NORWAY: Lawmakers Open Arctic Sea To Deep SeaMining

[world politics news]

The Norwegian parliament has voted in favor of commercial plans to open the Arctic Ocean to seabed mineral exploration, Mining.com has reported. The controversial vote, which was won 80 to 30, was opposed by Environmental groups, who argued it put sea life in danger. Thus makes Norway the first nation to endorse commercial deep sea mining.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Parliament May Consider Ban On Domestic Wood Burning

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An influential parliamentary committee is likely to consider arguments for a ban on domestic wood burning in urban areas during this sitting of parliament, owing to concerns over its growing impact on air quality.

Philip Dunne, the chair of the environmental audit committee, said: “Air quality is something we are likely to look at before the end of this parliament. It’s a serious issue.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#NEWZEALAND: Gov't Reaches Deal With Farmers Over Emissions

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A compromise of sorts has been reached between the Government and farming representatives over a controversial agricultural emissions reduction scheme.

The groups have been working together to try and reach an agreement, and had to report back by the end of this year.

A report released today has several changes to the proposed emissions pricing scheme, to appease farmers and better recognise on-farm sequestration.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Scotland's Parliament May Consider Petition To Ban Meat By 2040

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The Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will consider a new petition that calls for a countrywide meat consumption ban by 2040.

Roger Green submitted the petition. He is a member of Vote With Your Fork, a campaign that seeks to move the world towards a meat-free future. The petition sets out environmental reasoning behind the idea, alongside concerns about animal welfare.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Parliament Passes Tougher Deforestation Law

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The European Parliament has voted for a stricter deforestation law to help better protect the world’s forests. The law aims to ensure that agricultural products sold in Europe are free of deforestation and human rights violations. Companies will be required to guarantee that the products they sell in Europe are not driving deforestation or human rights abuses. 

The Parliament voted to strengthen the initial draft law prepared by the European Commission, particularly by widening the scope of commodities to include natural rubber, maize and leather; extending the definition of “forests” to include other wooded lands (such as the Cerrado savannah in Brazil); and ensuring companies undertake due diligence with regards to upholding human rights and Indigenous peoples’ rights in their supply chains.  

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BELGIUM: Brussels 'Mobility Plan' Slashes Traffic In City Center On Aug. 16

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The car-choked streets of central Brussels are about to get a little less clogged.

On August 16, a new mobility plan goes into effect in the city's so-called Pentagon district with the goal of slashing transport emissions, reducing traffic and improving residents' quality of life.

It's all part of the city government's larger plan to reduce car traffic by 24% by the year 2030 within the city limits.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: London Mayor Wants To Charge Polluting Cars £12.50 To Enter City In 2023

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan says he plans to expand the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the entire city by next year in a push to cut pollution and congestion.

Drivers of vehicles which do not comply with minimum emissions standards are charged a daily fee of £12.50 for entering the current ULEZ area.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't Gets Nationwide Injunction Against Road-Blocking Environment Group

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A nationwide injunction has been granted against radical environmental protestors Insulate Britain, the transport secretary has said, covering the country's "entire strategic road network." 

"We are making use of every avenue of existing law to try to prevent the continued life-endangering action being carried out by Insulate Britain, which is causing intolerable disruption to motorists' lives and livelihoods," Grant Shapps said.

"This new interim injunction will ban activities that obstruct motorways and major A roads across the entire country."

This comes after severe disruptions on Britain's roads earlier this week that sparked outrage and a backlash against the radical group.

Police Monday reportedly were initially unable to move or arrest some Insulate Britain protestors because they had physically glued themselves to the ground.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Parliament Was "Misled" On Cost Of Net Zero Emissions Plan, Says Policy Group

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The UK Sunday Telegraph reports that Parliament was misled into supporting Net Zero plans to decarbonize the British economy.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) told MPs that British households and businesses would face only a modest cost for reaching Net Zero emissions in 2050, but analysis of their financial models by the Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF) shows that key assumptions were not credible even at the time the report was published.

The revelations come after the CCC spent two years and tens of thousands of pounds resisting attempts to have the Net Zero model spreadsheets released under Freedom of Information legislation. The Information Tribunal finally forced their disclosure in August this year.

Dr Benny Peiser, GWPF director said: 

'"It is clear that the CCC’s net zero costings were incomplete, biased, and grossly misleading. Parliament was, in essence, misled and net zero was mis-sold."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SWITZERLAND: Voters Reject Carbon Tax Hikes In Referendum

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Switzerland’s strategy to abide by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has hit a roadblock with a narrow majority of voters rejecting a law to radically curb greenhouse gases by hiking carbon taxes. The CO2 law was rejected on Sunday by 51.6% of voters.

The negative outcome represents a major upset. In 2018, French government proposals to hike gasoline and carbon taxes sparked civil unrest throughout the country. the government of Emmanuel Macron eventually back down and put the proposed tax hikes "on hold," permanently.

