FROM THE ROAD.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
The whole of Europe is currently debating what to do and what strategies to adopt to cope with the increasingly evident climate change. Last month, the European Commission presented a proposal to ban the production of combustion-engine cars from 2035 onwards, while allowing cars already registered to circulate.
This choice was designed to focus more on electric cars, and was welcomed by almost all member states (Italy one of the only ones initially against). After an initial assent, however, even Germany has turned back, convinced that electric vehicles are not the only way to make wheeled transport less polluting.
Needless to say, this change of direction has been received badly by environmental associations, starting with Greenpeace, which staged an unusual and incisive protest on 22 March.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
The whole of Europe is currently debating what to do and what strategies to adopt to cope with the increasingly evident climate change. Last month, the European Commission presented a proposal to ban the production of combustion-engine cars from 2035 onwards, while allowing cars already registered to circulate. This choice was designed to focus more on electric cars, and was welcomed by almost all member states (Italy one of the only ones initially against). After an initial assent, however, even Germany has turned back, convinced that electric vehicles are not the only way to make wheeled transport less polluting. Needless to say, this change of direction has been received badly by environmental associations, starting with Greenpeace, which staged an unusual and incisive protest on 22 March.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
An installation by Greenpeace activists shows an SUV that appears to have been slammed onto the sidewalk in front of the Brandenburg Gate on March 22, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
Greenpeace protests against the German government's demand for an exception to new European legislation that would ban the sale of cars with combustion engines by 2030. German Transport Minister Volker Wissing calls for an exception for vehicles that can run on so-called synthetic fuels.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
Germany's position can be summed up in the fact that the Germans do not think that electricity is the one and only way forward, but that it is possible to exploit the current production chain in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way, with less polluting new-generation fuels.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
Obviously, Greenpeace activists do not think so, with the world's largest environmental groups confidently pointing towards electric. This retreat is seen as Germany's renunciation of active environmental policies.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
In Germany, it is the 'Last Generation' organization that is the most active on the ecological car protest front. Already in 2022, their activists organised 276 roadblocks on German roads.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
Germany is not new to these strong stances. At the beginning of the energy crisis due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, for example, the government decided to reopen and expand the use of coal for energy production, certainly not an ecological but a political choice. This had caused much protest even from the famous Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Germany: Greenpeace activists protest against the German position on a ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU
Germany continues to argue that it is not economically viable to impose such a radical change, and in such a short timeframe from a production point of view. In fact, according to the government leadership, intermediate solutions would be better, such as the hybrid, which is already enjoying great success, against the current and very obvious problems of the electric. Furthermore, the German position is that combustion vehicles will only be allowed to circulate after 2035 if they are powered by synthetic fuels.
Home page
23/04/2024
We are all realising that our way of life, the one our parents, who were born and raised especially after the Second World War, taught us, is no longer sustainable. There are too many of us in this world now, and nature can no longer provide us with everything we need.
Capitalism, or consumerism for short, is forcing us to submit to environmentally worn-out logics that would not be sustainable even in the long run, but are even less so in the short time we have left before everything falls apart. Our way of life must change radically if we are to allow the survival of mankind. For example, the introduction of the law in Europe allowing the sale of insect meal aims at exactly that, at sustainability.
Therefore, it is necessary for all of us, while there is still time, to change certain behaviours to help the world. Here, then, are some tips for leading a greener and more sustainable life.
Natural Events
22/04/2024
Europe is historically a continent where we do not see extreme natural events, such as tornadoes, massive floods and earthquakes. However, events happen every now and then that are so strong and destructive that they go down in history.
Some of these disasters, which occurred even several centuries ago, are still remembered today for the number of victims claimed and the destruction wrought among the population. Weather, it is known, is unpredictable, and even in a relatively calm region like Europe, it can do damage.
The magazine Focus has listed the 10 worst natural disasters in the history of the Old Continent, some of them very recent, others dating back many centuries as well.
From the Road
21/04/2024
According to theMain Streets Across the World 2022report, which analyzes the main shopping areas of 92 cities around the world, New York Fifth Avenue is the most expensive route in the world followed by Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui. Post pandemic, the most expensive street in Hong Kong loses the top of the ranking and records the worst drop ever, -41%.
In detail, with an average annual fee of 14,547 euros per square meter, the Via Montenapoleone in Milan ranks ahead of New Bond Street in London and Avenue des Champs Élysées in Paris, respectively in fourth and fifth place in the global ranking of the most expensive streets in the world.
Via Montenapoleone in Milan, has earned the title of the most expensive shopping street in Europe and the third overall worldwide, with a jump of two positions compared to the last research of 2019.
Home page
19/04/2024
This is a list of the most populous cities in the world, defined based on 2018 United Nations estimates, official census estimates, and the 2021 "Demographia World Urban Areas" report.
"World Urbanization Prospects," a publication by theONU, defines the population of a real city as "the population living within the administrative boundaries of a city." For many of the metropolises, however, the metropolitan area is administratively distinct from the urban agglomeration proper. For this reason, ONU recent estimates distinguish three definitions of cities: cities proper, urban areas and metropolitan areas.
According to the definition of "city proper", based on administrative uniqueness, the Chinese city of Chongqing is the largest in the world.
According to the other two definitions, Tokyo, despite being divided into several administrative units, is the most populous "urban agglomeration" (i.e. the agglomeration without rural areas) in the world, while the Chinese city of Shanghai is the most populous "metropolitan city" (i.e. the area interconnected by common infrastructure and frequent transport).
The data in this gallery include the total population of agglomerations in their highest estimates, thus also including metropolitan areas.
