The freezing mist in warsaw mirrored the dampened results of COP 19. As usual, the few outcomes that did happen came during final after-hours wrangling. Here’s a brief look at what was – and was not – achieved at the COP.

CAN Europe calls upon the European Union (EU) to recognise that its commitment to making a fair contribution to the effort to avoid dangerous climate change means that it should reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 95% by 2050 below 1990 levels. Only the upper end of

CAN Europe and WWF welcomed today’s final approval by EU ministers for the “backloading” measure that will temporarily withdraw 900 million pollution permits from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). After almost a year and a half of wrangling, the temporary “quick fix” for the glut of permits on the

Today in Strasbourg, the European Parliament confirmed the position it adopted on 3rd July to amend the EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) Directive to allow the backloading proposal to move forward. Changing the ETS Directive enables delaying auctions of 900 million pollution permits in order to temporarily correct the massive

CAN Europe has just launched an exciting new publication, This is Climate Change in Europe. It brings together dozens of sources ranging from the IPCC, national adaptation plans, UN studies, official NATO documents and many more to provide, for the first time, a summary of current and pending climate impacts

With a minimal agreement on the pathway to defining an ambitious binding climate agreement in Paris in 2015, the climate conference in Warsaw pushed most of the work that needs to be done way ahead. While the EU fought for a robust timetable for putting emission reduction commitments for the

This new report highlights the climate impacts hitting Europe from a variety of perspectives, including ecological and food security.

CAN Europe, the Coalition for Energy Savings and the European Renewable Energy Council wrote the following letter to the Secretary General on the Impact assessment for the 2030 climate and energy framework.

The new edition of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) was released by Germanwatch and CAN Europe in Warsaw at the UN climate talks today. The results show emissions worldwide have climbed to a new peak and no single country is yet on track to prevent dangerous climate change.

The world’s governments agreed at the Durban climate meeting in 2011 two things: first that they would increase their short-term climate ambition; and, second that in 2015 they would agree a new global climate agreement in Paris. The Warsaw meeting is a step along the way to both of these

CAN Europe calls upon the European Union (EU) to recognise that its commitment to making a fair contribution to the effort to avoid dangerous climate change means that it should reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 95% by 2050 below 1990 levels. Only the upper end of

CAN Europe, EREC and the Coalition for Energy Savings jointly prepared this half-day event to discuss several questions arising in this context:

Environment Ministers’ call for climate pledges in 2014 rings hollow without increased EU ambition Today EU Environment Ministers set the stage for the EU to play a steering role in pushing an international climate deal forward. History has shown that arriving at the COP [1] with clear, coherent positions is

Europe lacks a vision for its future power grid. The view of Environmental NGOs on grid development in Europe

Recommendations for proper reform and design of support schemes for renewable energy technologies in Europe

Climate Action Network Europe, representing over 120 environmental and development NGOs, welcomes ENTSO-E efforts to develop a long-term vision in line with the European initiatives on an energy and climate policy framework. Bridging the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) and the future planning of the European power grid with the

Climate finance is not aid, as sometimes misunderstood. It’s restitution, for the injustice of climate change – caused by the North, but with impacts in the South, not just environmentally but in terms of development and economic growth.

A new discussion paper prepared by Climate Analytics for CAN Europe that provides an analysis of the adequacy and feasibility of the 1.5°C long-term global limit.

EU Commission Consultation: 2030 green paper on Climate and Energy framework. June 2013 130626 CAN Europe Response to Green paper-Final.pdf

Post-2015 Development Framework in the Environment Council: Will ministers fill the climate gap? On June 18th the Environment Council will discuss the EU position towards the follow up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), currently referred to as the post-2015 development framework. This discussion aims to take further steps towards

CAN Europe made a submission on the European Commission’s Green Paper Consultation on a 2030 Climate and Energy Framework.

This week the UNFCCC gathers again for the beginning of the annual two week session in Bonn to continue work on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), which is to deliver a new global climate protocol by 2015 and address the inadeqacy of pre-2020 commitments. Delegates will also discuss

The EU Energy Efficiency Directive outlines a framework of measures in order for the EU to reach its 20% energy savings target by 2020 and pave the way for more energy efficiency improvements beyond that date. Now that the Directive has entered into force, Member States must transpose it into

CAN Europe, the Coalition for Energy Savings and the European Renewable Energy Council wrote the following letter to Ministers ahead of the European Council 22nd May 2013 on Energy and Competitiveness.

CAN Europe, the Coalition for Energy Savings and the European Renewable Energy Council wrote the following letter to Ministers on Europe’s needs for an ambitious Climate and Energy Policy.

