Hydrogen has been proclaimed for some time now as a transitional fuel from fossil gas to sustainable renewables, especially in the last months with the fossil fuel crisis and geopolitics driven from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, for hydrogen to be a true sustainable energy source, it has to be

To: Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President, European Green Deal  To: Ditte Juul-Jorgensen, Director General for Energy of the European Commission  To: Céline Gauer, Director General of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force  Cc: Diederik Samsom, Head of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans RE: Civil society organisations open letter –

PRESS RELEASE Majority vote in favour of gas operators in charge of designing hydrogen infrastructure undermines infrastructure plans for the much needed transition to really sustainable renewables, especially in the heating sector. More work is needed for a Buildings Directive that is on track with the Paris Agreement and our

Despite the EU strongly being impacted by one of the worst energy price crises, EU policy makers could miss the opportunity to take strong measures to exit fossil gas: through a filthy gas based governance for future hydrogen networks under the gas package and what could be a quick stop

Dear Energy Attachés,  We are an alliance of local authorities and civil society groups calling for a framework to ensure gas Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are better prepared for the shift to renewable energies in the heat sector.  The decarbonisation of the energy system (mainly via electrification and the development

EU industrial strategy is in a period of frenetic activity, especially as EU industry is affected by multiple converging crises resulting in increased costs and supply chain provisioning difficulties. This is the case for industry in many other countries, so is not specific to the EU. However, there is a

Dear Member of the European Parliament, Developing a European renewable hydrogen network is vital to our energy transition. The EU must secure world leadership in this key technology, build energy security, and decarbonise the hard-to-electrify sectors in record time via this solution. Due to its chemical and economic characteristics, renewable

  In reaction to the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States (IRA), the European Commission announced an upcoming Net Zero Industry Act and a loosening of the State aid framework. It would establish new goals for European cleantech projects until the end of the decade, with particular emphasis on

As the final trilogue discussions approach on the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), it is important to understand how this legislation can be the missing piece when it comes to Europe weaning off fossil gas. As we approach the end of winter filled with energy uncertainty, policy makers and governments have

The Orientations proposed by the European Commission in November 2022 to reform the EU economic governance, if not improved, risk deepening the climate crisis. While they make austerity less brutal and give more leeway for Member States to invest, they do not propose anything to ensure that this fiscal leeway

This op ed was first published by Social Europe. Strong climate governance means holding governments to account. The EU institutions have shied away from doing so. In November, the European Union institutions reached an agreement on the legislative revision of two prominent files of the ‘Fit For 55’ climate package:

We the undersigned organizations advocating for climate justice, understand the importance of peaceful dissent, participation, and advocacy to demand climate action and to ensure the actions taken advance human rights. We stand in solidarity with Egyptian human rights defenders and climate justice advocates, who continue to bravely work for a

Emissions Trading System’s agreement raises climate ambition, but is still not in line with the 1.5°C goal and the 70% emissions reduction needed Free pollution permits to industry will only be phased out fully by 2034, leaving big polluters continue to receive billions of allowances without paying for their emissions

Media Advisory The Council’s position on the Methane Regulation weakens leakage reduction measures and does nothing to slash emissions from imports. Czech EU Presidency remains stubborn on the 40% EU renewable target despite a significant number of Member States, civil society and businesses supporting higher ambition.  The push for low

At the coming Environment Council meeting you will discuss several interlinked topics from climate change to biodiversity protection, incorporating zero pollution, circular economy and industrial emissions generally and specifically on F-gases and ozone-depleting substances. These policies address issues that mainly result from unsustainable production and consumption practices. We are writing

At the coming Environment Council meeting you will discuss several interlinked topics from climate change to biodiversity protection, incorporating zero pollution, circular economy and industrial emissions generally and specifically on F-gases and ozone-depleting substances. These policies address issues that mainly result from unsustainable production and consumption practices. We are writing

MEDIA ADVISORY The EU can’t afford an own goal: policy makers should look to score on bolder climate ambition as the final whistle is about to bring key legislative proposals to conclusion, namely the Emissions Trading System, the Social Climate Fund and the Energy Efficiency Directive   Brussels, 12 December

