EC climate deal reached

European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming.
The plan, agreed at a Brussels summit, sets out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels.

For more information click this link to the BBC.

EU Climate Package

The EU is trying to hammer out a final deal on a climate change package that is supposed to become law in the 27-nation EU early next year.
The package focuses on three areas: emissions cuts, renewables and energy efficiency.

To see more details on the EU Climate Package click this link.

CAP proposals faulter

France has failed to get unanimous agreement on the future of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) during EU farm ministers' talks in Brussels.
The UK, Sweden and Latvia objected to the final French draft on EU farm policy after 2013.
The CAP farm support scheme is the biggest item of EU spending - absorbing about 55bn euros (£45bn) annually - about 40% of the entire EU budget.

For more information click here.

UK not involved in Kopernikus

One of Europe's flagship space projects looks as though it is going to proceed with the UK continuing to be a bit-part player, scientists and engineers fear.

The Kopernikus programme is dedicated to acquiring and collating satellite data on the health of the planet.

Although Britain says it recognises the project's high value, especially for monitoring the climate, it has so far declined to take a lead in the venture.

Industry and academia have called for a swift change in government policy.

Failure to adopt a more positive approach before a critical meeting of Europe's space ministers next month will put expertise and jobs in the UK at risk, they warn.