Climate change
EU budget for climate action: Time to wake the sleeping beauty
The European Commission will publish its ‘Reflection paper on the future of EU finances’ on 28 June. Against a background of renewed commitments from European leaders towards climate action, the EU budget must be reformed to comply with the requirements of the Paris Agreement, writes Markus Trilling.
New electrification alliance seeks top billing in EU’s decarbonisation efforts
Industry groups representing sectors as varied as wind and solar power, fuel cell batteries, copper and heat pumps, have clubbed together to launch the Electrification Alliance, with the hope that electricity will be recognised as the main energy carrier in Europe’s decarbonisation drive.
EU SUMMIT WRAP-UP: European Council ends, post-Brexit EU starts to take shape
On the second and final day of the summit on Friday (23 June), EU leaders met ECB President Mario Draghi, who presented the current economic situation. They also discussed migration and Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas outlined the digital ambitions of the incoming Estonian Presidency.
How Paris can make European industry great again
For much of this century, Europe has been a pioneer and a role model for countries across the world – be it on industrial innovation, democratic and human rights principles, or on climate change. That leadership role is now needed more than ever, writes Jill Duggan.
Will EU ministers heed Macron’s call to #Makeourplanetgreatagain?
Europe’s proposed 30% energy savings objective means less savings in the period 2020-2030 than in 2010-2020 and are in direct contradiction with the spirit of the Paris Agreement, writes Yamina Saheb as EU energy ministers prepare to meet on Monday (26 June).
Short-term views on forest climate benefits is a mistake
The Commission’s land-use proposal risks being a step backwards in transitioning to a fossil fuel-free economy. Mårten Larsson explains the alternatives.
EU will fail Paris climate challenge unless it tackles heating and cooling
The European Union’s fight against global warming is doomed to fail unless decisive action is taken to change the way we heat and cool our buildings.
Paris Agreement under threat as member states water down building performance measures
While President Trump is grabbing world headlines by publicly trashing the Paris climate agreement, EU member states are also trying to sabotage this deal by watering down measures in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), writes Adrian Joyce.
The ‘Eurovision of inventors’ and new solutions for protecting the planet
Whether or not Donald Trump is taking part in efforts to protect the planet, inventions and technological progress are filling an important gap and the EU is playing a role bigger than generally assumed, writes Eli Hadzhieva.
Cities are key players in the clean energy transition
Cities are often leaders in climate action and ambition. National governments need to recognise this and empower them with the financial and technical means to complete their transition away from fossil fuels, writes Abdeluheb Choho.
Parliament strengthens 2030 climate and energy package
MEPs on Wednesday (14 June) voted to strengthen a draft EU regulation that fixes binding national targets for cuts to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sectors not covered by quotas. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
How do you put a price on trucks’ impact on society?
Hauliers claim that trucks are overpaying in taxes and charges compared to their impact on the environment and society. But the reality is that road transport is now Europe’s biggest climate problem, writes Samuel Kenny.
LULUCF: Will the EU turn the tide on forest growth and torpedo its bioeconomy agenda?
The European Commission’s proposal for Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) may well defeat its own purpose, writes Sylvain Lhôte.
Forest accounting rules put EU’s climate credibility at risk
Forest mitigation should be measured using a scientifically-objective approach, not allowing countries to hide the impacts of policies that increase net emissions, writes a group of environmental scientists led by Dr Joanna I House.
Energy Community members rally at Vienna meeting
Energy Community member states concurred at the Clean Energy for a Sustainable Future forum that there is no question whether they should choose between clean energy and economic growth. EURACTV.rs reports.
Proper Energy Union governance is essential to delivering the EU’s Paris Agreement promises
Transparency and long-term planning are the only ways to reduce the cost of the transition and align climate and energy policies, argues Quentin Genard of E3G. The EU’s Governance Regulation can do that.
EU summit draft backs closer defence ties, Paris climate accord
European Union leaders meeting next week will agree to boost cooperation on security and defence and express support for global trade and the Paris Agreement, according to a draft joint statement.
New energy labels for appliances seen as boon for consumers
The European Parliament approved on Tuesday (June 13) the introduction of new energy labels for household appliances, which MEPs and industry experts said should enable consumers to save money and cut energy consumption while helping the bloc reduce overall carbon emissions.
Commission must double efforts towards a sustainable financial system
The European Commission is taking steps towards a more sustainable financial system in Europe, but must double its efforts to create a truly resilient system that Europe needs, writes Anne van Schaik.
Scared of scarcity: Electricity utilities question EU free market plans
At an event hosted by Eurelectric yesterday (7 June), a senior European Commission energy official told electricity firms that “if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen”, when faced with concerns about proposals expressly designed to create frequent price spikes.
Fighting climate change needs green investment to go mainstream
Ad hoc measures won’t be enough to fight climate change. The EU needs to step up and the ECB should start pumping some of its €60 billion monthly investments into green projects, insists MEP Neena Gill.
European Development Days focus on private sector
The ‘European Development Days’, often called ‘the Davos of Development’ opened yesterday (7 June) in Brussels, with many of the VIP speakers stressing that in a difficult international context, the public sector cannot go it alone and therefore the role of the private sector is key.
Coal sector alone in celebrating US exit from Paris Agreement
Donald Trump’s decision to take the United States out of the Paris climate agreement has been condemned by almost all of the country’s business community. Only the coal sector is openly celebrating the move. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.
UK leads the way on emissions reductions, despite overall increase across the EU
The UK recorded the largest decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union in 2015, although new research has found the emissions from the bloc increased for the first time in five years. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.