Brussels, 30 November 2022 – Today’s European Commission proposal to create a carbon removals certification framework leaves too many important questions unanswered, such as by whom and how the certificates will be used, risking it becoming a tool for delaying decarbonisation and bringing accounting loopholes into climate policy. The regulation,

Around 50 000 large-scale industrial installations are covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), at the core of which lies an obligation for Member States’ authorities to prepare an environmental permit for a given industrial site, based on the sector’s best available techniques and upholding a holistic approach to pollution

In spite of EU climate goals and soaring gas prices, an EU Modernisation Fund for energy systems has spent €167m over the past year to potentially convert coal-fired heat and power plants to gas. Burning gas is problematic from climate, energy security, sustainability and health perspectives. Some member states argue

European Parliament calls for immediate withdrawal from failed, anti-climate Energy Charter Treaty Brussels, 24 November 2022 – CAN Europe welcomes the plenary resolution passed by the European Parliament today with a big margin of 303 votes in favour, supporting the Parliament’s conclusion that the reformed ECT is not aligned with the

Energy poverty is not a new phenomenon: In 2019, 1 in 4 households in the EU, over 50 million individuals, could not afford to adequately heat, cool or light their homes. COVID-19, a war in Ukraine, skyrocketing energy prices and a cost of living crisis have further exacerbated this situation. 

Climate justice win to help people suffering from loss and damage and to make the EU and other big historical polluters pay for the impacts of climate change Risk of funds going down the drain if emissions reductions are not addressed to stop causing climate change Groundhog day when naming

  Turkey announced at COP27 an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), setting 2038 as an emission peak year The new scenario presented as a success translates into increasing today’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30% until 2030, by not planning to reduce emissions in absollute terms – aka from

Much higher ambition could inspire other countries to step for the mitigation work programme which governments are expected to adopt at COP27 The EU should increase its energy targets for 2030 in the coming weeks to bring higher emissions reductions Fossil fuels phase out by 2030 and calling a halt

Dear President Nausėda, Dear Prime Minister Kariņš,  Dear Prime Minister Kallas,   Dear Minister Kreivys, Dear Minister Indriksone, Dear Minister Sikkut,   We, the signatories of this joint letter, are writing as there are ongoing discussions on the EED and RED revisions in order to call on you to support

The EU will sign a MoU on renewable hydrogen with Egypt, while having already signed one with Namibia last week, and is about to sign one on hydrogen only with Japan. Until hydrogen is 100% renewable, it will continue being produced from fossil gas, worsening the energy and the climate

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Considering the power of methane as a greenhouse gas, its emissions pose a major threat to the environment. The European Commission has published a proposal for Regulation aiming to regulate and reduce methane emissions (the ‘proposal for Methane Regulation’). It envisaged three types of measures: Measurement, Reporting and

The pledge has no legally binding effects, and it introduces nothing new to the current EU commitments in the Methane Regulation Proposal – under discussion at the European Parliament and Council level.  The EU needs to regulate oil and gas imports to tackle methane emissions Brussels – Sharm-el-Sheikh, 11 November

Photo credit: Bianka Csenki (Artivist Network), Instagram @8iank4 (@artivistnet) Link to photos and videos of the protest available here   Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. 11 November 2022 – Amidst the formal agenda on the UN climate negotiations in Egypt, hundreds of people led by seven women from the Global South

  Lack of ambition and transparency in EU’s Fit for 55 forest and land use regulation (LULUCF) Worrying flexibilities that exclude emissions from natural disturbances and give Member States the ability to write off under achievements – putting the  overall emissions targets at risk. Brussels, 11 November – The European

Disappointing level of ambition – failure to draw a strict and reliable trajectory  ESR agreement is not in in line with 1.5°C goal and the 50% reductions needed   Last night (08/11), the European Parliament, Council and Commission concluded the trilogue process on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which sets

