ask the European Commission to work without delay on "all possible short-term measures, including those to reduce the administrative burden and achieve simplification for farmers". The EU should also take action to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain, and ensure they can earn a fair income, the draft said. The EU Environment Agency this week said current EU food policies are failing to address climate change risks.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Kate Abnett, Jan Harvey Organizations: Union, EU, Reuters, Commission, EU Environment Agency Locations: Belgium, France, Brussels, Europe, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, EU

☆ Why scientists are killing millions of Chinese mitten crabs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Named after the dense mats of hair on their front claws, Chinese mitten crabs are intimidating creatures. Scientists across the continent are looking for ways to reduce the mitten crab population, and in doing so protect the native ecosystems being destroyed by the invasive species. Schoelynck says that scientists in Europe have reported crabs that are a hybrid of both the Chinese and Japanese species of mitten crabs. While mitten crabs are a seasonal delicacy in China, Schoelynck says that they have little meat and therefore aren’t popular in the European market. However, the crabs collected in one of the Belgium traps go to a local zoo to be used as animal feed, he says.

Persons: CNN —, It’s, “ Clancy, ”, Jonas Schoelynck, Van Loon, Schoelynck, Björn Suckow, Alfred Wegener, Clancy, Heleen, Suckow Organizations: CNN, University of Antwerp, Flanders Environment Agency, EU, Alfred, Alfred Wegener Institute Locations: Europe, Bremen, Germany, Asia, Flanders, Belgium, France, Sweden, It’s, Lier, Belgian, China

☆ Could 'carbon passports' that limit how much we travel be in our future?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A recent report on the future of travel includes the concept of a "carbon passport." One tour company is proposing a solution: a "carbon passport" that would limit how much carbon travelers could emit each year. "Carbon passports have taken that idea one step further" because they would involve tracking and limiting travel carbon emissions, specifically, Hawkins added. In reality, a carbon passport would be challenging to implementHawkins and Matt Berna, the president of Intrepid in the Americas, said they didn't see a carbon passport as a quick fix, though. To track your flight's carbon emissions, Berna suggests booking through Google Flights, which has included emissions levels since 2021.

Persons: Paloma Zapata —, Zapata, Alex Hawkins, Hawkins, Matt Berna, Berna, it's, Anna Abelson, Jonathan M, Thierry Monasse, there's Organizations: Future Laboratory, Intrepid, Environmental Protection Agency, Sustainable Travel International, Business, The, Laboratory, Tisch Center of Hospitality, New York University, Airlines, International Air Transport Association, Wizz, Google, European Environment Locations: Americas, Greece, Italy, Albania

DETROIT (AP) — The former owner of a Michigan dam is on the hook for roughly $120 million sought by the state for environmental damage when the structure failed after days of rain in 2020, a judge said. But it's not known how the state will ever collect: Lee Mueller has filed for bankruptcy protection in Nevada. After three days of rain, the Edenville Dam collapsed in May 2020, releasing a torrent that overtopped the downstream Sanford Dam and flooded the city of Midland, located about 128 miles (206.00 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. Wixom Lake, a reservoir behind the Edenville Dam, disappeared. The state insists that the Edenville Dam collapsed as a result of poor maintenance and a lack of critical repairs.

Persons: it's, Lee Mueller, ”, Troy Fox, Paul Maloney, Mueller, Phil Roos, Ed White Organizations: DETROIT, District, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Locations: Michigan, Nevada, Sanford, Midland, Detroit, Wixom Lake

Still, the queen conch is one of many vulnerable species not included on Mexico's national endangered species list. In the meantime, species like the queen conch have lacked federal environmental protection and moved steadily toward extinction. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesOfficials accept proposals to list species only during set periods for public comment. In particular, Mexico lists 535 species as endangered, its worst risk rating, whereas IUCN lists nearly 1,500 species in Mexico as either endangered or critically endangered. If a species is included on Mexico’s list in any category, all commercial uses of that species are banned.

