EU transport decarbonisation: What’s the cost?

A study by Farm Europe has recently suggested that the current 10-year National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) drafted by EU member states risk being ineffective because they lack a calculation method on the cost-effectiveness of the proposals.

Study: No EU country has calculated transport decarbonisation costs

The EU risks missing its target to decarbonise transport by 2030, as in the current draft plans of member states, there is no cost-effectiveness calculation of the different proposed measures, a study has found.

Pascal Canfin MEP: Time to declare climate emergency in Europe

The MEP chairing the European Parliament’s environment committee has called on the Assembly to declare climate emergency at the next plenary session in November. "It would be important to do it at that time," he told EURACTIV in a wide-ranging interview.

US scientist: Methane leakage reports ‘have an inherent low bias’

To understand its full methane emission footprint and its impact on the climate, Europe needs to assess oil and gas imports from countries such as Algeria, Russia and Qatar, for which no data is available yet, says Stefan Schwietzke.

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.

China’s growing interest in Saudi Aramco is part of a long game

The Aramco public offering gives China an opportunity to gain a foothold at the center of the global oil industry. According to Joseph Dana, the move is part of a longer-term attempt by Beijing to challenge the dollar’s dominance as the world’s universal currency.

Heat networks in focus as EU cities confront building emissions

Last year, the European Union embarked on a mission to decarbonise the building sector, currently responsible for 40% of the bloc’s energy use. And cities with district heat networks have a head start when it comes to integrating new low-carbon energy sources.

MEP: Clean technology mix needed to decarbonise transport

Decarbonising transport is an enormous challenge and there will be a need to deploy a mix of clean technologies to accelerate the transition to a sustainable system, MEP Seán Kelly told EURACTIV.com.

Raw materials: Aiming for sovereignty

In face of fierce global competition, how can Europe secure access to key raw materials for the future of its industry?

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.

French gas networks could mix in green hydrogen in future, say operators

France's gas network could be adapted to pipe a mix of natural gas with 20% hydrogen from 2030 onwards, as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions, operators said on Friday (15 November).

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.

French banks still fund coal despite finance minister’s plea

A year ago, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire urged French banks, insurers and asset managers to stop funding any mines or coal plants. Two weeks before the Climate Finance Day (28 November, Paris), a group of NGOs published a report urging them to take a step further. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.

EU bank brokers late-night deal to phase out fossil fuels

The European Investment Bank (EIB) decided on Thursday (14 November) to end financial support for fossil fuels from 2021, after marathon talks ended in a compromise that has been hailed as “a significant victory” for green policies.

Germany makes legal changes to ease completion of Nord Stream 2

Germany's parliament on Wednesday (13 November) approved changes to the law governing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to make it compliant with European Union regulations, removing a hurdle to completion of the Russia-led project.

Nuclear power ‘dead and alive’, S&P proclaims

Growing competition from cheap renewable electricity, safety concerns, and rising costs of new plants are slowly driving nuclear power over the edge – except in Russia and China where the industry continues to enjoy extensive state support, S&P said.

Do more now or risk climate catastrophe, IEA warns

Disparity between words and action on climate change risks failing to cap global temperatures, the International Energy Agency warned in its latest World Energy Outlook. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.

Germany to sit out decisive EIB vote amid fossil fuel row

Germany is preparing to abstain from a vote on the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) future energy lending policy on Thursday (14 November). Internal government disputes continue to scuttle attempts to form a common position on scrapping fossil fuel funding.

EU bank tees up fossil fuel compromise ahead of crucial vote

The European Investment Bank will decide on Thursday (14 November) whether or not to purge its loan books of fossil fuel projects. All signs point to the EU lender striking a compromise with Germany and Italy which want more leeway for new gas projects.

Banks taking only ‘superficial’ climate action, study reveals

Despite an explosion in green finance, banks have made only superficial changes to their lending practices, with fossil fuel funding going virtually unabated over the past years, according to a new report by Boston Common Asset Management released today (11 November).

Worried by climate change, EU moves to end fossil fuel funding

The European Union should phase out its funding of oil, gas and coal projects, EU finance ministers said in a joint statement on Friday (8 November), in a move that could mark a major shift in the bloc's efforts to combat climate change.

Renewable gases: Where do they stand in the EU’s 2050 energy roadmap?

Widely accepted as a “transition fuel” until 2030 to help wean Europe from coal, gas is also positioning itself as a clean fuel beyond that date. But meeting the EU’s 2050 climate goals will require a deep transformation of the sector, amid growing competition from solar and wind power.

‘No way around electrification,’ BMW says

Consumers are increasingly turning to electric vehicles – and they’re liking it, said BMW’s chief lobbyist in Europe, calling on policymakers to accelerate charging infrastructure deployment to support the roll-out of electric mobility on a mass scale.

Europe needs to double electricity share to meet climate goals – EU official

The European Green Deal to be unveiled in early 2020 will pursue a strategy of increasing the share of electricity in the EU’s energy mix, the new head of the European Commission’s energy department told a conference in Brussels Wednesday (6 November).