Energy transition
Germany’s new coal phase-out plan: Lots of money, little climate ambition
An agreement reached in the early hours of Thursday (16 January) between the federal government and representatives of the four German coal states won't bring the country much closer to reaching its climate goals, analysts said.
Industrial decarbonisation and the EU Green Deal: The case for bold action
The green deal is a credible first step to decarbonise energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking and chemicals. However, the transition to climate neutrality will also depend on the development of a comprehensive, integrated industrial strategy, writes Gauri Khandekar.
Oil and gas sector ‘losing its social licence to operate’, UK boss warns
Tim Eggar, chairman of the UK's Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), sent shockwaves through the industry on Wednesday (15 January) when he said growing public awareness about climate change was putting the sector's very survival at stake.
Merkel, state leaders agree terms of brown coal exit
Germany has reached an agreement with the regions most affected by a plan to phase out the use of brown coal, or lignite, for its power plants by providing about 40 billion euros ($45 billion) in aid, a document reviewed by Reuters showed.
Not all member states will benefit from the European Green Deal
The wide-ranging European Green Deal provides for a European fund for a just transition, which is meant to support regions that are economically highly dependent on fossil fuels. But not all member states will benefit from it. EURACTIV France reports.
Question marks raised over scale of EU’s new climate fund
The European Commission finally lifted the lid on its long-awaited just transition plans on Tuesday (14 January) but doubts have already been raised over the amount of funding on offer for the next decade compared to the bloc's Green Deal ambitions.
EU to unveil trillion-euro ‘Green Deal’ financial plan
The European Commission will propose on Tuesday (14 January) how the EU can pay for shifting the region's economy to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 while protecting coal-dependent regions from taking the brunt of changes aimed at fighting climate change.
EU carbon border tax cheaper and fairer than French energy levy, says report
The European Commission's carbon border tax proposal would have a small impact on French households, unlike the country's own proposal to tax energy which prompted the birth of the 'gilets jaunes' movement. EURACTIV France reports.
As wind and solar power rise, EU seeks more grid ‘flexibility’
An integrated electricity market, with more grid interconnections and storage solutions “of all types” are at the centre of EU plans to build a more resilient electricity system able to deal with growing shares of variable wind and solar power.NewsPromoted content
Huawei is key to Europe’s Green Deal
Europe will find it difficult to achieve many of its goals, such as the Green Deal, without AI. And without a fully developed, multi-party 5G ecosystem, Europe will fall further behind, writes Abraham Liu.
Coal pollution in the Western Balkans is a European problem
16 coal plants in the Western Balkans pollute as much as the entire EU fleet of 250 units, causing sickness and deaths across the continent. It’s high time to take action, write Viola von Cramon and Petros Kokkalis.
Worries over ‘fresh money’ as EU cooks up energy transition fund
Eastern EU countries, backed by trade unions, are putting pressure on EU leaders to come up with “fresh money” to support the energy transition in coal-dependent regions as part of a Green Deal due to be unveiled this week.
US economist Rifkin: ‘Budgetary rules should not apply to green investments’
While visiting Paris, American economist Jeremy Rifkin talked to EURACTIV France about his hopes for the new European Commission's Green Deal, while calling for a climate narrative that inspires real change across society.
French insurer AXA vows to stop insuring fossil fuel-dependant companies
The French insurance company AXA has announced its own plan to help phase out coal production in Europe by 2030, under which it would no longer be insuring companies that are too dependent on fossil fuels. According to NGOs, this plan has "no blind spots". EURACTIV France reports.
Implementing clean air rules the eternal problem, as EU countries told to raise game
Industry, agriculture and transport were asked to decrease air pollution at a high-level EU forum in Slovakia on clean air but the responsible ministers and new Commissioners were absent from the Bratislava event.
Paris, Berlin divided over nuclear’s recognition as green energy
Disagreement on the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU’s upcoming green finance taxonomy has revived long-standing divisions between France and Germany over the energy transition. EURACTIV France reports.
EU climate investment falls behind China and the US
The European Union continues to lag behind in terms of ‘green’ investment compared with China and the US, the EIB warned on Tuesday (26 November). The lender said that financing should increase by one-third to achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Von Der Leyen urged to prioritise single market to counter slowdown
The European economy is undergoing a rapid transition, with digital technology and climate change needs set to transform normal commerce. Is the EU’s single market flexible enough to handle the change?
European coal power output sees ‘unprecedented’ decline
Electricity production from coal is on track to fall by around 3% globally in 2019 – the largest drop on record – with Western European countries leading the charge, according to fresh data published on Monday (25 November).
Altmaier’s planned ‘turbine-free zones’ could halve Germany’s wind energy potential
Proposals to introduce a minimum distance of 1,000 metres between wind turbines and buildings have attracted fierce criticism from the German environment ministry, which said the draft new rules would derail the country's plan to boost renewable energy by 2030. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Fossil fuel production on track for double the safe climate limit
The world’s nations are on track to produce more than twice as much coal, oil and gas as can be burned by 2030 while restricting rise in the global temperature to 1.5C, analysis shows. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Offshore wind carry EU to meeting Paris goals, says IEA
Under a scenario in which the EU meets its Paris Agreement climate targets, gas will be a transition fuel and offshore wind will dominate by 2050, according to a World Energy Outlook forecast from the International Energy Agency.
A cost-effective transition: Unlocking the benefits of sector coupling
‘Sector coupling’, the integration of energy end-use and supply sectors, could potentially reduce the costs of decarbonisation and improve energy efficiency, in line with the EU's transformation towards a low-carbon economy as detailed in the 2050 long-term strategy.
German ministers urge EU to lead the way at COP25 in Madrid
At a Berlin conference to prepare for the UN's annual climate summit (COP25), Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stressed the EU's responsibility in closing the Paris Climate Agreement's remaining gaps, particularly by raising the targets at EU level. EURACTIV Germany reports.