Photo : Planet Labs PBC via AP
IN BRIEF
By Genesy Balasingam
THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam to curb visitors to protect environment
On 21 July, the council of Amsterdam banned cruise ships from entering the city center in an effort to limit visitor numbers and reduce pollution. Politicians claimed the vessels were incompatible with the city's long-term goals. It is the latest move aimed at reducing mass tourism in the city. It will involve the closure of the primary cruise terminal on the River IJ near Amsterdam's main train station. The city government has been attempting to clean up the city by prohibiting cannabis smoking on the streets of the red-light district. Another important reason for withdrawing cruise ships is to reduce air pollution in Amsterdam. (Emily McGarvey & William Leonardo, “Amsterdam bans cruise ships to limit visitors and curb pollution,” BBC, 21 July 2023)
Green Deal chief steps down to run for Netherlands'
On 20 July, Frans Timmermans, the architect of the EU's environmental policy exited from the European Commission to join Dutch national politics following the breakdown of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition government in a migration row. Timmermans is expected to announce his candidature in Maastricht and is anticipated to run against two other contenders before a decision on the joint leadership candidate for the election is announced in mid-August. The EU Commission has lost its visionary genius of the Green Deal with Timmermans' departure. He worked valiantly against fossil-fuel lobbyists and opponents of European climate action and has accomplished a great deal. (Lisa O'Carroll, “EU climate chief Frans Timmermans quits to run in Dutch elections,” The Guardian, 20 July 2023)
THE UK
Conservatives face two major defeats in by-elections
On 21 July, the three results show the Conservatives losing support among a diverse group of people, including suburban Londoners, small-town inhabitants in the north of England, and rural residents in the southwest. With a similarly substantial swing away from the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats won the rural seat of Somerton and Frome in southwest England. The impact of Johnson's and Truss' rocky periods has dogged the right-of-center governing party. Truss resigned within weeks after her plan for unfunded tax cuts scared financial markets, deepening a cost-of-living problem and sending mortgage rates soaring. The two defeats also demonstrated that voters voted tactically, supporting the party most likely to defeat the Conservative candidate. This will be a concern for many Conservative lawmakers ahead of a national election. (Jill Lawless, Pan Pylas, “Sunak’s Conservatives suffer 2 big defeats but avoid a wipeout in trio of UK special elections,” Associated Press, 21 July 2023)
REGIONAL
EU proposes GBP 20 billion in military aid to Ukraine
On 20 July, Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy leader, presented a new proposal to offer “sustainable and predictable” military assistance to Ukraine. According to the plan, the EU will set aside GBP 20 billion over the next four years to partially compensate member states' supplies to the war-torn country. The funds will be used to purchase lethal and non-lethal equipment and it would be one of the security guarantees made by EU leaders to Ukraine. The GBP20 billion envelope must still be developed into a detailed proposal and discussed by member states. (Jorge Liboreiro, “EU pitches €20-billion plan in long-term military support for Ukraine,” Euro news, 20 July 2023)
EU policy to improve circular economy in the automobile industry
On 20 July, The Federal Council reported on the European Commission’s proposal for a new End-of-Life Vehicles Directive that was updated to improve the automobile sector's circularity. The automobile industry consumes over 10% of the EU's plastic demand, and it is the largest consumer of raw materials such as aluminum, magnesium, platinum group metals, and rare earth elements. Inadequate vehicle handling results in lost value and pollution. This proposal aims to accelerate the transition of the automotive sector to a circular economy and enhance the recycling and reuse of CRM and other materials (such as rare earth elements, copper, and palladium) in new cars, spanning both the design and end-of-life phases. (“New EU policy measures based on Empa research: Boosting circular economy in the automotive sector,” The Federal Council, 20 July 2023)
CLIMATE CHANGE
New heatwave in Southern European
On 20 July, firefighting teams from Poland, Romania, and Slovakia were awaited in Greece to help local and other foreign emergency services combat its hottest July as parts of Spain reached 45 degrees Celsius. Security guards at the Acropolis are also on strike until Sunday for four hours every afternoon in order to protest working in such hot conditions. The high temperatures in Europe occur amidst similar occurrences in several other parts of the world, including the southern United States, Iraq, and China. Climate scientists are unanimous in their belief that present heat waves are made more frequent by man-induced global warming caused primarily by the use of fossil fuels. (“Southern Europe faces new heat wave as Greek fires burn on,” Deutsche Welle, 20 July 2023)
INTERNATIONAL
Iran government orders Sweden's Ambassador to leave after the Quran burning row
On 21 July, as a diplomatic row over the recent burning of a Quran in Stockholm heats up, the Iraqi government ordered the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to leave. Baghdad has ceased doing business with Swedish firms. Hundreds of protesters stormed the embassy after learning that an Iraqi Christian immigrant had been granted permission by Swedish police to burn a Quran for the second time in Stockholm. The protests were described as “completely unacceptable” by Sweden's foreign minister. Following the unrest, Sweden stated that all of its employees in Baghdad were safe. (Nadine Yousif, “Iraq expels Swedish ambassador as Quran row escalates,” BBC, 21 July 2023)