About: coal
Czech-Polish talks on lignite mine dispute make progress, minister says
Talks between the Czech Republic and Poland have made progress in finding an agreement to end a dispute over a Polish lignite mine on their border, Czech Environment Richard Brabec was quoted as saying on Thursday (30 Septmeber).
Getting off the fence? The future of coal in the Western Balkans
Driven by ambitious targets and a set of sharp regulatory tools, the Green Deal is about to redefine the European economy and policy. As to be expected from a transformation of that magnitude, developments do not always follow a straight...
Western Balkans pressed to tackle deadly air pollution from coal
The Europe Union needs to put more pressure on the Western Balkans to decarbonise their coal-fuelled energy system as pollution levels remain well above compliance thresholds, according to a report published on Tuesday (7 September).
Spain joins campaign to phase out coal by 2030
Spain on Wednesday (30 June) joined an international campaign to set a date for closing all coal plants by 2030, signing up to a target it looks well-placed to beat by a wide margin.
UK’s coal-fired electricity ban officially brought forward to 2024
From 1 October 2024 - one year earlier than originally planned - coal-fired electricity generation will be banned in the UK. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.OpinionPromoted content
Geothermal is the solution for the transition of coal mining regions
The preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice that has ordered Poland to halt the lignite production at the Turów mine, and the subsequent announcement of Poland’s government that it will defy the ruling, have sent an important message...
Lack of coal phase-out commitments in Eastern Europe jeopardises just transition
Unambitious coal phase-out policies in central and eastern Europe threaten the just transition in the region and the European Commission should only accept plans that use the just transition fund to develop and diversify local economies for a greener future, writes Alexandru Mustață.
Romania commits to phase out coal by 2032
Romania will exit coal by 2032 at the latest and pass a law by mid-2022 to address the closure of mines and adopt socio-economic measures to support coal communities and reskilling of worers, according to the country's official recovery plan.
Closing the Czech coal industry could cost 25,000 jobs
The Czech Republic is currently considering how best to use EU green funds to modernise its economy and secure just transition of its three coal mining regions. According to experts, the coal phase-out could result in the loss of 25,000 jobs, but investments in renewables can restore the balance.
Time for Paris-compatible coal phase-out plans in Central and Eastern Europe
Central and Eastern European countries need to set national coal phase-out dates by 2030 at the latest in order to fall in line with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, environmental campaigners write.
Merkel rejects bringing forward Germany’s exit from coal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday (15 May) rejected calls to bring forward the country's exit date for coal in power generation, currently set at 2038.
The real faces behind PGE’s Turów coal mine
Coal mines, like the controversial Turów mine on the Polish/Czech border, are not the future. Indeed, the presence of the mine is risking the region's ability to transition away from coal and the livelihoods of the people around it, writes Milan Starec.
Solidarity for Turów? Well, close the mine
The controversial Turów coal mine in Poland has been negatively impacting the people who live around it for decades. The European Commission now needs to step in and enforce common EU rules to enable a just transition to take place, writes Mikuláš Peksa.
Turow: the Polish coal mine at the centre of regional tensions
Tensions have mounted at the Polish, Czech and German border over a coal mine in Poland that Prague says is contaminating its water supplies and has been operating illegally for over a year.
A tale of three countries: how Czechia, Germany, and Poland plan to ditch coal
For decades, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have been at the heart of Europe's so-called "lignite triangle" which produces most of the continent's coal-based electricity. But with climate change now a top political priority, the priority is shifting to renewables.
Unjust and environmentally damaging Turów mining licence prolonged until 2044
The European Commission needs to be more engaged in environmental disputes between EU countries, like the escalating tensions between Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic over the disputed open-pit mine in Turów, Poland, writes Martin Hojsík.
Global alliance for phasing out coal not fit for purpose, says NGO
An attempt by the UK government to encourage countries and businesses around the world to quit coal for power generation is failing to make an impact, and in danger of being used as “greenwash”, an assessment has found. EURACTIV media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Poland seeks to nationalise coal plants so firms can finance green investments
The Polish government is planning to nationalise dozens of coal plants and use public money to keep them running to allow state-owned energy companies to invest in greener alternatives. EURACTIV's media partner, Climate Home News, reports.
Energy Charter Treaty strikes again as Uniper sues Netherlands over coal phase-out
The energy company, Uniper, intends to file a claim against the Dutch government over its coal phase-out – the second case this year against the plan under the Energy Charter Treaty.
Fossil fuel shares drop in value compared with clean energy, think tank says
The value of share offerings in fossil fuel companies has dropped by almost 20% since 2012, while low-carbon companies gained ground in a shift towards clean energy, a report by think-tank Carbon Tracker showed on Wednesday (31 March).
‘It’s hard, we’re neighbours’: the coalmine polluting friendships on Poland’s borders
Czechs and Germans who live in the shadow of the vast Turów mine claim it is an environmental menace. Some in Poland want to weaponise its defence. EURACTIV’s media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Hungary brings coal exit forward by five years, to 2025
The country’s last coal power plant will be shut down in 2025 instead of 2030, Hungary’s secretary of state for EU affairs announced earlier this week.
EU advisors and Poland’s PGE increase pressure over gas in green finance rules
The European Commission came under new pressure on Monday (22 February) from Poland's biggest power producer, PGE, and its own advisors, over whether to include gas power in EU rules on sustainable finance.