Energy & Environment
EU 2050 climate targets: Are they feasible and can they be achieved without stunting economic growth
The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal and in line with the EU’s commitment to global climate action under the...
The Brief, powered by APPLiA – Climate brain death
‘The Paris Agreement is not dead yet’, climate analysts insisted this week, after crunching the numbers on the latest slew of green policies pledged by countries around the world. But with the hope comes the risk of fatal complacency.
Carbon pricing: The best instrument for climate change mitigation?
To limit global warming to 2°C or less—the level deemed safe by science—large emitting countries need to take ambitious action. Economists have long agreed that the most effective way to meet the climate challenge is to put a price on...
Chemistry – Can it serve as a catalyst for a green and circular rebound?
The European Green Deal aims to help businesses grow in a sustainability-conscious manner, so they contribute to a sustainable economic rebound, in which a circular economy plays a key role. In October 2020, the European Commission adopted the EU Chemicals...
Russia’s Trojan Stream under the Black Sea
The EU’s tacit acceptance of the TurkStream is a serious and dangerous misjudgement of the perils this diversionary pipeline presents, writes Olga Bielkova.OpinionPromoted content
Circular and Green: Rethinking the Built Environment in Europe
As the European Commission turns its attention to sustainable construction, we need to think about the future of our built environment. Renovation and a Circular Economy can take the EU towards climate-friendly, grown-up buildings and building materials.
Europe can hit climate neutrality goal at net-zero cost: report
Although cutting emissions to net-zero by 2050 will destroy jobs and push up the costs of doing business in some sectors, it will bring gains elsewhere that will make up for the difference, according to a new study by McKinsey & company.
Changing the future of Europe’s energy mix: What role for different technologies?
In order to help the EU achieve its ambitious climate change targets and deliver on its clean energy targets in a cost effective manner, significant investment is needed in the energy sector.
On carbon pricing, policymakers are now thinking beyond emissions trading
Changes taking place in the UK and US could force a rethink of the EU’s flagship climate policy, the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Why Europe must reskill workers to reach its climate goals
The large-scale social and economic shifts caused by the clean energy transition should be managed with care, write Magnus Tyreman and Hauke Engel. A broad training effort would enable Europe to create a labour force that will thrive during the pursuit of the net-zero emissions target, they argue.
Power-to-X: Germany’s search for green fuels
Germany wants to take a leading role worldwide in the production, transport and use of green hydrogen as an energy source, also known as Power-to-X (PtX). Course-setting decisions on future funding are due in January, EURACTIV Germany reports.
End of life Recycling of WEEE Plastics containing Brominated Flame Retardants
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used in plastics materials in electrical and electronic products to aid fire safety by reducing their propensity for ignition. This not only means a contribution to saving lives, but also products and property, thus preventing...Editor's picks
Reducing EU transport emissions: Can C-V2X deployment play a significant role?
Transport and mobility play a vital role in the everyday lives of people and businesses. European transport policy is designed to meet their needs as well as to address climate change and reap the benefits of digitisation. The European Commission...OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Increased household collection of used cooking oil means better climate protection
In line with the EU Green deal agenda, with the Federal Climate Protection Act Germany has set itself the ambitious goal of linearly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport to 95 million tons of CO2-eq by 2030, writes Hubert Zenk....OpinionPromoted content
PGE: Poland wants to catch the wind of Baltic Sea
PGE Capital Group wants to be the leader of offshore energy in Poland. Plans to deploy up to 6.5 GW of offshore wind farms capacity in the Baltic Sea are divided into two stages. By 2030, PGE will commission two...
‘Complete overhaul’ of buildings needed to meet EU’s 2030 climate goal
Europe needs a “complete overhaul” of its buildings to meet a higher 2030 emissions reduction target, according to new research published today (3 December).
Fossil fuel production needs to fall 6% per year to avoid catastrophic warming: report
World governments need to reduce fossil fuel production by 6% every year over the next decade to reach a 1.5°C pathway and limit catastrophic warming, according to new research.
Sinkevicius: Batteries are essential to Green Deal ambitions
The European Union has ambitious plans to corner a significant chunk of the global battery market but how does a new strategy aimed at regulating chemicals management affect those objectives? Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius shared his views.
Pressure mounts on Britain to update its UN climate target
Scotland and British businesses are piling pressure on the UK government to set an ambitious 2030 climate target ahead of a summit co-hosted by Britain and the UN on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
MEP Canfin: EU countries must face sanctions for non-compliance with climate goals
As negotiations on the EU's proposed climate law enter the home straight, Pascal Canfin highlights the European Parliament's red lines in talks with EU member states.
Airline exec: EU should incentivise production of green fuels
Airlines are at the forefront of changes made to the way the aviation industry does business. When it comes to what to fuel aircraft with, carriers are increasingly turning to greener options. EURACTIV spoke to an airline executive about that fuel shift.OpinionPromoted content
Sustainable transport: EU needs advanced biofuels to deliver on Green Deal
The European Union has set itself ambitious goals to become carbon neutral by 2050 and hence will raise its 2030 climate target. One solution to contribute to the goal is on hand: advanced biofuels. Now the EU must ensure that all political measures are implemented to guarantee that biofuels can make their important contribution.
While coal premiums soar, insurance groups still supports oil and gas
Insurance companies have accelerated their withdrawal from coal this year, making it costlier to secure insurance for new projects. However, the insurance industry is still underwriting oil and gas companies, according to new research.