About: Connie Hedegaard
‘Green Deal’ supporters resist idea of splitting energy and climate portfolio
The incoming President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is preparing a ‘Green Deal’ team that may be led by Vice-President Frans Timmermans. Whether the climate and energy briefs will be split or kept together remains to be seen, however.
EU research ‘moonshots’ focus on climate crisis
The European Commission unveiled five flagship research and innovation “missions” yesterday (4 July), two of which are directly aimed at addressing the climate crisis.
Campaigners: Commission ethics group needs teeth after Barroso/Kroes scandals
A small, internal group that reviews ethics breaches at the European Commission should be turned into a legal inquiry board and given its own staff to better police potential scandals like former President Jose Manuel Barroso's lobbying job with Goldman Sachs, transparency campaigners contend.
Former Barroso Commissioners still enjoying big paydays
Former Commissioners are enjoying fat transitional allowances, even though they may already be working in the private sector or even if their time at the executive was only fleeting, according to German media. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Parliament freezes Commissioners’ pensions over code of conduct row
EXCLUSIVE / MEPs have responded to the recent conflicts of interest concerning members of the Barroso Commission by freezing part of the allowance granted to former Commissioners at the end of their mandate. EURACTIV France reports.
Parliament calls for tougher action to stop Commission’s revolving doors
EU lawmakers have demanded the European executive strengthen its code of conduct for Commissioners, following the repeated revolving door scandals involving former members of the Barroso Commission. EURACTIV France reports.
The climate circus comes to town
The soap opera of global climate talks has been playing for 20 years. As it comes to Paris on Monday, Suzanne Goldenberg reviews the tears, the bloodshed and the unspeakable catering. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports. VideoPromoted content
Media4EU: EU strategy for independent and sustainable media
Europe’s media are facing dual crises: economic and digital. Tackling the economic challenges is getting critical in many ways, and also in the EU’s self-interest. Just like for any other key EU sector, the Juncker Commission could indeed trigger sector-strategic thinking, while refraining from interference and/or bailing out the sector.
Former Commissioners back strategy for EU media
The EU should help encourage a better business environment for pan-European media and help it develop new technology pilots, former Commissioners told an event on sustainable media staged in the Parliament last week (29 January).
Hedegaard: ‘We have to be careful about what we label as red tape’
The European Commission's drive to cut down EU legislation may sound like a good idea. But it can also do more harm than good, by reinstating borders in the single market, warns Connie Hedegaard. VideoPromoted content
Hedegaard: World should stay below 2 degrees global temperature increase
Speaking to EURACTIV in its #Media4EU event, former Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said that she hopes 'there will be enough political will” to reach a global agreement on a “below 2 degrees average temperature increase” in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris later this year VideoPromoted content
Hedegaard: National media should be more interested in EU
Speaking to EURACTIV in its #Media4EU event, former Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said that EU affairs are in need of ' stronger media coverage to get more citizens involved.'
As it happened: Six to-dos for sustainable European media
How can independent media survive across Europe? EURACTIV releases six recommendations in January 2015 for a more effective EU strategy towards media and the fourth estate.
Old Commissioners, new revolving doors
Only three months after the Barroso II Commission left office, some prominent members have already made moves in their professional careers which are putting to test the EU executive’s policy on revolving doors, writes Vicky Cann.
Fighting climate change needn’t cost growth and jobs, EU leaders told
Fighting climate change will deliver economic growth and employment, a report launched today (16 September) found, upping pressure on EU leaders to agree an effective carbon reduction package at their October summit.
EU polluters to land €5bn windfall under ‘carbon leakage’ proposal
Heavily-polluting industries are in line for a €5bn handout from Europe’s taxpayers because of the way the EU is measuring their exposure to unregulated competitors outside the bloc, according to an unpublished report prepared for the European commission.
EU member states not reaching 2020 energy efficiency goals, Commission says
EXCLUSIVE / Further efforts are needed by member states to reach the EU's energy saving target of 20% by 2020, the European Commission said in a leaked draft communication obtained by EURACTIV. The Commission also watered down the target for 2030 considerably in the latest draft. VideoPromoted content
Commission earmarks €2 billion for clean energy projects
The European Commission announced on Tuesday a €2 billion boost for low-carbon energy projects in Europe. The Commission is awarding a total of 1 billion EUR to 19 innovative low-carbon energy projects selected under the second call of the NER300 funding programme.![Jason Anderson [SCORPIX - Patrick Mascart]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/jason_anderson_wwf_credit-p-mascart.jpeg)
DG Emissions Trading on its deathbed?
The future of the directorate-general for climate hangs on the line. What will the next European Commission do on emissions trading? They'll surely need to think outside the box, argues Jason Anderson.
EU paper pencils in 30% or 35% efficiency target for 2030
SPECIAL REPORT / To maintain Europe’s emissions-cutting momentum, a 30% cut in energy usage is needed by 2030, rising to 35% if the EU wants to reap the benefits of energy security, jobs and growth, says a draft communication for the bloc’s energy efficiency review, seen by EURACTIV.
EU slated for ‘cynical’ €113m shale gas subsidy
EXCLUSIVE / Environmentalists have bitterly condemned a new EU research fund which invites shale gas firms to apply for €113 million of subsidies, under a programme designed to encourage ‘competitive low carbon energy’.![Emissions from a power station. [Stocker1970/Shutterstock].](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/emissions_power_plant._shutterstock_stocker1970.jpeg)
EU emissions ‘lowest on record’
The European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 19.2% compared to 1990s levels, according to the European Environment Agency.
EU welcomes ‘strongest ever’ climate action by Obama
EU leaders hailed President Obama’s announcement yesterday (2 June) of a planned 30% cut in US power plant emissions by 2030 as a crucial step towards decarbonisation, and a “positive signal” to other countries ahead of a summit to agree a global climate deal in Paris next year.