About: coal
Germany’s new coal phase-out plan upsets country’s Coal Commission
Shortly after Germany announced plans to shut down its lignite-fired power plants, eight members of the country's Coal Commission voiced criticism that their work has been discredited and that these plans would result in an additional 40 million tons of CO2 emissions. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bioeconomy hype shouldn’t put biodiversity preservation at risk, experts say
While experts claim that Poland could become key for the EU’s bioeconomy, scientists are calling for the sustainable use of forest resources in energy production. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Green finance sector expected to discuss issue of climate justice at COP25
Just before the COP25, which will take place in Madrid from 2-13 December, France's leading financial institutions discussed the issue of climate justice and corporate social responsibility at the Climate Finance Day, which took place in Paris on 29 November. EURACTIV France reports.
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).
EU coal power plants incurred €6.6 billion losses in 2019, study reveals
Increasing environmental regulations and fierce competition from renewable energies are increasingly making coal-fired power operate at a loss. According to a British think tank, coal-fired power plants are losing billions of euros every year, but energy companies say this is nonsense. EURACTIV Germany reports.
UN climate summit, day #2: Few announcements in the end – ‘How dare you’
Over this special series on the UN climate action summit (23-25 September), EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on in New York and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: An angry Greta Thunberg, a technical Angela Merkel, a passive Donald Trump and four ambitious EU member states.
German coal regions to be allocated €40 billion as part of coal phase-out plan
Germany's federal cabinet has presented a bill to allocate €40 billion to some federal states so they can prepare for structural changes related to transitioning away from coal. However, it remains unclear when the power plants will be shut down. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU Commission documents reveal fund that pays coal lobby staff
Internal EU documents show that a European Commission fund invests €40 million per year into coal research projects. The money also goes towards personnel costs for Europe's main coal lobby organisation.
Poland under pressure to ‘walk the talk’ on coal phase-out
Environmental activists are raising the pressure on Poland and other EU member states to clarify their coal phase-out plans, saying countries receiving EU energy transition funds cannot “have their cake and eat it”.
Western Balkans pump subsidies worth €1.2 billion into coal
Western Balkan countries, which have set their sights on EU membership, are still propping up coal power with large public subsidies worth more than €1.2 billion, a new report revealed on Monday (25 March). The subsidies are not in line with EU regulations or decarbonisation efforts.
The burden of coal at the doorstep of the Energy Union
At a time when the EU strives to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, coal still represents more than half of electricity across much of the Western Balkans and other EU neighbouring countries, writes Janez Kopač. Making things worse, coal plants are intensively supported by Chinese and US capital, without active opposition of the EU, he says.
Germany’s coal phase out plans must accelerate to meet Paris goals
Germany needs to phase out coal-fired power by 2030 in order to maximise the economic and social benefits of the zero-carbon transition, and deliver its commitment as part of the Paris Agreement, writes Nigel Topping.
Greece gives investors another week for coal plant bids
Greece has given investors another week to 15 January to submit binding bids for three coal-fired power plants and a licence to build another one, a senior energy ministry official told Reuters on Monday (7 January).
COP24: Return of king coal
Poland is hosting lobbying for coal and fossil fuels of a scale that has rarely been seen during an annual UN conference on climate (COP). The EU is turning a blind eye to this new facet of its ‘enfant terrible.’ EURACTIV France reports.OpinionPromoted content
The new champion of changes in the Polish power sector
The transition of the Polish power sector is speeding up despite the difficult regulatory and business environment, writes Filip Grzegorczyk, CEO of TAURON Polska Energia.
European public banks continue financing coal bonanza
The EIB and EBRD have been channelling billions of euros in public money to fossil fuels dependent companies, hampering the international community's efforts to tackle climate change, writes Anna Roggenbuck.
EU energy watchdog urges Bosnia not to accept Chinese loan
The EU energy watchdog urged a Bosnian regional parliament on Thursday (27 September) not to approve a government guarantee for a China Exim Bank loan that is designed to help power utility EPBiH add a new unit at its Tuzla coal-fired power plant.
Socially just energy transition for coal workers no pie in the sky, study finds
As the UN's climate chief called for more "urgency" from negotiators at the ongoing Bangkok climate talks, a new international report found that a socially just transition is already feasible for coal workers and communities, while a global decline in coal production is expected.
Poland’s ‘last coal power plant’ faces €1.7 billion loss, analysts say
The planned phase-out of state aid to fossil fuel power generation across the European Union could make the Ostrołęka C coal station project unprofitable within years, according to a new report by Carbon Tracker, a think tank.
Has Bulgaria’s coal industry hit rock bottom?
One of Bulgaria’s cornerstone coal mines has been forced to shut down, raising questions over the future of energy production and employment in the region, as well as coal’s future in the country, write Violeta Keremdchieva and Ellen Baker.
Germany launches coal commission in a bid to protect climate and jobs
After being postponed three times, Germany’s government has appointed the long-awaited commission which is to define a roadmap for the country’s coal phase-out. It will have a double mandate: to protect both the climate and jobs.
Leaked: Germany’s planned coal commission shows little interest for the climate
While Berlin has postponed for a third time the launch of the highly anticipated coal commission, a leaked document obtained by EURACTIV.com shows that the roadmap focuses more on the restructuring coal-dependent German regions than on reducing CO2.
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.