Waste scandal haunts Cyprus’ EU pick as he heads to Brussels
A decade-old environmental dispute in Limassol, Cyprus, is raising questions over Costas Kadis’ run for EU commissioner.
greenhouse gas
Negotiators inch closer on global price for shipping emissions
Those countries supporting a global price on the shipping industry’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) have increased following the start of final negotiations in London last week with negotiators to push for greater consensus as talks continue this week….
World’s quandary on climate change: ‘Who the hell leads’ if Trump wins?
The potential reelection of the former Republican president is causing anxiety in the global climate community.
Denmark’s Jørgensen tapped for top EU energy and housing job
He has been a prominent negotiator at the annual United Nations COP climate summits.
Draghi says EU must spend twice as much as it did after WWII
AI is an opportunity for Europe while common borrowing is needed to fund defense, former ECB chief says in landmark report. Read the full paper here.
France vs Germany: Which country is better at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its factories?
Although the manufacturing sector in Germany is less carbon-intensive than its French counterpart, France benefits from its lower-carbon electricity production, according to a study by the think tank La Fabrique de l’Industrie.
The plan to save European farming
Five things you need to know about a report on the future of farming presented to Commission chief von der Leyen.
‘We don’t want to sabotage her’: Why green groups are going easy on Kamala Harris
Environmental groups that put Joe Biden’s climate initiatives under a microscope aren’t giving the Democratic nominee’s positions the same scrutiny.
Florida banned ‘fake meat.’ This company is suing to serve it at an arts festival.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the ban on lab-grown meat into law earlier this year.
Trump embraces Musk and his electric vehicles — but not Biden’s rules
Trump’s recent change in tone reflects a softening in rhetoric about EVs on the campaign trail.
EU imposes restrictions on former climate official over his new gas role
The European Commission approved Diederik Samsom’s job with a gas network operator, albeit under “clear conditions.”
Trump vs. Biden’s historic climate agenda
President Joe Biden may no longer be on the 2024 ballot — but his legacy is. And former President Donald Trump would have multiple tools to thwart his ambitions on energy, infrastructure and climate change.
Russia ‘killing’ climate, say activists awaiting top rights court ruling
Activists are asking Europe’s top rights court to fault Russia for creating a “climate catastrophe”, saying Moscow’s war on Ukraine is contributing to a spike in its greenhouse gas emissions.
To do: 6 thorny issues lurking in MEPs’ inboxes
From creating an EU-wide money market to protecting kids online, POLITICO looks at what lies ahead for lawmakers.
Nato’s 2023 military spending produced about 233m metric tonnes of CO2 – report
Report says member states poured $1.34tn into their militaries last year – an increase of $126bn from 2022As leaders from member countries gather to mark the 75th anniversary of Nato in Washington DC, researchers are warning that their military budgets…
The future of packaging in Europe
We need to change how the EU packages food and beverages to transition to a low-carbon circular economy.
French elections: Far-right’s proposals go against the Green Deal
Many of the proposals put forward by the Rassemblement National (RN, ID) and its allies for the French legislative elections clash with the European greenhouse gas reduction targets set out in the European Green deal.
Flatulent livestock to incur green levy in Denmark from 2030
World’s first emissions tax on agriculture will require farmers to pay for greenhouse gas pollution from livestockFarmers in Denmark will have to pay for planet-heating pollutants that their cattle expel as gas, after the government agreed to set the w…
EU backs 650-billion-euro plan to help cities reach net zero by 2030
A group of 112 cities aiming to eliminate their net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 will need a combined 650 billion euros in investments to deliver the pledge, a European Union initiative said on Wednesday (26 June).
Nobody even noticed the Tories’ biggest legacy
Five years ago this week, in the teeth of the Brexit wars, an outgoing Tory prime minister was looking for a legacy. Theresa May settled on net zero —and now it’s on Labour to keep that target alive.
Less meat on menus and fewer new venues: how the Olympics is trying to go green
Paris event organisers pledge to halve greenhouse gas emissions from London and Rio levels
Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goal, government advisors say
Germany is likely to miss its 2030 greenhouse gas targets, government climate advisors said on Monday, contradicting the climate minister’s prediction in March and calling for new policy measures.
Testing times for carbon capture and storage
Seventeen years ago the European Council made a commitment to construct up to twelve carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration plants by 2015. Heads of government agreed that greenhouse gas emissions could not be reduced to the extent needed witho…
EU approves law to hit gas imports with methane emissions limit
EU countries approved a law on Monday (27 May) to impose methane emissions limits on Europe’s oil and gas imports from 2030, pressuring international suppliers to cut leaks of the potent greenhouse gas.
France cuts emissions by 5.8% in 2023: Politicians celebrate, NGOs sceptical
Politicians have been quick to celebrate France’s 5.8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 from a year earlier, but environmental NGOs questioned whether the progress can be sustained without additional policy measures.
