Blog
The EU is starting to prepare its position for this December's UN climate talks in Cancun. Getting its act together would help give fresh impetus to the negotiations...
A good picture is emerging of pledged "fast start" climate aid to developing countries. Unfortunately, much of the aid is no more than the relabeling of existing development pledges...
A group of MEPs is threatening to block EU implementing rules on fuel quality legislation if loopholes allowing climate-damaging oil from tar sands are not removed...
Just as the G20 wants to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies, the EU Commission is set to propose extending subsidies for coal. This flies in the face of our energy and climate goals...
MEPs are considering proposed EU rules on van CO2 emissions this week. New research shows more that more ambitious limits are already technically possible...
The EU Commission is set to propose how so-called 'sustainability criteria' should apply to biofuels. Major loopholes mean the proposals would lead to anything but sustainable biofuels...
The EU Commission is expected to outline proposals to revise current EU energy tax rules to introduce a carbon component. Getting the rate right will be crucial to its effectiveness...
Energy saving and renewables are set to get a share of the EU economic recovery package a year after it was agreed under a commission proposal to reallocate unspent funds...
The UNFCCC talks swing back into action on Monday. After the political deadlock in Copenhagen, the negotiations will hopefully start to focus on the details...
The EU is set to fall short on its climate aid pledges it emerged this week. Next week, the EU Commission will make the case for stepping up to the pledged 30% emissions target...
Plans to import solar power to the EU from North Africa are again in the spotlight. But there are worrying signs energy utilities could use the cables to import dirty electricity to the EU...
CO2 emissions performance standards for power generation remain on the agenda after an EP vote: good news for this effective tool for tackling energy emissions and promoting low-carbon power...
New research reveals emissions from transport in Europe are continuing to rise. The EU Commission's new strategy on 'clean' vehicles falls short of a comprehensive response though...
The chemical industry is engaging in a cynical and clever lobbying campaign against climate change legislation. Other heavy industry sectors in the EU continue to want it both ways too...
A new study has demonstrated that a power system based entirely on renewable energy is possible and would bring comprehensive benefits for Europe. But the EU has to get the policy right....
The UNFCCC will meet for the first time this year in Bonn this weekend. Plotting the course of the climate talks for 2010 will be no easy task, with Copenhagen still looming large in the rearview mirror...
MEPs can stop coal-fired power being the overwhelming winner of a funding mechanism to support new low emissions technologies. The Greens want the EU parliament to oppose another payday for CCS...
3 years since Europe's 2020 climate goals were agreed, and 3 months on from Copenhagen, this week's 'Spring Summit' looks like continuing the scale back of ambitions for EU climate policy...
With the UN climate talks adrift, there is an urgent need to clearly define what the talks should deliver in 2010. The issues remain the same but there must be commitment to resolve them...
The EU Commission is to set out its post-Copenhagen strategy. It calls for a stronger role for the Commission in the UN talks but also confirms scaled-back ambitions for a deal in 2010...
The proposed Europe 2020 strategy sends worrying signals about the 'vision' of the new EU Commission for the climate and environment...
Just as the UN climate negotiations are being put back on track, there are signs the EU is giving up ambitions for agreeing a climate deal in 2010. The EU should be driving the talks forward, not the opposite...
Leaks from the EU Commission underline real concerns about the negative impacts of agro-fuels. Emerging EU rules on these fuels must be transparent and clearly exclude any damaging fuels...
The Spanish EU presidency has launched a push for an EU electric car plan. A key part of any plan should be to resolve the major flaws and loopholes in the existing EU legislation on car emissions...
EU climate inertia continues: Having just submitted an unchanged pledge to the Copenhagen Accord, the EU is now preparing accounting tricks to recycle existing development aid as climate aid...
EU member states are well on track towards meeting their renewable energy targets. Combined with greater than expected emissions declines in other sectors, this underlines the need for stronger renewables and emissions targets...
The proposed step up to a 30% emissions reduction target was again postponed by EU environment ministers. Stepping up to the 30% is only a starting point for the EU to reengage with the world though...
4 weeks since Copenhagen, the future of global climate policy remains unclear. The new EU presidency and climate commissioner must start picking up the pieces and re-establish the EU's place in the process...
The dust has yet to settle following Saturday's disappointing outcome to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen but one thing is clear: it cannot be the end of the road. Where to from here?
UN climate talks drew to a close on Saturday morning falling massively short of hopes. A planned political declaration has been consigned to a footnote...
