Energy & Environment
US-China trade war spills into Green Climate Fund
A global fund originally set up in 2010 under the aegis of the UNFCCC to assist developing countries fight global warming got back on track with a $1 billion splurge, but the US vetoed a project that would have loaned $100 million to China. EURACTIV's media partner Climate Home News reports.
EU candidate Alex Stubb calls for net-zero carbon by 2045
Should he be picked as the European People's Party (EPP) lead candidate for the European Commission’s top job, Alexander Stubb vows to “work towards a carbon neutral Europe by 2045”. EURACTIV's media partner Climate Home News reports.
Belgian reactors shutdown a test run for nuclear-free future
Belgium’s energy production is plunging as its nuclear reactors are taken offline for repairs, with the power shortfall this winter seen as a test of the country’s ability to cope when the reactors are phased out from 2022.
Merkel promises new legislation to ward off diesel driving bans
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, campaigning for her Christian Democrats (CDU) to retain control of the crucial state of Hesse in next Sunday’s election, promised legislation to ward off the threat of air pollution leading to driving bans.
World’s pension funds vulnerable to climate risks, study reveals
87% of assets managed by the world’s 100 largest public pension funds are yet to undergo formal climate risk assessment, according to research published on Tuesday (23 October), with only 15% of them adopting a coal exclusion policy.
Drinks giants rail against EU bottle cap plan
Multinationals Coca Cola, Danone, Nestlé and PepsiCo want to improve existing recycling systems rather than invest in new bottle designs with attached caps, which is the EU’s preferred way of curbing plastic waste.
EU negotiators agree ‘dynamic pricing’ of electricity
Energy companies with more than 200,000 clients will be obliged to provide households with at least one offer comprising dynamic price contracts, under an EU-level agreement reached behind closed doors last week, EURACTIV.com has learned.
Russia, Uzbekistan hail $11 billion nuclear plant project during Putin visit
Russia and Uzbekistan on Friday (19 October) hailed the construction of an $11 billion nuclear power plant that should help solve an energy deficit in the Central Asian country while binding it tighter to Moscow politically.
Time to deliver: Putting building renovation into practice
Addressing energy poverty and developing new financial tools to boost energy savings are two things governments could do in practice to go beyond the targets outlined in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and start renovating the European building stock for real.
Three years ago, I was branded as an eco-terrorist, Polish Green local candidate says
Poles vote in local elections on Sunday (21 October), seen as a key test for the country’s nationalist governing party. Until very recently, energy transition was a political no-go in the coal-dependent country but the situation is evolving, a climate activist and Green local politician in the COP24 host city of Katowice told EURACTIV.com.
French people convinced by EU but poorly motivated to vote
Support for the EU is at its highest level for 26 years. However, this enthusiasm is not reflected in the projections for turnout at the next European elections. EURACTIV France reports.
EU lawmakers back 35% CO2 cut for trucks by 2030
UPDATE: Lawmakers in the European Parliament backed a 35% cut in carbon dioxide emissions from new trucks by 2030, in a vote on Thursday (18 October) over new rules that seek to fight global warming without harming industry.
‘Bad news’ and ‘despair’: Global carbon emissions to hit new record in 2018, IEA says
Global carbon emissions will rise to a new record level in 2018, making the chances of reaching a target to keep temperature increases to 1.5 or 2°C "weaker and weaker every year, every month," the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.
135 French MPs lobby hard for the ecological transition
A parliamentary group, bringing together 135 French MPs from across the political spectrum, wants to collectively carry the issues of the ecological transition, particularly during the debate on the 2019 finance bill. EURACTIV France’s media partner the Journal de l’environnement reports.
Bill Gates launches EU clean energy ‘breakthrough’ fund in Brussels
The newly-established €100 million fund will help innovative European companies bring “radically new” clean energy technologies to the market, including the “holy grail” of batteries, the European Commission said.
Poland attacks EU’s Gazprom deal in court
Poland's state-run gas firm PGNiG said on Tuesday (16 October) it filed a complaint with the EU's top court against a controversial deal by the European Commission to settle an anti-trust case against Gazprom, the Kremlin-backed energy giant.
Climate change ‘laboratories’ open up around EU
Stark warnings from the United Nations ahead of a make-or-break summit in Poland in December have propelled climate change up the political agenda. Now, an experimental approach at regional level hopes to help the EU hit its emission reduction targets.
Governments lack policies to support food sector in low carbon transition – report
Unlike the energy sector, agriculture does not benefit from public policies geared towards a low carbon transition, which means farming is still a significant contributor to climate change due to meat over-consumption, a new report published on 16 October revealed.
Ecologist parties are a hit in Europe
In Belgium, Luxembourg and Bavaria, the Greens have been the big winners at the weekend’s elections by attracting new voters. EURACTIV France’s media partner Ouest-France reports.
EU farm ministers raise Baltic fish quotas, angering environmentalists
European Union ministers agreed on Monday (15 October) to sharply boost catch quotas for western Baltic cod as part of new fishing regulations for next year that angered environmentalists.
32% of chemicals non-compliant with EU rules
A third of chemicals do not comply with European Union rules due to insufficient toxicological data. EURACTIV France’s media partner the Journal de l’environnement reports.
Study dampens industry projections for ‘renewable gas’ in 2050
Renewable methane – whether produced from waste, manure or synthetic sources – could displace at most 7% of natural gas in Europe at the current demand rate, according to a new study by the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT).
Banned plastics: European Parliament’s list grows longer
MEPs in the environment committee are extending the ban on single-use plastics. They are also targeting takeaway packaging, bottles and cigarette butts. EURACTIV France’s media partner, the Journal de l’environnement reports.