BirdLife Community

Green Infrastructure – Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

On Monday 6th May the European Commission launched a new strategy to encourage the deployment of green infrastructure. The strategy also revealed a clear policy signal to ensure that the enhancement of natural processes that provide multiple benefits, such as green infrastructure, becomes a systematic part of spatial planning. This is a key element of the implementation of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy towards 2020.

All aboard for sustainable fisheries!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

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On Monday 13th May, the day of the opening of the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels, BirdLife Europe together with other NGOs, politicians, fishermen and chefs joined forces to stop overfishing and preserve our oceans in the campaign All Aboard!

New study shows CAP reform risks greenwashing

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

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New study shows CAP reform risks greenwashing

During the final days of public negotiations on the EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), BirdWatch Ireland (BirdLife in Ireland) in collaboration with An Taisce (The national trust for Ireland), and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) organized a conference on “the role of the Irish Presidency in sealing the deal on a greener CAP”. At the event a new study was launched, demonstrating that greening of the CAP is on course to failure.

Keeping the EU biofuels policy alive costs citizens €10bn a year

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

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n April 17, was launched a study report revealing that the EU spends €10bn a year in support of the biofuels industry, a sum as big as the Cyprus bailout. Yet the industry is not achieving its objectives of climate change mitigation, rural development and energy security.

Innovative solutions to bring clean air back into cities and their ports

Thursday, April 11, 2013

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Air pollution threatens climate, environment and human health. Each year approximately 500,000 people die prematurely from the direct consequences of poor air quality throughout the European Union. NABU (BirdLife in Germany), in collaboration with eight European green NGOs, has launched a tree year project aiming at developing concrete measures and solutions for a cleaner air in European ports and cities. The timing is perfect since clean air will be the focus of EU environmental policy discussions throughout 2013, the European Year of Air.

From the sands of the Sahara to the sands of CEMEX quarries

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

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From the sands of the Sahara to the sands of CEMEX quarries

Sand Martins make an amazing journey every winter from the Sahara to the UK to breed in piles of sand. This year, every CEMEX UK quarry will be creating the sheer banks of sand that Sand Martins love to make their homes in, as part of the CEMEX-BirdLife International partnership.

Can Europe truly protect forests?

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

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European countries, from Norway and Russia to Turkey and Kyrgyzstan have been negotiating for some time now on the future role of forests and the compliance of international and national actions for an enhanced forest protection for almost two years now.

BirdWatch Ireland exhibition in European Parliament: Nature creates prosperity

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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BirdWatch Ireland exhibition in European Parliament: Nature creates prosperity

In the context of the Irish EU Presidency (January to June 2013) BirdWatch Ireland arranges a photo exhibition in the European Parliament in Brussels of iconic Irish birds in a way to promote the role of the Irish EU Presidency in securing our well-being, jobs and a sustainable future.

From dogfight to protected birds’ estuary

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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From dogfight to protected birds’ estuary

After years of political dogfight there finally seems to be hope for the Western Scheldt estuary in the Netherlands, a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with multiple streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.

Producing biofuels without increasing greenhouse gas emissions

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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A recent report about the Dutch biofuels market, compiled by research institute CE Delft, reveals that the environmental performance of biofuels sold on the Dutch market could be significantly improved by shifting to biofuels that produce low levels of CO2 emissions.

European Parliament vote falls short of real CAP reform

Monday, March 18, 2013

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European Parliament vote falls short of real CAP reform

On 13 March the European Parliament voted on the two of this year’s key policy issues; the EU Budget for the next seven years and the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which eats up 40% of it. Although Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) showed courage by rejecting the European Council’s deal on the budget, it seems that they lost their guts when it was time to vote for a real reform of the CAP.

Spanish media project to promote Natura 2000

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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Spanish media project to promote Natura 2000

SEO/BirdLife (BirdLife in Spain) in collaboration with the Spanish news agency EFE recently launched a four year Life+ project focusing on the Spanish Natura 2000 Network.

Court Ruling Threatens Red-Breasts

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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In January, the Bulgarian Court overturned a decision by the Bulgarian Minister of the Environment to revoke permission for a wind energy project threatening a high nature value area as well as the globally endangered bird species inhabiting it.

Sealing the EU budget deal and slamming the door on environment

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

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On Friday 8 February, after months of discussions and a final 24 hour sprint session during the EU Summit, the 27 EU Heads of State, finally agreed on the EU budget for the period 2014-2020. The result is a blow to the environment. Not only is it a historically small budget, 908 billion euro compared to 970 billion euro for the current period (2007 – 2013), but it also entails an extermination of all expectations for greening.