UPDATE – EU Commission unveils Clean Industrial Deal, doubles down on climate
Less than 100 days after entering office, the new European Commission unveiled its flagship Clean Industrial Deal initiative on Wednesday, outlining measures to reduce energy costs for businesses while doubling down on climate with the confirmation of an upcoming 90% decarbonisation target for 2040.
Read MoreEU handing out too many free carbon permits to heavy industry, says report
The EU is giving away too many free carbon permits to heavy industry in some cases, effectively subsidising some of the bloc’s most emissions-intensive sectors, a report from green groups has found.
Read MoreLEAK: Brussels set to postpone CBAM fees and trim reporting rules
The European Commission plans to defer the financial obligations for companies under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to 2027, from 2026, and raise the threshold of emissions embedded in goods that are subject to the fee, according to a leaked draft amendment seen by Carbon Pulse on Saturday.
Read MoreBig EU companies favour shareholder payouts over green transition -report
Major European companies in key energy transition sectors are funnelling the bulk of their profits into shareholder payouts, instead of investing in making their businesses fit for the low-carbon transition, according to a report on Thursday.
Read MoreEU ETS2 imperiled by transition policy gaps, as heat pump sales drop
The European Union’s transition to clean heating technologies is facing serious headwinds, experts have said, putting at risk the sector’s impending coverage under carbon pricing and risking deeper energy poverty for vulnerable households.
Read MoreEU new vision for agriculture signals cautious approach to carbon farming
Brussels is taking a measured stance on carbon farming, preferring to build on existing voluntary initiatives rather than impose a complex new system of capturing carbon on the EU’s 9 million farms, EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen told Carbon Pulse on Wednesday.
Read MoreBRIEFING: ‘Perfect moment’ to talk EU ETS for agriculture, as Commission considers next steps
Experts from across the agriculture and food industry see the prospect of a specific emissions trading system for agriculture and food sectors as firmly on the table, with the European Commission now considering policy vehicles to drive down greenhouse gas emissions in the sector.
Read MoreGreens warn Commission against merging EU funds for agriculture, regional policy
The Greens in the European Parliament are sounding the alarm over suggestions to merge the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget with EU funds allocated to regional cohesion policy, warning the move could spell disaster for the sustainability of the sector.
Read MoreEU approves €2 bln Finnish state aid scheme for industrial decarbonisation
A €2.3 billion Finnish scheme to help industrial companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, including via carbon capture and storage, has been approved by the European Commission.
Read MoreEU energy security strategy outdated, ETS-backed ‘electrification bank’ needed -study
The EU’s 2014 energy security strategy is no longer fit for purpose due to fundamental supply and demand changes over the past decade, an industry study has found, as it called for a new ETS-funded bank to support electrification.
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