The origins of the concept of climate finance in the context of the UN climate negotiations and the UNFCCC Agreement to provide it. The concept of climate finance has existed for many years. It was first set out at the first UNFCCC meeting in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where

This report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the WWF European Policy Office and Sandbag presents an analysis of cross-border health impacts of all EU coal power plants. Coal pollution and its health impacts travel far beyond borders, and a full coal phase-out in the EU

First ever analysis of cross-border health impacts of all EU coal power plants Coal pollution and its health impacts travel far beyond borders, and a full coal phase-out in the EU would bring enormous benefits for all citizens across the continent. That is according to a new report published today

CAN Europe signed on to the following NGO letter to call on the G20 countires to implement a fossil fuel subsidy phase out.

More than 200 civil society organisations have joined together to urge G20 governments to commit to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2020. The statement comes ahead of this week’s meeting of the G20 energy ministers, including from Germany, the UK, France and Italy and the EU Commissioner for Climate Action

Key EU Environment Ministers discussing the reform of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) after 2020 today acknowledged that the Paris Agreement created new conditions for this process, and called for ensuring that a review of the level of ambition in the ETS takes place in the near future.

Environment Council meeting on Monday should be used to demand deeper reform, or risk locking in low ambition for 15 years

CAN Europe chief responds to comments by European Parliament’s lead ETS reform rapporteur Ian Duncan.

CAN Europe sent the following letter to Environment Ministers ahead of the June 2016 Envi Council meeting

Some market fundamentalists make that a simple price on carbon (i.e. an ETS) can fix everything. This is simply wrong, has been proven wrong by many studies and it will remain wrong no matter how often this myth is repeated. The price of carbon can change some things but not

The success of the ETS revision hinges on its ability to make the polluter pay, rather than paying the polluter. Handing out free pollution permits contradicts the EU Treaty principle that polluters should pay. Since the year 2013, power companies buy all of their emission allowances at auction. However, manufacturing

Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme urgently needs to be reformed and now is the last chance to do so. It is also a chance for the Parliament to show it is serious about COP21. The current draft fails in this regard, writes Wendel Trio.

Member of the European Parliament in charge of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) reform file for the Parliament’s Environment Committee, Ian Duncan has just released his draft proposal for the reform of the ETS after 2020.

CAN Europe commissioned a study that looked at carbon leakage claims in the cement sector and found evidence that emissions increased because of free allocation.

Letter to ensure that the 2030 Effort Sharing Decision, the EU’s largest climate instrument, is fit for purpose.

On 24th May, the Members of the European Parliament Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee restated the Parliament’s long-standing call for boosting ambition of the EU 2030 energy savings target to 40%, voting for an own initiative report on the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).

CAN Europe made a submission on the European Commission’s Consultation on market-based measures to reduce the climate change impact from international aviation.

The Paris Agreement requires the EU to speed up the ongoing transition away from polluting fossil fuels and towards 100% renewables. The goals of the Agreement to achieve a carbon free economy fast enough to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degree C mean vast new opportunities for jobs and competitiveness,

CAN Europe made a submission on the European Commission’s Consultation a sustainable bioenergy policy for the period after 2020.

The briefing on the Energy Union was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the Energy Union and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on Energy Efficiency Directive was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on Energy Efficiency Directive and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on coal phase out was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on coal phase out and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on LULUCF and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the Multi-annual Financial Framework was developed in autumn 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the Multi-annual Financial Framework and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was struck in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on national targets for non-ETS emissions was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on national targets for non-ETS emissions and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the renewables directive was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the renewables directive and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the review of the 2030 target was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the review of the 2030 target and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the low-carbon roadmap was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the low-carbon roadmap and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the European Semester was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the European Semester and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on South East Europe was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on South East Europe and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on vehicle efficiency standards was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on vehicle efficiency standards and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the Financial Transaction Tax was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the Financial Transaction Tax and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the Effort Sharing Decision was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on Effort Sharing Decision and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The briefing on the ETS was developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on the ETS and its relevance for EU climate policy after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The following briefings were developed in spring 2016 to give a brief overview and update on EU climate and energy policy topics and their relevance after the UNFCCC international climate agreement that was made in Paris in December 2015.

The EU Court of Justice finds that the cap on free allowances might have been set too high by the Commission. Allowances will need to be recalculated in the next 10 months.

At the Paris Agreement signing ceremony last week, the French President François Hollande announced that France will use Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) to increase its support for climate action in developing countries. It is a praiseworthy commitment, but the necessary funds will only be generated, if countries involved in the

To show leadership abroad, the EU must show its credentials through commitment to action. 2016 offers the perfect moment to do this, by pushing through a significant package of climate and energy legislation, write Montserrat Mir, Wendel Trio and Eliot Whittington.

Turkey submitted its Intended National Determined Contribution (INDC) in September 2015, just a couple of months before hosting the G20 Summit in Antalya.

