Hey, welcome to the Brussels News Updates (BNU), EuChemS’ newsletter for policy makers, chemists, entrepreneurs, and citizens who have an interest in chemistry. The BNU newsletter keeps you up to date on the latest chemistry-related and science-policy news, awards, consultations, and upcoming events in Europe and beyond.

This month, we bring you the news about:

– the updated EuChemS Periodic Table;
– EuChemS discussing green and sustainable chemistry;
– the EuChemS webinars;
– the Global Methane Pledge;
– new restrictions on Persistent Organic Pollutants in waste;
– most recent Fit for 55 package updates;
– the co-operation on intellectual property management;
– … and much more news impacting science and research in Europe!

Is there anything that you would like to read about in the next issue of the BNU? Let us know! 

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EuChemS discussing green and sustainable chemistry

Various chemistry events focusing on sustainability were organised this month. As an important contributor to this topic, the European Chemical Society took part in the discussion on green and sustainable chemistry by participating in two major events: the first “Global Sustainable Chemistry Week” and the “6^th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference”.

Read more about it here.

From EU institutions to COP26, methane is under the microscope

On 21 October, members of the committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted a resolution on the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and called on the European Commission to present actions and targets to reach this goal by 2030. The ENVI committee also called for a binding global agreement on methane at COP26, held from 31 October to 12 November in Glasgow.

Methane is the second largest contributor to the climate crisis: over a short-term period, it is about 80 times more potent at warming the climate than carbon dioxide. As most methane emissions come from human activities – mainly from the agricultural, waste, and the energy sectors – MEPs asked for a mandatory monitoring, reporting and verification of these sectors and emphasised the need to implement methane leak detection and repair programmes.

Read more about it here.

Experts call for a more ambitious Fit for 55 package

The energy aspects of the “Fit for 55 package” have been discussed during a public hearing organised by the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on 9 November.

Members of the ITRE Committee exchanged views on this topic with experts from academia, industry, and NGOs, who called for a more ambitious Fit for 55 package. The focus was on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive.

Read more about it here.

Women and Girls in STEM Forum: a step closer to gender equality?

On 28 October, the Girls Go Circular initiative, in collaboration with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), organised the first edition of the Women and Girls in STEM Forum.

This online forum gathered researchers, professionals, and stakeholders in STEM and equal opportunities to discuss the challenge of eliminating gender bias and achieving gender equality in digital and STEM-related disciplines.

Read more about it here.

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