Latest news with #EuropeanGreenDeal
Web Release
7 hours ago
- Business
- Web Release
Green Forward Conference 2025 to Propel Lebanon's Green and Circular Economy Transition
Lebanon was set to take a major step toward a more sustainable future with the Green Forward Conference 2025, which took place on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli (CCIAT). Organized by the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT), in partnership with the international, non-governmental organization SPARK, and with the financial support of the European Union, the conference was a central component of the Green Forward programme in Lebanon and a key platform for shaping the country's green economy transition. The conference brought together more than 150 participants, including Business Support Organizations (BSOs), SMEs, policymakers, and experts from Lebanon, the European Union, and the wider Southern Neighborhood, as well as many stakeholders engaged in Lebanon's economic and environmental development. It served as a platform for knowledge exchange, the development of partnerships, and the creation of a national roadmap to guide Lebanon's transition to a green and circular economy. The Green Forward programme, funded by the European Union, aims to foster a green and circular economy in the Southern Neighbourhood region, which includes countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The programme operates at three levels: macro, meso, and micro, implemented respectively by a consortium comprising Expertise France, SPARK, and UNIDO. The programme's meso-level component is implemented by SPARK in collaboration with partners across seven countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia. In Lebanon and across the Southern Mediterranean region, the programme's aim is to enhance the capacity of business support organisations (BSOs) to serve as ecosystem enablers, bridging the gap between policy and practice. Green Forward does this by addressing the practical needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable and circular economy practices. By equipping BSOs with tools, training, and opportunities for regional collaboration, the programme commits to fostering job creation, economic opportunity, and alignment with the principles of the European Green Deal in Lebanon and beyond. Through its intervention in Lebanon, the Green Forward programme is set to deliver a range of strategic outputs to advance the green and circular economy. 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed between Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and key Lebanon-based stakeholders in the green and circular economy, as part of an international conference. 6 workshops and roundtables will be organized to encourage peer learning and partnerships, complemented by peer pod meetings held between sessions. 4 BSOs will benefit from capacity-building support to strengthen their role as green ecosystem enablers, while 3 green BSOs will receive specialized training on green and circular economy practices. A practical toolbox will be developed to assess the integration of sustainability and the circular economy, with 30 SMEs engaged to test it. The programme will also support the development of a national roadmap for a green business network and launch an awareness campaign to highlight the impact and opportunities of the green and circular economy in Lebanon. To build on these efforts, a networking working group of 24 public and private stakeholders, including 3 green BSOs, will be established to foster multi?stakeholder collaboration. This group will convene annually to validate progress and outputs, ultimately leading to the formulation of one policy recommendation. 'Through the Green Forward programme, we are reinforcing the institutional capacity of business support organisations to serve as key enablers of the green and circular transition across the region. This approach ensures long-term impact by equipping local actors to drive sustainable entrepreneurship, green job creation, and low-carbon innovation.'— Afef Ajengui, Regional Programme Manager of the Green Forward programme at SPARK. 'This initiative aims to build the capacity of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to become vital ecosystem enablers, closing the gap between policy frameworks and the real needs of SMEs. By fostering innovation, encouraging sustainability, and promoting collaboration, the program drives the shift toward an inclusive and resilient green economy.'– Mr. Nasri Mouawad, Chairman of BIAT. The conference featured expert discussions on green business models, ESG practices, and circular economy strategies, along with interactive sessions to facilitate meaningful collaboration across sectors. Two dedicated panels moderated by Maurice Matta enriched the program: the first panel titled 'Building a Green Business Ecosystem in Lebanon', featured H.E. Dr. Nasser Yassin, former Minister of Environment in Lebanon, Ghada El-Armali, International Green Economy & Sustainable Growth Expert, and Dr. Hasan Youness, Entrepreneur, Academician, Exec. Committee Ecoswitch Coalition; the second panel titled 'Green Businesses – Success Stories', included Omar Itani, founder of 'FabricAid', Batoul Hakim, founder of 'Savvy Element', Ziad Abi Chaker, founder of 'Cedar Environmental', and Khalil Haykal, EBRD Representative. The conference led to multiple partnership agreements and a shared vision for a vibrant green business network in Lebanon. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of the European Green Deal and seeks to foster economic resilience through sustainability. By empowering local actors and fostering innovation, the Green Forward programme positions Lebanon as an active participant in regional efforts to build a greener, more circular future.