  MEDIA ADVISORY Fears of EU backtracking on fossil fuels tomorrow   The European Parliament to vote in Plenary a ‘REPowerEU’ proposal that would allow more fossil gas investments under “security of supply” pretext – ironically as Finance Ministers come together to discuss how to facilitate the global transition on

COP27, hosted by an African Presidency, is here. Judging its outcomes will not only depend on the negotiation agreements and in the form of COP decisions, and to what extent these will deliver progress in key areas that CAN Europe has stressed as essential, such as mitigation for 1.5°C, adaptation

The UN Climate Summit COP27 is just around the corner. As always, it has to address a range of issues to solve the biggest challenge humanity faces, but some will be more in focus and more defining for the outcome than others. Multifaceted crises such as the climate emergency, COVID-19,

To: EU Commission: President, Von der Leyen; Vice President, Timmermans; Vice President, Borrell German Chancellor, Scholz; German Vice Chancellor, Habeck President of France, Macron President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella; Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni  Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez; Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Teresa Ribera We, [signatories] are gravely

  A mural painted at Josif Pančić elementary school in Belgrade depicts the transition from dirty fossil fuels to reliable, safe and clean renewable energy sources The “Energy Superheroes” Coaly, Sunny and Windy in the mural  come to life thanks to augmented reality mobile phone app Serbia, heavily affected by

MEDIA BRIEFING  How do we manage to keep us below the 1.5°C limit in a fair manner through international climate negotiations – the role of Europe #FairFor1Point5 The expectations are high for the 2022 international climate talks. After a tremendously difficult 3 years which have seen the COVID pandemic, war

This fossil winter crisis is fuelled by human made disasters such as war and climate change, both wrecking the futures of tens of millions of people in Europe and beyond. This fossil winter crisis has exposed Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil gas and fossil fuels in general. Through our energy

EU Energy Ministers adopted an agreement today on the Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD) which fails to maximise the potential of buildings in addressing the climate, energy and socio-economic priorities stemming from the trilemma we find ourselves in. While Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) are officially part of the Council’s

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recast is a once-in-a-generation opportunity because any ambitious choice made now on our buildings will have positive and long-lasting environmental and socio-economic impacts. A successful revision must recognise the importance of the Directive beyond buildings performance itself and it needs to represent a

The European Parliament passes a UN Climate Summit resolution asking for increased emissions reductions, fossil fuels phase out and scaled up climate finance, and a loss and damage finance facility The Parliament’s position should be a springboard for next Monday’s Council conclusions, which will set the EU’s bar in the

In a joint letter, 18 organisations from across the economy, including NGOs and city representatives, the construction, EV, and renewable heating sectors, and flexibility service providers, as well as solar PV and solar thermal industries, call on EU Energy Ministers and the European Parliament to support an ambitious EU solar mandate.

To: EU energy ministers, EU 27 Brussels, October 10, 2022 Dear Minister,   Last year, the European Commission published its proposed reforms of the European Union’s gas market rules, called the Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package (referred to as ‘the Gas Package’). The proposed legislation aimed to set out

Dear Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Dear Ms Esther de Lange MEP, Dear Mr David Casa MEP, Dear Mr Peter Liese MEP, Dear EVP Frans Timmermans, Cc Shadow rapporteurs for the Social Climate Fund Cc Shadow rapporteurs for the revision of the European Emission Trading System

Now more than ever, there is a strong public demand within EU countries to embrace a solar revolution. As national governments are now scrambling to secure alternative energy sources, it is the opportune moment for them to engage with citizens, communities and businesses and untap the large solar energy potential

    Istanbul, October 6 2022 – Travel to Rome, Athens or Istanbul to take part in the Olympic games and at the same time do something good for the climate. Sounds good? You can do so by staying at home and downloading the new mobile phone video game for

To: Environment Ministers/Ministers responsible for UNFCCC of EU Member States, Executive Vice President Commissioner for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans Fair for 1.5°C at UNFCCC COP27 Dear Ministers, Dear Executive Vice President Commissioner for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, We are writing to you to share CAN Europe’s

