Green News Brussels green lights €1.4bn in state subsidy for hydrogen projects The European Commission hopes to further boost EU clean energy technology by approving whopping state subsidies for a range of projects aimed at using hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in tranport. 28/05/2024
Green News Push for deal on ‘green claims’ rules raises fears of double standards Incoming EU legislation could force petroleum firms to temper their claims to be heading for net-zero emissions, but raises questions over the use of offsetting to fulfil climate action pledges. 28/05/2024
Green News Net Zero Industry Act sign-off heralds carbon capture deployment Legislation designed to protect European firms from US and Chinese competition during the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy also forces big oil to help keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. 27/05/2024
Green News Is Vienna set to break deadlock over Nature Restoration Law? Two of Austria's nine states have broken ranks, potentially ending a consensus that was preventing the federal government from voting in favour of the EU's Nature Restoration Law. 24/05/2024
Green News Electricity firms seek huge investment support for distribution grids Europe’s energy transition and the EU goal of reaching ‘net-zero’ emissions could be at risk unless the equivalent of 0.4% of GDP is pumped into upgrading electricity distribution systems, the power sector has warned as energy ministers finalise their position on future grid development. 23/05/2024
Green News Belgium makes last-ditch bid for deal on GMO deregulation Belgium is looking to break a deadlock among EU governments over a proposed easing of regulation for GMO crops produced using the latest gene editing techniques, by addressing concerns over the patenting of novel seed varieties by agribusinesses. 21/05/2024
Green News Ministers give green light to new electricity market rules EU governments have waved through new electricity market rules intended to limit price spikes, protect vulnerable consumers and businesses, and accelerate the deployment of ever more zero-emissions power capacity. 21/05/2024
Green News Industry backers say Europe needs a carbon capture tsar With real-world development lagging far behind the rhetoric of policy makers in Brussels, industry groups and big oil agree the EU needs a 'CCS tsar' to make the case for a climate solution that still attracts a lot of mistrust 15/05/2024
Green News Commission urges nature protection amid fast tracking of green energy Environmental groups have expressed relief at European Commission guidelines for the acceleration of renewable energy deployment, which stress the need to respect nature protection rules. 14/05/2024
Green News Berlin and Dublin spearhead move to unblock Nature Restoration Law Eleven EU members are urging their peers to sign off on a new Nature Restoration Law - perhaps the most important piece of environmental legislation to fall foul of a backlash against the European Commission's green deal agenda. 14/05/2024
Green News Von der Leyen mollifies MEPs over PFAS ban concerns An exchange of letters reveals German centre-right MEPs' concerns over a proposed blanket ban of PFAS 'forever chemicals', and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's efforts to reassure them that industry will be shielded from negative impacts. 13/05/2024
Green News Clean tech sector and NGOs produce alternative election manifestos Election manifestos are not the preserve of political parties vying for seats in the European Parliament: the run-up to the 6 June poll has seen industry lobbies, interest groups and NGOs produce wish lists of their own. 03/05/2024
Green News Green leader sees ‘huge danger’ to climate policy as elections loom A trio of leading Green MEPs have presented a proposal for a Green Industrial Deal supported by a trillion-euro EU fund and preferential interest rates from the European Central Bank, while warning a swing to the right in June could see five years of climate legislation begin to unravel. 02/05/2024
Green News How Europe’s energy crisis is feeding the election campaign The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy was already a central pillar of the European Green Deal before a belligerent Moscow triggered an energy crisis; now the question of how best to ensure secure, affordable energy is dividing political camps as EU citizens head to the polls in June. 30/04/2024
Europe News Green claims wrangling, Newsletter This week's key events presented by senior energy and environment reporter Robert Hodgson 29/04/2024
Green News Parliament reinforces support for GMO deregulation Backers of a new generation of genetically modified crops have urged governments to support the new technology after the EUropean Parliament restated its support. 24/04/2024
Green News MEPs approve law to reduce growing stream of packaging waste The European Parliament has adopted new binding targets for reuse, collection and recycling of packaging, and outright bans on a range of disposable plastic wrappers, miniature bottles and bags deemed unnecessary, but NGOs have raised another 'greenwashing' alarm. 24/04/2024
Green News Commission seeks to clarify ‘essential use’ of dangerous chemicals The European Commission has drawn up strict criteria on when the use the most dangerous substances is justified, but with an overhaul of the EU's core chemicals regulation still on ice, green NGOs have urged a redoubling of efforts to limit pollution and health risks. 24/04/2024
Green News Budget watchdog enters political fray with warning over petrol car ban The European Court of Auditors has strongly denied any political intent behind its decision to warn a looming ban on the sale of conventional petrol and diesel cars could lead to an influx of electric car imports from China. 22/04/2024
Green News Belgium issues ultimatum over energy tax reform A revision of a law setting minimum levies for fuels and electricity promised to bring an end to the era of tax-free energy for airlines and ship operators, but reform has been stalled for years, with EU governments unable to agree on how to update the 20-year-old Energy Taxation Directive. 22/04/2024