EU
UK government details coal power phase-out strategy
With a few caveats, Britain is set to end coal power generation by 2025, the government confirmed in a consultation response on Friday
Norwegian campaigners lose court case against Arctic oil drilling
Oslo district court told Greenpeace and co-plaintiffs exploration for new reserves did not violate citizens’ constitutional right to a healthy environment
Communities face down plans to expand Britain’s last coal mines
‘It was cruel what we went through’. As the UK weighs whether to allow its ailing mines to stumble on, community activists ask when enough is enough?
EU commission urged bank to support Azerbaijan gas pipeline
Letter from top officials to the president of the EIB said Europe’s commitment to the pipeline ‘must not wane’ and called for publicly-backed loans
German Greens reveal coal phase-out red line for joining government
The Green Party will only join a coalition promising to close at least 7GW of coal power capacity by 2020, its lawmakers say, as Germany likely faces another election
Macron: France will replace US funding for UN climate science
French president said Europe must step into the leadership role the US had abandoned, while Angela Merkel struggled with Germany’s political uncertainty
German coal mining could end by 2030s, says Merkel’s coalition negotiator
Leader of North Rhine-Westphalia, who is leading the CDU’s coalition talks on energy, said mines across Germany could be closed by the decade after next
Rich countries not talking climate finance seriously, say African officials
‘We feel that as a region we have done everything we could,’ said the head of the Africa group of negotiators, whereas rich countries were failing on fundamental promises
Polish coal cash grab attacked by UK, France, Germany
No support for coal, say several EU nations, as Poland asks for billions generated through emissions trading scheme for its ageing plants
Juncker’s ‘Rasputin’ moved to weaken EU electric car push – sources
Martin Selmayr, the powerful Brussels chief of staff, ordered commissioners to drop sanctions that would punish carmakers for missing proposed electric vehicle targets
Supersonic, super-rich, super-polluting: the next generation of business jets
Hundreds of extra fast jets could be flying over Europe within ten years, but documents show the EU preparing to cede oversight of their huge CO2 emissions
Portuguese kids hit climate lawsuit crowdfunding milestone
Following the second bout of deadly forest fires this year, seven children are preparing to sue for stronger climate action through the European Court of Human Rights
Bonn climate talks raise tough questions about German coal
Chancellor Angela Merkel, with no concrete plans to curtail its huge coal industry, will be exposed as her country plays host to Fiji’s climate presidency
EU bank to decide huge public loan to Europe’s biggest fossil fuel project
Experts refute EU claim that 3,500km gas pipeline from Azerbaijan is necessary for energy security, amid alarm over corruption and human rights issues
UK releases plan to ‘lead the world’ on growth with carbon cuts
Long awaited strategy says green economy will grow 11% per year but plan will miss carbon emissions targets, drawing criticism
Netherlands to end coal power by 2030, closing down new plants
In a coalition agreement, the government formed by Mark Rutte promised to close all coal plants by 2030, including three that were only completed in 2015
Germany to miss climate targets ‘disastrously’: leaked government paper
Environment ministry documents reveal 2020 target for cutting emissions to be missed by a large margin dealing a “significant blow to Germany’s climate policy”
German Greens: ‘No coalition with Merkel without climate progress’
Greens will search for common ground with prospective conservative and free market partners, but are adamant their climate priorities must be protected
EU lawmakers vote to curb fossil fuel influence on UN climate talks
A motion passed by the European Parliament seeks to address conflicts of interest between coal, oil and gas lobbyists and environmental protection
Diesel subsidised by €21bn a year in Europe
Amid scandal and a public health crisis, diesel was a major beneficiary of government support for fossil fuels between 2014 and 2016, a report reveals