Environment
Kosovo* adopts first Law on Climate Change
12 January 2024 - Kosovo* failed to include all the 2030 Energy Community climate and energy targets and the 2050 climate neutrality objective in its new law
US finds vast lithium reserves in Salton Sea geothermal reservoir
09 January 2024 - Geothermal waters in the Salton Sea area in California contain 3.4 million tons of lithium, enough for over 375 million EV batteries
Scientific expedition exploring presence of microplastics in Antarctica
08 January 2024 - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sent its first expedition to study the presence of microplastics in Antarctica
Standing Committee of Berne Convention asks North Macedonia to ban small HPPs in protected areas
27 December 2023 - The committee has asked the government to prohibit all harmful infrastructure projects in the protected areas
Croatian Parliament votes in Damir Habijan as minister of economy, sustainable development
22 December 2023 - New Croatian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Damir Habijan has little time before the general election
Bulgarian fishers oppose draft offshore wind power law
18 December 2023 - A group of legislators proposed a law to enable offshore wind power turbines to be built in the northern part of Bulgaria's Black Sea waters
EU to set up strategic deals with third countries to mine critical raw materials including lithium
13 December 2023 - The Critical Raw Materials Act enables the EU to source strategic minerals including lithium through deals with friendly third countries
Vulcan opens Europe’s first fully domestic lithium production plant in Germany
30 November 2023 - Lithium extraction from salt water has a much lower environmental impact than projects at salt deserts and mines
Here’s how Southeastern European countries rank in sustainable competitiveness
18 November 2023 - Scandinavian countries are ranked the highest in GSCI, but even they have a long way to go to becoming truly sustainable and competitive
Rio Tinto filed nine lawsuits against Serbia
15 November 2023 - Rio Tinto’s Serbian subsidiary Rio Sava has submitted nine lawsuits against the Government of Serbia over the suspension of the Jadar project
CBAM transitional period: What it means for exporters to EU and how they can meet requirements
15 November 2023 - To get a better picture of what lies ahead for exporters to the EU, we have talked to lawyers and energy experts
North Macedonian NGO warns new law is set to allow power plants on fertile land
09 November 2023 - Eko-svest opposes changing the Law on Agricultural Land in North Macedonia to allow power plants on fertile land
Portuguese Prime Minister Costa steps down amid lithium, hydrogen corruption scandal
08 November 2023 - António Costa resigned as PM as the authorities are investigating approvals for lithium mining projects and investments in green hydrogen and a data center
Protesters from local communities affected by mining and exploration disrupt mineral resources conference in Belgrade
07 November 2023 - Environmental activists and people from affected local communities interrupted a mining conference in Belgrade
EU adopts joint green bond standard
30 October 2023 - The regulation sets out requirements for issuers who want to use the designation European green bond or EuGB for their debt securities
Leaked – Serbia signs lithium exploitation agreement with European Commission
28 October 2023 - Serbia and the European Commission signed a letter of intent on a partnership for batteries and critical raw materials including lithium