The British government has announced a ban on single-use vapes starting next June. The ban is aimed at reducing both environmental damage and the rising use of vapes among children.
What's right: new EU limits for air pollutants
EU environment ministers have approved stricter EU limits for air pollutants, such as harmful gases and particulate matter. This revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive has been welcomed by environmentalists and public health advocates.
What's Right: California tackles fashion waste
California is about to become the first US state to tackle the fast fashion waste that overwhelms consumers and landfill, by requiring clothing producers to create and fund a recycling system. It shifts the responsibility from consumers to producers.
What's right: from straightened rivers to meandering ones
Restoring rivers to their natural state, removing dams and managing floodplains could help us cope with today's higher flood risk. Various restoration projects are underway across Europe to undo the 'straightening' of rivers and add more curves and trees.
What's right: Bordeaux to ban cruise ships from centre
Bordeaux is moving towards a ban on cruise ships in the city centre. The move comes after complaints that the liners are an eyesore and cause environmental damage.
What's right: woolly mammoth to return?
The de-extinction company Colossal will bring back animals that are extinct starting with a woolly mammoth calf born from genetically modified elephant cells.
What's right: Brazil's Amazon deforestation down by nearly half
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest slowed by nearly half compared to a year before. It's the largest reduction since 2016, when officials began using the current method of measurement. President Luiz Lula da Silva has pledged that deforestation must be zero by 2030.
Local Matters: Happy Earth Overshoot Day
On 1 August, we reached earth overshoot day. According to Greenpeace Luxembourg, the Grand Duchy could make a major impact to improve the situation worldwide. To get all the details, listen to this week's Local Matters.
What's Right: 80% less plastic bags on UK beaches
The number of plastic bags found on beaches in the United Kingdom has dropped by 80% over the past decade due to the introduction of fees for single-use plastic bags. Get all the details on today's "What's Right with the world".
Residents oppose the Bascharage bypas construction
For years, residents of Bascharage have been opposing the plans of the commune to build a bypass road. The municipality argues that the bypass would keep drive-through traffic out of the city centre. Residents however fear that the road will destroy local forests. Now, they took their fight to court. On Local Matters, Patrizia Arendt, president of the citizens' initiative Bigs, explains why they oppose the infrastructure works.
What's right: a possible answer to destroying Forever Chemicals
A Swiss startup may have the answer to destroying forever chemicals, or PFAS. The company has developed nano particles that can oxidize and destroy the bonds between the molecules that, together, combine to PFAS. The individual parts, or building blocks, are safe to dispose of.
What's right: Why whales become legal persons
Courts across the globe have started granting personhood to animals, rivers and forests - so that their rights can be protected in court. Get all the details on today's "What's right with the world".
A stroll at the new Kuebebierg neighbourhood
On Local Matters, we have a visit to the north-eastern end of the city of Luxembourg, to the neighborhood of Kuebebierg. So far, it is only green fields and a few trees. Once finished, the Kuebebierg neighborhood will house 3000 families.
What's right: Spain will ban some domestic flights to reduce carbon emissions
As part of a plan to reduce carbon emissions, Spain will ban domestic flights in case a destination is reachable by train in under two-and-a-half hours.
What's right: water cremation is making its mark
A British funeral care provider is now offering water cremation as it seems to be the more environment-friendly way to be cremated. It's a sing of the times as an increasing number of people are aware of ecological concerns when it comes to their death.
What's Right: EU tackles maritime pollution
EU lawmakers have agreed on new rules to combat maritime pollution. Several substances will be banned and ship owners and operators held accountable. Get all the details in the audio on today's "What's Right with the World".
Climate crisis: Why Luxembourg's activists don't disturb
Why are Luxembourg’s climate activists so well-behaved? Whereas militants in other countries invent new forms of protest and intend to disrupt the regular functioning of society, Luxembourg’s activists stay quiet. In our interview on Local Matters, Sofia and Brice, members of the collective Rise for Climate Luxembourg tell us why they struggle to mobilize allies for more disruptive forms of protest.
Light pollution: Interview with a lighting counselor
Too much artificial light harms the biorhythm and health - on top of consuming a lot of energy. In our interview on Local Matters, lighting counselor Daniel Gliedner explains how lighting can be improved in public spaces and on an individual level. This interview is part of this week's Local Matters series on light pollution.
Light pollution: The Nature Park Our's project "Night light"
99 percent of Europe’s residents live in light polluted environments. In Luxembourg, the most polluted areas are the ones in the south and around the capital. But even in the rural north, light pollution is a problem - for animals and humans. Last year, the Nature Park Our completed an EU-funded project on light pollution – together with other European regions. In our interview on Local Matters, project leader Laurent Spithovel tells us about the impact of light pollution.
Local Matters: A greenhouse on the roof
The European project Groof explores the feasability of greenhouses on roofs. One part of the pilot project takes place in Luxembourg.