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The European automotive industry faces a 'perfect storm' of disruption driven by climate change, autonomous driving, and shared mobility. While Europe was the cradle of the car, it is now lagging behind competitors like Tesla and Chinese manufacturers in electric vehicle (EV) production and battery technology. The author criticizes EU policymakers for being too lax and suggests that the Greens are well-positioned to help steer the industry toward a sustainable and competitive future through pragmatic dialogue and ambitious regulation.

In 2017, renewables generated 30% of Europe's electricity for the first time, with wind, solar, and biomass overtaking coal generation. However, overall EU greenhouse gas emissions rose by approximately 1% due to increasing electricity consumption and a significant drop in hydro generation, which was the lowest this century. While Western European nations like the Netherlands, Italy, and Portugal announced coal phase-outs, Eastern European countries continued to rely on coal. The report also highlights the impact of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) reforms and the ongoing negotiations of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package.

The brief finds that while 66% of EU cities have climate plans, there is significant disparity based on city size and national legislation. National mandates in countries like Denmark and the UK significantly increase the likelihood of cities having plans, while many cities in Spain and Italy rely on international networks like the Covenant of Mayors due to a lack of national guidance.

The report argues that redirecting surplus food—edible food that is not 'true waste'—can alleviate hunger for 13 million South Africans while providing cost savings and tax benefits to food firms. It highlights that 95% of food waste in South Africa occurs before the consumption stage, with agricultural production (26%), processing/packaging (25%), post-harvest handling (24%), and distribution/retail (20%) being the primary sources. The document details the environmental impact, noting that Food Forward's donation of 4,400 tonnes of food in 2017/8 avoided 17,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies barriers such as liability concerns and date labelling, while proposing solutions like 'Good Samaritan' legislation and the use of technology platforms like FoodShare to coordinate logistics.

The report details the health impacts of coal-fired power plants in Spain, specifically noting thousands of asthma and bronchitis cases in children. It criticizes the Spanish government for using EU derogations to allow higher emissions and for proposing a Royal Decree to hinder plant closures. Additionally, it highlights that Spain's greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 remained 16.6% higher than 1990 levels, with coal plants accounting for 60.3% of emissions from all combustion installations in 2015.

The report details the health impacts of coal-fired power plants on children in Spain, highlighting thousands of cases of asthma and bronchitis. It criticizes the Spanish government for using legal exceptions to allow emissions above EU limits and for proposing a Royal Decree to hinder plant closures. Additionally, it notes that Spain's greenhouse gas emissions were 16.6% higher in 2015 than in 1990, attributing much of this to the energy sector's dependence on coal.

Lone Star Funds acquired DFC Global Corp in 2014, a company operating as a payday lender, pawnshop operator, and check-cashing provider. DFC has faced significant regulatory actions, including a CFPB order to refund $3.3 million to US military servicemembers due to deceptive auto loan practices and a UK Financial Conduct Authority order to refund £15.4 million to customers for unaffordable lending and poor debt collection. The company charges extremely high Annual Percentage Rates (APRs), ranging from 214% in California to 33,465% in Poland, and has actively lobbied against interest rate caps in Hawaii.

ClientEarth's submission argues that the revision of the EU Fisheries Control System must prioritize the implementation and enforcement of existing rules over the creation of new ones. The organization opposes the 'regionalisation' of control measures, fearing it would weaken standards and create a 'race to the bottom'. Key recommendations include removing VMS and logbook exemptions for vessels between 12 and 15 metres, introducing electronic reporting and geo-tracking for small-scale fisheries (below 12 metres), and establishing stricter rules for the certification of engine power and gross tonnage. ClientEarth also advocates for the inclusion of recreational fisheries under licensing and reporting obligations for stocks subject to recovery plans or multiannual plans. Finally, it calls for a more transparent reporting system, an expanded role for the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), and a more rigorous application of the penalty point system for serious infringements.

The document contends that the widespread panic regarding 'populism' as a threat to democracy is misplaced because populism is often a secondary ideology. The author distinguishes between left-wing populists, who are generally not anti-pluralist, and the radical right, whose threat to liberal democracy is rooted in xenophobic nationalism and anti-immigration agendas. The text highlights that the real danger lies in the broader corrosion of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, often adopted by mainstream parties in the name of national security and identity.

