New French minister pledges to continue fight for energy sovereignty
Antoine Armand, the new French economy and finance minister, pledged to continue fighting for the country’s energy sovereignty, saying “the major challenge of our century is the climate emergency”, as EU acquaintance Agnes Pannier-Runacher makes a comeback as the country’s climate and energy minister.
Read More‘Breakthrough’ as taxation comes under watch of EU climate chief, CBAM still unclear
With the European Commission’s new lineup it will be the EU’s climate action commissioner who will handle taxation policy, a move hailed as a “breakthrough” by a top official, although it is still unclear who will be in charge of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Read MoreEU’s upcoming ‘Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act’ starts to take shape
The European Commission’s upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act will aim to improve the business case for the green transition in energy-intensive industries and the wider economy, a senior EU official has said.
Read MoreUPDATE – Hoekstra re-appointed EU climate chief in surprise move
The incumbent EU climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, was re-appointed to the portfolio on Tuesday as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her new team that will lead EU policymaking in Brussels for the next five years.
Read More‘Climate funding cliff’: 2.7% of EU GDP needed every year to reach net zero -study
Reaching climate neutrality will require additional investments worth at least 2.7% of the EU’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – or €462 billion at today’s rate – every year throughout this decade, according to new research published on Monday, which warns against a looming EU “climate funding cliff”.
Read MoreEU identifies ‘ambition gap’ in national climate action plans
The European Commission has identified an “ambition gap” in the National Energy and Climate Action Plans (NECPs) adopted by EU countries, saying better planning and a tighter governance framework is needed to ensure the bloc delivers on its climate goals.
Read MoreEurope has likely passed its LNG consumption peak, analysts say
Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Europe fell 20% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, after gas consumption dropped to a 10-year low last year, analysts said this week, suggesting the continent’s thirst for the fuel may have already peaked.
Read MoreINTERVIEW: EU’s aluminium industry heavily reliant on electricity to decarbonise
The EU needs a lot more renewable and low-carbon electricity and it needs it “ASAP”, according to Paul Voss, director general of industry association Europe Aluminium, adding to a growing chorus of voices calling for lower energy prices to boost the bloc’s competitiveness.
Read MoreDraghi report calls for more ‘coherent’ EU climate agenda, focus on energy prices
The EU needs to bring down energy prices for industry and ramp up investments to meet its climate goals, Mario Draghi recommended in a widely awaited report on the future of the Union’s competitiveness.
Read MoreUPDATE – France appoints European Green Deal champion as new prime minister
Michel Barnier, a former EU commissioner and early champion of the European Green Deal, has been appointed French prime minister.
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