LIVE NOW! Building a sustainable future – The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
The European Commission identifies buildings in the EU as the primary energy consumer, accounting for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Are heat pumps more expensive to run than gas boilers?
The first in a series exploring the myths and realities surrounding heat pumpsEvery year about 130 million households across Europe burn almost 40% of the continent’s total gas consumption to heat their homes. Those boilers contribute more than a fifth…
Has the G7 hammered the last nail into coal’s coffin?
Coal is the worst. If accounts for a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every year, anthracite, bituminous coal and lignite do significant damage to the worst damage to the climate. Are we finally getting out?
Denmark pushes ahead with agri-carbon tax plans despite nearing the 2030 climate target
The Danish government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce a carbon tax on agriculture despite the Danish Climate Ministry’s annual report showing that the country is on track to meet its 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% com…
Why business is calling for global rules in plastics treaty
As the world prepares for the fourth round of negotiations to create the first treaty to end plastic pollution, a dedicated global business coalition shares its insights with negotiators.
Stop EU companies from bankrolling nature destruction
Europe is complicit in the destruction of ecosystems and should regulate its funding of companies associated with deforestation.
EU’s power sector emissions plummet as renewables surge
Brussels called the 15.5 percent reduction in 2023 a “record.”
Shell sets out its stall in climate case appeal
Shell is battling to persuade judges in The Hague to reverse a court ruling ordering significant reductions in climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
EU transport ministers discuss ‘problem child’ of green transition
As EU transport ministers gather for an informal meeting in Brussels on Wednesday (3 April), the sector remains the “problem child” of the bloc’s climate efforts and could account for 44% of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to latest pro…
Germany isn’t planning to slam brakes on the autobahn, minister says
The highway speed limit is a controversial debate in Germany.
Why we must de-risk and embrace regenerative farming
Healthier, more sustainable food systems are integral to climate-neutral ambition — and flagship EU law is essential to support farmers in transition to low-carbon, high biodiversity and fairer farming practices.
Romania expects €5.5bn price tag and 2025 final investment decision for small modular reactor
Romania is seeking to deploy ‘Small Modular Reactor’ (SMR) technology as part of its drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its energy minister Sebastian Burduja said this week that a final investment decision will be taken in 2025 for a new nucl…
European Parliament approves relaxed Euro 7 emissions requirements while stakeholders remain divided
The European Parliament formally approved a deal on revised emissions rules for cars, trucks and buses on Wednesday (13 March), tightening microplastic emissions from brakes and tyres but leaving other emissions from cars unchanged from the current exh…
EU conservatives bend to von der Leyen, ditching car ban fight in draft manifesto
The shift is a win for European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who championed the landmark green policy even as her own political family opposed it.
Only connecting with voters can stop Europe’s populist tide
There’s a growing backlash rooted in overall desperation, compounded by many voters’ perception that their grievances are being shrugged off.
Europe ‘getting more dependent on China’ for clean tech, EU climate chief warns
The EU is getting more dependent on China in its quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and switch to green technologies, the EU’s climate chief Wopke Hoekstra has warned, saying this is becoming “problematic” going forward.
EU lays out plan to cut greenhouse emissions by 90% by 2040
Proposal is part of European Commission’s aim to become world’s first climate-neutral continentThe EU aims to slash its net greenhouse gas pollution by 90% by 2040 as part of its push to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent, the European …
EU calls for 90 percent emissions cut by 2040
The EU executive’s recommendation comes as the bloc’s green policies are facing a growing backlash.
Brussels recommends new EU climate target: a 90% cut of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
The European Union must slash greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, Brussels said on Tuesday in a recommendation aimed at ensuring climate neutrality becomes a reality by mid-century.
EU eases farming demands in 2040 climate proposal
The EU executive dropped specific references to agriculture emissions cuts as farmers protest across Europe.
Greens push for EU climate neutrality by 2040 in election manifesto
Despite growing discontent at the EU’s climate agenda, the Greens double down on their demand for ambitious sustainability measures.
30 Things Joe Biden Did as President You Might Have Missed
Drone armies, expanded overtime pay and over-the-counter birth control pills are just some of the new things Biden has ushered in as president that you might not have heard about.
Frustrated farmers slam EU ‘technocrats’ who ‘call the shots’ in Brussels protest
Dozens of farmers protest in front of the European Parliament as demonstrations grow across the continent.
Certification as a tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Biofuels are seen as a key means to decarbonise the transport sector, with growing quantities of green fuels set to be used in planes and ships, as well as road transport. In this special report, Euractiv examines the role of biofuel certification sche…
Poland’s climate surprise pressures EU to pitch ambitious 2040 target
The new Polish government says it is ‘stepping up’ its fight against climate change — a vow that will ripple through Brussels.
