EurActiv.com

EU news and policy debates across languages

21/11/2016

Why Europe’s climate action has been put on hold

Topic: COP21


Opinion
Climate & Environment 18-11-2016

What local and regional government leaders at COP22 can teach the world

As COP22 begins to draw to a close, Gino Van Begin calls on all involved parties to roll up their sleeves and start implementing climate action immediately.
Interview
Energy 17-11-2016

Clean energy expert: Renewables are 'a big opportunity to risk gambling with'

The EU has some big plans in climate protection, as well as the targets of the Paris Agreement to meet. The road ahead seems bumpy, especially since leaked Commission documents revealed renewable energy will be bumped down the list of priorities. EurActiv Germany reports.
News
16-11-2016

The Brief: Austerity, masochism and other things you can't say in Europe anymore

The European Commission is fudging its own rules on how to treat rule-breaking member states.
News
Climate & Environment 16-11-2016

Germany positive about 2050 climate targets, 2020 looks less promising

Environmentalists have praised Germany for its ambitious 2050 emissions targets, where it is aiming for a 95% reduction in comparison to 1990 levels. But things are less rosy when it comes to its 2020 targets. EurActiv’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

News
Climate & Environment 16-11-2016

Hollande to Trump: Paris Agreement is 'irreversible'

In an address directly aimed at Donald Trump, the French president said that abandoning the Paris Agreement was not an option. The US President-elect has promised to undo the climate commitments made by Barack Obama in 2015. EurActiv France reports.
Opinion
Climate & Environment 15-11-2016

How Trump can quit the Paris Agreement

The idea that the Paris Agreement will survive the election of Donald Trump is politically naïve, writes Klaus Dingwerth.
Interview
Security 15-11-2016

Spanish ex-foreign minister: 'Either we defend ourselves or there is no defence'

Spain's former foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, told EurActiv Spain that now is not the time for alarmist reactions to Donald Trump's US election victory and that Brexit could provide Spain with an opportunity to increase its international standing.
News
09-11-2016

The Brief: After Trump victory, EU nervously eyes French election

The Berlin Wall fell 27 years ago today. Today, the US made a man who promised to build a wall the leader of the free world.
News
Climate & Environment 09-11-2016

Trump can kill UN climate deal, warns EU carbon market chief

EXCLUSIVE/ The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States is a “real and imminent threat” to the fight against climate change, and “completely upends every single element” of the Paris Agreement, making it almost impossible to deliver, the MEP leading EU carbon market reform has warned.
News
Energy 09-11-2016

Energy Union: A total climate protection package?

The proposal to create an Energy Union is already two years old and remains one of the EU's most ambitious projects. But it risks falling behind expectations on climate policy, EurActiv Germany reports.
News
Climate & Environment 09-11-2016

Germany heads to COP22 without a plan

German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks will have to travel to Marrakesh without a climate plan to present to the COP22 summit, after Economic Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel blocked it last night (8 November). EurActiv’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

News
Energy 09-11-2016

European companies help Morocco maintain control over Western Sahara

Morocco is eagerly promoting its green credentials in its hosting of the COP22 climate change conference in Marrakesh. But a new report discloses that the North African country is consolidating its hold on Western Sahara through European-built energy projects. EurActiv Germany reports.

Interview
Climate & Environment 08-11-2016

What President Trump could mean for energy and climate policy

Before Donald Trump was elected America's new president in yesterday’s elections (8 November), experts told EurActiv.com that his presidency would have a corrosive effect on global and EU climate and energy policy.
Interview
Climate & Environment 08-11-2016

Hakima El Haite: 'We will have to start drawing up action plans' at COP22

A successful COP22 will address the issues of the oceans, the role of women in climate action and the deployment of private and public finance to help the vulnerable, Hakima El Haite said in an interview with EurActiv’s partner La Tribune.
News
07-11-2016

The Brief: Commission must harness climate momentum

The European Commission has the chance, if it seizes the moment, to push through the higher renewable and energy efficiency targets that are needed to meet the EU’s Paris Agreement climate commitments.
News
Climate & Environment 07-11-2016

Paris Agreement comes into force - what now in Marrakech?

Last week, vision turned into reality as the Paris Agreement officially came into force, ushering a new era of climate action. As COP22 starts today, EurActiv’s partner edie.net asks, what does this actually mean for the global green economy?

Opinion
Energy 07-11-2016

Carbon footprint of solar panels under microscope

As the COP22 opens this week in Marrakesh, recent news about solar power has been positive, with record-breaking tariffs reflecting the fast-declining price of solar electricity. But even solar plants can come with a heavy environmental footprint, writes Andreas Wade.

News
04-11-2016

The Brief: Is the EU now a dirty word?

There was a debate last night between the seven candidates competing for the French right's presidential nomination and Europe barely came up at all. That wouldn't be so surprising if the EU hadn't been touted as one of the main topics of the debate for weeks in advance.
Opinion
Climate & Environment 04-11-2016

Climate action after Paris: Tailwinds, headwinds and wild cards

As the Paris Climate Agreement enters into force, it is time to reflect on how the politics of climate change are evolving, writes Nick Mabey.
News
Climate & Environment 03-11-2016

World on track for 3C of warming under current global climate pledges, warns UN

The commitments made by governments on climate change will lead to dangerous levels of global warming because they are incommensurate with the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report.
News
Climate & Environment 02-11-2016

UK government loses air pollution court case

Environmental campaigners in the United Kingdom won a High Court legal battle today (2 November) over the government's failure to tackle air pollution and meet European standards.
Opinion
Climate & Environment 31-10-2016

Carbon Capture and Storage - EU climate policy's gaping hole

Carbon Capture and Storage has suffered numerous setbacks in Europe, but its deployment is essential to keeping CO2 levels within manageable levels and to the attainment of the Paris climate goals, warns Chris Davies.
Opinion
Climate & Environment 31-10-2016

COP21 goals: An alternative path to success

Managing carbon emissions by imposing a refundable excise duty on the extraction of fossil fuels rather than on their emissions is an alternative and much more advantageous solution to reaching the objectives of the COP21 Agreement, argue Jacques de Gerlache and Romain Ferrari.

News
Energy 31-10-2016

Why Europe’s climate action has been put on hold

Angela Merkel’s absence from the COP 22 is symbolic of a European climate and energy policy beset by indecision and infighting. EurActiv France reports.