US President Obama left the UN climate summit after an agreement with a select number of states on political declaration. However, the outcome of the summit is in doubt…
After 12 hours of unabated rumours, the climate talks remain stalemated, with high level talks behind closed doors. We seem to be at all or nothing stage…
Progress has been made overnight – although gaps still remain for deal. Obama has arrived with his trademark hope but will he deliver more than the world’s greatest greenwash?
Leaked documents from the UNFCCC estimated the UN talks are setting the course for dangerous warming. Meanwhile, the climate talks are finally starting to sort out the open details…
US president Obama is set to throw his hat in the ring but China has further dampened expectations for a climate deal at Copenhagen. Can Obama give the necessary boost for a deal?
UN climate talks got a new president, new top negotiators, with world leaders rolling into town, and new doubts over the treaty text. All key issues in the talks remain up in the air though…
The baton is about to be passed to the ministers and heads of state but most of the problem areas remain unresolved. The big players need to make big moves on the big issues to avoid failure…
Talks at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen were again suspended, as developing countries insisted their demands to continue the Kyoto protocol not be ignored…
EU leaders have again failed to make progress on their key climate pledges at this week's EU summit. Continued claims to be the climate leader in this context is embarrassing and hypocritical...
EU countries want serious loopholes in how emissions from land use and forestry (LULUCF) are accounted. This could seriously undermine the environmental effectiveness of a UN climate deal...
As the long-awaited UN climate talks kick-off in Copenhagen, much doubt remains as to the potential outcome. What can we realistically hope for?
Key EU figures are talking up the prospects for the UN climate talks in Copenhagen, as well as the EU's role for a strong deal. A big step by the EU would do more than words...
Any remaining hope that the UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December could produce a sufficient and binding deal is now gone. What now?
New analysis from the IEA and the electricity lobby envisages a central role for nuclear and coal-fired power for the future. This old-fashioned analysis is a recipe for disaster...
The EU Commission has watered down a legislative proposal aimed at limiting CO2 emissions from vans and light trucks, evoking memories of last year's car emissions debacle...
Climate change will be at the top of the agenda for EU leaders at this week's summit in Brussels. An ambitious EU negotiating position could reignite the UN climate talks...
Environment and finance ministers meet to discuss EU climate policy, a week before a key summit of EU leaders. MEPs have set the tone by adopting a strong resolution...
The US seems to have succeeded in killing off the Kyoto Protocol in the UN climate negotiations. However, what are the alternatives...
The European Parliament is considering proposals from the EU Commission to grant exemptions to a high proportion of industries covered by the emissions trading scheme...
The ECJ has dealt a blow to the EU's emissions trading scheme but the Commission is determined to defend the scheme, while also outlining plans for a carbon tax...
A one-day UN summit on climate change led to grandiose statements from world leaders but it will take more than rhetoric to revive the stalling UN climate talks...
New EU figures on CO2 emissions from car manufacturers show that average emissions are falling. But what does this really say about the recently-agreed EU legislation?
The European Commission is set to propose a bargain deal for the EU on climate financing for developing countries. By shirking its responsibility it is endangering a climate deal...
The EU's annual greenhouse gas emissions data has, as usual, been given a hugely positive spin by the Commission, but what is the reality?
With so little negotiating time left to finalise a draft agreement in time for the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, is it still feasible?
Much of the EU's self-proclaimed climate policy success is hot air. All rich countries need to stop posturing and concretely decide how to share their emissions reduction efforts...
Hopes are not high that this week's meeting of major economies, on the fringes of the G8 summit in Italy, will make any progress in moving forward UN climate talks...
The new Swedish presidency of the EU has listed climate change as one of its top priorities in the run into Copenhagen. But is it the real deal or just more bluster?
The location of a new international agency for renewable energy is about to be decided but there are concerns that basing it in Abu Dhabi could undermine the body...
The latest UN climate talks ended with little concrete progress. Meanwhile, the June EU summit is set to continue the trend of buck-passing on firming up the EU negotiating position...
Proposals at UN climate talks for a global tax on aviation and shipping fuel have been rebuffed by the industries. But we need to end their special position and curb their growing emissions...
The past 18 months have seen a complete role reversal for Germany: from a world leader on climate policy to the bad boy of the EU. Merkel's policies continue to undermine EU climate efforts...
Draft US climate legislation, including a cap and trade system, looks set to make the same mistakes as the EU model. A new compromise envisages the free allocation of permits to polluters...
