‘Extinction Rebellion’ Climate Activists Block Part of Amsterdam Highway

AMSTERDAM —  Climate activists blocked part of the main highway around Amsterdam near the former headquarters of ING bank Saturday to protest its financing of fossil fuels. Amsterdam Municipality said in a message on X, formerly Twitter, that traffic authorities closed part of the road and diverted traffic “to prevent a life-threatening situation.” Hundreds of … Read more

$7,500 EV tax credit may be easier, and harder, to get in 2024

Praetorianphoto | E+ | Getty Images The $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles will be easier for many consumers to claim in 2024, but it may be more difficult for others. These opposing dynamics are due to federal policies taking effect at the same time. One policy kicking in Jan. 1 will allow car … Read more

The year in figures and charts – POLITICO

2023 was marked by crisis, transition and conflict. As the war in Ukraine dragged into its second year, the EU was confronted with yet another conflict on its doorstep: The Israel-Hamas war, which brought fresh instability to the Middle East and exacerbated divisions between EU countries. Europe now heads into a big election year and … Read more

Top 10 behind-the-paywall stories of 2023 – POLITICO

It’s been a busy year in EU policy land as lawmakers, leaders and officials raced to tie up loose ends before the European Parliament election next June, with some efforts more successful than others. The EU’s green ambitions became the center of a right-wing backlash as the real-life impact of proposed reforms started to bite. … Read more

As Tree Species Face Decline, ‘Assisted Migration’ Gains Popularity in Pacific Northwest

portland, oregon —  As native trees in the Pacific Northwest die off due to climate change, the U.S. Forest Service, the city of Portland, Oregon, and citizen groups around Puget Sound are turning to a deceptively simple climate adaptation strategy called “assisted migration.” As the world’s climate warms, tree growing ranges in the Northern Hemisphere … Read more

How the music business is putting a green spin on vinyl records

Vinyl records were once written off as relics. First, they were replaced by shiny compact discs that (supposedly) offered superior sound. Then streaming took over, allowing fans to carry vast music collections with them wherever they go. In recent years, vinyl sales have turned around. In 2022, vinyl outsold CDs in the U.S. for the first … Read more

Entrepreneur Recycles Metal and Other Parts of Old Solar Panels

Yuma, Arizona —  As the world pivots from planet-warming fossil fuels to renewable energy, a new pollution problem is rearing its head: What to do with old or worn-out solar panels? Thousands of photovoltaic slabs are being installed across the United States every day, particularly in the sunny west and south of the country, as … Read more

Germany and EU face a new trilemma – POLITICO

Miguel Otero-Iglesias a senior analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid. Faced with a choice between successfully completing the green transition, effectively achieving economic security and aiming for fiscal discipline, the European Union is confronted with a new trilemma — and it cannot accomplish all three. But while Germany — with its debt brake, … Read more

High Rice Prices Worldwide Likely to Continue Into 2024

WASHINGTON —  Arnong Mungoei has farmed rice in Thailand’s Khon Kaen province for half a century. Working land some 500 kilometers northeast of Bangkok never made her rich, but it provided a dependable livelihood. But since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, global geopolitical tensions and weather conditions elsewhere have upended the rice markets and … Read more

What is the idea (or word) that will define 2024? – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Ivo Daalder: Isolationism The next year will be marked by a profound debate within the U.S. about America’s future global role, and its outcome will be watched with great trepidation by the rest of the world.  For 80 years now, the U.S. has embraced … Read more