EU
Germany, Italy moot support for gas export facility in Argentina
Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi met with Argentina’s president Alberto Fernández to discuss support for new gas infrastructure on the sidelines of G7 meetings
Europe must set robust clean hydrogen standards to mobilise MENA investment
Europe needs low-carbon hydrogen and the Middle-East and North Africa can produce it
EU and UK will end investment protection for fossil fuels in 10 years
Under the reform, the EU will end protection for new fossil fuel infrastructure. But existing ones will remain protected for 10 years and some gas projects for even longer
EU blocks bespoke fund for climate victims as rich nations moot alternatives
A proposal by developing countries for a loss and damage facility isn’t flying with rich nations, who prefer other options.
EU lawmakers form cross-party coalition to block gas and nuclear from green taxonomy
From the Greens and left to the centre-right, MEPs object to gas and nuclear investments getting a “green” label
Climate lawyers challenge EU support for gas pipelines
Client Earth is arguing the European Commission’s infrastructure priorities are not compatible with climate goals
Deutsche Bank executive resigns after offices raided in greenwashing probe
Asset management subsidiary DWS is under investigation for mislabelling investments as “sustainable”, in a case that could amount to investment fraud
Finland sets world’s most ambitious climate target in law
Finland’s goal to go net zero by 2035 and then carbon negative was based on equity as well as science, but it won’t be easy to reverse forest loss
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
Europe should use its Putin-proofing energy plans to reinvigorate climate action
Many of the actions being taken for Europe’s energy security will cut emissions – so why not submit a stronger climate target to the UN?
EU unveils €300bn plan to quit Russian fossil fuels by 2027 and boost clean energy
The European Commission proposes increased ambition for renewables and energy efficiency, while seeking alternative oil and gas supplies in the short term
Ukraine builds legal case against Russia for environmental damage
Officials have recorded 231 alleged environmental crimes since Russian troops invaded and are preparing to seek reparations
EU plans to stop buying Russian crude oil in six months
In a tightening of sanctions against the Kremlin, Brussels proposes to cut off the source of a quarter of EU oil imports by the end of the year
Germany to build LNG terminals at ‘Tesla speed’ in shift away from Russian gas
Green vice-chancellor Robert Habeck is fast-tracking gas import facilities to weaken the Kremlin’s market power
Sweden set to be world’s first country to target consumption-based emission cuts
A deal between Sweden’s political parties positions the country to take responsibility for the carbon footprint of imported goods
Some EU members turn back to coal to cut reliance on Russian gas
Czechia, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy and Germany have indicated they might burn more coal in the short term in response to Vladimir Putin’s war
As EU leaders split on Russian energy sanctions, Commission moots 5-year plan
At a meeting in Versailles, member states agreed to phase out the use of Russian fossil fuels “as soon as possible” but didn’t set a deadline
Swap Russian gas for renewables, EU tells member states
Green spending could be funded by taxes on energy firms’ windfall profits, Brussels proposes, to cut the bloc’s Russian gas use by two thirds this year
Ukrainian official calls for Russian fossil fuel boycott at UN Environment Assembly
“They’re using this money to kill people,” Roman Shakhmatenko told the Nairobi-based meeting from a basement bomb shelter
Invasion tears Ukraine’s climate community away from life’s work
Under bombing, Ukrainian scientists taking part in the approval session of the upcoming IPCC report have had to withdraw from the meeting