European Green Deal
EU methane rules must cover the entire gas supply chain, including imports
A group of environmental organisations and global energy companies, including Shell, have called for mandatory EU rules on methane encompassing the entire gas value chain, including imports from abroad, writes Maarten Wetselaar.
How the European Central Bank can unleash the building renovation wave
Trillions is needed for the deep building renovations required to meet Europe's climate targets. To make this happen, EU institutions need to use the network of banks across Europe and incentivise loans for home renovation, argue finance campaigners.
US needs to step up on climate finance ahead of COP26, says EU chief
The United States and other rich nations need to close the climate financing gap in order to increase the chances of success at the COP26 UN climate summit in November, the President of the European Commission has said.
Europe needs to speed up on climate action
Europe's recent push to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions is desperately needed, but it is happening too slowly, with many key measures laid out in the Fit for 55 climate package not coming into force until the 2030s, writes Michael Bloss.
Renewable energy associations merge to develop solar PV sector in Portugal
Two Portuguese business associations – the Portuguese associations of Renewable Energies (APREN) and the Solar Photovoltaic Sector Companies (APESF) – announced their merger on Tuesday (14 September) to develop the solar photovoltaic sector in Portugal.
Leaked EU anti-deforestation law omits fragile grasslands and wetlands
The fragile Cerrado grasslands and the Pantanal wetlands, both under threat from soy and beef exploitation, have been excluded from a European Union draft anti-deforestation law, campaigners have said, and there are many other concerning loopholes. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Achieving climate neutrality will depend on how we decarbonise our building stock
Effiecient, technological and smarter buildings should be the cornerstone of Europe's decarbonisation, but more effort needs to go towards renovating the bloc's current building stock, writes Seán Kelly.
Coal mine methane: a missed opportunity for EU’s CBAM
The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism had an opportunity to include methane in its scope and act against sources of the potent greenhouse gas, but this was left out of the final published draft. Future EU climate legislation cannot afford to make the same mistake, writes Anatoli Smirnov.
EU urges markets to ‘keep calm’ as carbon price hits €60 record
A senior European Commission official insisted on delivering “a message of calm” during a EURACTIV event on Thursday (2 September), as CO2 prices rose for the first time above the €60 threshold on the EU carbon market.
How to regulate hydrogen networks
The need for regulating networks for transporting hydrogen is becoming increasingly urgent, but the legislation needs to be designed in a way to give the market flexibility to overcome the challenges ahead, writes Noé van Hulst.
Lights out for inefficient bulbs under new EU standards
Certain fluorescent and halogen light bulbs are being banned as of Wednesday (1 September) as new ecodesign and labelling rules come into force across the European Union.
ETS reform: How to avoid a new ‘green iron curtain’ in Europe
Current shortcomings in Europe's emissions trading scheme threaten to pull a green iron curtain between central and eastern Europe and the rest of the EU, but used correctly, the system could boost decarbonisation in the region, argue Claire Godet and Linda Zeilina.
Carbon market largely unaffected by EU border levy, think tanks say
Over half of the heavily criticised free allowances, which allow certain EU companies to emit CO2 without paying, will remain unchanged under current plans for the tool designed to replace them, according to climate think-tanks.
Europe should aim to leave metals in the ground – and in the deep sea
While certain metals, like lithium and cobalt, are essential for decarbonisation, Europe needs to shift the focus away from mining these materials towards reducing the amount needed and recycling what is used, writes Ann Dom.
The EEA is right – Europe’s Green Deal is unsustainable
A truly sustainable economy will need to re-align the financial system around planetary boundaries, not ‘green growth’, writes Lily Tomson, head of networks at ShareAction. The European Environment Agency recently joined the growing list of organisations to acknowledge that there...
Carbon pricing in buildings and transport is necessary but must be done well
Without pricing CO2 emissions from buildings and transport, Europe will miss its -55% emissions target, but it must be introduced bearing in mind the political and societal risks, particularly in countries like Poland, writes Joanna Maćkowiak-Pandera.
Carbon pricing in buildings? Help renovate and fuel-switch to renewables first
Including buildings in an emissions trading scheme will have a limited impact on emissions. The EU must also focus on an ambitious revision of the energy performance of buildings directive to ensure that emissions are sufficiently decreased, writes Monica Frassoni.
Climate legislation overhaul opens door to geothermal, but not wide enough
The recent overhaul of European climate legislation to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 is a good first step towards supporting geothermal energy, but goes little further, according to a former Bulgarian environment minister.
EU’s new climate package must now close the ‘National Ownership Gap’
Europe must go beyond EU-level targets and ambition to implement climate action across member states, if it wants to reach its own ambition and limit the world to 1.5°C warming, write Sharon Turner and Thomas Muinzer.
Healthcare must drastically reduce emissions to help prevent new health crises
Climate change is the biggest health threat of the 21st century and healthcare systems need to dramatically reduce their emissions in order to help prevent this from worsening, writes Jacqueline Cramer.
Critics warn carbon price proposal would exacerbate energy poverty
Energy poverty could be exacerbated ad prices rise under the European Commission's proposed revamped emissions trading scheme, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has warned, with other stakeholders raising similar misgivings.
Tackling energy poverty is a non-negotiable part of the green transition
Europe's new climate legislation must focus on renovating its inefficient buildings and lifting millions of people out of energy poverty, but that is only possible if the EU works together with local governments, writes Emil Boc.
EU’s planned carbon border levy violates trade principles, says China
The European Union's plan to impose the world's first carbon border tax will expand climate issues into trade, both violating international principles and hurting prospects for economic growth, China said on Monday (26 July).