The revision of the Renewable Energy Directive and of the electricity market design represents a great opportunity to foster the further development of renewable energy in the European Union for the decades to come and to make the market ‘fit for renewables’.

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) review represents a great opportunity to strengthen the Directive, building on lessons learnt from the implementation so far. The Directive provides a real added value to the European energy efficiency policy framework, as it helps create a level playing field among the Member States. An EED

The Commission proposal for a Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union contains some positive elements. But in the absence of binding national targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy, the Commission proposal does not provide incentives for Members States to make appropriately ambitious pledges regarding their national contributions

EU foreign affairs ministers agreed today to put climate objectives at heart of EU security and foreign policies. CAN Europe welcomes the initiative and calls on EU diplomats to lead the fight to achieve deeper emission cuts to limit warming to below 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement.

Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council on 6 March you will discuss the interlinkage between the EU’s climate and energy diplomacy and security policy. Climate Action Network Europe welcomes the initiative as we strongly believe that Europe’s geopolitical interests are closely linked to managing climate

Dear Mr. Ruijters, The energy, telecommunications and transport sectors represent significant parts of the EU economy. All three sectors need modernisation to build a solid basis for a competitive and more energy secure European economy that is equipped to meet future challenges, including sustainability and viability in a climate change

EU Environment Ministers meeting in Brussels today have reached an agreement on the revision of the Emission Trading System (ETS) for the next decade. According to Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the outcome, while slightly better than expected, is far too weak to repair the broken scheme or align the

The European Commission’s vision for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) should set an ambitious benchmark for the EU’s actions to eradicate poverty and inequality, support people and planet centred development, and strengthen the resilience of societies from global and local challenges, including climate change.

Dear Environment  Minister, Ahead of the Environment Council we, the undersigned, representing 32 networks and organizations from 30 countries, would like to urge you to ensure that the low-carbon funding mechanisms dedicated to help lower-income Member States transform their energy systems (article 10c and the Modernization Fund) are robust and

Next week, EU environment ministers are to strike a deal on the reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS). If governments do not treat the reform with more seriousness, the EU risks setting its carbon market up for another decade of failure, argues Wendel Trio. The current proposals are clearly

CAN Europe contributed today to the mid-term evaluation of the Connecting Europe facility (CEF).

EU Environment Ministers meeting in Brussels next Tuesday, 28th February aim to reach an agreement on the revision of the Emission Trading System (ETS) for the next decade.

Dear Minister, During the Energy Council on 27 February in Brussels, you will present your country’s views on the ‘Clean Energy package for all Europeans’ published by the European Commission at the end of last year.

Dear Environment Minister, Ahead of the informal Environment Council Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe would like to urge you to stand for significant reforms of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

This briefing shows that further public investment in EU gas infrastructure is likely to represent bad value for money, given:

Dear Vice-President Šefčovič, As civil society organisations who have been monitoring developments around the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) for some time, we, the undersigned, would like to take the opportunity of your participation in the SGC Advisory Council this week in Baku to highlight our concerns regarding the EU’s support to this project.

In terms of ambition, the results of the European Parliament vote on 15.2.2017 is a clear betrayal of the Paris Agreement.

The time is ripe for Brussels and Beijing to step up their relationship as US climate diplomacy dwindles, write Maeve McLynn and Li Shuo

Dear Minister, During the upcoming ECOFIN Council on 21 February, you will have the opportunity to give your input towards the EU’s preparation of the terms of reference for the G20 Finance Ministers meeting on 15 & 16 March.

The European Parliament voted today on its position for the redesign of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the coming decade. Instead of scaling up emission cuts beyond what the Parliament’s environment committee has proposed, lawmakers watered down provisions aimed at increasing the level of ambition of the reform.

Dear Sir or Madam, I’m writing to you on behalf of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe ahead of the plenary vote on the Emission Trading Scheme reform on February 15th 2017.

The reform of the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for the period from 2021-2030 is currently being discussed in the European Parliament and the Council. The following should help you find answers to some of the most frequent and urgent questions in this debate.

