Contrary to its own proposal to curb power subsidies with an emissions limit, the European Commission has approved the Polish capacity mechanism that will allow the country to subsidise coal-fired power plants for decades to come. This will severely undermine the EU’s ability to implement the Paris Agreement.

Today the European Parliament adopted its position on three legislative proposals under the Clean Energy Package, namely the revisions of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, and the new Governance Regulation, which will guide the EU’s zero-carbon transition in the coming decade and beyond. MEPs raised the

Today EU Energy Ministers have adopted their positions on four legislative proposals under the Clean Energy Package, which will guide the EU’s energy transition in the coming decade and beyond. Turning their backs on the Paris Agreement, the ministers opted for a feeble renewable energy target, lax rules for ensuring

EU governments must step back from irreparably weakening Europe’s biggest climate law, six of Europe’s leading environmental NGOs have said, after talks between member states and the European Parliament ended in deadlock this week. 

Statement on behalf of Climate Action Network Europe, Carbon Market Watch, European Environmental Bureau, Sandbag, Transport & Environment, and WWF European Policy Office. EU governments must step back from irreparably weakening Europe’s biggest climate law, six of Europe’s leading environmental NGOs have said, after talks between member states and the

More than 60,000 premature deaths in Europe could be prevented over the next decade if urgent action is taken on air pollution from Europe’s dirtiest coal-fired power plants, write Dragana Mileusnić and Ioana Ciuta.

Swift and significant emission cuts by Europe’s top polluters under new rules would boost health and reduce healthcare costs.

For Energy Council on 18 December Brussels, 13 December 2017 Dear Minister, Ahead of Energy Council on Monday 18 December, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe would like to call on you to adopt an ambitious position on the Market Design Initiative, the Renewable Energy Directive, and the Governance of the

On 18 December, EU Energy Ministers are expected to reach an agreement on four legislative files under the Clean Energy Package, namely those regarding renewable energy, governance and the internal market for electricity. Worryingly, the draft documents for the meeting show that they are stubbornly insisting on an outdated, blatantly

In this briefing, CAN Europe explains why sticking to a 27% renewable energy target would put the brakes on the energy transition in the EU and why the target needs to be raised to at least 45%.

While EU leaders are discussing climate finance at the One Planet Summit in Paris, today the European Parliament failed once again to prevent further public investments in fossil fuels. A decision made in the European Parliament turns a blind eye to the Juncker plan’s investments in energy projects which have

French President Emmanuel Macron will today welcome over 50 leaders from around the world, two years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Leaders and international financial institutions must seize this opportunity to ramp up their ambition and end support for fossil fuels, writes Maeve McLynn.

Today an EU Platform for Coal Regions in Transition is being launched by European Commission Vice-President Šefčovič. The Platform aims to support Member States and regions as they shift away from coal towards renewable energy, in order to “leave no region behind”.

The One Planet Summit, organized by French President Emmanuel Macron and taking place in Paris, France on 12 December will gather over 50 heads of state to celebrate the second year anniversary of the Paris Agreement and trigger new ambitious climate action [1].

Today the European Parliament’s Industry and Environment Committees adopted their position on the future Governance Regulation, which will create a framework for the zero-carbon transition in the EU. MEPs voted in favour of increasing the EU’s long term target to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 the latest [1]

‘More for more’: How the EU budget can serve the achievement of 2030 climate and energy targets in line with the Paris Agreement.

CAN Europe together with Birdlife Europe, E3G, the European Environmental Bureau, Fern and WWF EPO prepared joint recommendations for the European Parliament’s Industry and Environment Committees votes on the future Governance Regulation on 7 December.

The Estonian EU Presidency has opened the door to allowing massive coal subsidies in the new EU power market rules, proposing changes eliminating the carbon intensity threshold for existing coal plants at the 11th hour of negotiations.(1) The changes could allow the use of public money for plants to stay

The forthcoming EU budget post-2020 must serve higher climate ambition and be a purposeful tool to help deliver the EU’s objectives as an international partner to third countries, in particular developing countries.

Today the European Parliament’s Industry Committee voted on its positions on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive for the period 2021 – 2030.

The European Parliament and Energy Ministers are currently finalising their respective positions on the Clean Energy Package – eight legislative proposals that will guide energy policy all across Europe for the next decade. They must step up and strengthen the proposals if Europe is serious about tackling climate change and

This letter was sent ahead of the COREPER meeting on 24 November 2017 Dear Deputy Ambassador, This Friday, 24 November, you will be discussing the proposed Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union. With that in mind we are writing on behalf of our EU-wide network to highlight those

Main civil society networks working on climate change in Europe and Africa have urged the leaders of the two continents to use the upcoming high-profile EU-Africa summit taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on 29-30 November as an opportunity to strengthen their cooperation on tackling climate change.

