- Carbon farming: climate protection solution or greenwashing?
- Commission wants to strengthen sanctions against Russia
- Scholz: Germany’s responsibility for Europe
- Hydrogen: first IPCEI tranche approved
- EU files multiple lawsuits against Hungary
- Consequences of war could accelerate energy transition
- Poland: next step in the rule of law process
- Bulgaria and North Macedonia sign protocol on EU talks
- Germany on the way to becoming a battery cell center
- Melanie Vogelbach – opening doors
The energy transition in Germany could be more successful than previously expected: According to a study by Allianz Trade, the current energy crisis could accelerate the green transformation – even if the German government initially went back to coal, it would be forced out of the market by renewables in the medium term.
Today in Brussels, the foreign ministers of the member states once again discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Friday, the Commission proposed a package of measures to extend and strengthen EU sanctions against Russia until 2023. Read more in the News.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson are traveling to Azerbaijan today to discuss energy imports, among other things. Southeastern Europe is significantly dependent on the Southern Gas Corridor for its supply of natural gas. The EU and Azerbaijan are also working to build a long-term partnership in the areas of clean energy and energy efficiency.
Read Timo Landenberger‘s Feature on how the EU plans to achieve its targets for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere: In November, the Commission plans to present a legal framework for the certification of CO2 reduction services in agriculture. Politicians and industry see a great opportunity to achieve climate targets, while environmentalists fear greenwashing.
Last but not least: On Thursday, July 21, my colleague Manuel Berkel will host a Europe.Table webinar in which he discusses the emergency plan for energy supply without Russian gas, in line with what the EU Commission plans to present on Wednesday. He is joined by Lion Hirth, Assistant Professor at the Hertie School, and Jens Völler, Head of Business Unit Gas Markets at TEAM CONSULT. You can sign up here – we look forward to seeing you.
Have a good and safe start to the week!
Leonie Düngefeld
Feature
Carbon farming: climate protection solution or greenwashing?
One thing is clear: Without the systematic capture and storage of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, the climate targets of the Paris Agreement and the European Union cannot be achieved. This has been proven by several scientific studies, including the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
However, it is also clear that technical solutions such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) are far from widespread use, and the storage capacity of natural sinks such as forests and peatlands has been declining for years. By 2030, however, the EU wants to achieve a reduction capacity of 310 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents in the so-called LULUCF sectors (Land Use, land-use change, and forestry), and thereafter it must be even more. How can this be achieved?
One possible and market-based solution is called carbon farming. In November, the European Commission plans to launch a legal framework for the certification of greenhouse gas reduction measures, particularly for agriculture. Thegoal is to create financial incentives for Europe’s farmers to use appropriate farming methods to significantly increase the CO2 storage capacity of the soils they cultivate.
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