On 15 February, the European Parliament will vote on the redesign of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for the coming decade. The Parliament’s decision is the most important political milestone on the way to turn the ETS into an effective climate protection tool and incentivise polluting industries to embrace the

The annual State of the Energy Union report published by the European Commission today shows that the transition of the European economy away from fossil fuels is underway, but its pace is far too slow to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Ahead of the seminar with civil society organisations on 30 January 2017, CAN Europe together with CEE Bankwatch Network, Counter Balance, Urgewald and WWF European Policy Office sent a briefing to the European Investment Bank Board of Directors on how to make the EIB finance consistent with the pathway towards

  In September 2016 the European Commission published its proposal for the prolongation of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) until 2020, to be achieved by amending the existing regulation. In this briefing by CAN Europe, WWF, CEE Bankwatch and CounterBalance, current support to fossil fuel projects by the

In this letter CAN Europe, Transport & Environment, Seas at Risk, Carbon Market Watch and the Aviation Environment Federation urge the European Commission to ensure the aviation and maritime sectors reduce emissions in line with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

This letter, signed by 39 organisations, was sent to the World Bank in relation to the board discussion on a loan to the Turkish company Botas for the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP). In the letter, several social, environemntal and human rights issues with the TANAP are raised, and

“The recent relative fall in energy prices should make it easier for governments to remove tax exemptions and other energy demand subsidies” “Fossil-fuels subsidies are particularly problematic, as they disadvantage clean energy and hamper the transition to a low-carbon economy.” European Commission’s Energy Prices and Costs Report, p17 By: Maeve McLynn, Finance

Key EU Environment Ministers discussing the reform of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) today expressed their support for measures to scale up emission cuts in the carbon market. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the support for more ambition, but at the same time urges EU decision makers to

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) voted today on the redesign of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the coming decade. CAN Europe welcomes the steps the Parliament took to scale up emission cuts, beyond what the European Commission has proposed, but stresses that these are still far too little

The European Investment Bank developed its methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions in 2012, and is now considering its further review. In this briefing CAN Europe together with CEE Bankwatch, WWF, Friends of the Earth Europe and Counterbalance review the existing carbon footprint methodology and provide recommendations for its further review. 

The proposed Regulation is unambitious and must be strengthened in several ways to ensure that the LULUCF sectors sufficiently contribute to achieving the European Union’s international commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Today the ECOFIN Council agreed on its position on the future of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, EFSI, also referred to as the Juncker Plan or the Investment Plan for Europe. While it contains some good elements on climate action, the council stills falls short of ensuring EFSI’s investments

In this letter CAN Europe urges Environment Ministers and national climate attachés to ensure an ambitious ETS reform and not to prematurely come to a conclusion on this file.

On 30 November, the European Commission presented its long-awaited package of Energy Union legislative proposals.

The ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package released by the European Commission today is not consistent with the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and disregards the fact that the climate crisis poses an urgent existential threat. According to Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the package

MEDIA ADVISORY Brussels, 28 November 2016, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE On 30 November, the European Commission is expected to publish its winter package, a long-awaited, key piece of the Energy Union strategy. According to environmental groups, leaked documents show that the package will likely disregard the Paris Agreement and fall well

PRESS RELEASE / SDG WATCH EUROPE / BRUSSELS / 23 NOVEMBER 2016 SDG Watch Europe, a civil society alliance of more than 90 EU NGOs established to ensure the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the EU and its Member States, has criticised today’s publication of the

As COP22 in Marrakech has come to a close, one can clearly note the same ugly issues raising their heads when it comes to financial support for climate action. Previous blogs in this section have documented throughout the years the diversions of opinion, disagreements of approach and the inherent lack

31 organisations and networks working on a coal free Europe call on Members of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament to vote for a meaningful revision of the EU’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS) that supports the rapid decarbonisation of Europe’s energy systems and transition

At the climate conference in Marrakech which is coming to an end, all countries have reaffirmed their collective commitment to implement all elements of the Paris Agreement. While concrete outcomes of the talks remain modest, some key elements of the implementation of the Paris Agreement moved forward, including that the so

With the historic Paris Agreement having recently entered into force, this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2017 confirms a boost for renewable energy and positive developments in energy efficiency. While these encouraging trends are happening on a global scale, the necessary energy revolution is still happening too slowly. On the

Press Release Germanwatch and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Global energy transition has started Emerging economies catch up / European countries lose speed / Japan, Australia and Canada worst performers of all industrialized countries [Marrakech 16 November 2016] With the historic Paris Agreement having recently entered into force, this year’s

In this briefing CAN Europe reviews and compares the amendments tabled in the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee which concern environmental ambition in the EU ETS. 

