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EU’s Sustainable Finance scheme should go beyond greening the financial system0
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed, Social and Economic Policy
- 24/10/2017
Combating climate change is expensive. Trillions of Euros need to be invested in the transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy and these funds should come from the financial sector. But make no mistake, a sustainable financial system is not just about “greening” investments, it entails the halt of the increasing financialization of the economy.
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“Gasoline Trees”: A matter of forest management, or is it time to cut them all?1
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 21/10/2017
The eucalyptus – one of the most extended species in warm climate areas – is recently under the spotlight after a tough summer -and autumn- for firefighters in Southern Europe, especially in Portugal, since the tree species is considered to be more fire-prone. Is it time to replace them with local species, or to improve forest management in keeping the current plant masses?
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ISDS: a new dispute to settle?2
- International Trade, Op-ed
- 11/10/2017
Following widespread criticism towards the ISDS mechanisms, the search for alternatives is on and different court systems are being considered. On the 10th of July 2017, the UN started discussions on investment dispute settlement and the establishment of an MIC (Multilateral Investment Court). The opportunity to correct the shortcomings of the previous dispute settlement systems, notably, corporate bias and the unfairness that results from it is NOW.
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The hunger for organic is growing – but how best to feed it?0
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 27/09/2017
With the organic market booming, there has been a recent overhaul in European organic legislation designed to meet this ever-growing demand and expand organic production. Whilst this is a move that should be welcomed, we should nonetheless be wary of the repercussions this regulation reform brings for the organic project. There is still work to be done to reach a satisfactory compromise between promoting organic agriculture whilst maintaining the values of the organic movement.
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Ireland continues to limp towards its climate commitments – Unwilling or unable to comply?5
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 16/09/2017
Still showing the wounds of the global economic crisis and in the midst of the greatest political minefield of a generation in Brexit, Ireland has sought to address the challenges of climate change with the recent unveiling of the National Mitigation Plan (NMP). However, as the dust has settled, what has become evident is that it is less of an actual action plan and more of a discussion document, tasking questions in the form of “what could be done” rather than “how they can be done”. The lack of bite in the document drew a not unexpected collective sigh of disappointment from the environmental community.
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Walking the talk: Going national to make the SDGs beneficial for Indigenous Peoples0
- Environment and Energy, Human Rights and Migration, Op-ed
- 15/09/2017
Even though indigenous peoples are very vocal in advocating for their rights at the United Nations and supranational level and have been included into several Sustainable Development Goals, their position remains precarious. Their needs need to be addressed by implementation programs on a national level.
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Clean up or close down: the European Union’s response to polluting power industries0
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 12/09/2017
The European Union has turned its focus towards Europe’s most polluting power plants and revised emission standards for nitrous oxide (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), mercury and particulate matter. For many Europeans this is a welcomed change, but with member states flouting air quality standards and continuing to support failing industries rather than transition – will we ever be able to breathe easily?
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European Unemployment Insurance – a good initiative missing proper foundation0
- Op-ed, Social and Economic Policy
- 29/08/2017
The European Unemployment Insurance is a reawakened EU initiative imagined to function as a supranational coordination and stabilization mechanism. While its purpose is justified and its design viable, a pre-condition that underpins such a scheme is currently absent.
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The Fumes of War0
- Human Rights and Migration, Op-ed
- 29/08/2017
When did I realize a change was coming, an internal war percolating, like coffee on the fire?
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