Energy & Environment
Wind provided 16% of EU electricity in 2020, despite COVID delays
Wind energy provided 16.4% of EU and UK power in 2020, bringing the industry closer to its objective of producing 50% of the bloc's total electricity by 2050. But permitting issues, lockdowns and changing regulations threaten to slow down further deployment, the industry warns.
‘Our forests are sick,’ Germany’s agriculture minister says
The German agriculture minister presented on Wednesday (24 February) a worrying annual report on the condition of German forests, which again highlights the dramatic effects of climate change on the ecosystem.
The EU adaptation strategy is everybody’s cup of coffee
The EU Adaptation Strategy presents not only priorities for action, but a vision of how adaptation to climate change should take place, writes Richard J. T. Klein.
EU and US should join hands to make global trading system sustainable
For four years, trade irritants mounted as we lived under the threat of a fully-fledged transatlantic trade war – never more than a late-night tweet away. A rare moment is here at last to rejuvenate the way global trade operates, writes Cathy Novelli.
EU says it does not need Nord Stream 2, but only Germany can block it
The European Union does not need the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for its energy security but any decision to stop the project carrying Russian natural gas to Germany would have to come from Berlin, a senior European Commission said.
NGOs call for stricter reporting requirements for European companies
By the end of March, the European Commission wants to present a revised version of the so-called non-financial reporting directive (NFRD). A coalition of European NGOs is calling for greater transparency and stricter reporting requirements for companies in sustainability matters. EURACTIV Germany reports.
French climate bill could be more ambitious, says High Climate Council
France's High Climate Council (HCC) scrutinised the government's "climate and resilience" bill and called for more ambition in an opinion published on Tuesday (23 February), warning that it "does not offer enough strategic scope." EURACTIV France reports.
French government presents roadmap to bridge digital and environmental transitions
France's Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili and the Secretary of State for Digital, Cédric O, unveiled on Tuesday (23 February) the government's national strategy to bring environmental and digital issues together. EURACTIV France was able to see the document before publication.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
EU Taxonomy must contribute to building the Green Deal on solid foundations
Decarbonising the building sector will make or break Europe’s Green Deal. Thankfully, renovations are enjoying some much-deserved limelight. But there is one very important detail which could slow down our hard-won progress, warns the European Insulation Manufacturers Association (EURIMA).
EU countries back green building renovations, but quiet on binding standards
European Union countries will rally behind the bloc's plan to massively expand building renovations to cut emissions, according to a draft document, but it did not explicitly endorse using legally-binding energy performance standards to do it.
EU advisors and Poland’s PGE increase pressure over gas in green finance rules
The European Commission came under new pressure on Monday (22 February) from Poland's biggest power producer, PGE, and its own advisors, over whether to include gas power in EU rules on sustainable finance.
Plugging into the Green Deal: Europe needs charging infrastructure
It is vital to ensure that electrified vehicles have access to a sufficiently developed network of charging and re-fuelling infrastructure. This requires a pan-European effort with binding and measurable targets, writes Oliver Zipse.Editor's picks
Leapfrogging gas: how geothermal could help eastern EU countries ditch fossil fuels
Geothermal energy could help central and eastern Europe break away from coal and gas, but it needs a quicker uptake and government backing to help meet renewable energy targets, advocates say.
US sees progress against Nord Stream 2 amid calls for more action
The United States said Monday (22 February) it had seen progress from European companies moving out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, but critics urged stronger action.
Why the Commission is getting it wrong on climate number-crunching
The European Commission's cost-benefit analysis for its upcoming 'Fit for 55' package of green laws for 2030 is outdated, assuming an eye-watering 10% cost of capital for climate action, writes Brook Riley.OpinionPromoted content
Carbon capture: one technology for many routes to net-zero
Uniquely placed to cut emissions in many sectors − and enable greater use of renewables − carbon capture and storage (CCS) needs more political backing if we are to stand any chance of reaching net-zero emissions. Kenji Terasawa is the...
Ammonia and the greening of EU industry
A chemical traditionally used in the fertiliser industry, ammonia is now also entering the realm of energy as a way to store and transport hydrogen, or as an alternative transport fuel in its own right. VideoPromoted content
It is the label that changes, not the energy consumption.
On March 1st, a new energy label appears in shops and online. It is a fresh restart, making room for further innovations.
Failed gas projects have cost EU €440 million, new research shows
In less than a decade, the European Union has spent €440 million on gas pipelines that have either never been completed or are likely to fail, according to new research published on Monday (22 February).
A new, climate-innovation led industrial strategy for Europe
Europe is an undisputed global leader in clean technologies like offshore wind. But to ensure European companies and workers can compete in a global economy that will be increasingly fuelled by climate innovations, much more needs to be done, argue Peter Sweatman and Thomas Pellerin-Carlin.
EU envisages €1 billion aid to Ivory Coast to meet sustainable cocoa laws
The European Union envisages providing around one billion euros over six years to aid Ivory Coast's cocoa sector as it adapts to EU supply chain laws due to be introduced later this year, its envoy in Abidjan said.OpinionPromoted content
Net positive: charging-up Europe’s batteries
As Europe charts a green recovery, industries capable of delivering sustainable growth must be nurtured. European battery manufacturers play an important role here.
Decarbonising Food – Making the case for Green Fertilizers
The fertilizer industry has identified the most promising technologies for making green fertilizers. The challenge is to make the business case for decarbonised products. This can be achieved by driving down the cost and addressing technical challenges on the supply...