Benelux

EIB president Nadia Calvino said that the European Investment Bank will increase lending for defense projects from 3.5 billion euros in 2025 to 4.5 billion euro ($5.28 billion) by next year. The number could be revised 'even higher' if more demand is seen, she added. Calvino, speaking on the sidelines a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, said that the increase expected to 4.5 billion euro was based upon projects already in the pipeline. Calvino said: "We'll be focusing on military mobility, critical infrastructures and anti-drone system. "We will at least do 4.5 billion." This is the current pipeline...

A senior official at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has told us that they plan to delay enforcement of an old Biden regulation which required?significant reductions in air pollution caused by vehicles?. The EPA published a final rule in April 2024 that requires significant reductions of so-called "criteria pollution" emitted by passenger and commercial vehicles for the model years 2027-2032. The EPA, as part of a delayed plan, is considering keeping in place the 2026 standard for an additional two years. This will give them time to review the Biden era standards and the way they set?standards. Separately, the EPA...

John Elkann, the chairman of Stellantis, warned on Tuesday that Europe's auto industry faces an "irreversible" decline. Elkann, speaking in Turin at an event to mark the beginning of mass production of the new Fiat 500 hybrid small car, said that the entire industry had drafted a package for the European Commission on how to give automakers greater flexibility with emissions targets. This would allow the sector avoid a decline. As part of the review of EU carbon emission regulations for the auto industry, which is scheduled to take place on December 10, the European Commission will present a package...

Tyson Foods agreed to cease claiming it would reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050, and to stop marketing beef as climate-friendly in order to settle a suit that accused the U.S. Meat Company of misleading consumers. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group announced this on Monday. The Environmental Working Group reported on Monday that companies have been accused of "greenwashing," where they present an image of environmental responsibility to the public. In the lawsuit filed by Environmental Working Group, Tyson's Brazen Beef brand was cited as an example of misleading advertising. The company claimed that this was the...

John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis, urged the European Commission to give more flexibility to carmakers on emission targets. He said that interim goals set for 2030 should be averaged out over several years. Elkann stated in an interview with Politico, that the industry would be allowed to achieve targets over a period of five years from 2028-2032. This is similar to the arrangement made by the Commission for the 2025 goal it decided earlier this year to spread out across 2025-2027. He said that the proposal would be applicable to both light commercial vehicles and passenger cars. He said that...

The French presidency announced at a United Nations climate conference that European nations had backed a plan worth $2.5 billion to save the Congo rainforest. This conservation initiative could steal some of the thunder from Brazil's flagship initiative, which is the host country for COP30. The U.N. Climate talks are being held this year in the Brazilian Amazon to draw attention to the issue of emissions caused by rampant deforestation. The initiative "The Belem Call for the Forests of the Congo Basin", led by France and Gabon, and supported by Germany, Norway and Belgium, was reported on by Thursday, and...

James Colomina, a French artist, has created a life-sized red figure that is floating in an Amsterdam canal with a flag saying "I'm Fine" as a protest against global climate policy. One of the second red paintings by Colomina is of a young child painting the waterline of a canal far above its current level. Amsterdam is below sea level like a third or so of the Netherlands. This area has a vast system of canals, dikes and pumps that keep it dry. Climate change is a serious emergency. "Climate transcends all boundaries, all beliefs, and all opinions," Colomina stated...

A decade after Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal, lawyers for 1.6 million claimants are bringing a trial against some of the biggest automakers in the world. They accuse them of cheating on diesel emissions tests. Owners of diesel cars made by Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan and Renault, as well as the Stellantis owned brands Peugeot and Citroen, allege that the companies used illegal 'defeat device'. The claimants' attorneys say that these devices monitored emissions when cars were being tested, and made sure they stayed within legal limits. However, when the vehicles were on the roads, they did not. However, the manufacturers say that...

Ferrari unveiled the technology behind the first electric car it has produced, but announced on Thursday that hybrid and petrol vehicles will continue to be at the core of its line-up until 2030. Elettrica will be the name of the electric car that goes on sale in 2019. Ferrari unveiled the production-ready chassis of the Elettrica at an event held in its Maranello headquarters, located in northern Italy. The car base is equipped with a battery pack, electric motors and outer shell, but no wheels or exterior shell. The reveal of Ferrari's first electric car is a major milestone in...

Residents from the Dutch Caribbean told a court Tuesday that the climate change has made the island of Bonaire unbearably dry and hot. They asked the judges to order Dutch state to reduce greenhouse gases faster. Onnie Emerenciana (a farmer in his sixties) told the court the heat was bad for the elderly, the droughts were bad for the crops, and the rising sea level could wipe out the historically important slave huts that once stood on the beaches of the island. Emerenciana, a district court judge in The Hague, said: "We are suffering under the effects" of greenhouse gas...

The Brazilian competition watchdog approved on Tuesday that the country's soy ban will continue through at least the end of this year. CADE's 5-1 vote marked a dramatic change after its reporting councilor in the case voted against the appeal of soybean traders and processors. The private pact, which has been in place for two decades, aims to protect the Amazonian rainforest by prohibiting soybean traders from purchasing from farmers who have cleared land after July 2008. However, it could be a violation of Brazilian competition laws. Back and Forth CADE's Superintendent ordered the agreement to be suspended in August....

ExxonMobil has halted 100 million euros (118.4 millions) in investment in European Plastic Recycling due to draft EU rules that define the recycled content of a final product. Two projects are being developed by the U.S. energy company to recycle chemicals at its existing plants in Rotterdam, and Antwerp. The project will process 80,000 tons of plastic waste annually. In an interview, Jack Williams, Senior Vice-President of ExxonMobil, said that the two projects were now halted due to the EU draft rules which he claimed discriminated against existing petrochemicals facilities versus standalone installations. "Everything is going according to plan." He...

