To ensure we reach net zero emissions by 2040, EU Member States need to phase out fossil fuels and commit to a strong reduction in energy consumption and a transition of our energy system to one that is 100% based on sustainable renewable energy sources (RES) by 2040. The current

To ensure we reach net zero emissions by 2040, EU Member States need to phase out fossil fuels and commit to a strong reduction in energy consumption and a transition of our energy system to one that is 100% based on sustainable renewable energy sources (RES) by 2040. The current

A report commissioned by the French government on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, to be presented to French Prime Minister today shows that solely the expansion of beef production in the Mercosur region as a result of the deal would accelerate deforestation by at least 25% annually and destroy 36,000 km2

The members of the European Parliament (EP) have voted for maximising the energy efficiency potential of the EU building stock[1], calling on the European Commission to develop consistent measures to stimulate a faster and deeper renovation of buildings. Buildings consume 40 percent of all energy in the EU and emit

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed the new target in her state of the (European) Union address at the European Parliament yesterday. She said “the Western Balkans are the European Union” and called the region “a part of Europe, and not a stopover on the

In her first State of the Union, European Commission president Von der Leyen tabled a proposal for at least 55% emission cuts for the EU by 2030, up from the previous 40% target. This substantial increase in emission reductions in the short term is a welcome step provided the urgent

PRESS RELEASE The European Parliament has adopted its position on the Just Transition Fund (JTF), and has allowed for fossil gas subsidies to be included while the goal of the fund is to support fossil-fuel reliant regions in their swift transition to climate neutrality, away from fossil fuels. This vote

The European Commission will likely launch on Thursday 17 September a proposal to increase the EU’s 2030 climate target to -55% emission reductions and removals of greenhouse gases, as compared to 1990 levels. This is a substantial increase from the current at least -40% target, though the two cannot be fully

The members of the Environment committee of the European Parliament have set their position on the European Climate Law. By endorsing a 2030 climate target for the EU of 60% emission reductions, up from the current 40%, they made a key step closer to what is needed to achieve the

The final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) show that 11 out of 18 EU coal-countries do not have a Paris-compatible plan to phase-out coal by 2030, finds new report entitled Just Transition or Just Talk – 2020, published by Ember and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe.   Seven countries do

Science confirms that the best way to prevent dramatic climate change is to cut greenhouse gas emission by 65% by 2030. The following four recent studies illustrate the benefits of ambitious climate action in the EU. The higher the 2030 climate target, the higher the social and economic benefits According

In a joint letter, CAN Europe, the EEB, and Greenpeace call on the European Commission to investigate state aid provisions within the German coal exit law. The letter to Commissioners Vestager, Timmermans and Sinkevičius comes with an annex listing the five minimal conditions for approval of the law. TO: Margrethe

The members of the Environment committee of the European Parliament have set their position on the European Climate Law. By endorsing a 2030 climate target for the EU of 60% emission reductions, up from the current 40%, they made a key step closer to what is needed to achieve the

We are deeply concerned about the position taken by the European Parliament’s REGI Committee in the negotiations on the Just Transition Fund (JTF), proposing to subsidise new fossil gas investments. The European Commission’s own scenarios for a long term strategy that would see the EU hitting carbon neutrality by 2050

CAN Europe’s submission focuses on the work strands that are currently covered byCAN Europe’s submission focuses on the work strands that are currently covered byCAN Europe, namely the system development under the Ten Year NetworkDevelopment Plan (TYNDP), transparency issues and methane leakage.

The final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) show that 11 out of 18 EU coal-countries do not have a Paris-compatible plan to phase-out coal by 2030, finds new report entitled Just Transition or Just Talk – 2020, published by Ember and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe.  

REPORT National Energy and Climate Plans reveal that the EU countries set to receive most of the Just Transition Fund plan to stick with coal – or swap it for fossil gas.

Science confirms that the best way to prevent dramatic climate change is to cut greenhouse gas emission by 65% by 2030. The following four recent studies illustrate the benefits of ambitious climate action in the EU.

The upcoming Strategic Communication on the Renovation Wave is crucial to deliver on the objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU Recovery Plan, since faster and deeper energy renovations are a must for a climate-neutral Europe and a clear win-win investment priority for a green and fair recovery.