Persons: Alejandro Olivera, ” Olivera, It's, Olivera, Angélica Cervantes Maldonado, Rodrigo Jorge, Jorge Organizations: MEXICO CITY, —, Center for Biological Diversity, Fish, Wildlife Service, National Autonomous University, U.S . National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, The International Union for Conservation of, IUCN, UNESCO Locations: MEXICO, Banco Chinchorro, Belize, Mexico, Mexican, La Paz, of California, The U.S, elkhorn, Caribbean, Ecuador, Madagascar, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Gulf of California

☆ Almost 400,000 deaths in Europe in 2021 attributable to filthy air -EU report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO2), most harmful to people with diabetes, resulted in 52,000 deaths and short-term ozone (O3) exposure led to 22,000 deaths. Including a larger set of European countries outside the EU, there were 389,000 pollutant-related deaths in Europe, the EEA said in its report for 2021, released on Friday. "Air pollutant concentrations in 2021 remained well above the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its air quality guidelines," the EEA said in the report. "Reducing air pollution to these guideline levels would prevent a significant number of attributable deaths in EU member states." NO2 and short-term O3 exposure had the biggest impact on deaths in Turkey, Italy and Germany, according to the report.

Persons: Flavio Lo Scalzo, Piotr Lipinski, Susan Fenton Organizations: Allianz, REUTERS, Rights, World Health, European Environment Agency, European Union, World Health Organization, WHO, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, Rights BRUSSELS, Europe, PM2.5, Poland, Germany, Iceland, Scandinavia, Estonia, Turkey

☆ Portuguese Judge Orders Release of Those Detained in Corruption Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON (Reuters) - A Lisbon judge ordered on Monday that all five people detained last week for alleged corruption and influence-peddling, including the outgoing Portuguese prime minister's former chief of staff, be released from custody, the court said. They remain suspects in the investigation into alleged illegalities in the government's handling of lithium and hydrogen projects, as well as a large-scale data centre. The probe has led to the resignation of Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who is the target of a related investigation, and a snap election being called for March 10. Lacerda Machado was released on a 150,000-euro ($160,305) bail, while no bail was demanded for Escaria, who will be barred from travelling abroad, the court said. Others were named formal suspects in the investigation but were not detained, including Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba, and head the environment agency APA, Nuno Lacasta.

Persons: Antonio Costa, Prosecutors, Vitor Escaria, Diogo Lacerda Machado, Costa's, Lacerda Machado, Joao Galamba, Nuno Lacasta, Costa, Catarina Demony, Andrei Khalip, Aislinn Laing Organizations: Escaria, Infrastructure Locations: LISBON, Lisbon

REUTERS/Catarina Demony/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Portuguese anti-mining groups have urged the government to suspend and review all lithium projects while authorities investigate alleged corruption in the handling of "green" energy deals that have led to the resignation of the prime minister. Antonio Costa resigned on Tuesday, hours after prosecutors detained five people, including his chief of staff, and named two formal suspects close to him in an investigation into lithium mining and hydrogen projects. With more than 60,000 metric tons of known lithium reserves, Portugal is Europe's biggest lithium producer, but its miners sell almost exclusively to the ceramics industry. "Lithium mining projects in Portugal must be immediately cancelled to not allow territories and populations to be affected based on corrupt and unclear processes," the groups said. In 2019, Portugal's government came under fire from lawmakers for signing a contract giving exploration rights for lithium mining to Lusorecursos when the company was only three days old.

Persons: Catarina Demony, Antonio Costa, Lusorecursos, Savannah, Nuno Lacasta, Joao Galamba, UDCB, Aislinn Laing, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justice, Environment, APA, Savannah Resources, Infrastructure, Thomson Locations: Covas do Barroso, Portugal, Rights LISBON, Portuguese, Europe, China, London, Savannah, Barroso

[1/4] Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa attends the informal meeting of European heads of state or government, in Granada, Spain October 6, 2023. REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on Tuesday, just hours after prosecutors detained his chief of staff in a probe into alleged corruption in his administration's handling of lithium mining and hydrogen projects. Costa, who prosecutors said was the target of a separate investigation, announced the decision in a televised statement after meeting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Over 40 searches were carried out on Tuesday at several government buildings, including Escaria's office and the infrastructure and environment ministries, the prosecutor's office said. "At stake may be ... facts capable of constituting crimes of malfeasance, active and passive corruption of politicians and influence peddling," the prosecutor's office said.

