Energy & Environment
Europe’s winter of discontent: The cost of sluggish energy transition
After a summer of heatwaves and wildfires in Europe, it’s strange to think this winter could be uncomfortably cold for many, writes Timur Tillyaev.
Nothing is more blah-blah-blah than the EU’s ‘sustainable’ trade policy
You can put all the sustainability principles you like in trade deals but without means for control, monitoring, enforcement or legal consequences for a failure to comply, they aren’t worth a thing, writes Adélaïde Charlier and Deborah Osei-Mensah.
The Brief, powered by EPRA — Guess who’s (not) coming to COP dinner
Last week, Queen Elizabeth was caught expressing her annoyance at world leaders snubbing the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
Russia says Putin won’t fly to Glasgow, in blow for climate talks
Russia delivered a blow to hopes of a breakthrough international deal on climate change when the Kremlin said on Wednesday (20 October) that President Vladimir Putin would not fly to Scotland for talks starting at the end of this month.
Hedge fund billionaire calls for higher capital requirements for fossil fuel financing
Days before the Commission is expected to publish its proposal to change capital requirements rules, billionaire hedge fund manager Chris Hohn called for a stricter treatment of fossil fuel investments in banks’ balance sheets. His call is supported by activists and experts who fear the effects of climate change on financial stability
Europe’s gas supply squeeze engineered by Russia, Poland says
Statements from Russian officials linking an increase of gas deliveries to Europe with the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline are “manipulative” and aimed at cementing Gazprom’s dominant position on the EU gas market, Poland has argued in a letter to the European Commission.
Sustainable sourcing of batteries
The battery market is currently dominated by Asia, but the EU hopes that new laws setting strict green criteria for batteries sold in Europe will boost domestic production and help the continent to stake its place as a global leader.
Planned fossil fuel output ‘vastly exceeds’ climate limits, says UN
Despite pledges of action from many nations, almost none have policies to wind down production, report says. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
EU aims to dethrone Asia as world’s battery powerhouse
Brussels plans to wrest the title of global electric vehicle battery leader from Asia by supercharging Europe’s battery production and imposing strict green criteria that will make European products the de facto global standard.
‘Faster progress’ needed to meet UN climate goals, EU warns
World nations are moving too slowly in implementing carbon-cutting pledges made at the landmark Paris climate summit six years ago, EU policymakers have said ahead of the COP26 conference opening in Glasgow on 31 October.
Brussels relaunches EU fiscal reform, aims to boost green investments
The European Commission on Tuesday (19 October) took another step towards reforming the EU’s much-discussed fiscal rules, including the bloc's strict debt and deficit limits enshrined in the Stability and Growth Pact.
Spain urges EU to take energy crisis measures ‘beyond winter’
Ahead of this week's EU summit, Spain has urged the bloc to implement urgent and coordinated measures to mitigate rising energy prices, warning of a "risk" that energy shortages could last beyond next winter in Europe.Editor's picks
How carbon payments can facilitate the EU’s new effort sharing targets
Carbon payments for emissions reductions could be a more politically attractive way of promoting EU country-level cuts than current effort sharing regulation targets and providing more solidarity and additional finance for the green transition, writes Arpad Cseh.
Europe’s gas decarbonisation package: Putting new wine in old wineskins?
The best gas package that the European Commission can come up with may not be a gas package at all, but rather an integrated system package that creates opportunities for competing energy sources to meet end-uses, write Megan Anderson and Jan Rosenow.
Who’s to blame for high energy prices?
A group of MEPs and the US administration have accused Russia of market manipulation. The situation is however much more complex and nuanced than that, writes Danila Bochkarev.
Poland urges ‘postponement’ of EU climate plans amid rising energy prices
As EU leaders meet this week to discuss rising energy prices, Warsaw has called for an in-depth review of EU climate policies, including the “revision or postponement” of the 'Fit for 55' legislation tabled in July.
Gazprom books fraction of gas transit capacity via Poland, ignores Ukraine
Russian gas giant Gazprom has booked about a third of offered additional gas transit capacity via the Yamal-Europe pipeline via Poland for November and has not booked any volumes via Ukraine, auction results showed on Monday (18 October).OpinionPromoted content
Raise Your Glass: Decarbonising Production for the Container Glass Industry
Challenges that were unimaginable just a short while ago can be faced through human ingenuity and collaboration. Factories today are running around the clock to help meet the urgent demand for glass vials for Coronavirus vaccines. Container glass companies also face increasing market demand for a circular packaging solution that guarantees premium taste and quality preservation.
‘It will never work!’ Outgoing Eurochambres president criticises EU emission targets
In an interview with EURACTIV, the outgoing president of Eurochambres, an association of European chambers of commerce, has criticised the EU’s environmental policy and called for more trade "with all parts of the world", including China and Russia.
COP26 – Can it be a game-changer?
Climate change remains an imminent threat at the core of many discussions between heads of state, industry and civil society. These stakeholders see recovery from the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to build back better by creating greener and more sustainable economies.OpinionPromoted content
Sustainable infrastructure must be the core of the energy transition
Sustainable infrastructure is a core element in reaching climate neutrality. The Fit for 55 package is a major step in the right direction, but more can be done to unleash the full potential of infrastructure systems.
COP26 corporate sponsors condemn UK-hosted climate summit as ‘mismanaged’
Companies that stumped up millions of pounds to sponsor the COP26 climate summit have condemned it as “mismanaged” and “very last minute” in a volley of complaints as next month’s event in Glasgow draws near. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Climate change a double blow for oil-rich Mideast, experts say
The climate crisis threatens a double blow for the Middle East, experts say, by destroying its oil income as the world shifts to renewables and by raising temperatures to unliveable extremes.