DW
14 hours ago
- Business
- DW
US trade deal could lock the EU into fossil fuel dependency – DW – 07/30/2025
Critics say Europe's $750 billion energy deal with the US could risk the EU's climate goals and energy security if it goes ahead. Environmental groups have criticized a new trade deal that could see Europe spending more than $750 billion (€700 billion) on mostly fossil fuel imports from the United States over the next three years, warning it could undermine the bloc's climate targets. "This risks locking Europe into decades of fossil fuel dependence, volatile energy bills, and accelerating the wildfires and flooding already wreaking havoc across the continent," said Andreas Sieber, associate director of policy and campaigns at climate group in a statement. As part of an agreement that US President Donald Trump dubbed the "biggest deal ever," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said US energy would replace Russian oil and gas, "which we do not want anymore." Instead, Europe would purchase "more affordable and better" liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US, said von der Leyen. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The deal, which helped avert a trade war, includes a 15% tariff on key EU exports like cars. But critics said it represented an "about-turn" in Europe's climate policy. "The new US-EU trade deal is a dramatic U-turn on the European Commission's and President von der Leyen's priorities from a couple of years ago," said Esther Bollendorff, senior gas policy coordinator at climate group CAN Europe. "Namely, building a future-proof European Green Deal based on climate ambition and rapid renewables build-out." The Commission, under von der Leyen, unveiled the Green Deal to ramp up Europe's ambitions on fighting climate change at the end of 2019. Europe is the fastest-warming region globally, say scientists. The continent saw its hottest year on record in 2024. Just weeks ago, the Commission presented proposals for a 90% bloc-wide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared with 1990 levels. The mid-term target aims to help the EU reach its wider 2050 goal of carbon neutrality, with measures including improving energy efficiency, electrifying the transport sector and boosting green energy. In the next five years, the bloc aims to have 42.5% of its energy come from renewable sources. The US-EU trade deal "flies in the face" of these commitments, said Luke Haywood, head of climate and energy at the European Environmental Bureau, a network of environmental organizations. "Tripling US energy imports in just three years isn't only physically implausible, it would derail the EU's mid-term decarbonization targets," he added in a statement. Burning oil and gas emits greenhouse gases like CO2, which trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet, fueling more extreme weather. Swapping pipeline gas for US LNG would further increase Europe's emissions, said Chris Aylett, a research fellow at the Environment and Society Center of UK-based independent policy institute Chatham House. That's because LNG production and transport emits more methane — a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2, though it doesn't stay as long in the atmosphere. Still, there is skepticism about whether Europe can live up to its new pledge on US energy spending, with Aylett saying it would be "very difficult." In 2024, the EU imported around €60 billion worth of oil and gas from the US. Another €24 billion came from Russia. Taken together, that's a "long way away" from the €216 billion the EU promised to spend each year, Aylett told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The European Commission also cannot force member states or companies to buy US energy, said Aylett. "It's an aspiration really. The EU has the means that it could encourage it [...] but it's all voluntary, so the Commission itself wouldn't be making the purchases," he added. "In some ways the promise has been made that the Commission itself doesn't really have any ability to deliver." Swapping dependence on Russian energy with reliance on the US could be "catastrophic" for energy security too, warned Aylett. "It would be breaking the very first rule, which is that you don't just rely on one supplier," he told DW, adding that it would make the bloc "extremely vulnerable."
Business Wire
16 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Stringent EU Regulations on Energy Efficiency (e.g., EN50600, EU Taxonomy) Pushing Operators to Adopt Greener Solutions
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Europe Data Center Cooling Market: Focus on Product, Application, and Country-Level Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2025-2035" report has been added to offering. The European data center cooling market is projected to reach $20.55 billion by 2035 from $6.76 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 10.18% during the forecast period 2025-2035. The rise in data generation, cloud computing, and the expansion of digital infrastructure are driving the data centre cooling industry in Europe. Efficient cooling systems are becoming essential for preserving equipment reliability and uptime as the need for high-performance computing rises. Strict EU rules and sustainability goals have impacted the market, leading to a move towards low-energy, eco-friendly cooling technology. The region's adoption of sophisticated, energy-efficient cooling solutions is accelerating due to ongoing innovation and mounting pressure to cut energy usage, even while obstacles like high initial investment and system complexity still exist. The market for data centre cooling in Europe is changing quickly because to the exponential rise in workloads related to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data