On Wednesday February 27th, the European Commission departments DG Development Cooperation (DEVCO) and DG Environment (ENVI)  released a joint Communication together on a post-2015 global framework for sustainable development. The Communication comes after a number of EU-wide consultations on how this framework – a follow-up to the Rio+20 summit and

EU Commission: Communication on energy technologies and innovation. March 2013 130301 CAN Europe response- Consultation on innovation.pdf

CAN Europe made a submission on the European Commission’s Consultation on options to strengthen the EU ETS.

CAN Europe and Friends of the Earth Europe commissioned a report that looks at the effect of energy efficiency on bringing down energy prices by 2020 and beyond.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee yesterday voted today for a one-year ‘stop the clock’ derogation from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for flights to and from Europe.

The emissions-trading scheme needs reform, but first it needs an immediate patch!

Today Germanwatch, a CAN Europe member, published results of a public opinion poll which found that 73% of Germans support an increase of the EU’s 2020 emission reductions target to 30%, which is one of the structural options proposed by the Commission to review the flagging EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme

We welcome the European Commission’s determination to develop a clear and ambitious post 2020 climate and energy package. Only through reaching the upper end of the 80 to 95% emission reduction target by 2050 will the EU have assumed its responsibility to avoid dangerous climate change. 

CAN Europe and Friends of the Earth Europe call for a binding 2030 energy savings target alongside binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energies.

NGO Briefing Paper on Climate Finance in the MFF (September 2012)

Recalibrating an oversupplied market to spur investments and innovation This NGO Briefing presents the views of CAN Europe, Greenpeace, Sandbag and WWF on the reform of EU ETS in the  short and medium term.

Consultation on Cost Benefit analysis Methodology for the Ten Year Network Development Plan. January 2013 130114 Joint response to ENTSO-E on CBA socio-envi.pdf

The Climate Vulnerable Forum report of September 2012 revision of previous estimates of losses linked to climate change, points to unprecedented harm to human society and current economic development that will increasingly affect people around the world, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, and at the same time hold back growth. Its key

Download Joint response to ENTSO-E on Visions 2030

CAN Europe’s Response to the EIB consultation on their energy lending policy. December 2012 121220- CAN respose to EIB consultation.docx

EU misses opportunity to show leadership At the Doha climate talks, governments failed to do anything meaningful to avert the planet’s slide towards catastrophic climate change. Countries used the economic crisis as a reason to avoid paying for climate finance, while billions of dollars in damages rack up from monster

In a new briefing [1], CAN Europe shows how the EU is already on course to reach 25% emissions reductions by 2020, with the final number being closer to 27% if proposed further reductions from various EU initiatives are fully implemented. If the EU would make full use of the

[Brussels, 3 December 2012] – CAN Europe welcomes Energy Ministers’ call for a long-term, stable framework for renewable energy in the EU after 2020. At today’s Energy Council, ministers recognized that a coherent set of policies that ensures a higher share of renewables would help unlock the full economic, social

Take action now on climate change ‘Loss and Damage’, 40+ civil society organisations and networks tell Ministers as they arrive in Doha Over forty civil society organisations and networks from all over the world have signed an open letter urging Ministers to take urgent, proactive action to address loss and

Ray of the Day: EU victorious in lack of ambitious emissions pledge. Civil Society Awards Fossil To Rich Countries Who Shun Kyoto Commitment.

A pile of recent reports from UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, World Meteorological Association, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and European Environment Agency EEA all confirm the same alarming reality: current pollution trends and lack of governments’ will to act on climate are resulting in our planet overheating to levels where

CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF welcomed today’s European Commission proposals for structural reform of Europe’s carbon market.

The European Union, its economy and the international community need binding, coherent and more ambitious 2020 and post-2020 EU climate and energy targets.

CAN Europe made a submission on the European Commission’s Consultation on the review of the ETS auctioning time profile.

On 4 October the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) passed through its final legislative gate and was adopted by Member States at a Council meeting in Brussels. It is Europe’s first comprehensive energy savings law, containing both binding targets and efficiency measures, and addressing both energy supply and end use. The

As time has ticked on, CAN-Europe has kept a close watch over the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – more commonly known as the EU budget – which should be concluded at the end of this year. The upcoming time frame (2014-2020) poses a number of challenges that

At a press conference on the last day of UN climate talks in Bangkok, Thailand, international experts from NGOs organized in the Climate Action Network (CAN) assessed the Bangkok outcome, discussed the role of different countries in the talks, and gave an outlook for COP18 in Doha at the end

The 24 board members of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) finally met in Geneva on August 24th. After a five-month delay, the board met to work out the details of how the fund will operate, where its headquarters will be and how the money in the pot will be distributed. Now

Since the publication by the European Commission of its roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050, and subsequently its Energy roadmap 2050, there has been an increasing debate on which are the best policies to drive greenhouse gas reductions in the energy sector. The European Commission is

CAN Europe recommends using half of the auctioning revenues for international climate finance, and the other half for domestic climate finance.

