Earth, Energy & Environment

Rethinking green investment for Europe’s next chapter: a stakeholder’s vision

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Sandrine Dixson-Declève, a leading voice in sustainable finance, outlines her vision of what we need to “secure a thriving society on a healthy planet”. © Justin Lin

While Europe’s green agenda faces new pressures, sustainability leader Sandrine Dixson-Declève outlines why sustainable investment remains vital for economic strength, planetary health and future resilience. By Horizon Magazine staff As Europe faces growing security and trade challenges, the momentum behind sustainable policies, and especially green finance, has come under increasing pressure. Sandrine Dixson-Declève, a leading … Read more

Sea of possibilities: the underwater gardeners restoring marine forests

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EU-funded researchers are regenerating marine forest ecosystems, supporting their crucial role in maintaining ocean biodiversity and resilience. © Johan Holmdahl, Shutterstock.com

By involving local communities, EU-funded researchers aim to restore marine ecosystems and turn citizens into ocean stewards. By Michaela Nesvarova Beneath the deep blue waters of Tenerife lies a dramatic seascape shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions. Submerged lava tubes and jagged basalt formations create an underwater world unlike any other. This unique marine environment, just … Read more

In the right circles: Europe’s cities and regions lead the green transition

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Tampere, in Finland, is one of 12 EU pilot regions leading the shift toward a more circular economy. © Raland, Shutterstock.com

Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in driving the shift toward a circular economy. Leading by example, Finland’s Tampere region is pioneering innovative solutions to cut waste in the construction sector and lower CO₂ emission. By Michaela Nesvarova In a landscape full of clear blue lakes and deep green forests, it is the … Read more

Navigating growth: researchers use blockchain and AI to reclaim Europe’s inland waterways

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A cruise ship sails on Portugal’s Douro River, part of Europe’s underutilised inland waterways that researchers are working to make more sustainable. © Mário Rodrigues/APDL

Europe’s expansive inland waterways remain underutilised despite their potential. Researchers and industry partners are developing innovative tools, such as digital simulations of river flows or blockchain-powered pollution control, that support smarter, more resilient and sustainable inland waterway transport. By Tom Cassauwers The Douro River is one of Portugal’s best-known waterways. It flows through the region … Read more

Bringing the outdoors in: architecture that nurtures our connection with nature

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Lessons learned from the traditional connection with nature in Japanese and Danish architecture could help build greener urban spaces for the future. © PhD Carmen García Sánchez, 2020

EU-funded researchers are exploring the role of architecture in designing living spaces that harness the healing power of nature to improve the health and well-being of urban populations. By Bárbara Pinho Dr Carmen García Sánchez likes to ride her bike in the Danish countryside. That is how she first discovered how closely post-war Danish architecture … Read more