With over 60% of EU’s renewable energy coming from bioenergy (only partly subject to sustainability criteria and greenhouse gas accounting), the Renewable Energy Directive has only partially helped achieving the EU’s energy and climate goals. Without appropriate planning and safeguards, some large-scale renewable energy deployment has also caused negative environmental impacts.

A record number of over 150 countries will sign the Paris Agreement at a ceremony at UN headquarters on 22 April, keeping up the momentum on climate action. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, calls upon the EU leaders to walk the talk in honouring the Paris Agreement and ensure coherence

Austria’s largest electricity provider, Verbund has announced today that it will go fossil fuel free by 2020, speeding up the country’s transition beyond coal.

At a meeting this week in Washington, fossil fuel subsidies should be prioritised in the discussion, so that renewable energy sources can at last be fully exploited, writes Maeve McLynn.

…as Langerlo power station burns last tons of coal. The last tons of coal were burned in the Langerlo power plant last week, on 30th March, marking the end of an era for coal power in Belgium. Belgium follows other countries in cutting out coal power, adding to an increasingly bleak

CAN Europe ETS reform position for post-2020 contains detailed recommendations on the following topics:

Local communities who live in the regions where there are existing and planned new coal power plant projects face serious risks. These risks include chronic respiratory diseases, water and soil contamination, being dependent on unsustainable and insecure jobs in coal infrastructures, displacement, losing high quality arable lands to coal. Local

The countries from Southeastern Europe have the potential to achieve much more emission reductions compared to what they have put on the table in Paris.

The gap between the need for adaptation and loss and damage finance, and the current finance provided or committed is large and growing. This briefing paper identifies a number of potential new sources of climate finance. Some of these “new” sources of finance have been under discussion for a number

Many EU Environment Ministers discussing implications of the Paris Agreement for EU climate and energy policies today aacknowledged that the EU must ramp up its climate targets in line with the Paris Agreement signed last year.

Today a major new coalition of businesses, cities, trade unions and NGOs, are calling on EU leaders to act on the Paris Agreement and ensure that EU climate policies are coherent with its goals.

CAN Europe’s CAN ETS reform priorities after Paris includes the following main points:

CAN Europe, the EEB, Friends of the Earth Europe and WWF released a joint NGOs response on the Energy Efficiency Directive Review consultation.

In a submission to the public consultation that marks the first step towards the review of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), Climate Action Network Europe urges the European Commission to make a pitch for increasing the 2030 energy savings target to 40%. It also advocates for eliminating the accounting tricks

Civil Society Organisation’s assessment on the Progress of Serbia of Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change, for 2015. The report lays out the main developments in environmental and climate policy in Serbia, analyses challenges and provides recommendations on how to move forward. 

The Paris Agreement will not solve the climate crisis single-handedly, but it is so far the most important step the world has taken to tackle it. It signals an end to fossil fuels and a shift to 100% renewables. It creates firm foundations for more ambitious climate policies all over

Towards a resilient Energy Union with a forward looking Climate Change policy. This paper is intended to present some initial NGO views on the issue.

The new global climate agreement that has been finalized in Paris today sends a strong signal that we need to accelerate phasing out the use of fossil fuels. Lots of work remains to be done to increase climate action in the short term.

As the 196 countries have entered the final stretch of the Paris climate talks today, the EU received the fossil of the day award from Climate Action Network. The award seeks to encourage EU leaders to walk the talk and push for the strongest climate agreement possible.

If we want to have a likely chance to stay below 2°, and preserve the possibility to stay below 1.5°, as agreed in Cancun, we need to phase out all fossil fuels by 2050. However, fossil fuel subsidies are a major obstacle to full decarbonisation. Despite the enormous threat climate

Overheard in Paris: “I’m a bit caught up with a very complex ratchet mechanism. While this sounds unfortunately like an instrument of torture, the inclusion of an ‘ambition mechanism’ to progressively ‘ratchet up’ national targets has become a core test of the strength of the Paris Agreement. But through the somewhat-tortuous process

Rules for implementation of the Financial Transaction Tax, which are expected to be agreed upon by 11 EU Member States on the 7th or 8th of December, can open up a new and additional source of public climate finance. This would give a strong signal to developing countries that actions

After six days of negotiations at the UN climate summit in Paris, the baton has been handed over to environment ministers who will begin high-level discussions this week. As anticipated, a number of troublesome issues continue to cause concern among Parties and NGOs as they work within the walls of Le

Early review of INDCs key to success for the Paris negotiations The Ministers attending the high-level segment of the UN climate talks in Paris starting today need to ensure that the Paris agreement does not lock us on a path to catastrophic 3°C warming.

Europe’s political leaders must dramatically ramp up efforts to phase out polluting coal plants if they are serious about preventing dangerous climate change, a new report shows. The study (717 KB) reveals carbon emissions from Europe’s ageing coal-fired power stations will have to come down three times faster than the

Denmark’s government U-Turn on ambitious climate targets earned the country the shameful 1st place Fossil of the Day Award at the Paris climate summit today. The dubious award was handed down to Denmark for stating that it will reduce its ambitious climate targets and nearly halve financial support provided to

Although there are around 280 coal power plants and dozens of coal mines in operation in the EU, the end of coal is inescapable. Some countries in Europe are now pushing for a complete phase-out of coal over the next one to two decades. Others are restricting the use of

After Belgium on Monday, another european country has been awarded for his reluctance to take climate action : Turkey, already famous for being a coal champion.

