Carbon emissions dip with coronavirus but climate change isn’t going away
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are about to fall by a record 5% this year or more as the COVID-19 pandemic almost ground the economy to a halt worldwide. Still, pollution must be lowered sustainably – the rebound after the coronavirus crisis will return greenhouse gases to previous levels, climate change experts warn. Air […]
CE Oltenia suspending 13,000 workers as sales drop amid COVID-19
The government in Bucharest is paying employees on a leave of absence 75% of gross salary for the duration of the state of emergency. CE Oltenia, already strained by carbon emissions costs, introduced a minimum staffing scheme and sent the first of two groups of workers home for 17 workdays. Romania must introduce measures to […]
Romania temporarily prohibits sale of majority stakes in energy companies
Romania will maintain the state of emergency for at least one more month and until it is abolished, no energy firm can be taken over. Hidroelectrica will thus need to wait longer for its acquisition of ČEZ’s subsidiaries in the country. The state of emergency has been extended for a month, to May 14. Just before […]
Officials, CEOs, NGOs call for green revival from COVID-19 in EU
An ad-hoc group is pressuring the EU to stay on track with its environmentally friendly economic measures. Heads of companies, business associations and think tanks joined ministers and members of the European Parliament calling on decision makers in Brussels to make sure the revival from the COVID-19 downturn is green. The European Commission reacted to […]
Coronavirus puts medical, infectious waste in security spotlight
The pandemic will change much of the world even if we exclude the heavy blow it inflicted on the economy. It is time for a new approach to various segments of life. The coronavirus and future crises warrant much more careful handling of medical and infectious waste. The latest information shows Serbia and other countries […]
Renewable energy prices rebounded 10% after collapse in March
Renewable energy prices across Europe have recovered after a 15-30% fall in March and rebounded 10% in April. Prices took a substantial hit at the beginning of March, falling between 15-30% across key markets compared to average prices in February, but have largely recovered from March lows, said Pexapark, the provider of advisory services for clean […]
Geothermal projects in Turkey paralyzed over COVID-19 shutdown
Supply chain interruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic brought seven projects of 100 MW in total to a halt. Ufuk Şentürk, who is at the helm of the group of investors in geothermal energy in Turkey, said the measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 should lead to the declaration of a force majeure. […]
US states suspend, reverse plastic bag bans amid coronavirus pandemic
Several local and state governments in the United States including Massachusetts and San Francisco have been delaying and rolling back plastic bag limitations, while some even went so far as to prohibit reusable bags out of fears that they help the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Maine postponed its plastic bag ban until early next […]