EU
Brexit will leave US, China running global climate policy
At present the EU is collectively at a similar level to the other two global super powers, the US and China. A UK exit would alter the balance of power for good.
G7 leaders set 2025 deadline to scrap fossil fuel subsidies
Green groups claim promise is historic, but definition of subsidies remains vague in statement that also covers aviation, HFCs and urges early support for Paris Agreement
Sweden and Germany must keep Vattenfall’s coal in the ground
State-owned utility cannot walk away from its toxic legacy, warn environmental lawyers ClientEarth
Sweden urged to block Vattenfall coal plant sale
Opposition lawmakers call on state-owned utility to shut down polluting coal assets in Germany, instead of selling them to Czech firm EPH
Hungary becomes first in EU to approve Paris climate deal
Budapest breaks with traditional eastern European Visegrad Group allies to speedily ratify Paris Agreement
Austria elects first green president in close race
Alexander Van der Bellen narrowly beat populist rightwinger Norbert Hofer on postal votes
Poland’s pain: Weaning Warsaw off coal
Brussels is in a fix. It wants to retain its mantle as an international climate policy leader, but not all member states are playing ball
IRENA: Saudi Aramco float could spark renewables boom
Riyadh’s reforms spell big changes for the clean energy sector, says Adnan Amin
Fabius: EU failure to rapidly ratify Paris Agreement ‘damaging’
French former president of UN summit warns of negative consequences if Brussels does not formally join deal before it enters into force
France goes it alone on carbon price floor
President Francois Hollande plans to hike the cost of pollution at home, regardless of Brussels’ bloc-wide reforms
EU carbon market is subsidising Polish coal plants – NGO
Funds worth €12bn for modernising the power sector in poor member states are propping up fossil fuels, finds Carbon Market Watch
UK envoy: Carbon pricing ‘too sluggish’ to meet climate goals
Sir David King favours technology development over emissions trading as a way to shift emerging economies off coal
Canada, Germany lead calls to price 50% of carbon emissions by 2030
Global carbon market can promote innovation and accelerate low carbon development, say coalition of six leaders
Still time to salvage husky-hugging legacy, Cameron told
WWF reminds the UK prime minister of those good times in the Arctic ten years ago, when he promised to lead the greenest government ever
Revving down: Why Europe’s biggest carmakers are in for a rough ride
Between Dutch plans to ban sales of petrol cars from 2025 and the rapid rise of car sharing, the automotive industry faces some big challenges
Vattenfall takes US$3bn hit to exit German coal operations
Swedish utility cuts its losses in controversial transfer of dirty lignite operations to Czech energy company EPH, to reduce carbon exposure
Why implementing the Paris Agreement starts at home
European commissioner Miguel Arias Canete and Dutch environment chief Sharon Dijksma call on governments to get to work on Paris climate agreement
Europe’s Keystone XL: Planned gas pipeline is reckless
The Southern Gas Corridor risks locking in higher fossil fuel dependence and wasting colossal amounts of public money
Czech buyers of German coal plants linked to Panama Papers
NEWS: Swedish utility Vattenfall poised to sell dirty lignite operations to Czech billionaires who used offshore accounts to buy yacht and property
Greg Barker: Time for ‘fresh thinking’ on UK energy policy
NEWS: Former climate minister and envoy says he will advise new initiative to develop centre-right climate and energy policies, claiming greens are being wedded to ‘same answers’