More climate and ‘an end date’ for coal: Poland’s new green tide arrives in Brussels
The new Polish government has announced its ambition to become a green player in Europe, backing a 90% greenhouse gas reduction target for 2040 and looking to pull forward the country’s coal exit.
Poland presses for ambitious 2040 EU climate target, signaling U-turn
A senior official vowed Poland’s new government would no longer block EU climate action.
The ‘dirty dozen’ of Davos
Autocrats, blowhards and bores: The 12 bad boys of the World Economic Forum shindig in the Swiss Alps.
John Kerry to step down as Biden climate envoy
The veteran diplomat helped craft the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and more recently led the U.S. team at COP28 in Dubai.
It’s official: Global temperatures soared to a new record in 2023
And 2024 may bring more of the same.
European Commission lets low-carbon cements down with proposed ETS benchmark reforms [Promoted content]
The EU’s Emission Trading System (ETS) is a cornerstone of EU climate policy, working to cut greenhouse gas emissions by making the biggest polluters pay. While the recent revision of the ETS directive tries to make the tool more effective, progress ri…
The two days that salvaged a climate deal
“There were times in the last 48 hours where some of us thought this could fail,” U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said later.
Auditors question potential of biofuels to tackle transport emissions
A lack of production capacity and access to sufficient sustainable feedstock means policy makers should not depend too much on biofuels to slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport, EU auditors have warned.
Climate summit makes ‘historic progress’ — but the world still can’t quit oil
The contradictions in nations’ attitudes toward fossil fuels were at the forefront of the talks in Dubai.
COP28 leaders announce newest attempt to seal long-fought climate compromise
The two-week-long U.N. summit in Dubai has deadlocked on the question of whether nearly 200 countries should commit to phasing out production of oil, natural gas and coal.
LIVE NOW! Decarbonising shipping – What role can climate labels play?
While maritime transport plays an essential role in the EU economy and is one of the most energy-efficient modes of transport, it is also a large and growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Projections show that these emissions could increase…
Trump who? Republicans in Dubai try to carve out their own climate agenda.
GOP lawmakers came to the U.N. climate summit to promote a vision that champions U.S. fossil fuels and nuclear energy while acknowledging the need to cut carbon. It’s unclear how much that will matter if the former president regains the White House.
Anger erupts as fossil fuel ‘phaseout’ is dropped from proposed climate deal
“COP28 is now on the verge of complete failure,” former US Vice President Al Gore said. But organizers of the summit in Dubai urged nations to be flexible and compromise.
Making water the engine for climate action
By 2030, global water demand will exceed availability by 40 percent.
EU urges COP28’s oil chief to ‘lead’ on fossil fuel phaseout
Sultan al-Jaber, the climate summit president and oil CEO, must help ‘identify how we can open this pathway,’ EU representative Teresa Ribera tells POLITICO.
WTF is the ‘Global Stocktake’? We explain the ‘heart’ of COP28
Confused about the term COP delegates keep throwing around? We’ve got you covered. Hint: It’s critical to the future of humanity.
John Kerry: COP28 chief’s contested fossil fuel stance may need ‘clarification’
‘Maybe it came out the wrong way,’ Kerry told POLITICO after a report showed Sultan al-Jaber saying there was ‘no science’ backing a push to phase out fossil fuels.
The state of the climate in 9 charts
POLITICO crunched the numbers behind an ever-warming planet — and the race to save it.
Open secret at climate talks: The top temperature goal is mostly gone
Researchers injected a sobering finding into global climate negotiations Sunday by saying the world will likely fail its most important warming test.
Climate action or distraction? Sweeping COP pledges won’t touch fossil fuel use
World leaders departed the COP28 climate summit with a flood of declarations that raised concerns of greenwashing.
Biden’s EPA launches crackdown on planet-warming methane
The rule’s 3 a.m. rollout was timed to coincide with the ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai.
How to watch the climate summit like an expert
Interested in the 200-nation effort to save the planet? Get used to squabbles about money and “phasing out” versus “phasing down” fossil fuels.
Rishi Sunak’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it COP28
UK prime minister, who has eased climate targets at home, is making a flying visit to the Dubai. He insists he’s still got a strong green message to sell.
Global deal to phase out fossil fuels is in trouble
UAE officials running the talks are warning it may be impractical to call for the complete death of fossil fuels — infuriating activists and vulnerable countries.
COP28 climate summit puts spotlight on turning methane pledges into action
Delegates at this year’s UN COP28 climate summit are anxious to boost the world’s climate change agenda with concrete plans for clamping down on the second-most prominent greenhouse gas – methane.
Unveiling the power of Hydrogen in Europe: It’s time to execute
The EU has already made strides with hydrogen energy – but there’s so much more that can be done in order to secure a more sustainable and secure future.
