Energy & Environment
In Spain, dozens of villages struggle for drinking water
Across the country, nitrates and arsenic have made the water undrinkable for village's residents, who number 350 in winter and nearly 1,000 in summer. Groundwater resources are at risk from agricultural pollution, a lack of water quality controls and drought.
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.
EU creates checklist for ‘climate proof’ infrastructure projects
The European Commission on Thursday (29 July) published a guide to assess whether planned infrastructure projects are equipped to cope with climate change impacts like floods and heatwaves, a condition that must be met to receive certain EU funds.
Firms propose green solutions for France’s EU presidency bid
A group of major French companies have sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean Castex proposing solutions to best support Europe in its energy transition once France assumes the six month rotating EU Council presidency at the start of 2022. EURACTIV France reports.
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.OpinionPromoted content
‘Fit for 55’: EU on track for climate goals and sustainable growth
The Fit for 55 package gives Europe all the right tools to become the world’s first mover on achieving net zero emissions, but cutting red tape and increasing investments for smarter, more flexible and efficient grids will be needed.
French gas association optimistic about reaching 2023 biomethane target this year
The gas industry is committed to ensuring that by 2050, 100% of gas is renewable or decarbonised, but to achieve that, it will have to diversify, Patrick Corbin, president of the French Gas Association (AFG) said in an interview with EURACTIV France.
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.OpinionPromoted content
EFDN Members Commit to their Environmental Roles with Sustainable Initiatives
The European Football for Development Network highlights diverse initiatives brought by football clubs to commit to environmental issues. In Belgium and Norway, two clubs have settled new initiatives to develop sustainable changes to their stadium.
Two dead, five still missing after explosion rocks German chemicals site
Two people are dead and five are still missing as hope for their survival wanes after an explosion rocked an industrial park in the western German city of Leverkusen on Tuesday (27 July) morning, sending dark plumes of smoke into the sky.
G20 climate and energy ministers split over coal exit
China, Russia and India are among countries resisting a timeline to phase out coal power generation, leaving it to leaders to resolve the impasse later this year. EURACTIV's media partner, Climate Home News, reports.
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.Editor's picks
Fires torch thousands of hectares of land in Spain
Thousands of hectares have been destroyed due to forest fires since last Saturday in Spain, prompting a "critical situation" in Catalonia, where people have been evacuated as the blazes advance. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported on Monday
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.
Belgian town of Dinant hit by worst floods in decades
The southern Belgian town of Dinant was hit by the heaviest floods in decades on Saturday (24 July) after a two-hour thunderstorm turned streets into torrential streams that washed away cars and pavements but did not kill anyone.
The climate cost of the new space race
Space tourism has become a reality in the last month, with two billionaires jetting off to brush the edge of space in ground-breaking technology, but the CO2 emissions of such trips could carry a heavy price for the climate.
How to reconcile the different interests in the “Fit for 55” package?
Though all Member States backed EU’s higher target of a net domestic reduction of greenhouse gases emissions by at least 55% until 2030 compared to 1990, recently proposed regulatory solutions may deepen a division between countries, when it comes to...
France to capitalise on ‘resounding success’ of green renovation
The government's MaPrimeRenov' scheme, which helps households make energy efficiency renovation of buildings is a "resounding success", France's ecological transition ministry said on Monday (19 July), hoping many more will apply to the scheme in 2021. EURACTIV France reports.
Ukraine gets compensation in exchange for US-Germany deal on Nord Stream 2
Germany and the US struck a compromise on Wednesday (21 July) over the construction of the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. According to the deal, Germany will provide assistance for Ukraine's energy security, with an initial donation of €148.3 million.
Beyond the strategy review: the ECB must act on climate
The European Central Bank (ECB)'s new monetary policy is a positive step, but it needs more ambition to tackle its climate problem, warns a group of European lawmakers, environmental activists and economists.
Poland gears up for fight over EU climate cash
Poland wants more EU money to finance its green transition. But getting its hands on EU cash will require the government to put forward a credible roadmap for the country’s energy transition, which is currently lacking. EURACTIV’s media partner, Wysokie Napięcie, reports.
EU ministers discuss preparations for COP26 conference
EU environment ministers meeting for an informal session at Brdo pri Kranju have discussed the UN climate conference COP26, to be held in Glasgow in November. Slovenian Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak said the discussion on Tuesday sought to analyse the...
The Green Brief: EU climate package déjà vu?
For those who have been following EU energy and climate policy over the past five years, the European Commission’s ‘Fit for 55’ package has a distinct whiff of déjà vu.