Russia crisis boosts EU carbon deal
Worries about energy dependence on Russia have boosted prospects of EU leaders approving a package of proposals to cut carbon emissions by 2030, European Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said Friday.
Environmental news and related issues
Russian Federation
Russia to free Arctic Sunrise ship
Russia in a "surprise move" is to release Greenpeace's Dutch-flagged Artic Sunrise ship, seized last year after a protest against Arctic oil drilling, the environmental group said on Friday.
Dutch arrest 30 Greenpeace activists blocking Russian tanker
Dutch police on Thursday arrested around 30 Greenpeace activists, including the captain of the lobby group's flagship Rainbow Warrior, as they tried to stop a Russian tanker delivering Arctic oil from docking.
Greenpeace sends Rainbow Warrior as Russian Arctic oil arrives
Greenpeace on Monday sent a protest ship to meet a Russian tanker carrying the first oil drilled offshore in the environmentally fragile Arctic.
Greenpeace sues Russia over Arctic Sunrise detention
Greenpeace is suing Russia before the European Court of Human Rights for detaining its members during a protest last year against Arctic drilling, the environmental lobby group said on Monday.
Russia jails environmentalist who criticised Sochi projects
A leading Russian activist who campaigned against environmental damage caused by preparations for the Winter Olympics in Sochi was sentenced to three years in a penal colony on Wednesday.
Massive wild boar cull targets swine fever
In the dead of the bone-chilling Lithuanian winter, a hunter cocks his gun and squints as he takes aim at a wild boar foraging for food 30 paces away.
Environment loses out in Russia’s race to Sochi
Just outside the Olympic Park in Sochi, where the Winter Games open on Friday, is a green space with benches, artificial ponds and a couple of hides. "Ornithological Park", the sign declares.
Conservationists, big oil join forces to help whales
Conservationists have joined forces with a company working on one of the world’s largest oil and gas projects to help limit the impact of seismic surveys on endangered whales.
Final amnestied foreign Greenpeace activist leaves Russia
The last of the 26 foreign Greenpeace activists who were detained after an Arctic protest left Russia on Sunday, the group announced, finally ending a saga that had caused global concern.
First Greenpeace activist departs Russia
A first Greenpeace activist was on a train out of Russia Thursday, more than three months after he was arrested along with 29 fellow crew members of a ship protesting against Arctic oil drilling, an AFP journalist saw.
China icebreaker heads to science ship trapped off Antarctica
A Chinese icebreaker was on Friday closing in on the frozen seas where a scientific mission ship is trapped off Antarctica, as those onboard welcomed the easing of blizzard conditions.
Russia closes first case against Greenpeace activists
Russia has closed the criminal case against one of the 30 crew members of a Greenpeace ship who were charged with hooliganism over a protest against Gazprom oil drilling in the Arctic, the group said Tuesday.
Arctic development ‘a new menace to polar bears’
Oil exploration and increased sea traffic in the Arctic are encroaching on polar bear habitat, adding to the existing climate change risk, representatives of Arctic nations said at a Moscow conference Wednesday.
Russian court frees last Greenpeace activist
A Russian court on Thursday granted bail to the last of 30 Greenpeace crew members detained since their September protest against Arctic oil drilling.
Putin says Greenpeace had ‘noble’ motives as more crew freed
Russia on Thursday released 10 Greenpeace activists on bail, bringing to 11 the number freed from jail as President Vladimir Putin said the group had noble motives for their Arctic protest.
Russia frees nine more Greenpeace activists on bail
Russian courts on Tuesday granted bail to nine foreign Greenpeace activists detained for a protest in the Arctic, bringing to 12 the number released over the last days and raising hopes of a solution to a case which has raised global concern.
Russian journalists call for release of Greenpeace photographer
Several dozen journalists took to the streets of Saint Petersburg to demand the release of Denis Sinyakov, detained on piracy charges along with the crew of a Greenpeace ship after an Arctic oil drilling protest.
Russia ‘finds drugs’ on Greenpeace ship, new charges loom
Russian investigators said Wednesday several of the 30 Greenpeace activists already charged with piracy over an open-sea protest were set to face new charges for "other grave crimes" after finding drugs on their ship.