In only her second week in office, new European Commission President von der Leyen has today set out a major environmental package to set the EU on a new environmental and climate path.
System change: Europe’s environmental and climate warning signals are flashing red according to a comprehensive ‘State of the Environment’ survey published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Simple reusable solutions to throwaway plastic cups, plates, cutlery and takeaway boxes are working across Europe – but need governments' backing to take off and power the #ReuseRevolution
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European governments and the European Union must take a lead in halting global ecological collapse, warned Friends of the Earth Europe, in reaction to a major global assessment published today.
In 2018 China shook the global plastic recycling system by banning imports of plastic waste. Since then our plastic production, consumption and waste systems have faced various crises, but also opportunities. A UN meeting on waste trade provides an opportunity to tighten up regulations and hopefully encourage rich countries to reduce plastic consumption and deal with their own plastic waste rather than dumping it on the Global South.
However reduction targets missing and collection targets delayed, campaigners warn
After months of intense negotiations, the EU has agreed much-anticipated laws to slash single-use plastics in the EU. The agreed text is a significant step forward in tackling plastic pollution, but does not fully address the urgency of the plastics crisis, according to Rethink Plastic and Break Free From Plastic.
A huge plastic dragon arrived in the EU quarter today, as the Rethink Plastic alliance called on EU decision-makers not to water down new laws to cut plastic pollution. The detail of the final agreement is currently being negotiated between the European Commission, Parliament and Council.
National governments must follow suit, say campaigners
The European Parliament has leapt forward to protect people and the environment from plastic pollution, but national governments must now show the same ambition, according to the Rethink Plastic alliance.
European Parliament must close loopholes, say Rethink Plastic campaigners
Producers could simply market items like throwaway plastic cups as reusable, under changes to a draft EU laws on single-use plastics tabled today in the European Parliament, the Rethink Plastic alliance of NGOs has warned.
Biodegradable and compostable plastics do not prevent plastic pollution and should not be an excuse to keep consuming single-use plastics, the European Parliament recognised in a vote today. The Parliament voted to strengthen the European Commission’s plans to slash plastic pollution, under the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy launched in January 2018.