Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached its lowest level since 2019, according to a report by monitor MapBiomas. The country lost 985,000 hectares of native vegetation last year, marking a 20.6 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
Authorities in the Amsterdam-Oost district are implementing stricter enforcement against business owners who dispose of commercial waste in household containers, leading to littered shopping streets. District administrator Jan-Bert Vroege announced upcoming inspections to ensure businesses have private waste collection contracts, while some entrepreneurs have proposed a centralized municipal service as a cleaner alternative.
In 2025, Dutch municipalities issued approximately 3,000 permits for temporary housing, which is a 50% decrease compared to the previous year. According to statistics bureau CBS, this decline comes despite the intended role of such housing in alleviating the ongoing national housing shortage.
Starting June 1, 2026, special enforcement officers (BOAs) in the Netherlands will be authorized to reprimand minors or refer them to the Halt foundation for criminal offenses. This nationwide expansion of powers aims to ensure legal equality and a pedagogical approach to handling youth crime.
The branch organizations LTO Noord and KAVB have refused a request from the municipality of Castricum to ask their members to stop using the herbicide glyphosate. The local government made the request due to concerns regarding the chemical's potential harmful effects on human health and the environment.
Residents of the Kleine Houtweg in Haarlem have submitted an alternative street design plan to the municipality, calling for the inclusion of a separate bicycle path. The group argues that the current municipal proposal lacks sufficient safety measures and urges the city council to revise the plan before approval.