production. Effective thermal management has become essential for maintaining hardware longevity, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance as data centres grow in size and complexity. Energy-efficient solutions are a strategic focus for operators throughout the region because cooling systems can contribute up to 40% of a data center's overall energy consumption. The adoption of cutting-edge cooling technologies is mostly being driven by European nations, especially Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Nordics. These include direct-to-chip systems, liquid cooling, and free air cooling, which are made to manage high-density computing with little effect on the environment. Low-carbon, water-efficient, and environmentally friendly cooling techniques are becoming more popular in the region as a result of the push for sustainability brought about by EU climate rules, the Renewable Energy Directive, and the European Green Deal. Europe's diverse climates have an impact on cooling tactics as well. While southern nations need more durable solutions to sustain efficiency in hot conditions, northern locations benefit from ambient cold air to lessen reliance on mechanical systems. The European data centre cooling market is expected to continue to innovate and grow as regulatory pressure increases and digital infrastructure keeps growing. Market Trends, Drivers and Challenges of Europe Data Center Cooling Market Market Trends Shift toward liquid and immersion cooling to manage high-density AI and HPC workloads Rising focus on energy-efficient and sustainable cooling systems to meet ESG and carbon neutrality goals Adoption of free cooling and economizers in colder regions like Scandinavia to reduce energy consumption Growing use of AI and automation for real-time thermal management and predictive maintenance Integration of modular and prefabricated cooling solutions for faster deployment and scalability Increase in green data centers powered by renewable energy and eco-friendly cooling technologies Market Drivers Surge in data traffic and cloud computing demand driving data center expansion across Europe Stringent EU regulations on energy efficiency (e.g., EN50600, EU Taxonomy) pushing operators to adopt greener solutions Government incentives and sustainability mandates supporting low-carbon infrastructure development Need to reduce operational costs, particularly energy expenses tied to cooling (up to 40% of total energy use) Rise in edge data centers and colocation facilities, requiring compact and efficient cooling systems Market Challenges High upfront costs for advanced cooling technologies like liquid immersion and adiabatic systems Regulatory complexity and variations across European countries creating compliance difficulties Water usage concerns, especially in drought-prone regions, limiting the viability of water-based cooling Legacy infrastructure limitations slowing the transition to next-gen cooling methods Skilled labor shortage in cooling system design, integration, and maintenance across the region Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis This report crafts a strong competitive strategy tailored to the Europe data center cooling market. It evaluates market rivals, suggests methods to stand out, and offers guidance for maintaining a competitive edge. By adhering to these strategic directives, companies can position themselves effectively in the face of market competition, ensuring sustained prosperity and profitability. Some of the prominent names in this market are: Schneider Electric Asetek, Inc. Submer Munters ALFA LAVAL Condair Group Danfoss Johnson Controls International plc STLUZ DCX Liquid Cooling Systems Rittal GmbH & Co. KG Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 150 Forecast Period 2025 - 2035 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $7.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2035 $20.55 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.1% Regions Covered Europe Expand Key Topics Covered: 1 Markets 1.1 Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment 1.1.1 Trends Shaping Data Center Cooling Market 1.1.2 Increase in Data Requirements 1.1.2.1 Increasing Rack Power Density - New Data Center Reality 1.1.2.2 5G Services to Drive Exponential Growth in Data Centers 1.1.3 Growth in Demand for Environment-Friendly Cooling Systems 1.1.3.1 Carbon Neutrality 1.1.3.2 Utilization of Renewable Energies 1.1.3.3 Green Initiatives by Government Body 1.1.4 New Data Center Trends toward Adoption of Liquid Cooling, 2024-2034 1.1.4.1 Case Study 1.1.4.1.1 Immersion Cooling Technology 1.1.4.1.1.1 Advancing Data Center Cooling Efficiency: The University of Leeds' Adoption of Fully Immersed Liquid-Cooled Servers 1.1.4.1.1.2 PeaSoup Cloud: Pioneering Eco-Friendly Cloud Services with Immersion Cooling Technology 1.2 Evaporative Cooling Market for Data Center Overview 1.3 Supply Chain Overview 1.4 Research and Development Review 1.5 Ecosystem and Ongoing Programs 1.6 Market Dynamics Overview 1.6.1 Market Drivers 1.6.1.1 High-Efficient Cooling Systems 1.6.1.1.1 Emerging Technologies Promote Cost-Effectiveness 1.6.1.1.2 AI-Assisted Automatic Cooling Control 1.6.1.1.3 Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) Optimization with Economic Cooling Solutions 1.6.1.2 Increasing Number of Data Centers and Spendings 1.6.1.3 Thermal Energy Recovery Conversion from Data Centers 1.6.1.4 Water Usage Effectiveness Driving Adoption of Alternate Cooling Solutions 1.6.1.5 Retrofitting to a Free Cooling Data Center 1.6.2 Market Restraints 1.6.2.1 High Investment Costs for Non-Conventional Cooling Systems 1.6.2.2 Technical Challenges to Cooling Systems 1.6.2.2.1 Air and Free Cooling Systems Adaption Complexities 1.6.2.2.2 Reliability Limitations with Immersion Liquid Cooling 1.6.3 Business