EU climate goals are “cast in stone” but implementation must be more flexible, von der Leyen says
The EU will “stay the course on climate targets” but employ a more flexible method to get there, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday during the presentation of the executive’s new ‘Competitiveness Compass’ meant to guide Brussels policymaking in the next five years.
Read MoreEU centre-right divide deepens amid “violent” talks on ETS2 and CBAM
The ruling centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) is facing intense internal divisions over the future of the EU’s Emissions Trading System for road and heating fuels (ETS2) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and has so far failed to reach consensus on what the bloc’s 2040 emissions reduction target should be.
Read MoreINTERVIEW: Offsets should only be allowed for unavoidable emissions, says EU Parliament speaker on Green Claims Directive
The lead European Parliament negotiator on the EU’s Green Claims Directive told Carbon Pulse she will push for climate neutrality claims based on carbon offsets to be allowed only for leading companies that need to tackle their “residual emissions” during final talks on the directive due to kick off this week.
Read MoreEU’s leaked ‘competitiveness compass’ puts focus on regulatory simplification
The European Commission says it will deliver an “unprecedented simplification effort” in a leaked draft of its ‘competitiveness compass’ seen by Carbon Pulse on Friday, which also includes a decarbonisation roadmap.
Read More“There is still hope” for a renewables revolution, despite Trump -experts
The goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade is still within reach, despite the US likely backtracking on its energy transition in the next four years, renewable energy leaders and governments said on Thursday.
Read MorePolish PM calls for review of EU Green Deal laws, delay of ETS2
Poland’s prime minister has blamed EU regulations for high energy prices and warned against the planned introduction of a new emission trading system for heating and transport fuels (ETS2) in a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday.
Read MoreMicrosoft seals large deal for 3.5 mln Amazon rainforest carbon credits in bid to offset AI emissions
Microsoft will buy an estimated $200 million worth of carbon credits to restore parts of Brazil’s Amazon and Atlantic forests amid a surge in emissions driven by artificial intelligence, it was announced on Wednesday.
Read MoreCommodity trader teams up with non-profits in bid to raise carbon finance for Amazon protection
A multinational commodity trader has combined with two non-profits to launch an initiative aimed at mobilising billions in private-sector investment for Brazilian rainforest protection, including via REDD+ finance.
Read MoreMajor economies defend Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in joint statement
Major economies published a joint article to defend the importance of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) on Tuesday, and to reaffirm their commitment to raising climate finance.
Read MoreINTERVIEW: EU could accept Article 6 credits for CBAM, ETS — if they’re strong enough, says ex-top official
The EU could accept international carbon units in its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), ETS, or ETS2 schemes — as long as the credits are of a high enough quality, according to a former top climate official.
Read More