The briefing highlights the potential of urbanisation to improve lives through innovative governance and decentralisation. It uses examples from Nordic cities, Asia, and North America to demonstrate how city-level action can bypass national delays in implementing SDGs. For Africa, the text suggests that adapting these global urban successes to local contexts—while addressing specific challenges like poverty and instability—can catalyse sustainable development.

The research examines the capacity of 'old industrial regions' (OIRs) to transition from declining mature industries to new growth paths. It utilizes the Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) framework to analyze 'lock-in'—functional, cognitive, and political—that hinders diversification. Using examples like Germany's Ruhr region, the paper argues that successful renewal requires 'regional branching' based on existing capabilities and a shift from top-down mandates to inclusive, bottom-up 'regional development coalitions'. It provides a typology of innovation support and warns against the 'regional resource curse' where renewable energy transitions may fail to create localized value.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) declares its alliance with La Via Campesina (LVC) following the VII International Conference. The document highlights a shared commitment to food sovereignty, agroecology, and climate justice, while opposing corporate control of the commons and 'false solutions' to climate change. It presents declarations from the main conference, a women's assembly, and a youth assembly, all emphasizing the need for grassroots mobilization against patriarchy, imperialism, and financial capital to ensure the survival of 'Mother Earth'.

The authors contend that proposed loopholes in the EU's Effort Sharing Regulation—which covers over 60% of EU greenhouse gas emissions—could allow member states to avoid real climate action between 2021 and 2030. They highlight a disconnect between national governments, such as those of Spain and Italy, and ambitious local authorities in cities like Gijón and Salerno, arguing that the EU must support urban-led mitigation efforts to achieve its climate commitments.

The study evaluates the impact of financing renewable energy through electricity surcharges versus alternative tax sources in Spain. Using a combined computable general equilibrium (CGE) and microsimulation (MS) model, the authors find that electricity surcharges are regressive, disproportionately affecting low-income households and vulnerable groups such as retirees. While exemptions for producers protect industrial competitiveness, they exacerbate the burden on households. Conversely, financing through lump-sum transfers or value-added taxes (VAT) is found to be more effective in reducing regressive effects and safeguarding welfare for low-income groups without significantly harming overall economic output.

The report examines the practices of Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott, concluding that the proliferation of 'premium' and 'specialised' infant formulas is a strategy to increase market share and profit margins, particularly in Asia, often at the expense of breastfeeding promotion and consumer affordability.

The document highlights the critical role of cities in meeting the EU's 2020 and 2030 climate targets, noting that urban areas deliver over a third of the 2020 target. It warns that national governments—specifically Poland, Italy, and Spain—are pushing for regulatory loopholes in the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) that could stifle local climate actions. The briefing provides case studies from Barcelona, Gijón, Niepolomice, Gdynia, Salerno, and Parma to demonstrate the effectiveness of local initiatives in transport, energy efficiency, and waste management, and recommends closing ESR loopholes to unlock these co-benefits.

The report finds that EU Member States have failed to effectively implement fisheries enforcement frameworks, characterized by delays in adopting penalty point systems, a lack of harmonized definitions for 'serious infringements', and sanctions that are neither deterrent nor transparent.

The report identifies systemic failures in English fisheries enforcement, including a lack of proactive surveillance, low prosecution rates, and insufficient fines that fail to deter IUU fishing. It highlights breaches of EU law regarding the maintenance of a public register of infringements and the misapplication of the points system for serious infringements. Furthermore, it notes a legal gap where environmental damage to European Marine Sites cannot be prosecuted unless a specific local byelaw exists, and argues that the current emphasis on reducing regulatory burdens for business undermines the robust inspection required by EU mandates.

EDP has committed to science-based targets to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions from electricity production by 55% per TWh and scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030, relative to 2015 levels. To achieve these, the company is expanding its renewable energy portfolio by at least 700 MW annually until 2020 and investing in energy efficiency, including the deployment of smart meters in Iberia and Portugal. EDP reports a 57% reduction in CO2 intensity compared to 2005 and aims for 75% by 2030. The company identifies political and regulatory uncertainties as primary challenges and advocates for transparent carbon pricing to accelerate the energy transition.

The paper identifies 'Knowledge of climate change' and 'Belief in anthropogenic CC' as the primary predictors of climate change opinion, which are further modulated by 'Risk aversion' to determine policy acceptance. It highlights the role of traditional media in polarizing opinion and the influence of political and religious orientations on beliefs. The authors argue that developed nations often perceive climate risks as distant due to higher mitigation and adaptation capacities, whereas more vulnerable, less wealthy communities exhibit higher risk awareness.