10. Jun. 2014
blog
This week the European Commission will be discussing an unofficial DG Trade proposal on Export Finance and Coal Fuelled Power plants. The Greens have big concerns that this proposal, once adopted, would be ruining Europe's climate credibility in the run-up to the COP 2015 negotiations.
04. Jun. 2014
studies
The resolution of the European Parliament of 5 February 2014 supporting a 30% share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030 and a 40% energy savings target (“30%/40% target”) is likely to lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions in 2030 in the range between 45% and 54% compared to 1990 levels. This is estimated by Ecofys commissioned by Friends of the Earth. The resolution itself states a minimum greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40%, compared to 1990 levels. Earlier, the European Commission had made a proposal for supporting a 27% share of renewables in final energy consumption and 25% energy savings and at least 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.
04. Jun. 2014
studies
On January 22, 2014, the European Commission presented their proposal for a climate and energy package for 2030. However, unlike under the current Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, there would not be any national targets for the Member States, but only this one overall target for all Member States together to reach.
Without national targets, questions have arisen as to how the European Commission is going to ensure that the binding EU-level target of at least 27% renewable is in fact reached, e.g. as the European Union has no territory of its own on which to build renewable energy power plants, or what can be done if it is not reached.
04. Jun. 2014
studies
On 22 January 2014, the European Commission put forward 2030 energy and clime targets of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared to 1990) and a share of 27% renewables in final
energy consumption. This Briefing Paper contains the most important conclusions of an assessment of these targets, as analysed by Ecofys and commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European
Parliament.
04. Jun. 2014
studies
European industry claims that high energy costs and prices are the result of expen- sive and exaggerated environmental policies which ultimately affects Europe’s com- petitiveness.
This paper will focus on the impacts of European climate and energy policies on the European steel industry. It will take real statements made by the industry as a struc- ture, and these will be evaluated using official statistics, market figures and studies.
04. Feb. 2014
blog
On January 9th, the environment and industry committees agreed on the necessity of three specific targets for the 2030 climate and energy framework: one for reducing greenhouse gases, one for increasing the share of renewable energy sources and one for energy saving. However the Commission President and the Commissioners simply decided to ignore the call. For the Greens, the proposals that were presented by the Commission on 22 January are poor and extremely worrying...
16. Jan. 2014
blog
This week saw leaked draft recommendations and a draft communication on shale gas from the European Commission circulated widely before their proposed release next week as part of an overall climate and energy package. After months of planning, consultation, studies identifying how legislative proposals are necessary, the Commission has given in to the huge pressure put on them by a handful of fossil fuel companies...
19. Nov. 2013
video
The international coal and climate summit organised by the Polish Ministry of Economy takes place on 18 and 19th November, right in the middle of the UN climate negotiations. The Greens, together with the NGOs and numerous environmentalists have heavily criticised the decision and denounced the very heavy lobby of the coal industry on COP19. Coal is 15 times more polluting than renewables and 2 times higher than gas. With the world currently being on a trajectory to 6C warming (and 4C by the end of the century) according to the IEA, there is clearly no place for coal!
18. Nov. 2013
video
After the 2 days climate and energy conference ' Citizens' energy for a good climate' organised by the Greens/EFA group on 15th and 16th November in Warsaw, the group joined the march organised by the Polish Green movement'.
16. Oct. 2013
studies
The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament published a study done by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) to try and get a better picture of the impacts of climate change in all European Islands. Europe does indeed counts a large numbers of Islands, spread all across the globe. The aim of the study was to understand the real, concrete risks those parts of specific territories face, evaluate the costs of inaction in key areas (such as security, migration, biodiversity etc) and how this impacts the continental Europe.
27. Sep. 2013
blog
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) will release its report on the latest scientific research on climate on Monday 30th September. The summary for policy makers is currently being finalised by the different government representatives in Stockholm and will be presented this morning at 10 am. For the Greens, leaders from Europe and beyond know enough now and cannot continue to ignore the overwhelming body of scientific evidence....
04. Jun. 2013
blog
Yesterday, negotiators reconvened in Bonn for another round of technical climate discussions that will last until 14th June. This time the key talking points of the meeting will focus on climate mitigation as well as on proposals on how to scale up renewable energy and energy efficiency policies...