The path for permanent carbon removals in the EU must now be set
While rapid and significant reductions in emissions must be the cornerstone of climate action, permanent carbon removals will have a role to play to achieve zero-net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, argue Dr. Felix Schenuit and Martin Birk Rasmussen.
Turning the Tide: Prioritising Regenerative Agriculture to secure a sustainable future in the EU
We are facing environmental crisis and must act immediately to avert it. Regenerative agriculture could be one of the answers.
World on pace to blow past Paris climate targets, UN says
Global emissions need to fall 42 percent by 2030 to set the world on a path to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Humanity remains far from that goal.
The state of the planet in 10 numbers
A snapshot of the warming world, from sea level rise to fossil fuel subsidies.
Who’s who at COP28
Biden and Xi will probably skip it, but the summit will have Lula, the pope and King Charles. And yeah, Rishi Sunak.
Oil industry rides into climate summit bigger than ever
Price spikes driven by the war in Ukraine are helping fill the petroleum giants’ coffers, despite governments’ promises of a greener era.
How to watch the Dutch elections like a pro
POLITICO’s guide to what you need to know about the vote in the Netherlands on November 22.
EU rules on methane leaks to hit oil and gas importers
New regulations fail to include specific target on reduction of potent greenhouse gas emissions from energy sector
Speaking Up for COPD: A global call for policy action
Transformation in COPD care is underway as Speak Up for COPD unites policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, NGOs, and pharmaceutical industry to help make COPD a public health priority.
EU agrees on first-ever law to curb methane emissions
Rules will force operators of fossil fuel infrastructure to measure and report emissions.
US-EU unity ruptures over climate damage payments
The transatlantic cracks will make negotiating against the likes of China and Saudi Arabia trickier at an upcoming climate summit.
Decarbonizing heavy-duty can’t be only based on an early-stage technology
Growing evidence about potential raw materials shortages, insufficient EU battery production capacity, increased BEV repair costs, and large infrastructure and grid needs reinforce calls to vote for a technology-inclusive approach.
Forests, nature and carbon removals in Europe
The European Union does not only want to slash its greenhouse gas emissions but also boost the amount of carbon it removes from the atmosphere in order to prevent drastic global warming – and healthy forests have a big part to play in this.
Germany aims to be Europe’s ‘backbone of deterrence’
SNEAK PEEK — Germany overhauls its military doctrine in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; it aims to be Europe’s “backbone of deterrence.” — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is in Berlin today to take part in the alliance’s cyberdefense summit. — Ukraine could hold its next defense industry forum in the U.S. as it looks […]
Crowdfunding as a driver for the EU’s energy transition – What difference can it make?
The production and use of energy account for more than 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. This highlights the urgency of reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector, a crucial step in achieving the 2030 climate goals and the…
Political will and collaboration needed to redesign plastics system
Industry identifies ‘Plastics Transition’ roadmap milestone: a dynamic cultural shift toward making plastics circular; driving lifecycle emissions to net zero; and fostering the sustainable use of plastics.
Timmermans hunts for allies in knife-edge Dutch election race
The EU heavyweight is trying to fill the Rutte-shaped hole in The Hague.
Crunch time for EU conservatives’ push to kill nature law
Whether the EU’s nature restoration bill lives or dies lies largely in the hands of the European People’s Party.
CO2SMOS, VIVALDI and CATCONVERS: three projects for the green transition of chemical industries [Promoted content]
What if the products we know and use every day, such as packaging, textiles, cleaning products and cosmetics, could be more sustainable and help reduce pollution? Knowing that almost everything around us is made of carbon gives us the chance to look fo…
Young Dutch designer shows EU pharma the way in climate change fight
With the Dutch healthcare sector responsible for 7% of all greenhouse gas emissions, pharmaceutical companies are joining the fight against climate change. On such an important mission, it’s all hands on deck and no one is too young to contribute.
Spain says adios to short-haul flights
A similar idea in France has had little impact and campaigners worry the outcome in Spain will be the same.
Orbán wants Ukraine to ‘negotiate’ for military aid cash
SNEAK PEEK — As EU leaders meet again today, Viktor Orbán is still refusing to free more cash for military aid to Kyiv. — Ammunition: Beyond the pace of production, the next biggest issue is cost. — In Ukraine, the future of warfare is a $400 drone killing a $2 million tank. Good morning, and […]
EU must cut carbon emissions three times faster to meet targets, report says
Climate commissioner says pace of reductions needs to speed up in buildings, transport and agriculture to meet 55% target by 2030The EU must cut greenhouse gas pollution almost three times more quickly than it has over the past decade to meet its clima…
Step up emissions cuts in agriculture, says EU climate chief
Wopke Hoekstra also expressed concern over sluggish progress in the building and transport sectors.