About: low carbon economy
French economic recovery plan ‘resonates strongly’ with German and EU plan
French Prime Minister Jean Castex unveiled on Thursday (3 September) a detailed national economic recovery plan amounting to €100 billion over two years. The plan is in line with those drawn up by Berlin and the European Commission, according to the head of the influential French think tank IDDRI. EURACTIV France reports.
COP25: Connecting the dots on climate finance
As negotiators in Madrid are trying to break the impasse on global climate finance governance, tectonic shifts in the real economy are signaling changing tides for the oil & gas industry. Far from being separate adjustments, these changes are part of a one, large movement where Europe is at the fore-front. MEP Bas Eickhout explained to EURACTIV why.
COP25 news and views: What’s happening in Madrid
As UN climate negotiations enter their second and decisive week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the 25th climate conference in Madrid (COP25) and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: train ride, ray of the day, reality check-point, and climate finance big time.
Trade unions call for ‘new social contract’ to drive energy transition
The transition to a climate neutral economy will have a massive impact on all sectors and their workforce. But trade unions believe a “new social contract” can help engage workers in the transformation, and push the transition forward instead of holding it back.
EIB’s Werner Hoyer: ‘We aim for climate in everything we do’
In July, the European Investment Bank (EIB) published a draft of its proposed new lending policy for energy projects, which includes extra money for poorer EU countries, greater focus on renewables and phasing-out support for fossil fuel infrastructure after 2020. Werner Hoyer explains what this implies.
EU expert group drives sustainable finance’s mainstreaming two steps ahead
European sustainable finance got an additional boost on Tuesday (18 June), following the release of three reports by the Technical Expert Group on sustainable finance (TEG) focusing on taxonomy, green bonds standards and climate benchmarks.
Gas, a prominent guest at German energy transition event
As Germany is gradually phasing out nuclear and coal energy, Berlin is increasingly considering gas as key in bridging the gap between a fossil-fuels based and a low carbon economy.
40% of EU budget should be dedicated to greening the economy, EESC says
The EU's next multi-annual budget (2021-2027) should dedicate 40% of spending to the low-carbon economy and high-quality jobs, said Rudy de Leeuw, a delegate at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), an EU advisory body.
Companies call for net-zero emissions by 2050 to help transition to low-carbon economy
Ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit on 12-14 September, Cambridge-based Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group has called for a worldwide government-mandated net zero carbon emissions target by 2050 to help speed up transition to a low-carbon economy.
Stakeholders’ climate action key to meeting Paris Agreement goals, new report finds
By 2030, global greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by up to an additional 2.2 Gigatonne CO2 a year compared to what would be achieved through current national policies if individual commitments from nearly 8,000 non-state actors are fully implemented, a new report published today (30 August) shows.
On climate change, ‘red alert is on’, says COP21 president Laurent Fabius
The world community has taken action against climate change but it must "triple its efforts" to reduce emissions and Europe needs to take the lead, COP21 President Laurent Fabius said ahead of the crucial United Nations’ annual conference (COP24) in December.
Trade unions take action to ensure a just transition
As climate change has increasingly tangible effects, also impacting the working environment, trade unions in Europe have signalled their intention to tackle it by taking some concrete measures.
Swedish steel boss: ‘Our pilot plant will only emit water vapour’
A new pilot facility under construction in northern Sweden will produce steel using hydrogen from renewable electricity. The only emissions will be water vapour, explains the CEO of Hybrit, the company behind the process, which seeks to revolutionise steelmaking.
Breaking the glass ceiling of EU climate policy
The request from EU leaders to see an update of the European Commission's 2050 low-carbon roadmap mandates a higher level of ambition from Europe on meeting climate goals also in 2030, writes Brook Riley.
Europe must regain the lead in clean automotive innovation
The EU must adopt policies that put European manufacturers on the right track to compete with the global shift to low carbon transport, writes Andrey Kovatchev.
Why the EU’s first post-Brexit budget must prioritise investment in climate action
Reflecting on the next EU budget post-Brexit, Eliot Whittington explains why now is the time for the EU to show leadership and unity to drive climate action and make a net-zero carbon economy the new normal.
Britain ahead of EU pack in low-carbon transition
The UK's growth in renewable generation this decade has outstripped nearly all other European countries, according to new research. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.
Ethanol makers criticise the EU’s ‘biased’ transport decarbonisation goals
The European Commission is in denial concerning the contribution of conventional ethanol to the EU's transport decarbonisation goals post-2020, according to European ethanol producers.
Commission presents Climate and Energy Summer Package
“This proposal shows that our commitment to low-carbon growth is a lot more than hot air,” said EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete.
A proposal to finance low carbon investment in Europe
“Where there is danger, the rescue grows as well” says the German poet Hölderlin in his famous evocation of the Greek island of Patmos. Should we read it as a message of hope for the European Union in 2015? This year is indeed perilous in many respects for the bloc’s economy, but it is also rich in new opportunities, write Michel Aglietta, Étienne Espagne and Vincent Aussilloux. VideoPromoted content
MEPs approve 2018 carbon market reform, despite NGOs concerns
MEPs voted on Tuesday to start implementing reforms to the EU's Emissions Trading System by the end of 2018, three years earlier than the Commission's proposal.
Germany must stay the course on climate change
German Chancellor Angela Merkel must stay firm in the face of those in her country who are challenging the consensus over climate change and transition to low carbon energy, writes Lord Deben (John Gummer).