Africa seeks Europe’s support to invest in ecological transition

Africa is the continent that contributes least to climate change, yet it is impacted more harshly than others and lacks support to innovate, says the Portuguese presidency of the EU Council, which organised an EU-Africa Green Talk in Paris on Tuesday (13 April).

Four key issues to watch in the EU’s carbon market reform

EU carbon market emissions experienced a record fall last year, but when it comes to heavy industry, the effect is likely to be short-lived, writes Agnese Ruggiero. Agnese Ruggiero is a Policy Officer at Carbon Market Watch, an NGO working...

EURACTIV and Life Terra Foundation – Planting trees in Brussels forest with RFSB

Life Terra is a project co-funded by the LIFE Programme through EISMEA with the goal to plant 500 million trees in Europe over 5 years – 1 tree for every European.

Gas grid operators outline plans for expanded EU ‘hydrogen highway’

Gas network operators from 11 countries have joined the European hydrogen backbone initiative, presenting an updated vision for a pure hydrogen network of nearly 40,000 kilometres by 2040.

EU chief adviser says credibility of green finance rules at risk

The head of the group advising the European Union on its green finance rules has urged Brussels to resist political pressure to weaken them, saying the credibility of the regulation is at stake.

Space experts: Cheaper ‘real-time data’ needed for earth monitoring services

Satellites can help track things like extreme weather, forest stocks and methane emissions, but more and cheaper "near real-time data" is needed for next generation applications to emerge, say Miguel Bello and Ricardo Conde.

Emerging economies share ‘grave concern’ over EU plans for a carbon border levy

European Union plans to impose taxes on carbon at its border are “discriminatory” and unfair to developing nations, ministers from Brazil, South Africa, India and China have warned. EURACTIV's media partner Climate Home News reports.

Lemurs and giant tortoises among species at risk if global warming reaches 3°C

Unique island species including lemurs and the Galapagos giant tortoise could be at high risk of extinction if the planet warms by more than 3°C above pre-industrial levels, new research warns. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.

How Joe Biden could effortlessly boost aviation climate action

Europe is strengthening its carbon pricing system for aviation. After having fought the policy under the Obama administration, President Joe Biden has a chance to show that the world has changed and that the US is now ready to support real climate action, argues Jakop Dalunde.

Mercosur trade deal threatens to wreck EU’s climate credibility

To pass the EU-Mercosur deal in its current state would set an horrific precedent for future trade deals currently under negotiation and fly in the face of the EU’s landmark Green Deal, write Laurence Tubiana and Ani Toni.

Europe’s heat and drought crop losses tripled in 50 years: study

The severity of crop losses driven by heat waves and drought have tripled in the last fifty years in Europe, according to a study that highlights the vulnerability of food systems to climate change.

EU urged to keep ‘low-carbon fuels’ out of renewable energy mix

A group of 88 lawmakers in the European Parliament have joined environmental NGOs and the renewable energy industry to demand the exclusion of low-carbon fossil fuels from the upcoming revision of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive.

Greener farm reform ‘still possible’, EU’s Timmermans says after meeting climate activists

A group of climate campaigners led by Greta Thunberg have met with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, urging him to withdraw current proposals to reform the bloc’s Common Agricultural Policy.

Urban forests: A solution to Europe’s forestry problem?

A mini urban forest of 100 square metres is big enough to plant 15 to 30 tree types and recreate the ecosystem of a full-scale forest, according to Nicolas de Brabandère, founder of the Belgian company, Urban Forest. EURACTIV France reports.

How the European Commission is underselling climate action

A blanket 10% rate of interest on borrowing is being assumed for the European Commission's upcoming 2030 package of climate and energy laws. This fails to take into account the present low rates across most European countries, writes Ursula Woodburn.

Paris 2024 Olympics on course to being world’s first ‘climate-positive’ sporting event

The Olympic Games to be held in Paris in 2024 will be the "first sporting event in the world" to have a positive impact on the climate, according to the Paris 2024 board of directors, which approved its climate strategy in mid-March. EURACTIV France reports.

Little progress made in fifth round of negotiations on EU climate law

Little progress was made in the fifth round of negotiations on the European Climate Law last Friday (26 March), despite growing time pressure to have the bill agreed by mid-April, according to people involved in the talks, which are being held behind closed doors.

Energy charter leadership contest down to two-horse race

The leadership contest at the Brussels-based Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat appears to be down to two candidates, the current secretary-general, Slovakia's Urban Rusnák, and Guy Lentz from Luxembourg, EURACTIV has learned from sources familiar with the situation.

LEAK: EU experts to say nuclear power qualifies for green investment label

Experts tasked with assessing whether the European Union should label nuclear power as a green investment will say that the fuel qualifies as sustainable, according to a leaked document.

Fossil gas ‘has no viable future’, EU’s Timmermans says

Europe has set a clear goal for full decarbonisation by 2050, with renewables-based electricity set to become the dominant energy carrier, and that means fossil gas will have “only a marginal role” in the long run, EU climate chief Frans Timmermans said on Thursday (25 March). 

Brussels rules out double carbon compensation for EU steelmakers

The European Commission has made it clear that industries covered by the EU’s upcoming carbon border levy will no longer receive free CO2 allowances under the bloc’s carbon market, the emissions trading scheme (EU ETS).

This decade should be ‘Roaring Twenties of climate action’, von der Leyen says

Europe has the opportunity to lead the global shift towards net-zero emissions and reap the rewards of the green transformation, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at an event on Wednesday (24 March).

Macron, Orban urge EU to ‘actively support’ nuclear power

A group of seven European leaders fronted by French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the European Commission to stop hindering nuclear power and consider ways of bringing atomic energy into the EU’s green finance rule book ahead of an EU summit on Thursday (25 March).

Solo car journeys more harmful to the environment than flying: report

A solitary trip in a petrol or diesel-powered car may release more emissions per passenger than an intra-EU flight, a new EU study into the environmental impact of transport modes has found.