Türkiye-AB Sivil Toplum Diyaloğu Beşinci Dönem Hibe Programı çerçevesinde, Türkiye Ekonomi Politikaları Araştırma Vakfı (TEPAV), Güneydoğu Avrupa Değişim Ağı (SEE Change Network) ve Avrupa İklim Eylem Ağı (CAN Europe) ortaklığında Nisan 2019 – Haziran 2020 tarihleri arasında yürütülmüş olan “Türkiye 2050 Hesaplayıcısı: İklim Politikası Diyaloğunun Desteklenmesi” projesi kapsamında “Türkiye ekonomisinin karbondan arındırılması:

Within the scope of the Civil Society Dialogue Program (Fifth Phase), Turkey Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), Southeast Europe Change Network (SEE Change Network) and the Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe have conducted the project “Turkey 2050 Calculator: Climate Policy Dialogue” from April 2019 to June 2020. The report “Decarbonization of Turkey’s

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe strongly condemns the unjustified detention of local members of the CAN network and is deeply concerned about their safety.  

People around the world keep turning to the courts as politicians fail to deliver anything close to the necessary level of climate action. The Portuguese children’s case filed today with the European Court of Human Rights, is the most recent one in Europe that is trying to hold European countries

Von der Leyen should look for a commissioner that brings trade policy in line with climate ambition to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, after her trade chief, Phil Hogan, resigned yesterday evening.

CAN Europe welcomes the preparation of the EU offshore renewable energy strategy. To ensure we reach net zero emissions by 2040, EU Member States need to phase out fossil fuels and commit to a strong reduction in energy consumption and a transition of our energy system to one that is

According to youth climate activists who met with the German Chancellor yesterday, Angela Merkel announced that Germany will not ratify the EU-Mercosur Agreement in its current form. This news came after the mobilisation of 1.7 million Europeans calling upon the EU to stop the EU-Mercosur Agreement [1].

CAN Europe’s submission focuses on the work strands that are currently covered by CAN Europe, namely the system development under the Ten Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) and transparency issues.

CAN Europe calls upon the Commission to build policy frameworks that guarantee economy-wide transformations that meet several environmental objectives. This letter specifically focuses on the policy tools being developed in the context of industrial transformation, spanning across the Industrial Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan. The European Green Deal

Are EU member-states in Southeast Europe ready for timely and just transition beyond coal? For the Western Balkans, membership hopefuls, the question is how much longer can public subsidies and Chinese loans keep coal zombie alive at growing cost to health, livelihoods, and the environment? Energy transition to climate-neutral Europe means

CAN Europe is asking both policymakers and grid operators to make the TYNDP fully compatible with the Paris Agreement. European energy infrastructure urgently needs to be prepared for a 100% renewable energy system, making use of all flexibility options in a swift and cost-effective way.

Europe is once again hit by heat waves. Impacts of the climate crisis are threatening lives, livelihoods, jobs and fundamental rights of many Europeans. The EU must urgently and drastically  increase its 2030 climate target and direct all EU funds towards a just transition to climate neutrality to protect its

Are EU member-states in Southeast Europe ready for timely and just transition beyond coal? For the Western Balkans, membership hopefuls, the question is how much longer can public subsidies and Chinese loans keep coal zombie alive at growing cost to health, livelihoods, and the environment?

More links between air pollution and Covid-19 cases, hospital admissions, and deaths are discovered by the study of 355 municipalities in the Netherlands conducted by the IZA Institute of Labour Economics(1). Other studies found that long term exposure to PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) can reduce lung

For the first time, EU leaders will discuss the European Commission’s proposals for a revised long-term EU budget, including significant recovery funding to address the economic shortfall caused by COVID-19, at an online European Summit this Friday. By focusing EU recovery spending on the green transition towards climate neutrality, heads

EU Heads of State and Government agreed on a more ambitious green recovery proposal, which includes an increase of the climate action spending target to 30%, with a view to achieving the new EU 2030 climate target that is to be updated by the end of the year.

