EU
Gas pipeline investment shows flaws in EU ‘climate bank’ approach
The European Climate Bank claimed its €1 billion investment in the Southern Gas Corridor was “climate neutral”, based on mistaken assumptions
Shell faces Dutch court in case testing how Paris climate goals apply to businesses
Climate campaigners say Shell is violating human rights by continuing to invest billions in fossil fuels, calling for a much faster shift to clean energy
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
Christine Lagarde must change course to a green coronavirus recovery
The European Central Bank has pumped an estimated €100 billion of Covid bailout cash into polluting sectors, despite its chief’s climate-friendly rhetoric
Poland, Hungary threaten to derail EU plans to raise 2030 climate ambition
Efforts to strengthen the EU climate target risk being sidelined as leaders head for a showdown over democratic values
Czech commission calls for coal phase-out by 2038
Environmental groups, which urged the commission to endorse a 2033 end date, slammed the decision as ‘absurdly late’, while studies show a 2030 exit is feasible
EIB approves €1 trillion green investment plan to become ‘climate bank’
The EU investment arm’s climate roadmap ends lending to airport expansions but does not require all the bank’s intermediaries to have decarbonisation plans
EU tries to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action
Brussels’ proposed green reforms to the Energy Charter Treaty face resistance from Japan, yet do not go far enough for environmental campaigners
Poland’s largest utility announces pivot from coal to renewables
PGE has announced a strategy to go 100% renewable by 2050, but it depends on passing responsibility for coal mines to another Polish state-owned entity
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
Poland agrees coal mining phase out with unions by 2049
Agreeing an end date for coal mining is a big step for Polish trade unions, but climate experts say 2049 is too late and Brussels won’t agree to state aid plans
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
IMF endorses EU plan to put a carbon price on imports
If major emitters do not agree to a minimum carbon price, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said the EU was right to impose tariffs on imports at the border
‘China is willing to contribute more’: Beijing signals carbon neutrality intent
After a virtual summit with the EU, China trailed plans to go carbon neutral by mid century, in a move welcomed by climate advocates
EU faces internal battle as it prepares to increase 2030 climate target
The EU Commission will propose cutting emissions 55% by 2030 but progressive leaders face a steep climb to bring coal-dependent Poland onside
UK Climate Assembly calls for frequent flyer levy, private jet ban
A group of 108 citizens tasked with finding fair and socially acceptable ways to decarbonise the British economy by 2050 proposed curbs on jetsetting
Fracking company sues Slovenia over ‘unreasonable’ environmental protections
A British oil and gas company is using a controversial energy treaty to sue Slovenia, after being required to carry out an environmental impact assessment
Six Portuguese youth file ‘unprecedented’ climate lawsuit against 33 countries
In the first climate case to be filed with the European Court of Human Rights, six Portuguese youth argue inadequate emissions cuts violate their human rights
EU can help Africa become the ‘greenest continent’: German minister
Minister argues EU should priorities the transition to clean energy in a treaty to be negotiated with the African Union
Ireland forced to strengthen climate plan, in supreme court win for campaigners
Judges ruled the government’s national mitigation plan fell “well short” of what was needed to meet Ireland’s climate commitments, ordering a more ambitious strategy