Persons: Antonio Costa, Juan Medina, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Costa, Rebelo de Sousa, Vitor Escaria, Joao Galamba, Nuno Lacasta, Catarina Demony, Patricia Rua, Sergio Goncalves, Andrei Khalip, Emelia Organizations: Portugal's, REUTERS, Rights, Costa's Socialists, of State, TAP, APA, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights LISBON, Portuguese, Costa, Portugal, Sines

☆ Apollo 17 astronauts collected rocks that reveal the moon’s true age
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The moon’s gravitational pull is also the force behind ocean tides and partly why our planet has a 24-hour day. Geologist and astronaut Harrison Schmitt used an adjustable sampling scoop to retrieve lunar samples during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Zircon crystals formed as the moon cooled 4.46 billion years ago, and a new analysis traced them in the Apollo 17 samples. NASAAn ancient landscape has been discovered beneath the East Antarctic ice sheet, thanks to ice-penetrating radar. Understanding the hidden, well-preserved landscape could help scientists predict the evolution of the ice sheet and how it may fare as temperatures warm in the climate crisis.

Persons: Harrison Schmitt, Eugene Cernan, ”, Jennika Greer, Nick Gray, James Webb, Stewart Jamieson, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, NASA, Apollo, University of Glasgow, JBA Consulting, Environment Agency Engineers, Environment, Durham University, CNN Space, Science Locations: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, England's Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight, Orkney Islands, Denman, East Antarctica, Belgium, North Wales, Iraq, Syria

☆ Dinosaur footprints uncovered on beach on England’s Isle of Wight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Engineers from the government’s Environment Agency were investigating how to reinforce sea defenses along the Yaverland seafront on the Isle of Wight, when they uncovered the fossils, according to a press release Monday. The dinosaur footprints were dicovered on a beach next to a café, a car park and a bus stop. The Environment Agency said the fossils were excavated in a vacation destination beside a beachside café, a car park and a bus stop. Displayed in London’s Natural History Museum is a mantellisaurus skeleton that was discovered on the Isle of Wight in 1917. It is one of the most complete dinosaur skeletons in the UK, according to the Environment Agency.

Persons: Nick Gray, Martin Munt, Munt Organizations: London CNN, Engineers, government’s Environment Agency, JBA Consulting, Agency “, Environment Agency, Isle Museum, ” Locations: Jurassic, England, government’s, Isle of Wight, Europe, ”

☆ Haze hits Singapore as hot spots in Sumatra increase
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Chen Lin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Transborder haze is a perennial problem in Southeast Asia as regulatory loopholes make it hard for authorities to eliminate Indonesia's slash-and-burn land clearing practices. Singapore's National Environment Agency said 212 hot spots were detected on Indonesia's nearby Sumatra island on Friday, up from 65 on Thursday and 15 the day before. A brief shift in the wind direction on Friday afternoon blew some of the lighter haze toward Singapore, worsening the island nation's in air quality, it said. Earlier in the week Malaysia urged Indonesia to take action on the fires within Indonesia's borders as the air quality in Malaysia hit unhealthy levels. The most severe haze conditions recorded in Singapore were in September 2015, when the 24-hour index exceeded 300 to the hazardous level, prompting school closures.