The EU Council, Commission and Parliament agreed a new Directive for Energy Efficiency (the “EED”). It still needs to be formally approved by the Parliament but is expected to go through without further change. For the first time, the EED puts into law a precise definition of the third of

On the 11th of June, EU environment ministers discussed several climate change issues. They had debates on the provision of financial support to developing countries for reducing emissions and adapting to climate change, as well as on action to reduce emissions domestically. Both of these issues must be advanced to

CAN-E policy brief Informal Workshop on Climate Finance.pdf

Since the communication from the European Commission (EC) on the Energy Roadmap 2050, in November 2011 , energy ministries in all 27 Member States have been discussing an official European Council position. The following analysis, prepared by CAN-Europe and based on leaked draft Council conclusions, outlines Member States’ positions on

CAN Europe, Aprodev, German Watch, CIDSE and Oxfam commissioned a report in order to identify how the EU can improve the current process for monitoring their climate finance commitments.

  Privacy Policy for CAN Europe shared mailing lists By subscribing to the CAN Europe mailing lists you agree to provide your personal data to be stored and used by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, to communicate with you in line with our role as network Secretariat. We will also

Bloomberg New Energy Finance launched its new report yesterday in Brussels, analysing the costs of moving toward a 30% GHG cuts in the EU. The report lays out a number of different possible cost scenarios if the EU moved beyond the current 20% climate target. Unfortunately the report is far

Last week EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard announced a review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by the end of this year. It may result in a limit to the number of allowances available and an end to historically low carbon prices in the next ETS trading period (2013-2020). CAN

CAN Europe believes that addressing shipping emissions in the EU is long overdue.

Today’s launch of The European Climate Adaptation Platform (CLIMATE- ADAPT), potentially opens a new era in EU Adaptation policies. This platform marks a continuation of the process which began in 2009 with the EU’s White paper on Adaptation. Of the four key areas of focus from the White Paper, this

CAN Europe sent this letter to Commissioner Hedegaard on regulating maritime emissions

A veto is an act of desperation, but it carries weight if used wisely. The more you use it, the more meaningless it becomes. The Polish media is already speculating about the prospect of a third Polish veto, if the Low-Carbon Roadmap is on the agenda of the June Energy

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe was appalled to see the obstructionist tactics used by Poland ahead of today’s meeting of Environment Ministers. While Poland seems intent on skirting its climate responsibilities, other EU countries were ready to support increased climate ambition by 2020 and to approve milestones for a cost

CAN Europe and Friends of the Earth Europe, assisted by Energy Savings Man, paid a visit to MEPs in the European Parliament yesterday. The mission? To remind MEPs on the Energy Committee (ITRE) to ‘be an energy hero’ and support binding 20% energy savings targets, annual 1.5% savings obligation for energy companies

Today the European Parliament’s Industry, Trade and Research Committee (ITRE) voted in support of a binding 20% energy savings target as part of the ongoing Energy Efficiency Directive discussions. Green groups CAN Europe and EEB urge national governments to support the MEPs’ vision for binding national targets, energy company obligations

NGOs welcome the renewed resolve expressed by EU Finance Ministers today [1] to help developing countries adapt to climate change and curb carbon emissions. Environmental and development groups now call on EU Member States to find the resources to make their pledge a reality.

In 2012 Nine countries put their weight strongly behind the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) calling for the Danish Presidency to accelerate with analysis and the  negotiation process even if there isn’t a Europe-wide agreement. This comes as a welcome development and shows that France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Greece, Spain,

Which European Directive links EDF, HSBC, Siemens and your local primary school? Or, roof insulation, power lines, light bulbs and the local council?

A report by CE Delft commissioned by CAN Europe on identifying breakthrough technologies for the production of ammonia, olefins and aromatics in the European region.

CAN Europe, Greenpeace, and WWF engaged Öko Institut and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) to explore in depth the different options for the EU Member States to contribute to a 30 percent carbon target. The institutes were also asked to assess different EU financing mechanisms to leverage additional

CAN Europe made a submission to the European Commission’s Consultation on the EU’s 2050 Energy Roadmap.

Everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask about Europe’s First Energy Source

A report by CE Delft commissioned by CAN Europe on identifying breakthrough technologies for the production of ammonia, olefins and aromatics in the European region.

This briefing from the University of Cambridge Program of Sustainabilty Leadership outlines the economic case for why Euroope should more to a 30% reduciton target in 2020.

In this report CAN Europe elaborates on the numerous benefits that moving to a -30% 2020 EU greenhouse gas target will have on Member States’ budgets.

On April 21st 2010 the European Commission released a communication entitled “A twelve-point EU action plan in support of the Millennium Development Goals.”

  Loss of competitiveness and so called “carbon leakage” have often been used as arguments to avoid stronger and more adequate climate action by the European Union, such as the implementation of a 30% reduction target by 2020. However, convincing scientific evidence offering clear proof of carbon leakage, related to