A political battle over firewood’s future in the EU’s energy transition is playing out in Brussels

As Europe races to replace Russian fossil fuels with cleaner power sources, EU lawmakers are weighing up the future of firewood as a renewable energy source. The debate is getting heated. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Sarah Steffen and Tamsin Walker discuss latest developments. EU weighs up future of wood-burning as … Continue reading A political battle over firewood’s future in the EU’s energy transition is playing out in Brussels →

“We are not fully in agreement yet” – Germany facing a growing backlash inside the EU over its U-turn on a law to phase out the combustion engine in new cars by 2035

The row is a further signal of tensions over the green deal landmark proposals to tackle climate crisis. In an article on the Guardian website, Jennifer Rankin and Philip Oltermann discuss what happened in this week’s meetings in Brussels. Germany faces EU backlash over U-turn on phasing out combustion engine Germany is facing a … Continue reading “We are not fully in agreement yet” – Germany facing a growing backlash inside the EU over its U-turn on a law to phase out the combustion engine in new cars by 2035 →

The EU’s plans to reduce GHG emissions are still not in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement

Science says it loud and clear that the EU’s plans to reduce emissions are not in line with the Paris Agreement. The question is whether EU member states will set things right and shoot beyond the minimum ambition with their National Climate and Energy Plans, write Brigitta Bozsó and Klaus Röhrig, policy experts at Climate … Continue reading The EU’s plans to reduce GHG emissions are still not in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement →

The EU Net Zero Industry Act must not be protectionist

How the EU might respond to clean teach subsidies, in the form of a leaked draft law entitled the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), is deeply worrisome. Niclas Poitiers, André Sapir, Simone Tagliapietra, Reinhilde Veugelers and Jeromin Zettelmeyer explain their views in an article on the Breugel website. Bruegel is the European think tank that … Continue reading The EU Net Zero Industry Act must not be protectionist →

The challenge for making the EU Green Deal industrial plan as effective as possible

In the race to avoid climate breakdown, talk of a subsidy race with the United States is misplaced. EU leaders would be better off focusing on making the Green Deal Industrial Plan as effective as possible to ensure win-wins, write Jakob Hafele and Jonathan Barth, co-founders of the ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies, in an … Continue reading The challenge for making the EU Green Deal industrial plan as effective as possible →

New EEA briefing on key measures foreseen in the EC chemicals strategy for sustainability

Global chemical production is growing rapidly, supporting the green and digital transitions but also creating risks for health and ecosystems. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, key policy measures foreseen in the European Commission’s chemicals strategy for sustainability offer significant potential to ensure consumer safety, cut pollution and clean up material … Continue reading New EEA briefing on key measures foreseen in the EC chemicals strategy for sustainability →

New EEA briefing assesses the costs and benefits of climate change adaptation

A better understanding of the costs and benefits of adaptation measures to counter climate change is needed according to a recent European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing which assesses the main methods, challenges and constraints in taking action. Improvements needed in assessing costs, benefits of climate change adaptation There is an urgent need to speed … Continue reading New EEA briefing assesses the costs and benefits of climate change adaptation →

The growing importance of the EU Emissions Trading System

Derided for a decade for its ineffectiveness, this European emissions trading mechanism is now taking on a new significance writes Philippe Escande in an article on Le Monde website. Climate: 'The EU emissions trading system is now proving relevant' It can take a lot of patience, experimentation and tenacity to see a good idea … Continue reading The growing importance of the EU Emissions Trading System →

The European Commission has told member countries that a joint EU exit from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty appears inevitable

A news item on the EURACTIV website says that it is now inevitable that the EU will leave the Energy Charter Treaty. The last related post on EiD was only two weeks ago. Climate Home News writes that the United Kingdom’s government said it is “closely monitoring the situation”. The Swiss energy ministry’s Jean-Christophe Fueeg … Continue reading The European Commission has told member countries that a joint EU exit from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty appears inevitable →

New Slovak law enshrines in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050

Barbara Zmušková writes on the EURACTIV website about the new climate law in the Slovak Republic. Slovak government presents first-ever climate law The Climate Law, which for the first time officially enshrined in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, was presented by the Slovakian Environment Ministry on Monday. The law also … Continue reading New Slovak law enshrines in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 →