US aims to put nuclear power on Moon and Mars first
The US was said to be rushing to put nuclear power reactors on the Moon and Mars and hoped to launch the first system within just a few years.
Energy and climate
Latest reporting and analysis on energy and climate.
US exports more gas globally amid trade negotiations and sanctions on Russia
The US has expanded natural gas exports through trade negotiations while applying parallel pressure on Russian energy flows — a dual strategy that has shifted…
NGOs look for plastics reduction treaty, without US if necessary
Countries from around the world are meeting in Geneva to try to agree on a global treaty to reduce plastic pollution.
BP reports largest oil and gas discovery in 25 years off Brazilian coast
British company BP has discovered a giant oil and gas reservoir via deep-sea drilling off the coast of Brazil.
Wind-turbine dismantling costs are more than claimed, study reveals
Completely dismantling wind turbines is significantly more expensive than many assume, according to a new Finnish study that cast doubt on the industry’s assumptions…
Italy fines fast-fashion giant Shein for ‘green’ claims
Italy's competition watchdog (AGCM) said August 4 it has fined the company responsible for Shein's websites in Europe €1 million for false and confusing claims…
EU’s maths on costly ‘green’ hydrogen does not add up, says expert
The European Union’s hydrogen strategy is facing growing scrutiny as cost-efficiency concerns have mounted and deployment targets missed.
EC gives Denmark €36M to help uptake of ‘sustainable aviation fuel’
The European Commission gave Denmark €36 million to subsidise more climate-friendly fuel in domestic aviation.
Investors dump wind-power projects in northern Sweden
Investors are trying to dump northern Swedish wind-power projects, citing an "absurd" market that was losing almost all value.
German environmentalists obtain court injunction suspending construction of Polish container port
A regional administrative court in Warsaw has granted an initial injunction suspending the construction of a Polish deep-water container port near the German border…
European Commission says Northvolt losses ‘in line with expectations’
European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné has said that money lost on Swedish battery developer and manufacturer Northvolt fell within budgetary bounds.
Netherlands scraps ‘unrealistic’ 50GW offshore‑wind energy target
The outgoing Dutch Government said it would cut back its ambitions to build new wind farms in the North Sea.
German Government to cut ‘green’ air travel tax
Germany's Federal Government said it wanted to reduce the aviation tax, a controversial "green" carbon tax.
Poland strikes oil in the Baltic with biggest find in its history
A Canadian company exploring potential energy deposits off Poland’s Baltic coast has announced the largest oil discovery in Polish history together with billions…
EU issues new sanctions on Russia after Slovakia signs up
The European Union approved its 18th package of sanctions against Russia after months of diplomatic wrangling, with Slovakia having blocked the package due to concerns…
Dutch solar park ordered to remove 78,000 panels to protect Schiphol Airport
A solar panel park near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has been ordered by a judge to remove 78,000 panels after they were found to be blinding aircraft pilots.
Swedish study shows property values negatively affected near wind farms
Onshore wind farms have had a detrimental effect on the property value of Swedish real estate, a study found.
EU consumer waste now as big as food imports
European consumers now waste as much food as the EU imports, around 58 million tonnes a year, according to a new report.
EU carbon tax ‘to cost Belgian families €250 to €400 a year extra’
The European Union's new carbon tax, the Emissions Tradings System 2 (ETS2) set to be enforced from 2027, was likely to cost Belgian families €250 to €400 a…
NGO ship’s former master Rackete quits as MEP
Carola Rackete, a German MEP known for her activism regarding NGO migrant vessels, has announced her resignation from the European Parliament.
France battles wildfires as minister warns of ‘high-risk summer’ ahead
A "fast-moving" wildfire in France has been raging in parts of Marseille, triggering mass evacuations, lockdown orders and widespread travel disruptions.
‘People could have died’, Belgian report warns for radicalisation of climate movement
Climate activists are radicalising and getting increasingly dangerous, a confidential Belgian government report has warned.
Poland opposes EU’s new 2040 emissions target
Poland's centre-left coalition government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was opposed to the newly proposed European Union target for cutting emissions.
German Chancellor Merz breaks key election promise on electricity tax
Barely two months after assuming the German Chancellorship, Friedrich Merz has broken a key election promise.
Could Belgium lead a new European mining era?
A Belgian liberal party said it wanted to bring local mining back to Belgium to extract critical raw materials from European soil.
Low emissions for thee not me: Von der Leyen flew private 16 times in 2024
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen maintained a large ecological footprint as she remained an avid user of private jets in 2024.
French Greens MP: ‘Sabotage by environmentalists is legitimate’
French Greens MP Lisa Belluco sparked controversy during a protest in Vienne, France, against the Duplomb Law, which lifted constraints on farmers regarding pesticide…
Belgium imports more Russian gas than before Ukraine war
Belgium imported more Russian gas in 2024 than before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
‘Big beautiful bill’ makes European renewable energy companies’ shares tank
US President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) is causing shares to slide in Europe's renewable energy sector.
Dazzling solar panels blind pilots during approach to Schiphol airport
A solar panel park near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is posing a serious safety risk and disrupting air traffic, according to airport authorities.