Climate change
Trumpian cuts on the cards for EU climate research?
Following the European Parliament’s call for a ‘net zero emissions’ goal for 2050, one might have expected MEPs to support a bigger budget for research on low-carbon technologies in the new Horizon Europe programme. Instead, they are considering cuts by 1.35%, writes Theo Mitchell.
European oil majors better prepared for energy transition than US, Chinese counterparts
Oil majors are “lagging” when it comes to preparing for the low-carbon energy transition, according to a new report from financial watchdog CDP, which nonetheless praised BP, Eni, Equinor, Total, Repsol and Shell for taking the industry’s lead.
Europe’s path to carbon neutrality: A move to ‘sobriété énergétique’?
What is 'sobriété énergétique' and what is its role in pushing Europe towards its carbon reduction goals? Kamila Waciega explains.
Climate change will affect EU monetary policy ‘one way or the other’, ECB says
Whether humankind fails or succeeds in keeping the rise in global temperatures within manageable levels, central banks will sooner or later be called upon to act, said Benoît Cœuré, a member of the European Central Bank's (ECB) Executive Board.
Row over fuel prices highlights flaws of France’s ecological tax
The many exceptions to the French carbon tax do not make it easier for people – and drivers – to accept green taxation, EURACTIV France reports.
COP24 – The road to Katowice: Changing together for a ‘just energy transition’
Transforming the global energy system towards low-carbon alternatives would not only mitigate climate change but also offer an opportunity to fundamentally change the way natural resources and public goods are managed. However, ambitious climate policies should not come at the expense of social justice.
Corporate reporting group launches two-year transparency project on green finance
The new Corporate Reporting Dialogue project will work on aligning international standards with the recommendations published by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure in a bid to improve and harmonise reporting on sustainability standards, the group announced Wednesday (7 November).
EU finance ministers call for transparency in climate finance
EU economy and finance ministers on Tuesday (6 November) stressed the need to scale up public and private money for climate change and urged multilateral development banks to end funding for coal.
‘Risk data hub’ to enhance EU resilience to climate hazards
The European Commission is preparing to launch a “risk data hub” in the coming months that will help map out loss and damage from natural disasters such as floods, droughts, storms and other extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent with climate change.
Steel industry moulds EU carbon market to its advantage
By authorising the steel industry to burn blast furnace gases until 2026, the European Commission has backtracked on its earlier position. EURACTIV France reports.
Four priorities for a future-oriented Connecting Europe Facility
Swift implementation of the EU’s energy and climate commitments is only possible if the next EU budget gives a clear signal to invest in a transition to a low-carbon economy, write Lisa Fischer and Elisa Giannelli.
Swiss researchers chart path to zero-emission cement
The construction sector can cut polluting emissions up to 80% by applying efficiency measures along the whole value chain, according to new research. If combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, emissions could even be brought down to zero by 2050, they argue.
German coal plant exposed as Europe’s single worst air polluter
The Niederaussem coal plant and mine, operated by RWE, was singled out as Europe’s largest hotspot for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) pollution, according to a groundbreaking analysis of new satellite imagery. London’s polluted air, caused mainly by transport emissions, comes second.
60% of living species declined due to human activity, warns WWF
The ways in which humans feed, fuel and finance modern societies is pushing the planet’s natural systems to the brink, threatening the very foundation on which the world economy is based, according to the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2018, published on Tuesday (30 October).
EU helps French research institute unlock mysteries of the ocean
From studying toxic microplankton to currents and ocean temperatures, the Euro Hab and Euro-Argo projects are trying to understand the oceans. The British are contributing to this undertaking but Brexit could complicate things. EURACTIV France reports.
Only 16 countries meet their commitment to Paris Agreement, new study finds
Only sixteen countries out of the 197 that have signed the Paris Agreement have defined national climate action plan ambitious enough to meet their pledges, according to a policy brief released on Monday (29 October), ahead of the crucial UN climate conference COP24 in Katowice (Poland) in December.
Catholic bishops call for faith in 1.5°C Paris target
Church leaders urged governments around the world to ramp up their climate action efforts on Friday (26 October), calling for “ambitious implementation” of the Paris Agreement.
‘Price and accessibility’ to drive Romania’s energy agenda at EU helm
Romania intends to push “price and accessibility” of energy as the guiding principles of its EU Presidency next year – whether it relates to the EU’s 2050 climate goals, the expansion of nuclear power, new gas pipeline projects, or even coal.
Climate litigations set to rise globally on back of IPCC report
Climate-related litigations are set to break new grounds following a landmark report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) earlier this month, which provided lawyers with new evidence that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is still possible.
Germany’s coal commission agrees first post-coal strategy steps
Members of Germany's coal exit commission unanimously adopted on Wednesday (25 October) the first major policy recommendations for those lignite mining regions affected by a future coal power phase-out. EURACTIV's media partner Clean Energy Wire reports.
Poland’s climate diplomacy undermined by tensions over coal
While COP24 president-designate Michał Kurtyka continues his intense climate diplomatic trail after end of pre-COP24 session 24 October in Polish Krakow showed uneven progress being made across the various negotiation tracks, the pro-coal position of Poland’s energy ministry throws sand into the process.
Parliament’s climate resolution is misguided over CCS
A proposal to disregard CO2 capture and underground storage is doing the rounds in Strasbourg ahead of a Plenary vote on a COP24 Resolution on Thursday (25 October). The proposal is anti-science and anti-technology and must be rejected, writes Frederic Hauge.
US-China trade war spills into Green Climate Fund
A global fund originally set up in 2010 under the aegis of the UNFCCC to assist developing countries fight global warming got back on track with a $1 billion splurge, but the US vetoed a project that would have loaned $100 million to China. EURACTIV's media partner Climate Home News reports.