To: Ministers of Finance in EU Member States, Commissioner for Budget and Administration Hahn, Executive Vice President Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis, to the attention of EVP Commissioner for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans Dear Minister of Finance, Aligning climate finance flows towards needs: Climate Action Network Europe’s recommendations

The EU could reach net zero emissions as much as a decade earlier than currently planned by raising its ambition by 2030   The EU27’s ‘Fit for 55’ and ‘REPowerEU’ plans are not strong enough to align with the Paris Agreement. Faster emissions reductions, as indicated by the many feasible 1.5°C

A stepping stone – EU Parliament votes on higher targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy  Brussels, 14th September: As President Von der Leyen alluded to in her State of Union address, energy savings and investing in renewable energy can help bring prices down and make our energy supply last

We need a modern fiscal framework fit for climate change. Now. The reform of the EU’s fiscal rules should consider the need for investments and spending to achieve a just green transition that is currently being hampered by the austere fiscal rules, argues Isabelle Brachet. In a few weeks, the

Turkey should reduce its emissions by 35% until 2030 Climate NGOs from Turkey ask the policy makers to aim for at least 35% absolute emission reduction by 2030 as the new climate target ahead of COP27 Istanbul, 31 August 2022  – Turkey(1) should aim to reduce its emissions at least

In response to the current energy crisis and looming climate emergency, many citizens and communities across Europe are looking towards establishing their own energy community or energy cooperative as a viable solution to these crises. However, for Central Eastern Europe, the uptake of these local energy initiatives has been quite

Outrage as Italy ordered to pay out millions to oil investor over Energy Charter Treaty claim   The huge sum that Rockhopper receives in compensation is almost nine times more than its initial investment The ECT allows the oil giant to sue for the loss of future profit, not just

Do not resuscitate: how the Energy Charter Treaty reform could resurrect a climate monster July 2022 The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is an international trade agreement that protects foreign investors in the energy sector. It grants companies the power to sue governments through Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) for actions which

Sent to the European Commission on 19th July 2022. Download the PDF at the bottom of the page. Key recommendations The present briefing assesses key components of the European Commission’s proposal to amend the RRF regulation in the context of the RepowerEU strategy. Our overarching recommendations are the following: the

Taking Stock & Planning Ahead: National Energy and Climate Plans as a tool to achieve climate safety and energy security Life Unify Report   July 2022 To do its fair and science-based share under the Paris Agreement, the EU must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% by

Extreme weather in Europe and its impact on lives, livelihoods and biodiversity will continue and worsen unless EU policy makers accelerate  climate action EU legislators have the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Europe and across the world from climate disasters This year’s run up to winter in the

Dear Executive Vice President Commissioner Timmermans, The Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) to be held on 18-19 July, and co-chaired by the COP27 Presidency and the Government of Germany, comes at a critical time. Hundreds of millions of people in developing countries are suffering from multiple crises including impacts of climate

NOTE: Press Release issued by Energy Community,  whose website is down at the time of release Just Transition Forum calls for ambitious 2030 energy and climate targets and inclusive policies to advance the clean energy transition Sarajevo, 12 July, 2022 – Today, over 200 stakeholders gathered at the Just Transition

European Commission must guarantee a meaningful role for civil society in ‘RebuildUkraine’ Statement by European and Ukrainian civil society organisations Published during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Lugano (Switzerland), 5 July 2022   European civil society has been standing and continues to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people in

European and Ukrainian citizens don’t want a greenwashed Taxonomy  Legal action to prove incompatibility of labelling gas and nuclear as green in Taxonomy with the EU’s climate laws  Financial community calls out fake green obsession “utter nonsense” Strasbourg, 6 July 2022 – Today, the European Parliament voted in favour (278/328/33)

On 22nd June a hybrid round-table discussion gathered participants from the business sector, academia, CSOs and government representatives from across the Western Balkans region. The event, titled „The opportunities and challenges for the business sector from the introduction of carbon pricing mechanisms in the Western Balkan Region“, took place in