As Europe’s energy system transitions, its infrastructure needs are also changing. The need to reflect higher climate and energy targets, to accelerate the phase out of all fossil fuels, and build out of renewable energy, the role of decentralised technologies and the need to support a more democratically-owned energy system

Future energy infrastructure planning in Europe needs to be fully aligned with the Paris Agreement. CAN Europe recommends to increase variation of TYNDP 2022 storylines by assessing higher ambition of greenhouse gas emission reductions. In order to reach the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, a trajectory towards net-zero emissions

A new report published by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and CEE Bankwatch Network identifies concrete investment proposals as listed in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) of 14 Member States to be funded in order to ensure a green recovery. The report titled “EU Funds for a Green Recovery”,

Ahead of the Special European Council on 17-18 July and the G20 Finance Ministers Summit on July 18-19 2020, these letters call on EU decision-makers to support an EU recovery package which will support a green and just transition through:

The report “EU funds for a Green Recovery: Recommendations for Member States to steer EU regional and recovery funding towards climate neutrality”, published by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and CEE Bankwatch Network, identifies concrete investment proposals as listed in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) of 14 Member States

The European Commission aims to make hydrogen a crucial part of becoming climate-neutral, proposing a massive scale up in the short term, but needs to focus early enough on hydrogen produced with renewable electricity, the only hydrogen able to deliver the needed climate benefits in hard to decarbonise sectors. The

The EU’s Clean Hydrogen Alliance, set to be launched on 8 July, is proposed to play an important role in implementing the future Hydrogen Strategy of the European Union. However, the undersigned organisations are concerned that the proposed Alliance risks establishing a clear conflict of interest by granting industry undue

The Committee for regional development of the European Parliament has adopted its position on the Just Transition Fund. By allowing the fund to finance fossil gas, they set the Parliament up against the European Commission and the Council, while diverting away from earlier European Parliament’s decisions to end fossil fuel

Two recent examples of the Dutch and German coal exit show how fossil fuel firms are using an outdated international investment treaty, the Energy Charter Treaty, to attack climate policies. The treaty provides fossil fuel companies with a strong tool to impede the clean energy transition. It is time to

Offshore wind plays a key role in the energy transition to limit temperature rise to 1.5° as stated in the Paris Agreement. The North Seas Countries, including Germany, and the European Commission met today to discuss how to improve planning and cooperation to ensure offshore wind is deployed in a

The European grid operators ENTSO-E and ENTSOG have updated their scenarios for the Ten Year Network Development Plan 2020. CAN Europe welcomes that the grid operators improved transparency of their scenario building, however, while we are in a climate emergency and the European Commission plans to increase the EU climate

Media Advisory The European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI) is voting on the EU Just Transition Fund – which aims to support EU regions in their transition to climate neutrality – on 6 July. They have the chance to follow the EU Council, which last week agreed to fully

62 NGOs, including WWF and CAN Europe, have sent a letter to MEPs of the REGI committee calling for the exclusion of fossil fuels from the Just Transition Fund, ahead of a vote on 6 July.

Action in the next 10 years will be most decisive in reaching the 1.5°C objective. The EU will need to increase its 2030 domestic greenhouse emission reduction target under the Paris Agreement from at least 40% to at least 65% compared to 1990 emissions. Such an ambition level would be

Civil society’s proposal for putting Europe’s energy transition back on track By Jörg Mühlenhoff and Jonathan Bonadio Published in energypost.eu Jörg Mühlenhoff, Energy Scenarios Policy Coordinator, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Jonathan Bonadio Policy Officer on Renewables, Climate and Grids, European Environmental Bureau Europe’s energy landscape can become fully renewable

European civil society organisations map out the first-ever NGO-led energy scenario based on 100% renewable energy and looking at reducing carbon emissions by at least 65% by 2030. The analysis corroborates existing evidence, showing that Europe can achieve climate neutrality by 2040 – a decade before the 2050 target –

Non-governmental organisations led by Climate Action Network Europe and European Environmental Bureau are putting forward an energy scenario which maps out a path to a climate neutral Europe by 2040. This collective work shows that more ambitious targets needed to implement the Paris Agreement are possible, including reducing greenhouse gas

Yesterday the Council agreed to exclude all fossil fuel activities, including fossil gas, from the scope of the Just Transition Fund, a financial mechanism meant to support EU regions that currently rely the most on fossil fuels in their just transition towards climate neutrality.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that the European Union should align its short-term recovery objectives with the long-term climate goal by investing in energy efficiency and clean energy infrastructure to see greenhouse gas emissions further decline. These are some of the key recommendations put forward in IEA’s quinquennial report

Today EU environment ministers have met to discuss the contribution of environmental and climate policies to the recovery from COVID-19, with a focus on circular economy. Ministers overwhelmingly acknowledged the crisis requires a rethink of our production and consumption patterns, but more consistency and synergies between climate and environment policies

At today’s 22nd bilateral EU-China Summit, the EU and China have committed to develop economic stimuli that address both the economic and the climate crises. They have also reaffirmed their commitments to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, through closer partnership on climate action and the clean energy transition.

