Lake Velence Crisis: Hungary’s Lake Velence is nearing historic lows as drought and extreme heat push water levels to within about 10 cm of the record minimum, with experts warning it could reach that point by mid-June—threatening swimming and navigation and already hitting tourism businesses. Renewables & Waste: At the Second Budapest Biogas Summit, speakers said only a small share of organic waste is treated for biogas (about 2%), despite the sector’s potential to cut emissions and turn waste into energy—calling for faster rollout in Hungary and beyond. Animal Welfare in Cold Weather: A growing Hungarian initiative is installing low-cost solar shelters for stray dogs, using simple heat retention from sunlight to protect animals through freezing nights without complex technology. EU Funds Breakthrough: Hungary reached a political agreement with the European Commission to unlock €16.4bn in previously frozen EU money, tied to anti-corruption and rule-of-law reforms, including stronger integrity checks and procurement changes. Green Energy Cooperation: Hungary is seeking closer ties with Sabah (Malaysia) on sustainable agriculture and using agricultural waste for renewable energy, including technology transfer and research. Local Transport Policy: Budapest taxi fares were set to rise by 27% but the proposal was rejected, while the city council is set to revisit fares after the fuel price cap ends.