About: decarbonisation

Efficiency First must tackle implementation issues to be effective

Efficiency First needs to be effectively applied across the EU in order to help meet climate goals, writes Zsuzsanna Pató and Jan Rosenow.

Finnish industries launch ‘game-changing’ bid to go green, digital

A consortium of twelve Finnish corporations calling themselves the "game-changers" have announced a new billion-euro offensive to build new digital infrastructure, saying the digital transition will be key to achieve green objectives after the COVID-19 crisis.

Ammonia: hydrogen’s green soulmate?

A chemical traditionally used in the fertiliser industry, ammonia is now also entering the realm of energy as a way to store and transport hydrogen, or as an alternative transport fuel in its own right.

Ammonia: The missing link in the hydrogen story?

Hydrogen has become a central element of EU plans to reach net-zero emission by mid-century. The hydrogen strategy relies partly on imports of hydrogen produced from places like North Africa, the Arabic Peninsula and Ukraine. How will this work in practice?

European energy decarbonisation: reinforcing the EU’s 2050 climate goal through a green recovery

Decarbonising the energy sector in Europe by 2050 is an ambitious, yet achievable objective.

Oil, gas, coal could lose two-thirds of value by 2070, says study

Business in oil, gas and coal is becoming increasingly unprofitable as global fossil reserves could lose around two-thirds of their value in the next 50 years, plummeting from around $39 trillion to $14 trillion, according to a study published on Thursday (4 May) by British think tank Carbon Tracker. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Decarbonisation of LNG – Expanding the pathway for clean energy sources in Europe?

The EU LNG import terminals currently import LNG that consists of methane of fossil origin. LNG produces lower CO2 emissions than most fossil fuels and has a low level of methane leakages in the long term. However, they need to...

European Works Councils advocate a just transition into the future of work

In some ways, the future of work is already here, as digitisation and the drive to decarbonise have begun to change the face of employment. With radical changes to the workplace on the horizon, labour unions and other worker representatives want to chart a path that makes the transition fair for all involved.

Expert: Commission should expose weaknesses in national transport decarbonisation plans

The European Commission should ask member states to provide cost assessments of carbon abatement in their transport decarbonisation plans, but also to compare "alternative paths to decarbonisation" and look beyond Europe for inspiration, an international expert on agricultural issues told EURACTIV.com.

Study: No EU country has calculated transport decarbonisation costs

The EU risks missing its target to decarbonise transport by 2030, as in the current draft plans of member states, there is no cost-effectiveness calculation of the different proposed measures, a study has found.

EU climate official: Innovation fund will help decarbonise metals production

The production of non-ferrous metals such as aluminium is very energy-intensive, but new technologies are being developed to decarbonise the process and the European Commission is ready to finance them, says Mauro Petriccione.

Aluminium sector illustrates close link between trade and climate policy

New production methods and uses are making aluminium a material of choice for European policymakers looking to decarbonise the economy. But a flood of cheap carbon-intensive aluminium from China could complicate these efforts.

What EU innovation policy can learn from professional cycling

Mission-oriented innovation is potentially significant in tackling big societal challenges such as climate change. When establishing those missions, the EU could take a few lessons from Britain’s most successful cycling team, writes Simon Skillings.

Greece vows €35 billion investment for energy transition

The Greek ministry of energy has finally submitted a new national energy and climate plan to the European Commission. It aims to reduce dependence on lignite power and increase the use of renewable energy. EURACTIV Greece reports.

Greece’s energy future on the line

Lignite has been the driving force of the Greek economy for the last six decades and the government intends to keep it that way, even though this most polluting of fuels is now becoming uncompetitive, writes Nikos Mantzaris.

Brussels remains guarded over ‘capacity mechanisms’ for power plants

The European Commission is trying to limit the development of so-called capacity mechanisms, which some member states have put in place as a way of ensuring electricity supply in situations of peak demand. EURACTIV France reports.

The EU needs to walk the talk on the Paris Climate Agreement

With its objective of reaching greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality in the second half of this century, the Paris Agreement has been hailed as the most ambitious climate accord to date. But it is only as ambitious and effective as the policies that countries implement to achieve its objectives, writes Lola Vallejo.

Solar trade barriers: Who are they benefiting?

In December 2013, the European Union imposed trade defence measures on solar panels and cells from China, which are set to expire in September 2018.

Future of gas: Decarbonise or go bust

Widely accepted as a “transition fuel” until 2030 to help wean Europe from coal, gas is also positioning itself as a clean fuel in its own right beyond that date. But meeting the EU’s 2050 climate goals will require a deep transformation of the sector, amid growing competition from solar and wind power.

Two conflicts with the potential to increase European welfare

The answer to two major European conflicts, Brexit-induced financial problems and the refugee crisis, could be welfare-enhancing. Only after implementing solutions to those problems can Europe start to reform governance and boost innovation, writes Karl Aiginger.

Decarbonising Europe: Matching aspiration with action

With renewable electricity costs going through the floor, the EU should increase its 2030 targets and aim for close to zero carbon electricity by 2040. But while power decarbonisation is crucially important, it will not be sufficient to deliver a truly zero carbon economy, writes Adair Turner.