New EEA report on the EU’s 8th Environment Action Programme

The EU 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) builds on the European Green Deal and sets the framework for EU environmental policy until 2030. Published recently, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) first monitoring report on the Programme shows that the EU may not meet most of the monitoring targets outlined in the European Commission’s 8th EAP … Continue reading New EEA report on the EU’s 8th Environment Action Programme →

Reform of EU electricity market design: Council and Parliament reach deal

Members states and the European Parliament found a deal on Thursday to stabilise prices and favour investment in decarbonated energy. The deal is described in an article on the Le Monde website. The European Council’s press release on the agreement is here.   European Union reaches deal to reform electricity market The European Union reached … Continue reading Reform of EU electricity market design: Council and Parliament reach deal →

New EEA briefing on climate’s impact on seas

Climate change’s triple impact on seas — warming waters, acidification and decreasing oxygen levels — are a major and increasing threat to Europe’s marine ecosystems. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, looks at main threats to Europe’s seas and points to key actions to improve the situation.   Warming, acidification, dropping oxygen … Continue reading New EEA briefing on climate’s impact on seas →

New EEA report on European air quality health assessment

Air pollution in Europe remains well above recommended World Health Organization (WHO) levels, posing a significant threat to our health. According to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality health assessment published this week, 253,000 deaths could have been avoided in the EU if the fine particulate matter concentrations had met WHO recommendations. Exposure … Continue reading New EEA report on European air quality health assessment →

New publication – EU Buildings Climate Tracker: A call for faster and bolder action

Buildings represent a significant potential for GHG emissions mitigation and the EU has many policies in place to help promote the improved energy performance of buildings. The policy foundation is the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive that is currently being revised. In fact the next negotiations (the trialogue) between the European Council, European Parliament and … Continue reading New publication – EU Buildings Climate Tracker: A call for faster and bolder action →

Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen

For Namibia, green hydrogen could be transformative. Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen. A secretive tender process raises concerns for nature and citizens. In an article on the Climate Home News website, John Grobler, Joe Lo and Matteo Civillini discuss how the EU is supporting the development … Continue reading Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen →

New EEA briefing on benefits of nature-based climate adaptation

Nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands in flood-prone areas or green infrastructure to reduce heat island effects in cities, need to be scaled up and expanded to help Europe better cope with the impacts of climate change. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, assesses the current state of such climate adaptation projects … Continue reading New EEA briefing on benefits of nature-based climate adaptation →

New EEA report on the urgent need to prioritise the use of biomass

There are increasing and competing demands for using biomass in the EU, using it for bio-based products in sectors such as construction, energy, transport, furniture and textile industries, but also reserving it for nature conservation and carbon sequestration. The European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published recently, stresses that there is an urgent need to prioritise … Continue reading New EEA report on the urgent need to prioritise the use of biomass →

New EEA briefing on the benefits of investing in clean technology and a green industry in Europe

Europe has committed to ambitious sustainability targets in the coming decades, including achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This transition requires large investments while public budgets are under increasing pressure from security needs, inflation, ageing population, and other priorities. Published this week, a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis looks at this challenge and identifies investments in … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the benefits of investing in clean technology and a green industry in Europe →

Energy in Demand News, November 5th, 2023

The negotiations taking place before a climate conference are always complicated. This is proving true this year as well. The Financial Times reports (behind a paywall) that western countries have clashed with Saudi Arabia over the role it should play to “kick-start a UN fund to help poorer countries deal with the loss and damage … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 5th, 2023 →