Natural environment

The penetration rate of organic products in the Greek market remains relatively low, according to an industry survey conducted by Infobank Hellastat (IBHS), which underscores the sector?s turn toward exports for survival.

The European Commission has asked the European Court of Justice to fine Greece for its failure to manage hazardous waste.

Previously convicted by the court in 1999 for failing to comply with the EU?s landfill directive, Greece could pay 17.7 million euros in fines, plus a daily penalty of 8,096 euros until it solves the problem.

The Ministry of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy is cancelling the increases to the special duty for the reduction of gas emissions (ETMEAR) which had been decided by Greece's power regulator RAE. The amendment concerning this is to be included in the first draft bill to be submitted to Greek Parliament.

On the occasion of the International Day of Forests, celebrated on March 21, Alternate Minister for the Environment Yiannis Tsironis said yesterday that protecting Greek forests is every citizen's responsibility.

Wind farms with a total capacity of 10.1 MW were installed in Bulgaria in 2014, according to the annual Wind Energy Barometer report of EurObserv'ER.

EurObserv'ER is a consortium dedicated to the monitoring of the development of the various sectors of renewable energies in the European Union.

The EurObserv'ER Barometers Project is supported by the European Commission.

BELGRADE - It is estimated that Serbia has 10 times more illegal operators than legal acting recyclers, officials of the German Scholz Holding, which is doing business in Serbia, have said.

Without reforms, the world will be plunged into a water crisis that could be crippling for hot, dry countries, the United Nations warned March 20.

In an annual report, the U.N. said abuse of water was now so great that on current trends, the world will face a 40-percent "global water deficit" by 2030 -- the gap between demand for water and replenishment of it.

BELGRADE - The international fair of energy and environmental protection Eco Expo will open at the event place TC Stadion in Belgrade on Thursday.

The fair will be opened by Serbian Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Snezana Bogosavljevic Boskovic.

Alternate Minister for Administrative Reform Giorgos Katrougalos has drafted an amendment that will reinstate thousands of civil sector workers who were sacked or placed in a labor mobility scheme by the previous conservative administration as part of cost-cutting measures.

Scientist Johan Rockström says humanity has whizzed past four of the nine boundaries that keeps the planet hospitable to modern life. He points to the human civilization's transformation of the landscape as people have cut down forests and grown crops, all the time creating pollution and creating extinction for other species.