EU
Finland sets world’s most ambitious climate target in law
Finland’s goal to go net zero by 2035 and then carbon negative was based on equity as well as science, but it won’t be easy to reverse forest loss
European Commission overreported climate spending by €72 billion, auditors find
Only 13% of EU spending 2014-20 was relevant to climate action, not 20% as claimed, the European Court of Auditors said, with the biggest gap in farming policy
Europe should use its Putin-proofing energy plans to reinvigorate climate action
Many of the actions being taken for Europe’s energy security will cut emissions – so why not submit a stronger climate target to the UN?
EU unveils €300bn plan to quit Russian fossil fuels by 2027 and boost clean energy
The European Commission proposes increased ambition for renewables and energy efficiency, while seeking alternative oil and gas supplies in the short term
Ukraine builds legal case against Russia for environmental damage
Officials have recorded 231 alleged environmental crimes since Russian troops invaded and are preparing to seek reparations
EU plans to stop buying Russian crude oil in six months
In a tightening of sanctions against the Kremlin, Brussels proposes to cut off the source of a quarter of EU oil imports by the end of the year
Germany to build LNG terminals at ‘Tesla speed’ in shift away from Russian gas
Green vice-chancellor Robert Habeck is fast-tracking gas import facilities to weaken the Kremlin’s market power
Sweden set to be world’s first country to target consumption-based emission cuts
A deal between Sweden’s political parties positions the country to take responsibility for the carbon footprint of imported goods
Some EU members turn back to coal to cut reliance on Russian gas
Czechia, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy and Germany have indicated they might burn more coal in the short term in response to Vladimir Putin’s war
As EU leaders split on Russian energy sanctions, Commission moots 5-year plan
At a meeting in Versailles, member states agreed to phase out the use of Russian fossil fuels “as soon as possible” but didn’t set a deadline
Swap Russian gas for renewables, EU tells member states
Green spending could be funded by taxes on energy firms’ windfall profits, Brussels proposes, to cut the bloc’s Russian gas use by two thirds this year
Ukrainian official calls for Russian fossil fuel boycott at UN Environment Assembly
“They’re using this money to kill people,” Roman Shakhmatenko told the Nairobi-based meeting from a basement bomb shelter
Invasion tears Ukraine’s climate community away from life’s work
Under bombing, Ukrainian scientists taking part in the approval session of the upcoming IPCC report have had to withdraw from the meeting
An energy investment treaty has been holding Nord Stream 2 hostage
The German government has been worried about being sued by the fossil fuel companies behind the Russian gas pipeline under the Energy Charter Treaty
EU colour-blind on hydrogen – Climate Weekly
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‘Misleading’ Polish billboards blame EU climate policy for electricity costs
State-owned utilities are using rising energy costs to attack the EU emissions trading system, stoking tensions between Warsaw and Brussels
European Commission endorses fossil gas as ‘transition’ fuel for private investment
Campaigners fear Brussels’ sustainable finance taxonomy will lead to more gas power plants being built, locking in high emissions
Germany ‘must triple pace of emissions cuts’ to meet 2030 target
Germany missed its climate targets in 2021 and the incoming “traffic light” coalition is promising a major policy package to turn things around
EU climate package risks locking in gas use, campaigners warn
Under a proposed reform of the EU gas market, the industry gets to propose new gas and hydrogen infrastructure projects across the bloc
Campaigners seek to curb UK oil production through the high court
The UK’s oil and gas regulator does not take tax breaks or foreign ownership into account when deciding whether a license is in the national interest