Governments from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, united in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) representing countries highly vulnerable to climate change, published today a joint declaration, demanding that the Paris agreement includes a global goal consistent with keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C. They are calling for

On the very first day of the Paris climate summit, Belgium won the shameful Fossil of the Day Award. The dubious award was handed down to Belgium for stumbling on internal divisions, which is blocking its climate action.

This briefing highlights the most important positive steps governments and local authorities are taking to move beyond coal. 

In the climate policy world, all eyes go to the ongoing UN-led negotiations and the ucpoming COP21 in Paris. Nevertheless, 2016 will also be a crucial year for climate as the debate around the reforms foreseen by the Energy Union Strategy will start for real. The Energy Union is a

Without substantial reform of its Emissions Trading System, Europe cannot seriously claim a leadership role at the international negotiations in and after Paris, writes Anja Kollmuss of Climate Action Network Europe.

In a joint statement published today, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and EUROCHAMBRES, representing 44 million European citizens and 20 million businesses,  call on the EU to put every effort in the climate negotiations in Paris and ensure the adoption of a comprehensive, inclusive and ambitious climate agreement.

In less than a week, on November 30th, world leaders will gather in Paris to kick off an intense two-week summit that should result in a new global climate agreement. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe calls upon the EU to drive ambition and fairness in the negotiations to secure a

CAN Europe’s analysis of climate pledges in Southeast Europe.

The Energy Union package has not lived up to expectations to accelerate a shift to a fossil fuel free economy in the EU so far, according to Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. While the project remains a puzzle, the EU needs strong and coherent legislative proposals, expected next year, to

G20 leaders failed to show leadership in the ongoing negotiations for a strong climate agreement to be concluded in Paris. The representatives of the richest countries in the world did not make any new commitments to tackle climate finance, phase out fossil fuel subsidies and establish a long term goal

In this briefing, we describe the most important coal subsidy streams in Europe. We also single out the biggest culprits when it comes to state involvement and support, and we explain the (changing) role of the international (financial) institutions in the coal economy.

Ukraine’s dependence on imported coal has dramatically increased since last year. It results from a steep decline in coal production in the Ukrainian city of Donbass, which followed extensive damage to its mining and transport infrastructure caused by the armed conflict and, eventually, the loss of control over mines to

The EU position on climate finance for the Paris climate summit was adopted today by the EU Finance Ministers. Unfortunately, it falls short of what is needed to deliver a strong deal in Paris that empowers the world’s poor to cope with the current and future impacts of climate change

Climate Action Network Europe background briefingWhy an effective Adequacy Review of current INDCs by 2018 is necessary Review.pdf

The EU is not fulfilling its commitment to reduce emissions in line with the requirements of science and fairness. There is still a big gap between what it will take to avoid catastrophic climate change and what the EU has put forward in terms of climate action so far.

The current emission reduction pledges that governments have put put forward are inadequate to keep global warming below the 2°C threshold agreed. What is currently on the table will lead to a world that is going to be at least 2.7°C degrees warmer. In such a world, frequent floods and

Climate change is already affecting the world’s poorest people. From cyclones to droughts, to flooding, its impacts could set the clock back and erase the progress that has been made in the global fight against poverty and inequality. Developed countries, including members of the EU, have a duty to provide

Although wealthy developed countries hold most responsibility for creating the climate crisis, the worst impacts of climate change disproportionately affect the world’s poorest countries; for example, unmanageable and frequent disasters like hurricanes and cyclones, severe and regular droughts and flooding, and long-term threats such as food and water insecurity. Developing

All countries have committed to a long term goal of keeping global warming below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. In Paris countries are looking into translating the 2°C target into a more concrete long term goal.

In advance of the ECOFIN Council, Climate Action Network Europe called on the Finance Ministers to guarantee a robustclimate finance package as part of a fair and transformational agreement to be adopted at COP21 in Paris.

All eyes will be on the EU Finance Ministers meeting in Brussels on November 10th to adopt the EU position on climate finance for the Paris climate summit. According to Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, their commitment to deliver the EU’s fair share of $100 billion of climate finance annually

One year since the entry into office of the current European Commission headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, environmental groups have criticised the EU executive for a paralysis in policymaking on issues related to the environment.

The report assessing countries’ contributions to the Paris climate agreement released today by the UNFCCC sets off alarm bells for all governments to strengthen current, inadequate climate targets before they are put into effect and at latest by 2018.

As part of the dynamic leading up to the Paris Climate Summit, almost all European countries have developed greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2030. An overview of these targets can be found here. Some of these target are highly problematic, such as the Turkey’s woefully inefficient INDC. All targets