A document seen by revealed that European nations have thrown their weight behind a plan worth $2.5 billion to save the Congo forest. This conservation scheme could steal some of the thunder from Brazil's flagship initiative for the COP30. The U.N. Climate talks are being held this year in the Brazilian Amazon to draw attention to the issue of emissions caused by rampant deforestation. The initiative, led by France, is called "The Belem Call to the Forests of the Congo Basin". It has the backing of Germany, Norway and Britain. The initiative's supporters hope to mobilize resources in order to...

Theo Francken, Minister of Defence in Belgium, said that police are investigating recent drone sightings in military areas. Francken, in a posting on X, said that the government had received reports of drones flying above Kleine Brogel in north-east Belgium on Saturday. He said that a helicopter and police cars pursued the drone but were unable to capture it. A drone jammer also failed to intercept it. Francken stated that the flight was not just a simple flyover, but rather a command to target Kleine Brogel. Police are investigating the incident, according to a spokesperson from Francken's office. Ministers from...

Residents from the Dutch Caribbean told a court Tuesday that the climate change has made the island of Bonaire unbearably dry and hot. They asked the judges to order Dutch state to reduce greenhouse gases faster. Onnie Emerenciana (a farmer in his sixties) told the court the heat was bad for the elderly, the droughts were bad for the crops, and rising sea level could wipe out the historically important slave huts that once dotted the beaches of the island. Emerenciana, a district court judge in The Hague, said: "We are suffering under the effects" of greenhouse gas emission to...

The European Investment Bank's president said that the European Investment Bank had reduced the time it takes to make a decision on security and defence projects from 12 months to 6 months. He also stated that the bank expects the sector to reach or exceed the 3.5% spending target by 2025, before continuing to grow. Under U.S. pressure, the European Union is looking to mobilize up to 800 billion euro ($938 billion), in defence expenditures across the region by the year 2029. This is in response to the threat from Russia and the need to increase its own security. Nadia...

The EU's environment agency warned on Monday that climate change and environmental degradation are a direct threat against the natural resources Europe relies upon for its economic security. According to the European Environment Agency, biodiversity in Europe is decreasing due to unsustainable production and consumerism in particular in the food system. It said that due to pollution, invasive alien species and overexploitation of natural resources more than 80% protected habitats were in poor or bad condition. Water resources are also severely under pressure. The fastest-warming continent in Europe In its report, "Europe's Environment 2025", the EPA said that "the degradation...

PGGM, the lead asset manager for Dutch pension fund PFZW, said that BlackRock's stock funds were no longer being invested in by the Dutch pension fund. This was due to concerns about BlackRock's voting record in sustainability issues. This move is part of a larger activist campaign in The Netherlands, which aims to get the large pension schemes of the country to fire managers who have shown a reduced level support for climate-change resolutions during company meetings. While some companies have reduced the importance of sustainability following the reelection of U.S. president Donald Trump, the largest Dutch pension funds continue...

The Dutch pension fund PFZW announced on Wednesday that it had ended its relationship BlackRock, a wealth manager. This was part of a revamping of its portfolio to prioritise sustainable investments. The Netherlands' second largest pension fund selected 756 companies for investment and sold its stakes of over 2,600 companies in the last few months. Ellen Habermehl, spokesperson for PFZW, said: "In the next five-year period, we will strive to achieve a balance between our desire for good returns and acceptable risks, as well as sustainability." BlackRock was not selected. BlackRock's Dutch Office did not respond immediately to a comment...

According to diplomats, and a document viewed by, the United Nations climate bureau met urgently on Tuesday due to concerns that high accommodation costs for this year's COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil would price out poorer countries from participating in negotiations. Brazil is gearing up to host the U.N. Climate Summit in November this year in the rainforest city Belem. Nearly every government will be present to discuss their efforts to combat climate change. Preparations for COP30 have been plagued by concerns about logistics. The COP30 has been plagued by concerns about logistics. Richard Muyungi (chair of the African Group...

The top court of the United Nations will issue on July 23, a non-binding opinion regarding countries' legal obligations to combat climate change. This decision is expected to be cited by litigants around the globe who are pursuing climate change cases. The World Court's so-called advisory opinion, or the International Court of Justice as it is commonly known, will also address the question of whether the largest states that contribute the most greenhouse gas emissions should be held responsible for damages caused to small island countries. Last week, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights released a similar opinion finding that...

The European Investment Bank announced on Monday that it would invest 1.6 billion euro ($1.84 billion) in a power interconnector planned between Spain and France. This comes after the governments of Spain and Portugal sought EU assistance to improve their electricity links following an April blackout. The European Investment Bank announced on Monday that it would invest 1.6 billion euros ($1.84 billion) in a planned power interconnector between Spain and France. This comes after the governments of Spain and Portugal sought EU help to improve their power links following a massive blackout in April. The EIB (the European Union's lending...

On Monday, the European Commission gave in to pressure from European carmakers and granted them an extra three years to reach CO2 emissions targets for 2025. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, told a press conference that the EU executive will make a proposal this month to allow for compliance over three years rather than just one. To meet the targets, European automakers must sell more electric cars. They lag behind their Chinese and U.S. competitors in this segment. "The goals remain the same." "They have to meet the targets but it means that more breathing room for...

Zizou Bergs, a Belgian tennis player on the rise, could soon rank among the top 50 in the world. However his desire to travel the globe and pursue his career has created an awkward situation. Bergs, 25 years old, is passionate about the environment and sustainability. However, the ATP Tour is so global that he doesn't have much choice but to fly. ATP Tour players racked-up an average of 122,000km by 2023. While Bergs acknowledges that air miles are a part of his job, he's still doing his part to help the ATP Tour achieve its pledge of a reduction...