Persons: Antara, Chen Lin, William Mallard Organizations: Rights, National Environment Agency, Thomson Locations: Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Rights SINGAPORE, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Malaysia, Indonesia's

☆ What Uganda’s war on second-hand clothes means for fashion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sarah Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Camille Delbos/Art In All of Us/Corbis/Getty ImagesSo Kolade turned to something that was available in abundance: second-hand clothes. “I have declared war on second-hand clothes to promote African wear,” the President said during the opening of 16 factories at an industrial park late last month, according to Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor. Ugandan fashion house Buzigahill give new life to second-hand clothes through patchworking and splicing pieces together. According to the Uganda Dealers in Used Clothing and Shoes Association, there are a huge number of jobs directly and indirectly involved in the second-hand clothing supply chain. “It is clear that the second-hand clothing trade is broken because the firsthand clothing trade is broken,” said Ricketts.

Persons: Bobby Kolade, Camille Delbos, Kolade, patchworked sweats, Yoweri Museveni, Martin Kharumwa, ”, Corti Paul Lakuma, Bales, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Uganda’s, Buzigahill, Liz Ricketts, Ricketts Organizations: CNN, The, Fashion, Ugandan, Daily Monitor, East African Community, Policy Research, Greenpeace, Bloomberg, Getty, European Union, European Environment Agency, Uganda Dealers, Association, European Locations: Berlin, Kampala, Entebbe, Uganda, Turkey, China, East, Europe, East Africa, Philippines, Indonesia, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ugandan, Accra, Ghana, Africa, Kantamanto, California

Yes to life" take part in a anti-lithium protest in Covas do Barroso, Portugal, August 15, 2023. With 60,000 tonnes of known reserves, Portugal is already Europe's biggest producer of lithium, traditionally mined for ceramics. Referring to the Barroso project and another in France, he said it would be "a disaster if either ... doesn't succeed". But with only 15 of 916 submissions in a public consultation supporting the project, Savannah faces a struggle to win over locals who have said they will fight it and the APA in court. "Politicians listen to those who shout loudest and have most money - and that's the mining industry," she said.

Persons: Catarina Demony, Maria Loureiro, Loureiro, Barroso, Martin Jackson, , Savannah's, Michael Schmidt, doesn't, Schmidt, Nelson Gomes, Greta Thunberg, Karin Kvarfordt Niia, LKAB's, Anders Lindberg, UDCB's Catarina Alves Scarrott, Aida Fernandes, Barroso's, Dale Ferguson, Ferguson, Emanuel Proenca, Teresa Camille, Gunilla Hogberg Bjorck, Miguel Pereira, Covas do Barroso, Pietro Lombardi, Simon Johnson, Aislinn Laing, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Savannah Resources, DO BARROSO, EU, Agriculture Organization, CRU, APA, State, Barroso, Reuters, UDCB, Thomson Locations: Covas do Barroso, Portugal, Barroso, China, London, Savannah, Europe, France, Kiruna, Sweden's, Montalegre, Scarrott, Portuguese, EUROPE, Chile, Covas, Karr, Covas do, Madrid, Stockholm

☆ British water companies face $1 bln lawsuits over pollution - law firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Environmental and water consultant Carolyn Roberts, who plans to bring the claims, says water companies would have faced penalties if they had properly reported pollution incidents. The firm said it will also be filing cases against five other companies – Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water – in the coming months. Water companies have pushed back against the proposed claims, describing them as "highly speculative". A Thames Water spokesperson said the company was aware of the potential claim, which they said was without merit. Water companies have avoided being penalised by regulator Ofwat for "serial and serious under-reporting" of pollution incidents, she said in a statement.

Persons: Trent, Darren Staples, Carolyn Roberts, Roberts, Leigh Day, Severn, Sam Tobin, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Environment Agency, Water, Thomson Locations: Cropston, England, British, United, Water, Yorkshire, United States

☆ 'Nature fights back': Slovenia's worst floods kill six
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Fedja Grulovic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view of a damaged building in a flooded area, following heavy rains, in Prevalje, Slovenia August 6, 2023. REUTERS/Fedja Grulovic/File photoPREVALJE, Slovenia, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Slovenia's worst floods on record have killed at least six people, swept away homes and clogged villages with debris, authorities and media said on Monday. "You know, nature fights back against everything (we do). The Slovenian Environment Agency said floods were starting to recede on Monday, but some areas were still cut off. Residents of villages along the river Mura had to be evacuated on Sunday night after part of the levee collapsed.