Ahead of the EU-Africa summit taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on November 28-29, European and African NGOs working on climate change, energy and sustainable development jointly identify some important areas of cooperation to enhance European and African climate action.

Yesterday at the Bonn climate summit, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica underlined the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the support needed to rebuild a fully climate-resilient nation. Maeve McLynn describes how rich nations can help.

EU gets homework to scale up action at home The COP23 UN climate summit slowly comes to an end in Bonn, Germany today, with countries expected to adopt a roadmap for the Talanoa Dialogue – a process which should ultimately result in scaling up countries’ 2030 climate pledges following the

At the UN Climate Summit in Bonn today the Dutch Climate Minister Erik Wiebes urged the EU to up its 2030 climate target from the current ‘at least’ 40% to 55%, bringing it closer to what is required to keep the Paris Agreement goals within reach and adding momentum to

The European Union is set to continue a funding tool that in last two years has lent billions of euros for fossil fuels projects, finds a new study from CEE Bankwatch Network, CAN Europe, Counter Balance and WWF European Policy Office.

Brussels, Bonn — While in Bonn at the UN climate talks the EU touts the Paris Agreement, back in Brussels the European Union is set to continue a funding tool that in last two years has lent billions of euros for fossil fuels projects, finds a new study from CEE

Today the EU institutions reached an agreement on the redesign of one of the bloc’s key climate policies, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Being serious about the Paris Agreement:Stop the ETS funding coal, Start a meaningful carbon price This Agreement […] aims to […] making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. Paris Agreement, Article 2(1)c We, the undersigned, urgently appeal to Representatives of European Parliament,

On the second day of this year’s UN climate summit in Bonn, Poland won the second place of the shameful Fossil of the Day Award. The dubious award was handed down to Poland, the host of the next UN climate summit in 2018, for working day and night to turn

Health, environment and climate groups are calling on the European Union to hasten the move away from coal and other fossil fuels and towards clean renewable energy. As ‘Europe Beyond Coal’ launches, Brussels-based groups have set the EU five challenges to help Europe become coal-free by 2030.

This letter was sent ahead of the COREPER meeting on the 27th of October 2017 Dear Ambassador, During the meeting of COREPER on 27 October you will have the opportunity to provide political guidance on several elements of the Governance regulation, mainly on defining a framework to ensure the delivery

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is being reviewing its Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) in 2017. Its EPS is part of the EIB Energy Lending Criteria1 adopted in July 2013, and set at a level of 550 g CO2/kWh.

The European Parliament reacts to the European Commission’s “Reflection paper on the Future of EU finances”. Tomorrow, delegates will adopt their position on the 2018 EU budget (1).While the latter calls for the EU budget to become compliant with the Paris Agreement, the first omits any acknowledgement of the future

Following the publication of the report ‘Phase-out 2020: Monitoring Europe’s fossil fuel subsidy phase out’, this briefing provides a set of recommendations to the EU on how it can better align its public financing – including some of its key policies, instruments and institutions – with the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Today the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on its opinion on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive for the period 2021 – 2030.

To the attn. of Mr. Dominique Ristori – Director General, DG Energy October 16th, 2017 Re: Preparation of the 3rd Union list of energy Projects of Common Interest

Today EU Environment Ministers have reached an agreement on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which is meant to be one of the EU’s key tools to implement the Paris Agreement. Diluted to the point of being almost meaningless, the new law as agreed by the ministers would fail to provide

EU finance ministers met in Luxembourg today to discuss and adopt the EU’s position on climate finance, ahead of the next international climate summit COP23 in Bonn. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the commitment to align financial flows with climate-resilient development, though much more efforts are needed to deliver

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is currently discussing the next phase of its funding and programming. The discussions come at a pivotal time, when the implementation of landmark agreements begins to take shape. In an ever-changing global economy, it is important that the Fund continues to address the needs of

Today the European Parliament adopted a resolution ahead of this year’s UN Climate Summit COP23. It calls on the EU to review and increase its 2030 climate target, following the next UN Climate Summit in 2018, when world leaders will gather to assess progress in the implementation of the Paris

Dear Minister, Adopting the Paris Agreement in 2015 marked a critical turning point toward a zero-carbon future, uniting the world in a global effort to tackle climate change. During the next Environment Council meeting on 13 October you will have the opportunity to decide on the Council’s position on two

In July 2016, the European Commission published its legislative proposal for emission reductions in the sectors transport, agriculture, buildings, small industry and waste for 2021-2030, the so called Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR).