This letter offers our views on key aspects of the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and the Biodiversity Strategy.

If countries want to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change, temperature increase must be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels: a central objective of the Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 countries. To achieve this objective, all countries must substantially and urgently increase their current inadequate levels of individual

EU Heads of State and Government have exchanged their views on the revised EU budget and additional recovery funds proposed by the European Commission to counter the economic crisis.While there was support for a recovery focus on the green dimension, they must now make sure that the money will be

This briefing provides an assessment of the European Commission proposal ‘The EU budget powering the recovery plan for Europe’ and analyses a number of new and revised pieces of legislation for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-27 and Next Generation EU 2021-24.

CAN Europe calls upon the Commission to build policy frameworks that guarantee economy-wide transformations that meet several environmental objectives.

For the first time, EU leaders will discuss the European Commission’s proposals for a revised long-term EU budget, including significant recovery funding to address the economic shortfall caused by COVID-19, at an online European Summit this Friday. By focusing EU recovery spending on the green transition towards climate neutrality, heads

The Energy Ministers exchanged views on the needed economic transformation towards climate neutrality which is a major opportunity to reduce the use of fossil fuels and promote European leadership in developing and deploying sustainable technologies. The ministers acknowledged during today’s last ministerial meeting under the Croatian Presidency that the energy

▶️ One Balkan country clocks its first coal-free days,▶️ Another is rushing in the opposite direction, reviving shelved projects for a new coal plant.▶️ 2-speed energy transition in the Western Balkans,▶️ but delaying just transition beyond coal costs more.  Read the latest news and stories from the region’s journey beyond

At the global level, growth in renewable power has been strong over the past five years, overpassing all the other fuels in growth and competitiveness. Globally, too little is happening in heating, cooling and transport where the barriers are still nearly the same as ten years ago. As for Europe,

This letter co-signed by 8 NGO networks was sent to Heads of States ahead of the European Council on 19 June, with recommendations on Heading VI (Neighbourhood and the World) of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the external aspects of the Next Generation EU 2021-2024.

Amidst the public health turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governments’ prime attention is directed towards finding ways to limit the number of fatalities and prevent a collapse of public health systems. At the same time, the international political agenda has been shaken, with major events, such as the UN

More than 20 NGOs including East Mediterranean Platform of Environment Associations, the Chamber of Doctors in Adana, Chamber of Agricultural Engineers in Adana, 350.org, Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe), Ekosfer, Greenpeace Mediterranean, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), and Yuva Association called Chinese banks to withdraw their financial support to

To limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, the EU needs to move to climate neutrality and shift towards a 100% renewables-based energy system by 2040. The current EU 2030 renewable energy target is not in line with what is needed to reach the Paris Agreement target. Under the Clean Energy Package,

The COVID-19 crisis has shed light on the vulnerability of our healthcare and global economic systems, but it has also, paradoxically, opened our eyes to the many advantages of a low-carbon lifestyle, writes Wendel Trio.

Under certain conditions, renewable hydrogen can be considered as Paris compatible non-fossil gas. Under certain conditions, renewable hydrogen can be considered as Paris compatible non-fossil gas. Sectors where reducing emissions is most difficult such as the steel and chemicals or aviation, long-distance shipping and heavy-duty road transport could partly rely

A new report published today by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and ZERO looks into the final National energy and Climate Plans of 15 Member States and indicates that a number of countries made some improvements in their final NECPs, both in terms of targets and of policies and measures.

The report coordinated by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and ZERO looks into the final National energy and Climate Plans of 15 Member States and assesses how much final NECPs are improved compared to the draft ones and analyses the opportunities and gaps arising from the final NECPs. The report indicates

The European Commission has revealed its long-awaited proposal to relaunch the European economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite repeated commitments by the European Commission to make the European Green Deal the blueprint of the recovery, the proposal still allows for money to be spent on supporting fossil fuels and

MEDIA ADVISORY This week the Commission is expected to reveal an ‘EU recovery package’ worth hundreds of billion euros, including a revamped EU budget proposal and additional funds to relaunch the economy. This a unique opportunity to invest in more resilient and sustainable economies in line with the European Green

This document sets out principles and recommendations for climate and environment mainstreaming in the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), which is part of the EU budget.

