EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation

As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation →

New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption

GHG emissions and energy consumption rose in 2021 due mostly to Europe’s post-pandemic recovery, according to the latest ‘Trends and Projections’ report published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Most EU Member States successfully achieved the EU’s 2020 climate and energy targets and are now turning their sights toward climate neutrality while also … Continue reading New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption →

Australia’s new government needs to ensure its legislative foundation for climate follows best practice globally

Anita Foerster, Associate professor, Monash University; Alice Bleby, PhD Candidate, UNSW Sydney; and Anne Kallies, Senior Lecturer, RMIT University write on The Conversation website that Australia’s new Albanese government should be guided by lessons from the design and implementation of existing laws in other countries, to ensure it follows best practice. Failing to learn from … Continue reading Australia’s new government needs to ensure its legislative foundation for climate follows best practice globally →

How important is it to keep the Energy Charter Treaty?

In an article on The Conversation website, Chamu Kuppuswamy, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, at the University of Hertfordshire argues that, while withdrawing from the energy charter treaty is possible for any country to do, losing the benefits of membership – such as fewer duties and taxes on imports of oil and gas – will … Continue reading How important is it to keep the Energy Charter Treaty? →

The Australian government has won an appeal against a ruling that it has a duty of care to protect children from harm caused by climate change

Last year, eight teenagers and an 87-year-old nun convinced a court that the government had a legal duty to children when assessing fossil fuel projects. The decision was hailed as a world first, but it has been successfully challenged by the environment minister. The situation is discussed in a news item on the BBC News … Continue reading The Australian government has won an appeal against a ruling that it has a duty of care to protect children from harm caused by climate change →

New energy efficiency regulations for renovation work in Finland

Finland’s Ministry of the Environment issued new regulations on February 27th for improving the energy efficiency of buildings during renovation and alteration works. The regulations will come into effect on June 1, 2013 for buildings in public use and on September 1, 2013 for other buildings. The regulations define the minimum requirements for energy efficiency … Continue reading New energy efficiency regulations for renovation work in Finland →

Renewables in Poland

Sandra Enkhardt writes in PV magazine about the progress underway in Poland to pass a renewable energy law. Poland: Renewable energy law could be adopted in March Poland’s new renewable energy law is expected to be adopted by the government by the end of March. However, due to the EC notification process, it is … Continue reading Renewables in Poland →

VAT challenge could harm Green Deal prospects

The UK government is to fight an EU ruling that the UK must raise VAT on energy efficiency products from 5% to 20%. VAT was reduced to 5% on energy efficiency products in the UK because government wants to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and create jobs. Andrew Warren of the Association for the … Continue reading VAT challenge could harm Green Deal prospects →

Something to ponder over the summer

In April, the Commission published its evaluation of the Ecodesign directive and (2009/125/EC) and the results were discussed at a Consultation Forum meeting of April 19, 2012. One of the conclusions of the report was: Ex-ante impact assessments estimated that the first 12 Ecodesign Regulations will allow savings of 385TWh per year by 2020, which … Continue reading Something to ponder over the summer →

Quote of the week

The European Council met in Brussels June 28th and 29th and formally approved the Energy Efficiency Directive. The Communiqué states: Following the formal adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive, Member States must rapidly implement it, making full use of its provisions in order to exploit the significant potential for job creation in this sector. Council … Continue reading Quote of the week →