The result of the US elections has just been announced.In reaction, Ulriikka Aarnio, International Climate Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:

Belgrade, Brussels, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana, Zagreb, 8 November 2016 – Coal continues to dominate the energy systems of the Western Balkan countries aspiring to become EU members, while the uptake of renewable energy has been extremely slow. These are the main conclusions of a new scorecard report launched

This briefing analyses the future of the climate policy in the Western Balkans. 

This analysis highlights a number of key pathways within the Paris Agreement that governments can use to support the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2016 published today is yet another proof that ambitious objectives of the Paris Agreement require stronger short term action already before 2020 and deeper emission cuts in the period until 2030.

Since the Paris Agreement was struck at the global climate Summit in Paris (21st Conference of the Parties to the Un Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP21) last year, countries have come together at an unprecedented rate to ensure its early into force. To make sure discussions about the implementation

Here you can find Climate Action Network´s Annual Policy Document 2016, published ahead of COP22 in Marrakech.

Today, a consortium of NGOs led by CONCORD Europe jointly published its ‘AidWatch’ report which tracks aid from EU Member States to developing country partners, as part of their international commitment to address global poverty and inequality through financial support. The report seeks to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of

In July 2016, the European Commission published their proposal for a regulation for CO2 emissions form the land-use (LULUCF) sectors.It contains three different ways of accounting for emissions or removals. We explain what they are and why having such a mixed bag isn’t good.

This report shows that by shifting to a low-carbon, 100% renewable pathway, fastly emerging economies like Turkey will benefit from a strongly reduced dependency on fossil fuel imports, will save lives through reduced pollution and will create more sustainable, green and qualified jobs that could have a major positive impact on the country’s developmental vision.

Business as usual is not good enough anymore. For the EU to stay at the top of the class on climate action, it urgently needs to review its targets and boost its post-2020 efforts, writes Wendel Trio.

The Global Wind Energy Council, representing wind energy industry worldwide published its bi-annual flagship Global Wind Energy Outlook 2016 today.

Developed countries today published a roadmap which shows how the collective goal of providing $100 billion per year by 2020 to support developing countries tackle climate change will be met. 

In this letter CAN Europe, E3G, EKOenergy, Greenpeace and WWF urge Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade, to end the trade measures on imported solar panels immediately through the Expiry Review.

In September 2016 the European Commission published its proposal for the prolongation of the EFSI until2020, to be achieved by amending the existing regulation. We welcome several improvements. However,as organisations monitoring closely the creation and implementation of the Investment Plan for Europe,we believe that the proposed changes are not sufficient

The European Parliament’s Industry Committee (ITRE) voted today on a new Directive to redesign the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the coming decade. However, according to CAN Europe the lacklustre compromises reached between the major political groups have done little to repair the broken scheme or align Europe’s emissions trajectory

Effective emissions limits could save thousands of lives every year, yet more than half of coal power stations in Europe are operating with ‘permission to pollute’ above limits set in EU law. These are the findings of a new report ‘Lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud: How cutting coal saves lives’ published today

Finance ministers met today in Luxembourg to discuss climate finance, just one month ahead of the next international climate summit COP22 in Marrakech. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the re-iteration by finance ministers to continue to provide public finance to tackle both the causes and impacts of climate change.

  Effective emissions limits could save thousands of lives every year, yet more than half of coal power stations in Europe are operating with ‘permission to pollute’ above limits set in EU law. These are the findings of a new report ‘Lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud: How cutting coal saves lives’ published

Ahead of the ECOFIN Council on October 11th 2016, Climate Action Network Europe sent the following letter to climate ministers calling for ambitious climate finance.

