Climate change
Competition or cooperation? EU, US enter new era of climate diplomacy
As Joe Biden takes the reins of a tumultuous America, analysts have tempered expectations about the ability of the new US administration to closely align with Europe on climate change.
French citizens want better homes. Why are politicians standing in their way?
If it enshrines into its upcoming climate bill mandatory building renovation, France will answer the Citizens’ Convention on Climate’s call for better homes and contribute significantly to the EU’s 55% emission reduction target by 2030, writes Etienne Charbit.
‘Gas is over’, EU bank chief says
We need to face the reality that the future is no longer in fossil fuels and need to show credibility on that, said President of the European Investment Bank, Dr Werner Hoyer on Wednesday (20 January).
French constitutional change on environmental preservation faces long road ahead
The French government will unveil a draft revision of the Constitution on Wednesday (20 January) to include the notion of environmental preservation. While the ultimate aim is to submit this proposal to the French public, holding a referendum seems a distant prospect. EURACTIV France reports.
‘Matching sustainability with style’: EU lifts veil on new European Bauhaus initiative
The European Commission is inviting “creative minds” across Europe to contribute ideas to the "New European Bauhaus", an initiative aimed at designing new ways of living to meet the objectives of the European Green Deal.
Carbon capture is vital to meeting climate goals, scientists tell green critics
Engineers and geologists have strongly criticised green groups who last week claimed that carbon capture and storage schemes – for reducing fossil fuel emissions – are costly mistakes. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
EU sees carbon border levy as ‘matter of survival’ for industry
The European Union's proposed carbon border charge is essential to the survival of its own industries and the bloc will impose the levy on non-EU competitors unless they commit to lowering their emissions, the bloc's climate policy chief said on Monday (18 January).
Czech health minister backs coal mining phase-out ‘as soon as possible’
Czech health minister Jan Blatný is aware of the negative impacts of coal mining on the environment and human health. “Personally, I am in favour of a coal mining phase-out as soon as possible,” he told EURACTIV.cz.
Shift to renewables ‘significantly decreased’ emissions, EU agency says
Europe's shift from fossil fuel-based electricity to renewable sources has cut down on greenhouse gas emissions while tackling environmental problems, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Monday (18 January).
EU should set a joint and ambitious standard for climate finance
As COP 26 approaches, the EU needs to adopt a joint and ambitious approach to climate finance to ensure that EU countries stand by their financial commitments under the Paris Agreement, writes Mattias Söderberg and Conor O'Neill.
Biodiversity protection must be included in all EU policy, says Greens
The test for the EU's biodiversity strategy will be whether all EU legislation matches its ambition on nature protection, Green lawmakers argued in an environment committee debate about the strategy on Thursday (14 January).
Biden presidency sets stage for wider global advances on climate policy
Once US President-elect Joe Biden takes office - and as more countries struggle with climate impacts - policies that tackle global warming are expected to begin emerging in a wider range of world bodies in 2021, climate diplomats said.
Portugal on track to become coal-free by year end
The Sines coal plant in Portugal went offline at midnight yesterday evening (14 January), leaving the country with just one remaining coal power station in operation, which is scheduled for closure in November.
The EU’s watershed deforestation moment?
This week Ursula von der Leyen signalled the EU’s desire to lead the world in the fight against global deforestation. But if the key drivers of deforestation aren’t addressed, progress will remain limited, writes Julia Christian.
Europe renews pledge to fight deforestation at Paris biodiversity summit
The importance of forests for biodiversity and the need to protect them to prevent future pandemics was emphasised by Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel at the One Planet Summit on Monday (11 January).
UK carbon trading scheme leaves many questions unanswered
As the UK takes its first steps away from the EU, there are still plenty of open questions about how it will align with Europe on climate policy, and in particular, with the EU's flagship emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Most Europeans plan to curb flying and eat less meat for climate, EU poll says
A majority of European citizens intend to fly less and already eat less meat to help fight climate change, according to a survey published by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on Monday (11 January).
Positive ‘tipping points’ provide fresh hope for climate, study says
Positive “tipping points” in the uptake of electric vehicles and the decarbonisation of electricity generation could spark a global transition to a climate neutral economy, scientists say, providing fresh hope in the fight against global warming.
Global heating could stabilise if net zero emissions achieved, scientists say
Climate disaster could be curtailed within a couple of decades if net zero emissions are reached, new study shows. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Deal on European climate law is ‘big priority’ for Portugal at EU helm
Negotiations on the European Climate Law – including the bloc’s proposed 55% greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030 – are expected to wrap up before the end of June as Portugal makes a climate agreement the “big priority” of its six-month EU presidency, which started on 1 January.
CO2 levels to breach 50% rise from pre-industrial era in 2021
Human activity will push concentrations of planet-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to levels 50% higher than before the industrial revolution this year, breaching a symbolic climate change threshold, the UK’s Met Office forecast on Friday (8 January).
2020 was hottest year ever in Europe
2020 was the warmest year recorded in Europe, breaking the previous 2019 record by 0.4°C, according Copernicus, the EU's satellite earth observation system. Globally, the year tied with 2016 as the hottest on record.
2021: Another decisive year for Europe’s climate ambitions
Climate policy will again take centre stage in 2021, with the European Commission expected to table a mammoth package of green laws in June, before the COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow caps off a year packed with milestones for European climate policy in December.
Energy utilities prepare to deliver new 2030 climate target
Now that the EU has raised its 2030 emissions reduction target from 40% to 55%, questions are being asked about how utility operators can make the changes necessary to transform the energy system.