Fit for 55

Netherlands to ban fossil heating by 2026, make heat pumps mandatory

The Dutch government intends to ban new fossil fuel-centric heating system installations as of 2026, while introducing the mandatory use of heat pumps or connections to heat networks.

EU lawmakers soon to vote half the bloc’s flagship climate package

The European Parliament's environment committee (ENVI) will vote on Monday and Tuesday (16-17 May) on half the texts in the European Commission's flagship Fit for 55 package aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.

EU lawmakers clinch compromises on carbon market overhaul

European Union lawmakers have reached an initial agreement on reforms to the EU carbon market as they prepare to negotiate an overhaul of the bloc's core policy for reducing planet-warming emissions.

Germany’s ‘summer package’ to focus on heating sector revamp

Germany will seek to shake off its dependency on Russian gas with a new heating strategy focusing on district solutions and a mandate to make heat pumps mandatory as of 2024.

The forgotten innovation agenda of the ETS

Climate innovation is crucial in de-risking the effort to decarbonise the economy, and European policymakers need to make this part of ETS reform, argue Andris Piebalgs and Alessia Virone.

EU’s new buildings law aims to renovate 15% least efficient homes

The European Commission has proposed the introduction of minimum energy performance standards for the 15% worst performing buildings in Europe, which would be rated “G” on the EU’s energy performance scale, whether they are residential or not.

EU confronted with lack of skilled labour to support building renovation wave

The EU’s push to improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce the amount of fossil fuel they consume could create more than 160,000 jobs in the energy and heating sector by 2030, according to the European Commission.

Economist: Carbon trading is ‘a right first step’ to decarbonise buildings

Moving parts of the building sector under a separate carbon trading scheme, like the European Commission has proposed, “is a right first step” to address the complexity of the heating sector, which is spread across millions of buildings, diverging climates...

Building decarbonisation

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Reducing emissions from the built environment has become a top priority in the fight against climate change, as buildings currently gobble up 40% of Europe’s energy consumption – most of it fossil fuels.

EU ponders 20% hydrogen-ready standard for gas boilers

New gas boilers placed on the European market could soon be required to operate with “at least 20% hydrogen” under new standards being envisaged at EU level.

EU rules out banning gas boilers, aims for ‘gradual phase-out’ instead

The European Commission will not propose banning gas-fired home boilers “overnight”, a senior EU official has said, explaining that differences in energy mix between EU member states are just too big to apply a one-size-fits-all solution.

Europe needs to speed up on climate action

Europe's recent push to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions is desperately needed, but it is happening too slowly, with many key measures laid out in the Fit for 55 climate package not coming into force until the 2030s, writes Michael Bloss.

German industry gears up for its next lobbying battle: the internal combustion engine

While German carmakers unveil their latest electric vehicles at the International Motor Show in Munich, the industry associations they are members of have made their position clear: the next German government must fight for the internal combustion engine at EU level.

MEPs blast Commission’s flagship forest strategy as vague, overstepping EU remit

European lawmakers from across the political spectrum have united in criticism against the European Commission’s new flagship Forest Strategy, describing it as vague and superficial while flagging concerns that it goes beyond the remit of EU competences.

EU biofuel reform plan risks undermining waste-based fuels: industry

The European Commission's proposal to halt advanced biofuels from being double-counted towards road transport energy targets would diminish the use of waste-based fuels in favour of cheaper crop-based biofuels, a leading industry organisation has told EURACTIV.

German think-tanks ring climate alarm as candidates squabble over minutiae

Five million Germans watched their future Chancellor debate environmental issues on Sunday (29 August), amid calls from prominent think-tanks who highlighted Germany’s legal obligation to cut emissions 65% by 2030.

German car parts suppliers fret over combustion engine phase-out

The European Commission’s Fit for 55 package will rapidly tighten emission standards for cars, effectively banning the sale of vehicles fitted with internal combustion engines by 2035. German carmakers had preempted the move, but parts suppliers and employees are worried.

Carbon pricing in buildings? Help renovate and fuel-switch to renewables first

Including buildings in an emissions trading scheme will have a limited impact on emissions. The EU must also focus on an ambitious revision of the energy performance of buildings directive to ensure that emissions are sufficiently decreased, writes Monica Frassoni.

Firms propose green solutions for France’s EU presidency bid

A group of major French companies have sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean Castex  proposing solutions to best support Europe in its energy transition once France assumes the six month rotating EU Council presidency at the start of 2022. EURACTIV France reports.

EU drops ‘accounting trick’ to boost green fuel in road transport

The biofuels industry has welcomed the European Commission's proposal to end the statistical inflation of waste-based biofuels in the EU's road transport energy mix, a practice they say camouflaged the use of fossil fuels.

EU’s new climate package must now close the ‘National Ownership Gap’

Europe must go beyond EU-level targets and ambition to implement climate action across member states, if it wants to reach its own ambition and limit the world to 1.5°C warming, write Sharon Turner and Thomas Muinzer.

French gas association optimistic about reaching 2023 biomethane target this year

The gas industry is committed to ensuring that by 2050, 100% of gas is renewable or decarbonised, but to achieve that, it will have to diversify, Patrick Corbin, president of the French Gas Association (AFG) said in an interview with EURACTIV France.