Lawmakers inch towards fixing the broken carbon market The bulk of the work left to the environment committee Members of the European Parliament’s industry committee (ITRE) today put forward compromise amendments concerning new legislation for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The draft compromise will be subject to the committee’s

The EU’s decision to fast-track the ratification of the Paris Agreement without all Members States having formally joined has helped ensure its early entry into force. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcome this historic achievement by the global community, and urges EU leaders to immediately turn their attention to the

In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and to align the EU’s targets with the Paris Agreement, ambition in the ESR sectors must be raised considerably. CAN Europe calls for a reduction target of at least 47% in non-ETS sectors by 2030.

Climate Action Network Europe co-signed a letter to the board members of the Green Climate Fund calling for categorical exclusion of export credit agencies (ECA).

3 networks and 21 organizations representing almost 50 million citizens across Europe, called on Members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament to vote for an ambitious revision of the EU’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS) that supports a rapid phase out of fossil fuels, in particular coal.

Environment Ministers of all EU member states have today agreed to ratify the Paris Agreement through a process which allows the EU to deposit its instrument before the EU countries approve it separately. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes this exceptional move and calls upon the EU to show the

  The European Fund for Strategic Investments was established in 2015 to power-charge post-crisis Europe and provide a much-needed impulse for de-carbonising its economies. Yet, a the new report by CAN Europe, CEE Bankwatch, WWF, Friends of th Earth Europe shows that during its first year, the fund leveraged EUR 1.5 billion

Members of the European Parliament from all major political parties tabled amendments for strengthening the ambition of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme post-2020. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomed this development, but stressed that only the most ambitious amendments are in keeping with Europe’s environmental obligations.

This paper looks at the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) starting point in 2021 and how it affects the ETS phase 4 emissions budget.

Cash that should be flowing into projects that boost environmental sustainability is instead fuelling outdated carbon-intensive projects like motorways, airports, and fossil-fuel infrastructure, according to a new report on Europe’s investment plan released today [1].

Today, at the special high-level event on entry into force of the Paris Agreement at the UN Headquarters in New York, several countries deposited their ratification instruments. Others, including the EU, announced that they will do so before the end of this year. 

As the EU-27 gather in Bratislava today, leading environmental organisations call for genuinely transformational change in the wake of the UK referendum [1].

What should have been two significant contributions to Europe’s war chest in the fight against climate change will in fact leave the planet short-changed and open the door to even more polluting fossil fuel projects, argue campaigners at Bankwatch, Friends of the Earth Europe and Climate Action Network Europe.

Commenting on a leaked draft of the European Commission’s Energy Efficiency Directive proposal Dora Petroula, Energy Savings Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has today voted on a resolution on the upcoming COP22, urging the EU to ratify the Paris Agreement before the end of this year and calling for revision of its 2030 climate target in 2018.

Climate change was high on the agenda as leaders of the world’s largest economies met for the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China. But the communiqué released today once again lacks a deadline for when to phase out subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe calls upon

Ahead of the 2016 G20 summit in Hangzhou, China 4-5 September CAN Europe published a briefing on the EU’s funding for fossil fuels.

EU financial institutions and funds channel billions of euros into fossil fuel projects, while EU policies and laws allow for yet more public money to flow into fossil fuels through the back door. This is the conclusion of a briefing on the various forms of fossil fuel subsidies in the

CAN Europe sent the following letter to European Commission President Juncker & European Council President Tusk and CC: EU-28 Heads of State & Government ahead of the 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China. 

Submissions to EU consultation on External Development will be used to inform the way forward on the revision of the European Consensus on Development and other external aspects of 2030 Agenda implementation. The consultation seek views on how development policy, in the context of EU external action as foreseen by

CAN Europe has done a first analyisis of the Commission’s proposal on non-ETS emissions for 2021-2030. 

European Commission misses opportunity to put in place a ratchet-up mechanism and to set an ambitious starting point for reductions. EU countries’ climate targets, included in the proposal for the Effort Sharing Regulation published by the European Commission today are too weak to prevent devastating climate change in line with

CAn Europe co-signed the following letter to President Junker on LULUCF and the starting Point in the non-ETS sectors.