Deal on Council negotiation position on EU climate laws finally reached, but fails to face up to urgency of the climate emergency and the need to support vulnerable people in the transition Ambition of Fit for 55 package continues to not be in line with 1.5°C goal  Position still contains

The chemical industry is one of the central energy-intensive industries (EIIs) to be targeted in EU efforts to reduce environmental and social impacts through the European Green Deal. As a dynamic and heterogeneous sector, it features considerable potential to help address climate-related and wider environmental and social crises. Opportunities to

Steelmaking is one of the industrial processes that generates the highest amount of CO2 emissions in the EU, primarily due to its use of coking coal as a reactant and fuel. Accounting for 5.7% of the bloc’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), driving down the emissions of this energy-intensive sector

Brussels, 27th June 2022 – The general approach coming out of the Energy Council today did not reflect the calls made by leaders back in February, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Instead, Energy Ministers stuck close to the proposed overall EU binding targets back in July 2021 as part of

To: all Ministers of Environment of the European Union June 2022 Dear Minister of Environment, We are writing to you ahead of your next meeting on 28 June 2022, where you will discuss the revision of key climate files under the Fit For 55 package, including the crucial revision of

EU Commission turns a deaf ear to multiple calls to exit the Energy Charter Treaty The European Commission supports greenwashing reform of this unsustainable Treaty despite the European Parliament and countries such as Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany pushing to withdraw from it. CAN Europe and climate organisations alert

June 23 2022 Dear Minister of Environment Dear Permanent Representative As the Council adopts its general approach on the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), we – the signatories of this letter – would like to draw your attention to the necessity to safeguard the integrity of national climate targets for the

Businesses, investor groups, local and regional authorities, trade unions and civil society groups come together to demand urgent and bold action from EU Environment Ministers   Europeans are now facing multiple crises: the consequences of a global pandemic, adverse social consequences of the economic downturn, the tragic invasion of Ukraine,

EU Member States (Social Affairs Council) adopted a Recommendation on a “Fair transition towards climate neutrality”. The objective is to ensure that the transition of the EU towards a climate-neutral and environmentally sustainable economy is fair and inclusive. The Recommendation reflects the awareness that climate policies need to be socially

  Marginal gains in some areas of the ECT are outweighed by increased risks associated with expansions to new technologies and geographies. A reformed ECT could harm and not help accession countries in the Global South to regulate their energy markets in the public interest, adapt to and mitigate climate

Placing citizens at the heart of the green and just transition: new REAL DEAL Project on exploring meaningful participation for the European Green Deal Brussels, June 17, 2022   The European Green Deal (EGD) cannot be successfully implemented and reach its goal of a climate-neutral continent by 2050 without the

Brussels, June 15, 2022 RFNBO production needs strict criteria to ensure emission reductions, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and prevent increasing energy prices for consumers To: President Ursula von der Leyen Cc: Executive Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Simson, Commissioner Vălean, Commissioner Breton, Mr Kurt Vandenberghe, Mr Maggi, Ms Marquez Uriarte and Ms

  Brussels, June 14 – Today, the European Parliament’s Joint Committee on Economic Affairs and Environment (ECON/ENVI) rejected the Commission’s proposal for a Complementary Delegated Act (CDA) on Taxonomy classifying fossil gas and nuclear as “green” activities. Lawmakers succeeded in mobilising comfortable majorities (76/62/4) against this classification system for private investors,

  Emissions Trading System rejection is a dangerous delay and leaves climate ambition hanging in the balance The Environment Committee must double down efforts for a stronger more ambitious Fit for 55 without siding with industry lobbyists Other climate files pass, but with major flaws at the expense of climate

More than 6 months after COP26 in Glasgow, governments are meeting during the next two weeks for the UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany, the host city to the UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Climate Change). These “intersessional” negotiations usually take place every mid-year in preparation for the big UN climate summits,

Citizens’ demand for rooftop solar photovoltaics is rapidly increasing, and governments should intervene through incentives and better permitting procedures, writes Seda Orhan. The new EU Solar Strategy published by the European Commission last week says, “panel by panel, the infinite energy of the sun will help reduce our dependence on