Swiss politics has long been characterized by putting mini issues before voters in frequent popular referenda.

[FULL STORY HERE] (Warning: BIAS)

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NEWZEALAND: Labor Gov't To Declare "Climate Emergency"

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New Zealand’s government is set to declare a climate emergency and pledge “immediate action” to ratchet up the pressure to tackle the crisis.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern will put forward a motion to declare the emergency next Wednesday, the government said, as parliament reconvened after a general election won by Ardern’s Labor Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#RUSSIA: Putin Commits To Lowering Emissions

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Pres. Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order to reduce emissions by 30% from 1990 levels by 2030. Environmentalists note that this is the more ambitious end of its existing target but still allows emissions to rise significantly, as Russia’s emissions plummeted following the collapse of the Soviet Union and remain at about half the level they were in 1990.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Nation Will Achieve Zero Carbon Emissions By 2050, Says PM

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Japan will achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared Monday in his first policy speech as leader, outlining an ambitious agenda as the country struggles to balance economic and pandemic concerns.

The policy speech at the outset of the parliamentary session reflects Suga’s pragmatic approach to getting things done. Suga, formerly chief cabinet secretary, took office on Sept. 16 after his boss Shinzo Abe resigned over health problems.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Parliament Sets Price For CO2 At 25 Euros Per Metric Tonne

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The German parliament has voted in favor of a higher starting price for the country’s new CO2 reduction scheme in the heating and transport sectors. 

The majority of MPs agreed to setting the price for one metric tonne of CO2 at 25 euros. As of 1 January 2021, companies that bring petrol, diesel, heating oil and natural gas into circulation will have to buy emission allowances. The price will increase to 55 euros per metric tonne by 2025 and as of 2026 the price will be determined by auctions within a frame of 55-65 euros.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Parliament Votes To Phase Out Coal-Burning Power Plants By 2038

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Germany’s lower house of parliament has voted to pass new legislation finalizing the country’s long-awaited phase-out of coal, over objections from environmental groups the plan is not ambitious enough.

The upper house was expected to approve the plan later Friday that lays out a roadmap for phasing out coal by 2038. It also earmarks some 40 billion euros ($45 billion) to affected regions to support them with the transition.

Germany is already phasing out nuclear power by the end of 2022.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#THENETHERLANDS: Parliament Votes To Close Remaining 128 Mink Farms 3 Years Ahead Of 2024 Deadline

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Dutch Members of Parliament voted to shut down all remaining mink fur farms—estimated at 128 farms—across the Netherlands in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. In 2013, the Dutch government passed a ban on mink fur farming which is scheduled to be enacted in 2024. The politicians voted to compensate fur farmers to phase out the practice three and a half years before the law goes into effect.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: German MEPs Say Coronavirus Has Made Euro "Green New Deal" Not Affordable

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Members of the European Parliament from Germany's ruling party are saying that in the age of Coronavirus, the European version of the Green New Deal is no longer economically viable.

The leader of the Parliamentary Party Markus Pieper told news magazine FOCUS:
"The Green New Deal was a gigantic challenge for an economy in top shape. After the corona bloodletting, it is simply not financially viable.”

Pieper suggests, among other things, to expand trading in CO2 to electric cars and building renovations instead of fixed CO2 quotas. “Then the market regulates the progress in climate protection according to supply and demand via a price mechanism,”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Social Democrats, Greens, Want To Raise Taxes On Meat To Tackle "Climate Change"

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German politicians from the Social Democratic Party and the Greens proposed raising the value added tax (VAT) on meat to the standard rate of 19%. Currently, meat is taxed at a reduced rate of 7% like most foodstuffs.

SPD agricultural policy spokesperson Rainer Spieging said, "a meat tax, such as increasing the VAT to 19%, could be a way forward."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Environment Minister Questions Gov't Funding Of Vietnam Coal Plant

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Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has called into question Japan's financing of a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam.

Environment Ministry officials say a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation and others are planning to build the Vung Ang 2 power plant in Vietnam's Ha Tinh Province. The government-affiliated Japan Bank for International Cooperation is among those considering funding the project.

Koizumi told reporters on Tuesday that he finds it odd that Japan is financing the construction of a power plant that will be built by Chinese and US companies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: #Quebec Politician Praises #Coronavirus For Reducing Carbon Footprint Of Chinese City

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Quebec Green politician and radio talk show host Luc Ferrandez has suggested that the coronavirus has had one “positive” outcome for the city of Wuhan, China—it’s reduced the carbon footprint.

On Saturday, the environmental activist tweeted: “Wuhan. No automobile traffic. No air flights. The only city on the planet that will meet its GHG reduction targets. The way to this necessary degrowth will happen when all the debates have been in vain.”

Some on Twitter suggested that he move to the afflicted Chinese city. He previously stoked controversy by suggesting suicide as a way to mitigate Climate Change.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.