Energy & Environment
The Green Brief, powered by Goldman Sachs – A ‘cloak and dagger’ taxonomy
As Europe waited to welcome 2022, those in the energy policy bubble suddenly found themselves drawn away from the myriad of fireworks by buzzing phones.
Germany signals it could halt gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine
Germany signalled on Tuesday (18 January) that it could halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow invades Ukraine, and Western nations rallied behind Kyiv over a Russian troop buildup that has stoked fears of war.
Austria gears up to fight EU ‘green’ nuclear energy plan
As the EU moves to label energy from nuclear power and natural gas as "green" investments, Austria is gearing up to fight this, including with a legal complaint.
Germany’s ‘hydrogen diplomacy’ under fire in Ukraine
Amidst rising military tensions between Ukraine and Russia, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s visit to Kyiv focused on the massive amounts of renewable hydrogen Germany aims to import in the future.
Belgium can extend life of nuclear reactors if it acts soon, watchdog says
Belgium's nuclear regulator gave a provisional green light on Monday to extend the life of two of the country's nuclear power reactors and urged the government to make a final decision on the issue in the first quarter of 2022.
EU advisers concerned about plan for green labels on gas, nuclear investments
Experts advising on the European Union's sustainable finance taxonomy are concerned a draft plan to include gas and nuclear relies too heavily on promises to make those fuels green in future, rather than assessing their real impact today.
Europe misspent business energy savings funds, auditors say
More than €2 billion of European Union funding to help businesses save energy contributed little to climate change targets and in some cases funded investments that would have happened anyway, auditors said on Monday (17 January).
Key EU lawmaker wants rules to prevent countries dodging emissions cuts
Europe needs tougher rules and financial penalties to ensure each country cuts its greenhouse gas emissions if the EU wants to deliver the bloc's climate targets, according to the European Parliament's lead lawmaker on the policy.
Berlin think-tank positions itself as midwife of EU climate policy
A star-studded informal group including some of the hottest movers and shakers in EU climate policy was quietly established in December at the initiative of an influential German think-tank. EURACTIV has the details of the forum whose aim is to bring the EU's 'Fit for 55' package of climate legislation over the line.
US talks to EU energy firms on contingency gas supply in case of Russia conflict
The US government has held talks with several international energy companies on contingency plans for supplying natural gas to Europe if conflict between Russia and Ukraine disrupts Russian supplies, two US officials and two industry sources said.
German government disavows blue hydrogen
The new German government unveiled plans last week to massively increase the ambition of its national hydrogen strategy. There is just one caveat: fossil gas-based hydrogen likely won't be included in subsidy schemes, despite demands from the oil and gas industry.
Big brands call for global pact to cut plastic production
International brands including Coca Cola and PepsiCo called on Monday (17 January) for a global pact to combat plastic pollution that includes cuts in plastic production, a key growth area for the oil industry.
‘Misunderstanding’ could block nuclear from claiming green EU label, industry warns
Ambiguities and misunderstandings contained in a draft EU proposal could block nuclear power plants from claiming a green investment label under the bloc's sustainable finance taxonomy, the industry has warned.
Cruz’s Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill fails in US Senate, Menendez tables alternative legislation
The US Senate on Thursday (13 January) failed to pass a bill to slap sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a day after Democrats unveiled their own legislation.
Draft EU ‘green claims’ law overly focused on CO2 impact, critics say
Upcoming EU labelling law aimed at helping consumers choose green products has come under fire for providing an incomplete picture of environmental impact by focusing too much on carbon emissions and ignoring other factors such as recyclability and toxicity.
Slovenia to exit coal by 2033
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Bulgarian government saying it will maybe soon launch a website where people can the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, Finland's electricity market returning to pre-pandemic levels, and so much more.
Berlin’s new wind power goals seen clashing with EU bird protection laws
The new German government aims to regain the rapid pace of onshore wind expansion it once had. To do so, it may have to clash with entrenched interests from nature conservation groups.
Safety concerns raised for third French nuclear plant
France's nuclear regulator said Thursday (13 January) that a possible safety problem had been identified at a third nuclear plant, increasing concerns about the country's power capacity at the height of winter.
Gazprom quizzed on high energy prices, EU’s Vestager says
The European Union's anti-trust chief on Thursday (13 January) said she had asked gas companies including Gazprom about tight supplies after accusations the Russian giant was holding back extra production that could be released to lower soaring prices.
Last nine years all among 10 hottest-ever, says US
The nine years spanning 2013-2021 all rank among the 10 hottest on record, according to an annual report a US agency released Thursday, the latest data underscoring the global climate crisis.
Investors worth €50 trillion call on EU to exclude gas from green finance taxonomy
Fossil gas should be excluded from Europe’s list of sustainable investments, according to a group of climate investors with €50 trillion worth of assets. The group added it was still considering whether to consider nuclear as a sustainable investment.
Lawmaker offers households temporary opt-out from EU’s new carbon market
European Union countries should be able to temporarily remove households from the bloc's planned carbon market for buildings and road transport, according to an early draft of the European Parliament's negotiating position on the policy.
EU shipping plan leaves millions of tonnes of CO2 unregulated: study
European Commission proposals to bring shipping into the bloc's carbon market contain exclusions for small commercial and military vessels that would leave millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions unregulated, an NGO study showed on Thursday (13 January).