EU Climate Policy

Rule of King Coal in Europe comes at a high price for climate and health

Despite the Paris Agreement, King coal continues to rule across Europe. In a story published on 5 July 2016, French newspaper Le Monde reports on the daily struggles of people living in the coal heartlands of the Western Balkans.  

The Carbon Bubble����s recognition in EU law: A divestment movement����s victory

This week we can celebrate a victory: For the first time the European Union has recognised the issue of the ����carbon bubble���� in EU law, and this has come about thanks to the Greens.  

Paris Agreement����s Ratification: Every Minute Counts

With the European Commission's proposal to ratify the Paris Agreement early, it is time for the EU Council to ensure the European Union doesn't get left behind.  

Briefing - the brexit is a threat to the UK and the EU's climate diplomacy

Climate diplomacy is one of the best examples of the EU acting to enhance cooperation among its member states, and their collective voices on the global stage. On this particular file, the UK is clearly more influential as part of the EU than it would be on its own. A Brexit would seriously diminish its influence at international climate negotiations ....  

Renewable energy: Positive brainstorming session for Energy Ministers under Luxembourgish Presidency

On 23 September, the Luxembourguish Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider invited his fellow energy Ministers from the 28 member states to attend an informal energy Council and brainstorm about investment in energy efficiency and energy savings. Ministers listened to inspirational speeches from Bertrand Piccard, Elon Musk, Jeremy Rifkin and other experts who drew their attention to the fact that efficiency, renewables and storage are the only solutions to limit global warming and that these will be at the heart of the energy system of tomorrow.  

Executive summary of the report ' Climate change in Europe : Perception and impacts' (EN)

This report, based on a myriad of articles, journals and conference proceedings, attempts to be a practical tool for a public, worried about this topic, as well as policy makers, journalists and teachers.  

G7 leaders: No more stereotyped languages on climate change ���� Say goodbye to fossil fuels!

This Sunday the G7 leaders will meet for 2 days in Bavaria, Germany, to discuss everything from health, gender inequality and climate change. The Greens hope that this time world leaders will discuss the global economy and foreign policy challenges in the context of a global warming, which only exacerbates these issues. Continuing to tackle every key subjects separately without realising that all of these are linked ���� that climate change will have a disastrous impact on our economy, our health, exacerbate conflicts across the world and increase migration flows and (gender) inequality ���� does not make any sense....  

Climate negotiations / Geneva - the phase out of fossil fuel emissions & phase in of 100% renewable energy by 2050 should be the long-term goal of 2015 agreement

The clock is ticking for the negotiators who need to agree on an ambitious deal in Paris at the end of the year. Last Sunday, a new round of international climate negotiations started in Geneva, Switzerland, and will last until Friday 13th February. Negotiators have only six days to narrow down the 38-page text agreed in Lima into a shorter and clearer legal negotiating text.  

Energy giant Repsol abandons oil and gas exploration in Canary Island waters!

Last Friday energy giant Repsol announced that it was putting an end to its oil and gas exploration in Canary Island waters, saying that reserves are too small and of too poor quality. The Greens - who have supported the local resistance groups against drilling in this region- will continue their advocacy work for this important cause, pressing the European Commission to take a clear stand and move towards an EU-wide ban of such projects in the future, in the Canary islands and elsewhere.  

Shale gas in Europe? No fracking way!

This year again, Global Frackdown - an international day of action against fracking, shale gas and the development of unconventional oil and gas - will take place on 11th October. Today two EU NGOs - FOEE and Food & Water Europe - organised an action in front of the European Parliament in Brussels in order to alert European deputies on all the risks concerning shale gas and fracking. The Green Members joined them to show their solidarity with the anti-fracking movement.  

"Canete? niete!"

Last week, the Greens decided to write to President of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker to express their some of their biggest worries regarding the future college of the European Commission and its 'mission' and structure in particular. While the Greens have many uncertainties about a series of candidates, they have particular concerns over Miguel Arias Cañete, who could be attributed the European Commission's portfolio on climate and energy...  

New Candidate EU Commissioners: Greens criticise possible merger of the climate and energy portfolios

On Thursday 4th September a group of several MEPs including Green members wrote to the new Head of the Commission Jean Claude Juncker to warn him about the decision to merge energy and climate portfolios...  

Greens demand to stop fossil fuel subsidies such as through Export Finance for Coal Fuelled Power plants

This week the European Commission will be discussing an unofficial DG Trade proposal on Export Finance and Coal Fuelled Power plants. The Greens have big concerns that this proposal, once adopted, would be ruining Europe's climate credibility in the run-up to the COP 2015 negotiations.  

Ecofys/ FOEE's short analysis of the Parliament's resolution on 2030 climate and energy package

The resolution of the European Parliament of 5 February 2014 supporting a 30% share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030 and a 40% energy savings target (����30%/40% target����) is likely to lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions in 2030 in the range between 45% and 54% compared to 1990 levels. This is estimated by Ecofys commissioned by Friends of the Earth. The resolution itself states a minimum greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40%, compared to 1990 levels. Earlier, the European Commission had made a proposal for supporting a 27% share of renewables in final energy consumption and 25% energy savings and at least 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.  

LEGAL OPINION LEGAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY BEYOND 2020

On January 22, 2014, the European Commission presented their proposal for a climate and energy package for 2030. However, unlike under the current Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, there would not be any national targets for the Member States, but only this one overall target for all Member States together to reach. Without national targets, questions have arisen as to how the European Commission is going to ensure that the binding EU-level target of at least 27% renewable is in fact reached, e.g. as the European Union has no territory of its own on which to build renewable energy power plants, or what can be done if it is not reached.  

Assessing the EU 2030 Climate and Energy targets

On 22 January 2014, the European Commission put forward 2030 energy and clime targets of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared to 1990) and a share of 27% renewables in final energy consumption. This Briefing Paper contains the most important conclusions of an assessment of these targets, as analysed by Ecofys and commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.  

Review of industry statements concerning the 'adverse effects' of European climate and energy policies

European industry claims that high energy costs and prices are the result of expen- sive and exaggerated environmental policies which ultimately affects Europe����s com- petitiveness. This paper will focus on the impacts of European climate and energy policies on the European steel industry. It will take real statements made by the industry as a struc- ture, and these will be evaluated using official statistics, market figures and studies.  

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 73 - March 2014

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 72 - FEBRUARY 2014

New EU Energy and climate package - the EU must take climate scientific warnings and climate impacts seriously!

On January 9th, the environment and industry committees agreed on the necessity of three specific targets for the 2030 climate and energy framework: one for reducing greenhouse gases, one for increasing the share of renewable energy sources and one for energy saving. However the Commission President and the Commissioners simply decided to ignore the call. For the Greens, the proposals that were presented by the Commission on 22 January are poor and extremely worrying...