Opportunities 1.6.3.1 Growing Emphasis for Retrofit Data Center 1.6.3.2 Data Center Infrastructure Management for Power Management 1.6.3.3 Increasing Number of Distributed or Edge Data Centers 1.7 Key Start-Ups in the Europe Data Center Cooling Market 2 Regions 2.1 Regional Summary 2.2 Europe 2.2.1 Key Market Participants in Europe 2.2.2 Business Drivers 2.2.3 Business Challenges 2.2.4 Application 2.2.5 Product 2.2.6 Europe (By Country) 2.2.6.1 Germany 2.2.6.2 France 2.2.6.3 U.K. 2.2.6.4 Italy 2.2.6.5 Netherlands 2.2.6.6 Spain 2.2.6.7 Rest-of-Europe 3 Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles 3.1 Next Frontiers 3.2 Geographic Assessment 3.3 Competitive Landscape 3.4 Company Profiles 3.4.1 Schneider Electric 3.4.2 Asetek 3.4.3 Submer 3.4.4 Munters 3.4.5 ALFA LAVAL 3.4.6 Condair Group 3.4.7 Danfoss 3.4.8 Johnson Controls International 3.4.9 STULZ GMBH 3.4.10 DCX Liquid Cooling Systems 3.4.11 Rittal GmbH & Co. KG 3.5 Other Key Market Participants For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Saving Birds In Wind Farms With AI: Boulder Imaging And Oikon Launch IdentiFlight in Croatia
LOUISVILLE, Colo., July 30 (Bernama) -- Boulder Imaging has partnered with Oikon Ltd., Croatia's leading environmental consultancy, to bring AI-powered bird protection technology to wind farms across Southeast Europe. Through the deployment of Boulder Imaging's IdentiFlight system, the partnership supports the growing demand for sustainable wind development while also protecting biodiversity. As Croatia ramps up renewable energy under the European Green Deal, strict permitting requirements now mandate detailed environmental impact assessments, particularly for wind farms near Natura 2000 sites. IdentiFlight's real-time bird detection and automated turbine curtailment capabilities help developers meet these standards, reducing permitting risk while protecting high-concern species such as Eurasian griffons, honey buzzards, short-toed snake eagles, golden eagles, and kestrels.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Saving Birds in Wind Farms With AI: Boulder Imaging and Oikon Launch IdentiFlight in Croatia
Pročitajte ovu objavu na hrvatskom na . LOUISVILLE, Colo., July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boulder Imaging has partnered with Oikon Ltd., Croatia's leading environmental consultancy, to bring AI-powered bird protection technology to wind farms across Southeast Europe. Through the deployment of Boulder Imaging's IdentiFlight system, the partnership supports the growing demand for sustainable wind development while also protecting biodiversity. As Croatia ramps up renewable energy under the European Green Deal, strict permitting requirements now mandate detailed environmental impact assessments, particularly for wind farms near Natura 2000 sites. IdentiFlight's real-time bird detection and automated turbine curtailment capabilities help developers meet these standards, reducing permitting risk while protecting high-concern species such as Eurasian griffons, honey buzzards, short-toed snake eagles, golden eagles, and kestrels. 'IdentiFlight is a proven solution that aligns with our mission to harmonize development with nature conservation,' said Dalibor Hatić, general manager of Oikon Ltd. 'We're excited to bring this cutting-edge technology to Croatia and the broader Southeast European region where wind energy is expanding and biodiversity protection is critical. Our goal is to ensure that wind development can thrive without compromising our common natural heritage.' 'Partnering with Oikon Ltd. enhances our ability to deliver conservation-driven technology where it's most needed,' said Don Mills, President and Chief Operating Officer of Boulder Imaging. 'Together, we're advancing the role of AI in biodiversity protection and accelerating responsible wind energy growth in Croatia and beyond.' With more than 520 systems deployed across five continents, IdentiFlight has reduced bird fatalities by over 85% while maintaining a power generation loss of less than 1% in wind farms. The first systems in Croatia are planned for 2026, with an initial focus on sensitive migratory corridors and ecologically valuable terrain. AI that protects biodiversity. Ecology that drives progress. To learn more about IdentiFlight's AI-powered bird protection technology, visit . To explore Oikon's environmental expertise, visit . About Boulder Imaging Founded in 1995, Boulder Imaging develops and delivers innovative machine vision and artificial intelligence solutions that redefine quality assurance. With unmatched speed, accuracy, and scalability, its inspection systems address complex challenges in industries such as renewable energy, automotive, architectural products, and security paper. Headquartered in Colorado, Boulder Imaging is dedicated to advancing machine vision technology to meet global inspection needs. For more information, visit . About Oikon Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology Oikon Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology is Croatia's leading licensed environmental consultancy, offering integrated solutions in environmental protection, nature protection, natural resource management, environmental law and legislation, and sustainability services. Since 1997, Oikon has supported public institutions, developers, development banks and conservation organizations in aligning economic development with ecological sustainability, in line with Croatian legislation and EU directives. In addition to its leadership in Croatia, Oikon provides expert services across Southeast Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Cyprus and Turkey, delivering regional solutions that reflect global environmental standards. For more information, visit . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