EU member states risk undermining the diminishing confidence Europeans have in the Union by playing a two-faced game on climate change, warns Wendel Trio.

Yesterday EU Member States’ ambassadors discussed a draft position on the future of one of the EU’s cornerstone measures for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which sets national targets to reduce emissions from transport, waste, agriculture, buildings and small industry. The text, which received

European governments and the EU are handing out more than €112 billion each year to prop up the production and consumption of fossil fuels, despite a pledge to phase out harmful subsidies by 2020.

If the Governance legislation is done right, the framework can significantly contribute to implementing the EU’s fair share to achieve the long term objectives of the Paris Agreement. It can also help unlocking investor confidence and reduce transition costs while reducing the risks of stranded assets across the European economy.

First compromise text of the proposed Governance of the Energy Union BRIEFING ASSESSMENT First compromise text of the proposed Governance of the Energy Union.pdf

This letter was sent ahead of the High-level Conference on Energy ‘Europe’s Future Electricity Market’ Dear Minister, Next week you will travel to Tallinn, Estonia to discuss amongst several other issues, the proposedRegulation for Energy Union Governance. The proposed centralisation of climate and energy policy planning and reporting obligations is

In reaction to the State of the European Union speech delivered by the President of the European Commission before the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) today, Wendel Trio Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:  

In June of this year the former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres led a number of scientists to a call for deeper and faster action on climate change. The message she is sending is clear: if we want to avoid the most dangerous impacts of man-made climate change we need

This FAQ addresses some of the questions and comments that might arise when discussing governance and CAN Europe’s position on it. The Governance Regulation brings together planning and reporting obligations EU Member States (MS) have on climate and energy issues under one supposedly coherent framework. This centralisation is the opportunity

Today the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on its formal opinion on the revision of Energy Efficiency Directive for the period 2021 – 2030.

While Europe is recovering from an unusually warm summer, a new study warns that heatwaves with temperatures of above 40°C are expected to become more frequent, with some regions of Eastern Europe hit by new super heatwaves of above 55°C, writes Wendel Trio.

CAN Europe has contributed a submission on “How the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change” sent out by the Citizens’ Assembly of Ireland.

Europe’s most polluting power plants, including many large coal-fired power stations, will be forced to clean up or close down thanks to new EU rules adopted today. The revised standards demand reductions in toxic emissions, yet businesses and governments appear unprepared.

We would like to thank you for organising the CSO consultation on the External Investment Plan (EIP) on the 29th May, 2017. This meeting allowed civil society organisations to ask questions and share their numerous concerns after hearing from the European Commission how it sees the next steps towards implementation.

The European Commission has just announced it will drop a mechanism to monitor progress in limiting greenhouse gas emissions in the Western Balkans. The decision will make it difficult to track and manage climate goals in a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, warns Dragana Mileusnić.

In reaction to the outcome of the G20 summit that has taken place on 7-8 July in Germany, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:

In reaction to the new climate action plan published by the French government today, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:

The Paris Agreement is the route to prosperity, productivity, safety and health and we are moving ahead with its implementation at an accelerating pace. This is the message being sent today by hundreds of cities, states, regions, businesses, investors and many others to the leaders of the G20 who will

CAN Europe has joined civil society groups from a wide range of fields to express their views on the next EU research framework. This report is the first attempt to discuss how to mainstream the sustainable development goals into Research and provides the view of civil society stakeholders which are

Western Balkans leaders committed to work on the energy transition at a Ministerial meeting that took place in Austria in early June. They established an inter-ministerial Climate Action Group, aimed at regional coordination of the national energy and climate plans. The group will be meeting twice per year and its

The European Commission has published its ‘Reflection paper on the future of EU finances’ on 28 June, the last of five policy papers within the so called “White paper process on the future of Europe”. With this paper , the European Commission puts down its thinking on the EU budget

Just a few weeks before Brussels winds down for the Summer, an agreement has been reached on a multi billion euro EU fund which aims at driving more private investment in development – the so-called EU External Investment Plan (EIP).

What’s the situation?On Tuesday, 27 June, representatives of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission met for their second trilogue meeting to discuss diverging positions on the reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). There has been little progress as discussions mainly focused on addressing outcomes of technical

The European Commission has published its ‘Reflection paper on the future of EU finances’ today, the last of five policy reflection papers within the so called “White paper process on the future of Europe”.

