Climate policy

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

IRA: Scholz demands facts from the EU Commission
At the Franco-German Councils of Ministers, both countries demonstrate unity. But Chancellor Scholz puts the brakes on the EU's response to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). continue reading →
Energy platform: back and forth in court
The European Court of Justice has withdrawn a preliminary ruling that would have delayed joint EU gas purchases. The court reversed its Jan. 5 ruling Wednesday in response to a statement from the Commission, a spokesman for the court told Europe.Table yesterday. continue reading →
Green Deal: Van Kemseke advises von der Leyen
Peter Van Kemseke will be the new advisor on the Green Deal in the cabinet of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This was learned from the Commission by Europe.Table. The Belgian succeeds Kurt Vandenberghe, who took up his new post as Director-General of DG Climate on Monday. Van Kemseke previously supported Vandenberghe on energy […] continue reading →
Germany and France must coordinate better
The Élysée Treaty was signed 60 years ago. Today, Germany and France are strong partners in Europe. But if they don't work more closely together on climate and energy policy, it will jeopardize the EU's cohesion, write Sébastien Treyer and Nicolas Berghmans of the Paris-based think tank IDDRI. continue reading →
Emissions trading for buildings and transport is coming
At just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, the deal in the jumbo trilogue on the reform of emissions trading was reached: The ambition level will rise, the carbon price for buildings and road transport will be introduced, and the free emissions allowances for the industry will end in 2034. This means that the essential part of the Fit for 55 package is ready. continue reading →
Commission to revise legal act on green hydrogen again
According to information from Europe.Table, the Commission wants to revise the Delegated Act for Renewable Fuels, which deals with the definition of green hydrogen, once again. According to information from Brussels, the new proposal is to be presented next week if possible. The background is probably the strong criticism of the draft, which was presented […] continue reading →
Jumbo trilogue: the three sticking points of the EU climate package 
European climate policy is in for some decisive days: This weekend, the most important parts of the EU’s Fit-for-55 climate package are expected to be finalized in the trilogue. The negotiations will focus primarily on European emissions trading. Associated with this are talks on the Social Climate Fund and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – as these are big topics in themselves, some call it the jumbo trilogue.  continue reading →
COP15: extension in Montreal likely
Week two at the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD-COP15) in Montreal. Since last Wednesday and until Dec. 19, the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity have been negotiating a new global agreement on the protection of ecological diversity (Europe.Table reported). The goal of the conference is nothing less than to secure the foundations of life. […] continue reading →
EU states warn against subsidy race
At the meeting of EU trade ministers, several member states warned against a subsidy race with the USA. That would be a “dangerous game,” Czech Industry Minister and current Council President Jozef Síkela said Friday. “The winner might then sit on another continent, not in Europe and not the American one.” At the same time, […] continue reading →
From historic to disappointing: the decisions of Sharm el-Sheikh
Three texts were highly controversial until the end of the negotiations. In the early hours of Sunday morning, negotiators agreed on a fund for damages and losses, a roadmap for greenhouse gas mitigation, and the COP27 policy framework decision. continue reading →
Loss and damage: India and China under pressure
Frans Timmermans has called on China to help finance a loss and damage mechanism. The EU climate czar (Heads) said at COP on Wednesday, “China is one of the largest economies in the world. Why shouldn’t they share responsibility for financing loss and damage?” Regarding a proposal from the G77 group and China, he said, […] continue reading →
Second COP week: the sticking points
Negotiation week number two begins in Sharm el-Sheikh – and with it, the decisive round: The ministers arrive and the negotiations come to a head, becoming more confrontational. Money is at the center of the discussions. continue reading →
Weak methane declaration – UN puts pressure with database
The US, EU, Canada, Japan and other countries want to “take immediate action” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production. This is according to a joint statement released by the countries on Friday. The statement targets “methane emissions in particular.” The states reaffirm the Global Methane Pledge agreed in Glasgow, which calls for […] continue reading →
G20 meets in Bali: the other special climate summit
Nasi Goreng is on the menu: The G20 will meet in Bali next week, chaired by Indonesia and with strong representation from the European Union. The outcome of this summit will be crucial for COP27, which is scheduled to conclude two days later. continue reading →
Report: Net-zero targets overestimate natural CO2 storage potential
Countries’ promises of climate neutrality are based on unrealistic amounts of land-based carbon storage. That’s the conclusion of the authors of the first “Land Gap Report“, to be released Thursday. The total land area required for the planned biological storage of carbon, according to reports by UN member states, is just under 1.2 billion hectares, […] continue reading →
COP27: Island states criticize EU negotiating mandate
An alliance of island states from around the world has criticized the EU for its weak stance on “loss and damage”. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) told Europe.Table that the paragraph on loss and damage included in the EU mandate for COP27 was not in line with the Glasgow Dialogue. The Glasgow Dialogue, […] continue reading →
COP 27: EU Parliament calls for higher climate targets
In light of the wide gap between current emissions reduction targets worldwide and the carbon reductions required to meet the Paris climate goals, the EU Parliament demands that industrialized countries commit to more climate action. In a resolution setting out the Parliament’s position for the world climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh (COP 27), a majority […] continue reading →
Charging infrastructure: EU Parliament votes in favor of AFIR report, but against sanctions
From 2026, there is supposed to be a charging station for EVs every 60 kilometers and a hydrogen filling station every 100 kilometers along Europe’s main roads from 2028. This is what the EU Parliament voted for on Wednesday in the vote on the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). The report by rapporteur Ismail Ertug […] continue reading →