Persons: Fedja, Drago Hudofisk, Fedja Grulovic, Daria Sito, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Slovenian Environment Agency, Authorities, European Union, NATO, Thomson Locations: Prevalje, Slovenia, Austria, Kranj, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Hungary, Germany, Sucic, Sarajevo

☆ Floods hit Slovenia, forcing evacuations and disrupting transport
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KAMNIK, Slovenia Aug 4 (Reuters) - Torrential rains described by rescuers as "biblical" hit northern and western Slovenia on Friday, disrupting traffic and causing black outs, with helicopters evacuating people from some areas. Rescuers struggled to reach flooded areas and issued a public call for rubber boats in places where roads were closed and impassable due to landslides. Helicopters evacuated people trapped at their homes in the town of Skofja Loka, where vehicles and trucks were submerged or taken by torrents, local media reported. "We have not seen floods like these not just in 500 years, but in a 1,000 years," Roman Kocilija, chief of the rescuers in the village of Most pri Komendi, was quoted as saying by local media. He appealed to citizens to stay indoors in the town of Kamnik, where authorities declared an emergency situation and closed kindergartens.

Persons: Kocilija, Marjan Sarec, Borut Zivulovic, Daria Sito, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Environment Agency, Helicopters, Defence, Thomson Locations: KAMNIK, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Skofja Loka, Kamnik

☆ Wild weather turns up heat on EU debt stragglers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Meanwhile, record-high temperatures and dryness triggered devastating blazes in Greece, forcing thousands to flee popular summer destinations such as Rhodes. The extreme weather may be limited to southern European countries, but its fiscal repercussions make this a Europe-wide emergency. Reuters GraphicsAgriculture accounts for just 4.4% of GDP in Greece, and less than 3% in Spain and Italy, according to Moody’s. Letting Greece, Italy and Spain deal with such climate nightmares, on top of other economic challenges, risks landing them with a Sisyphean task. As climate risks intensify, the EU will need to consider widening its joint borrowing plans.

Persons: Nicolas Economou CATANIA, Rhodes, heatwaves disproportionally, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Cogeca, Reuters Graphics, European Environment Agency, Union, Copa Cogeca, Thomson Locations: Rhodes, Greece, Italy, Sicily, Europe, Spain, EU, Corfu

☆ Train fares are up to 30 times more expensive than planes in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —As Europe swelters in a heat wave, and the climate crisis accelerates, many travelers are looking towards trains rather than polluting planes. According to a new report, taking a long-distance train in Europe can cost nearly 30 times as much as flying. The report, compiled by environmental campaign group Greenpeace, compared the cost of flight and train tickets on 112 European routes on nine different dates. Train tickets were double the cost of flying, on average, while train journeys from the UK to Europe, which involves taking the often-expensive Eurostar to the continent, were four times the price of flying on average. “Governments must remove airlines’ tax exemptions, such as from fuel taxes and VAT, as well as reduce rail tracks tolls.

Persons: Matteo Mirolo, Lorelei Limousin, ” Victor Thévenet Organizations: CNN, Greenpeace, Eurostar, Ryanair, European Environment Agency, Airlines, Transport, Environment, Transport & Environment, “ Airlines, International Air Transport Association Locations: Europe, Spain, London, Barcelona, Belgium, France, Italy, Edinburgh, EU, Greece

With polls indicating a PP/Vox coalition government as the most likely outcome of next Sunday's national election, the reversal signals what could be a broader shift in Spain's climate change policy. "We are going to continue building bike lanes," he told Reuters. Vox has also pledged to repeal Spain's climate law, which establishes an obligation to create LEZs in cities. "Bike lanes have to be useful and not generate social alarm, so each municipality has to analyse the most appropriate location," a PP official told Reuters. Valladolid has been awarded 10.6 million euros to create an LEZ and about 4 million for bike lanes.

