About: coal
China, the Western Balkans and the EU: Can three tango?
With China pouring loans into the Western Balkans, the EU must step in to ensure this money benefits the region, writes Wawa Wang.
Coal power decline ‘not fast enough’ to meet UN climate goals
The number of coal-fired power plants built worldwide fell steeply over the past two years, but emissions are too high to keep global warming within relatively safe levels, campaigners said on Thursday (22 March).
Believe it or not, the EU can look to the US for inspiration on ending coal subsidies
In January this year, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of the United States unanimously rejected proposals by the Trump administration that would have allowed coal subsidies under the guise of energy "resilience". This is exactly the principle that should now guide EU legislators, writes Joanna Flisowska.
Germany’s energy and climate policy is taking shape
The coalition agreement between the German Conservatives and the Social Democrats outlines a relatively ambitious energy policy. EURACTIV’s partner Le Journal de l’environnement reports.
Bulgaria joins Poland in court case against Commission-led crackdown on coal
Bulgaria will join Poland in an appeal against a European Commission decision to impose stricter limits on toxic pollutants coal-fired plants emit, the government said on Wednesday (10 January).
Macedonian smog envelopes cities, emergency measures introduced
As 2017 ended and 2018 began, Macedonia took emergency measures against dense smog enveloping its cities, an annual winter scourge in the Western Balkans blamed on a mix of coal burning, ageing industry and high-polluting emissions from older vehicles.
UK government spells out plan to shut down coal plants
One of the UK’s eight remaining coal power stations is expected to cease generating electricity this year, the government has said as it laid out new rules that will force all the plants to close by 2025. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
EU must not burn the world’s forests for ‘renewable’ energy
A flaw in Europe’s clean energy plan allows fuel from felled trees to qualify as renewable energy when in fact this would accelerate climate change and devastate forests, warn a group of scientists from the world’s leading universities.
EU shouldn’t allow Greek violation of environmental legislation
It is no secret that the Public Power Corporation (PPC) heavily influences the Greek government, but the EU institutions should step in to prevent a violation of European environmental legislation, writes Nikos Mantzaris.
Europe is not fighting hard enough to keep out coal subsidies
To prevent coal subsidies, the European Commission proposed a CO2 threshold for power plants to receive public subsidies. However, due to last minute edits from current EU President, Estonia, the door will be open for existing high-carbon power plants to receive public money to stay online, writes Kathrin Gutmann.
Commission launches probe into Spanish aid to coal-powered plants
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Spain's state aid for coal power plants to establish whether it is in line with EU rules, the executive said on Monday (27 November). EURACTIV Spain reports.
Anti-coal drive at UN climate talks stalked by pro-coal White House
Countries launched a coal phase-out initiative Thursday (16 November) at UN climate talks in Bonn, offering an antidote to the defence of Earth-warming fossil fuels by US President Donald Trump's administration.
Think tank: Coal crisis, not climate policy, is forcing Polish energy overhaul
The unfolding crisis in the coal sector is leaving Poland with a looming power generation gap which is forcing decision-makers to reconsider the country’s energy mix. But politicians have until now delayed hard decisions and a transparent debate about it, says Joanna Maćkowiak Pandera.
Germany struggles with coal phase-out as COP23 kicks off in Bonn
Germany's Neurath coal power plant ranks second in the EU in terms of both installed capacity and CO2 emissions. The newest units of the lignite-powered facility are expected to operate until 2055, illustrating the difficulty of phasing out coal power entirely. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
A fair transition or lock-in to a coal-plagued future?
Are EU policymakers considering spending EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) funds in favor of coal? It surely seems so if one examines carefully the recent history of the ETS file, writes Nikos Mantzaris.
Climate change may take a heavy toll on Greek GDP, land
The total reported economic losses caused by weather- and climate-related extremes in the 33 EEA member countries between 1980 and 2016 amounted to more than €450bn, according to a recent study released by the European Environment Agency. EURACTIV Greece reports.
EU power utility boss: ‘Coal is finished, the hard question now is gas’
Apart from Poland, there are no plans to build new coal-fired power plants in Europe, says Francesco Starace. The hard question today is instead who will build a new gas power plant. “And many companies are not doing that either,” he told EURACTIV in an interview.
Is German climate leadership being sacrificed on the altar of coal?
The pre-election politicking currently going on in Germany should ring alarm bells among climate policy advocates, warns Julian Schwartzkopff. If Angela Merkel does not take personal ownership of securing a climate-compatible coal phase-out, she could jeopardise her legacy as “climate chancellor”, he writes.
Britain to end love affair with coal and cash in on health savings
Britain has announced the phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2025, ending its 250-year-long love affair with coal, in a move welcomed by health practitioners
New EU rules for lower power plant emissions take effect
The European Commission on Thursday (17 August) published tighter new standards for the bloc's most polluting power plants, including many large coal-fired power stations, giving them four years to meet the lower emission standards.
Coal expansion plans up in smoke as Europe realises mistake
Substantial coal power expansion in Europe has been significantly scaled back in recent years after utility companies realised they bet on the wrong horse, according to a new study by the University of Oxford.
Poland’s cherry picking of EU energy rules makes no sense
When it comes to EU energy policy, Warsaw does not always adhere to the letter and the spirit of EU law and tends to select rules a la carte, adapting them to Poland's narrowly-defined interests, writes Danila Bochkarev.
Cape Town shares lessons of record drought
Cape Town, South Africa’s second largest city, is experiencing its worst drought in 100 years. Gareth Morgan, trade and investment officer for the city, told EURACTIV.com that the crisis was also an opportunity to seek solutions which could be of use in other parts of Africa.