EU energy crisis plan: gas price renegotiation and windfall taxes
In her annual state of the union speech, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen set out major energy market interventions to manage high prices
EU lawmakers back stronger energy efficiency target in response to Russian war
The European Parliament’s four largest political groups are proposing a 14.5% efficiency goal by 2030, up from the 9% discussed last year
EU set to use ‘green’ label for gas, nuclear investments after parliamentary vote
Climate campaigners accused EU lawmakers of “betrayal” and some member states are preparing legal challenges to the sustainable taxonomy
European Commission overreported climate spending by €72 billion, auditors find
Only 13% of EU spending 2014-20 was relevant to climate action, not 20% as claimed, the European Court of Auditors said, with the biggest gap in farming policy
Brussels sets out new green aid rules, with ‘pragmatic exceptions’ for gas
The new guidelines include a special clause for natural gas, allowing member states with the lowest GDP to transition from coal to gas
John Kerry: US supports a coal phaseout but cannot commit
During a trip to Brussels, the US presidential climate envoy told Euractiv in an interview it was unconstitutional to mandate a coal exit for states
EU lawmakers threaten to veto green finance rules – for opposing reasons
A draft EU sustainable finance taxonomy is under fire for being too strict and not strict enough, with gas and nuclear at the heart of the controversy
EU spent €440 million on failed gas projects since 2013, study finds
Seven EU-backed methane gas pipelines and import terminals have been shelved or cancelled in the past decade, a study by Global Witness found
Portugal makes deal on EU climate law ‘big priority’ of its six-month presidency
Portugal aims to pass an EU 2030 climate target into law by June, says minister with a leading role in negotiations between member states and parliament
EU leaders secure deal on raising 2030 climate ambition
EU leaders negotiated through the night to convince eastern member states to agree an enhanced goal of cutting emissions by at least 55% between 1990 and 2030
EU Parliament votes in favour of cutting emissions 60% by 2030
Lawmakers are putting pressure on EU leaders to raise the bloc’s 2030 climate ambition beyond the Commission’s proposed 55% emissions reduction target
EU Commission defends 2030 climate target against ‘accounting trick’ critique
EU climate chief Frans Timmermans insists including carbon sinks in a proposed new 2030 emissions target does not weaken it, rejecting campaigner concerns
Portugal ends coal burning two years ahead of schedule
Portugal is the third EU country this year to announce early closure of its last coal plants, as rising carbon costs and competition from gas and clean energy bite
Not all biomass is carbon neutral, industry admits as EU reviews policy
The EU is working on stricter sustainability criteria for bioenergy, posing a challenge for the industry and several member states
EU €750 billion Covid recovery fund comes with green conditions
A quarter of spending has been earmarked for climate action and a ‘do no harm’ clause rules out environmentally damaging investments
France calls for minimum carbon price to counter oil crash
Oil prices of around $20 a barrel do not reflect the cost for the climate, the French government argued ahead of a meeting of EU energy ministers
Coronavirus response to delay EU Green Deal by weeks
Teleworking and self-isolation restrictions mean the EU legislative process cannot operate at full capacity, with priority given to measures to address the Covid-19 crisis
Offshore wind deployment boom ‘too slow’ to meet EU climate target
Europe needs between 230 and 450 GW of offshore wind by 2050 to decarbonise its energy system, according to the EU Commission
The EU releases its Green Deal. Here are the key points
Europe’s bid to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 will aim for a just, rapid shift away from high polluting industries and technologies
Leak reveals Brussels’ draft plan for European green deal
The document shows plans for a law enshrining the 2050 climate neutrality objective to be submitted by March 2020
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details