Persons: Teresa Ribera, Vox, Alberto Gutierrez, Miguel Diaz, Santiago Abascal, Pedro Sanchez, Sanchez, Cristina Monge, LEZs, Carmen Moriyon, Frans Timmermans, Belén Carreño, Pietro Lombardi, Andrei Khalip, Charlie Devereux, Angus MacSwan Organizations: People's Party, Elche, Vox, Reuters, United Nations, Socialist, University of Zaragoza, EU, Brussels, Cars, European Environment Agency, Thomson Locations: MADRID, VALLADOLID, Valladolid, Gijon, Castello, Europe, Spain

☆ EU Parliament backs landmark law to restore Europe's nature
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Caolán Magee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The European Parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of legally binding targets to protect and restore nature in the European Union, despite strong opposition from some policymakers. The flagship EU nature law will also require countries to introduce measures to restore nature on a fifth of their land and sea by 2030. It is the first major piece of legislation to protect biodiversity in the EU in the last 30 years, according to Greenpeace. Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg reacts as she attends a voting session on EU nature restoration law during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty ImagesEU lawmakers and member countries will now negotiate the final text, aiming for a deal before EU Parliament elections in 2024.

Persons: what’s, Špela, Manfred Weber –, Manfred Weber, Mykhaylo Palinchak, ”, Ireland’s Frances Fitzgerald, “, ” Fitzgerald, Greta Thunberg, Frederick Florin Organizations: CNN, European Union, Greenpeace, Greenpeace’s, European People’s Party, EPP, EU Parliament’s, Twitter, Socialists, Democrats, Greens, Getty, European Environment Agency Locations: EU, Greenpeace’s Central, Eastern Europe, Europe, Swedish, Strasbourg, AFP

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - Thames Water has become the poster child for a British water industry under fire for its poor environmental record and financial mismanagement. After a period as a listed company, Thames Water was acquired by German utility RWE (RWEG.DE) in 2001. Thames Water said on Monday they would provide 750 million pounds, and added it had strong liquidity of 4.4 billion pounds. FINANCESNearly 60% of Thames Water's debt is index-linked, according to ratings agency Standard & Poor's, saddling it with higher repayments as inflation soars. Thames Water was fined 3.3 million pounds last week, while Southern Water was fined 90 million pounds in 2021.

Persons: Margaret Thatcher's, Australia's Macquarie, Abu, Hermes, Ofwat, Sarah Young, Chiara Elisei, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Margaret Thatcher's Conservative, Water, Thames, Ontario, BT, China Investment Corp, Thames Water, Macquarie, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, The Times, Environment Agency, Southern Water, Thomson Locations: Britain, Here's, Abu Dhabi, Thames, Southern Water, United, England

DIRTY BEACHESClean water campaign groups accuse the water companies of failing to invest in infrastructure. She was replaced by two co-chief executives, Chief Finance Officer Alastair Cochran and former Ofwat boss Cathryn Ross, who has been at Thames Water since 2021. Jefferies analysts said Britain's listed water operators Severn Trent (SVT.L), Pennon Group (PNN.L) and United Utilities (UU.L) were better capitalised than Thames Water, but the issues with the largest company meant a "heightened regulatory environment". Daily headlines about rivers and beaches polluted by sewage released by water companies look set to turn water into a major issue at the next general election, expected next year. Thames Water said in its annual report in October that it had not paid a dividend to its shareholders for the last five years.

Persons: Rishi Sunak's, Jeremy Hunt, Sarah Bentley, Alastair Cochran, Cathryn Ross, Alix, Ofwat, Australia's Macquarie, Sarah Young, Paul Sandle, Radhika Anilkumar, David Evans, Mark Potter Organizations: Company, British, Sky News, Conservatives, Thames, Times, Ontario, China Investment Corp, Water, Alix Partners, Daily Telegraph, Jefferies, Trent, Pennon, United Utilities, Environment Agency, Financial Times, Thomson Locations: England, Wales, Britain, Thames

Search resuls for: "Environment Agency"

25 mentions found