EU Energy Ministers meeting in Luxembourg today have adopted their position on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) for after 2020. By agreeing to dilute its cornerstone measure: the annual energy savings obligation, they propose to significantly weaken the policy and thus also profoundly undermine the EU’s commitments

This letter was written in response to the open position of CEOs of the European steel industry on 28 May 2017. To the Heads of State and governments of the European Union, Your decisions on the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) will determine whether the reform will deliver some much

This is the second update on a key discussion on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR). Following the Parliament’s vote on 14 June, EU Ministers discussed proposals in the Environment Council on 19 June 2017. You can get an update on the Parliament vote here. Unfortunately the debate was not constructive.

This is the first in a series of two blog posts on key discussions in the Parliament and the Council on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR). You can get an update on the Council’s negotiations here. On 14 June 2017 the European Parliament voted on the revision of the ‘Climate Action

The European Commission will publish its ‘Reflection paper on the future of EU finances’ on 28 June. Against a background of renewed commitments from European leaders towards climate action, the EU budget must be reformed to comply with the requirements of the Paris Agreement, writes Markus Trilling.

On 26 June, EU Energy Ministers are expected to reach an agreement on the revision of the bloc’s main energy saving law for after 2020. Worryingly, they are considering throwing the policy into disarray by significantly watering down its cornerstone measure: the annual energy savings obligation. This would profoundly undermine

The Governance Regulation is an opportunity to support increasing climate ambition and a faster energy transition in Europe.

In reaction to the discussion on the Governance Regulation taking place in the European Parliament’s Industry and Environment Commitees today, Caroline Westblom, EU Climate and Energy Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe said:

Dear President/Prime Minister/Chancellor, We understand you will be discussing the regrettable withdrawal by the US federal administration from the Paris Agreement. Climate Action Network Europe very much welcomed the EU’s reaction to this decision and the expression of its clear support to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. We

EU heads of state and government meeting in Brussels on 22-23 June are expected to express their support to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the dedication shown by the EU, but urges leaders to translate their words into action by calling for

In reaction to the discussion on the Effort Sharing Regulation taking place at the Environment Council today, Caroline Westblom, EU Climate and Energy Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe said:

Dear Member of the European Parliament, Today you will vote on the so-called “Climate Action Regulation implementing the Paris Agreement” (Effort Sharing Regulation, or ESR). This regulation covers about 60% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. If designed correctly, it can drive innovation in the sectors involved, and lead to

The European Parliament voted today on the revision of the “Climate Action Regulation implementing the Paris Agreement” (Effort Sharing Regulation, or ESR), which covers emissions from transport, waste, buildings and agriculture for the coming decade. The Parliament failed to translate its recent numerous statements reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the

The author of the European Parliament’s report on the new Energy Efficiency Directive, Polish MEP Adam Gierek, proposes to dismantle future EU energy efficiency policy and promotes measures that would extend the life of coal power plants.

Working with a coalition of seventeen organisations CAN Europe has set out a number of recommendations on the role of the next EU Framework for Research and Innovation.

Today, civil society organisations in 13 countries have sent open letters to their Ministers, urging them to boost ambition of their proposal for the EU’s largest climate tool, the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR). As EU leaders reaffirmed their full support for the Paris Agreement last week in response to the

With the opening of the European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels today, European development and environmental groups are urging the EU to take more ambitious actions in the fight against climate change.

Clarification added on 02/06/2017, 8:00PM CET: The EU and China agreed to step up cooperation on climate change today, but the statement is to be published at a later moment. In a statement to be released today at a joint high-profile summit in Brussels, the EU and China reaffirm their

It looks like the US is leaving the Paris Agreement! When writing this President Trump has just confirmed that he will announce his decision weather or not to stay in the Paris Agreement tonight at 21.00 CET. Unnamed sources from the White House have consistently indicated that Trump would be

On 29 May 2017 Serbia ratified the Paris Agreement. Unfortunately, in the same time, the Government put out a draft of the national Energy Strategy Implementation Plan, prioritising new coal project and foreseeing further exploration of coal deposits in the country. National NGOs will be fighting these plans in the

What’s the situation? Turkey’s electricity utility, EÜAŞ, “won” the second place in the Sneaky Special Treatment category of the Fossil Fuels Subsidy Awards due to its significant and increasing public support for new coal mines and power plants which would not attract investors otherwise.

In 3 legislative files currently negotiated in Brussels the European Parliament progressed on financing matters: reporting on Fossil Fuel Subsidies phase-out; the linking the EU budget comes to national climate ambitions; a climate impact assessment tool for EU investments; and a 40% climate earmarking target for the Juncker Investment Plan.

What’s the situation? Just short of one year since it was first launched, the European External Investment Plan is in full flow among the usual suspects of the EU machine. To recap, the Plan was initiated as part of the EU’s response to patterns such as migration (and its causes),