The past 12 months have seen intensive lobbying from polluting industries to water down climate legislation in the EU, the US and elsewhere. Not only that but they all claim to be green...
We're over 6 months away from Copenhagen, but much of the work for a global climate deal needs to be finalised over the next 6 weeks. With national positions now clearer, where do we stand?
After more than 3 months of huffing and puffing, the proposed €5 billion recovery package is set to be signed off by MEPs next week. Regrettably the fundamental flaws remain...
MEPs have voted on new laws to outlaw the import of illegal timber to the EU. However, efforts to solve the issue of emissions from deforestation at international level remain fraught...
MEPs are rallying to object to a European Commission proposal to revise the EU's rules for labelling energy-using products. The proposed changes risk creating confusion among consumers...
Just 8 months before the deadline for an international climate deal, the signs - both from the G20 and the current UNFCCC talks - are not promising...
Key energy laws have moved a step closer to reality. But the votes on building efficiency rules, energy market liberalisation and an economic stimulus for the energy sector are a setback...
The clock is ticking towards the deadline for a global climate deal and concerns are growing that our politicians will not get their act together in time. Has democracy failed?
This week's EU summit is set to decide on the EU position for the crucial UNFCCC climate talks, set to conclude in Copenhagen this year, but don't hold your breath...
The proposed EU economic recovery plan survived a meeting of EU finance ministers but surgery is needed before EU governments sign off on the €5 billion package...
EU environment ministers dodged the bullet and avoided making any decision on the EU position on financing for the international UN climate negotiations at their Council meeting...
Prominent environmentalists have recently started coming out in favour of nuclear, citing climate concerns as the reason. But this ideological u-turn ignores the realities of nuclear power...
Green MEPs are trying to strengthen new EU legislation aimed at clamping down on illegal logging. With deforestation such a major driver of climate change, robust rules are vital...
A proposal from the European Commission to revise the EU's rules for labelling certain energy-using products based on their efficiency risks undermining the whole scheme. If it ain't broke...
Concerns persist about the EU's emissions trading scheme and the carbon market, while prominent climate figures question the viability of cap and trade. However, it still may be our best bet...
The Commission is set to present proposals on the EU position for the UN climate talks in Copenhagen this year. The EU has its work cut out to regain some of the credibility lost last year...
With the EU set to decide on its long-term energy strategy in March, MEPs have adopted a backward-looking report that foresees coal and nuclear at the heart of EU energy policy...
Phasing-out inefficient light bulbs makes sense for the economy and the climate. However, a few German centre-right MEPs are trying to block an EU phase-out of the most energy wasting bulbs...
There is a sense of déjà vu about the current gas dispute, which now seriously threatens gas supplies to Europe. Clearly, some lessons of the previous dispute in 2006 still need to be learned...
With national governments having effectively issued a dictat on the content of the EU climate package, MEPs rubber stamped the legislation in a largely ceremonial vote...
MEPs are set to vote on the EU's climate package of climate legislation, following the intervention by heads of state and government to seriously water down the proposals...
The slow pace of progress at the UN climate talks in Poznan has been largely a result of the intransigence of industrialised countries but there are some causes for optimism...
Developed countries are holding back climate negotiations and jeopardising chances for a deal in 2009 as environment ministers start rolling into town...
Its the start of the second week of this year's UN climate talks in Poznan and the men with the money have rolled into town for the finance ministers' meeting...
At the end of the first week of global climate talks in Poznan, the credibility of the EU's claimed leadership on climate change is in tatters - a bit like its proposed climate legislation...
At the same time as international climate talks have kicked off in Poznan, the EU's climate package of legislation is being picked to pieces...
The Council has adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach with regard to its proposal to water down EU rules on reducing car emissions but there is no sweetener...
We are in the endgame of the negotiations for the EU's climate package but EP negotiators haven't given up on an ambitious climate policy yet, despite pressure from Council...
The European Commission's 2nd Strategic Energy Review, presented today, is based on flawed assumptions and skewed research, yet it is supposed to be the blueprint for EU energy policy...
As negotiations to finalise EU legislation on car CO2 emissions progress, there are fears that carmakers will again be let off the hook...
As negotiations get underway this week to finalise the EU's climate package, there are real concerns that the end agreement will be based on the lowest common denominator...
The French presidency is proposing to scale back the EU's climate package of legislation, as it scrambles to produce a hasty agreement on the package...