In an integrated energy system, energy supply and demand sectors interact more closely in order to facilitate a reduced energy demand and the quick scale-up of renewable energy sources. Based on the interplay of generators and consumers in a well-connected energy infrastructure, inefficient fossil-based technologies and back-up capacities can be

The European Commission has published its biodiversity and “Farm to fork” strategies, two important pillars of its European Green Deal. Together with enhanced climate action, biodiversity restoration and the promotion of sustainable farming practices are key to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and building more resilient and sustainable

Poland’s largest oil refiner, PKN Orlen, declared its preliminary readiness for direct financial involvement in the construction of the 1GW Ostroleka-C coal power project only if it is converted into a gas unit(1). The announcement by PKN Orlen, which only last month acquired EnergaSa – one of the companies behind

Industry currently represents 14% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. If targets and incentives are set correctly industry will be essential to provide technological solutions at scale to curtail the climate and biodiversity crises.

While there is strong claimed support for a ‘green’ recovery from the European Commission, the European Parliament and key member states like Germany, the devil is in the detail, write Doreen Fedrigo and Camille Maury.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the Commission to make its upcoming COVID-19 economic recovery proposal fit for the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement goals. This echoes the Commission chief’s recent address to MEPs that the crisis exit should not return to yesterday’s economy, but invest in

Over one million people and 100 environmental NGOs across Europe are calling on the European Union to restart its economy by launching the biggest green investment plan the world has ever seen, financed by the bloc’s increased budget and recovery instrument. Tomorrow [Friday], MEPs will decide what they want in

The European Commission is expected to present a revised long-term EU budget for the period 2021- 2027 to address the economic shock caused by COVID-19. In a moment when the EU faces a recession of historic proportions, the next EU budget and investments to be made in the next 7

COVID-19 hit European citizens and the economy very hard. Today, Europe is facing an unprecedented economic shock. Governments are taking bold steps to alleviate negative impacts on society and to prevent a collapse of the economy. Europe is facing a recession and the EU and Member States are developing measures

Methane is the most potent greenhouse gas after CO2 and has been regulated both by the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. Long underreported and mostly ignored, awareness of the true magnitude and climate impact of methane emissions has increased significantly in recent years, in particular

The EU accession process with the Western Balkans requires more climate action now!

The time is right for the efforts by the EU, pursued under the Energy Community Treaty, which works to integrate the energy markets of the Union and its neighbours, and by the Western Balkan countries to pull together, not apart. The EU accession process with the Western Balkans requires more

Frans Timmermans, Vice president of the European Commission for the European Green Deal said that the Commission will only assess the emissions reduction target to 50 – 55% by 2030, during his presentation at the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee.

The COVID-19 health and economic crisis is converging with the increasingly evident climate and biodiversity crises. Global warming and ecosystem deterioration are laying the ground for future upheaval of society. While the recovery measures must address the immediate health, social and economic urgency, they must support the development of a resilient and

MEDIA ADVISORY The European Commission is working on a revision of the next long-term EU budget to address the economic shock caused by COVID-19. Expected are an overall increase for existing instruments, and proposals for new funds and potentially new sources of income. But the costs of worsening climate change

This joint statement on the COVID-19 crisis accompanies a set of recommendations from NGOs in February 2020 on Making the European Green Deal work for International Partnerships.

Europe’s energy infrastructure planning must move away from supporting fossil fuels and lay down rules for fully integrating energy efficiency and 100% renewables supply. It has to look at the entire range of energy solutions, on independent and evidence-based assumptions to be aligned with the EU’s climate and energy objectives,

Energy infrastructure is a key component in Europe’s fight against climate change. Investments must exclude any continued or new support for infrastructure based on fossil fuels or incompatible with nature protection.

The Member of the European Parliament in charge of the new EU climate law, Jytte Guteland from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), has announced today that she will support an increase of the EU’s 2030 climate target to 65%. In line with the latest science available, this

The EIB has made a commitment to aligning its operations with the Paris Agreement from the end of 2020. To get there it is developing a Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025 and inviting stakeholder input at various stages with the aim to finalise October 2020.

We call upon EU and national leaders to tackle the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic with unity, courage and innovation.

Transitioning to climate neutrality requires bold long-term investments in clean energy infrastructure. And public and private investments into energy efficiency and renewable energy are key to ensuring a sustainable economic recovery out of the current crisis. However, a new report shows how little EU countries use existing EU regional development