EU
EU nominates Wopke Hoekstra as top climate diplomat
The Dutch foreign minister once worked for oil company Shell and will face tough questions over his climate record in the European Parliament
EU and Argentina strike gas, hydrogen & renewables deal
Brussels and Buenos Aires agreed to work for a “stable delivery” of gas to Europe while cracking down on methane leaks and building renewables
The EU lacks ambition on Cop28 renewable targets
The EU’s interpretation of a global renewables target is less ambitious than the Cop28 presidency’s and incompatible with the Paris agreement
Threat of EU carbon tax prompts dubious “green aluminium” claims in Mozambique
Mozambique’s biggest industry claims its aluminium is green, which would help it avoid European taxes – but those claims have been questioned
UN’s climate work at risk, after EU limits budget increase
The UN didn’t get all the money it wanted for its climate programmes, leaving it reliant on the whims of wealthy donor nations
Campaigners sue EU for labelling gas sustainable
Four environmental groups are taking the EU Commission to the European Court of Justice over some gas plant’s inclusion in its green taxonomy
Green hydrogen rush risks energy ‘cannibalisation’ in Africa, analysts say
The EU signed green hydrogen agreements with Egypt, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Namibia to supply the bloc with the gas ahead of its 2030 goals.
France seeks EU loophole for French Guiana to power space sector with biofuels
Campaigners have warned the exemption risks setting an incentive for increased logging in Europe’s corner of the Amazon forest.
EU plans restrictions on climate-wrecking fishing method
The European Union plans to ban bottom-trawling in marine protected areas by 2030 but the fishing industry is resisting the measures
EU agrees law to crack down on deforestation in supply chains
The EU deforestation law aims to stop imports of products if their producers have cut down trees to grow them
EU ministers back €20 billion plan to ditch Russian fossil fuels
Finance ministers agreed to raise funds from the bloc’s carbon market but lawmakers are concerned it could compromise other green measures
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
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.
Experts sound the alarm on oil sector’s blue hydrogen push
EU green investment rules facilitate the rollout of blue hydrogen, a fuel that could be more polluting than the fossil gas it is set to replace
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
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
Energy companies keep right to sue states in private courts, as treaty reforms blocked
Fossil fuel investors can continue to sue governments secretly when climate policies hurt their profits, as EU lacks support for Energy Charter Treaty overhaul
Japan blocks green reform of major energy investment treaty
The European Union is seeking to amend the Energy Charter Treaty to align with climate goals, but Japan is resisting change as negotiations resume
EU ‘increasingly likely’ to implement electric car quota, despite denials
Quota on the production of electric cars by 2030 would be mandatory, according to sources