European drought intensifies farming crisis

The European drought is taking a severe toll on farmers across north-western Europe, echoing past hardships and intensifying concerns about the future of agriculture under climate change. Hendrik Jan ten Cate, a Dutch farmer, vividly recalls the devastating 2018 drought that slashed his onion yield to a mere 10% of normal levels. In his desperation …

ESA at 50 a legacy of space innovation

The European Space Agency (ESA) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, marking five decades of international collaboration, scientific discovery, and ambitious space missions. Unlike national space agencies, ESA is a unique multinational organization, funded by 23 member states and associated partners such as Canada. This collaborative structure allows ESA to pool resources and expertise, enabling …

Advanced recycling technology breakthrough

For decades, plastic recycling has failed to live up to its promise—plagued by inefficiency, high costs, and degradation of material quality. Traditional methods rely on high-heat extrusion and mechanical separation, which reduce the integrity of plastics with each cycle. As a result, more than 90% of global plastic waste still ends up in landfills or …

Methane emissions threaten climate goals

Methane emissions, which account for roughly one-third of global warming, continue to pose a major climate challenge, according to the latest Global Methane Tracker report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Despite mounting international concern and technological solutions already available, methane emissions from fossil fuel production have held steady at approximately 120 million tonnes annually …

Why stabilizing carbon emissions isn’t enough

Over the past decade, the growth in carbon emissions has slowed significantly, falling to an average annual increase of just 0.6%, compared to 2% in the previous decade. However, this plateau has occurred at an alarmingly high level, with human activities releasing a record 10.2 gigatonnes of carbon (GtC) in 2024. While deforestation and land …

Offshore wind supply chain issues threaten net zero

Ørsted’s decision to pause the Hornsea 4 offshore wind project has sparked major concern across the UK’s renewable energy landscape. The Denmark-based energy company halted its development of the 2.4GW windfarm—one of Britain’s largest proposed projects—citing a combination of rising interest rates, escalating construction costs, and most notably, offshore wind supply chain issues. The decision …

Wake-up call for global energy grid upgrade

A massive power outage that recently struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of France has served as a stark reminder of the fragility of current energy infrastructure and the urgent need for a global energy grid upgrade. The blackout halted train services, disrupted banking systems, and left mobile networks inoperative, highlighting the critical role electricity plays …

EU urged to fully price aviation emissions

A new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that expanding the scope of key EU legislation could significantly reduce aviation emissions and generate billions to fund the green transition. The study shows that emissions from European flights in 2024 nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 8.4 million flights producing 187.6 million tonnes (Mt) of …