The European Commission launched this Thursday 11th January an online public consultation calling for farmers, scientists, businesses, environmental organisations, public authorities and citizens to provide information to help stop the decline in pollinators. The consultation is open until 5th April 2018. Click here for the online public consultation. This public consultation concerns all pollinators…
ENVIRONMENT NEWS, REVIEWS
Criminal complaints filed against UE on glyphosate approval
Lack of trust in European institutional actions reigns. The Austrian NGO Global 2000 and the European branch of the world-wide NGO Pesticide Action Network have filed a criminal complaint against the European Food and Safety Agency EFSA, and against the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) – the German institute for evaluating risks. The Germans helped sway…
Glyphosate. Voted in for another 5 years by the European Union
The 28 countries of the EC have finally voted today – by a majority of one – in favour of renewing the use of glyphosate for another five years. 16 votes out of the 28 countries were needed to clinch the deal, representing 65% of the EU population. Germany, representing a large demographic area of…
Air Pollution across Europe: launch of new online real-time map
As reports come in of a spike in radioactivity in the air over the southern Urals which may or may not have drifted over towards Western Europe, we are reminded of just how invisible air pollution can be. Yet the dangers are very present. Take for example the particulate matter PM 2.5, one of a…
European Parliament vetoes criteria on endocrine disruptors
The European Commission’s proposed new criteria defining endocrine disruptors* in plant protection products, proposed in July, was rejected by the European Parliament last week. The definition was based on scientific criteria which have been under discussion in Europe for four years and previously supported by Member countries. The French environment NGO Générations Futures has welcomed…