European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Gregor Erbach
COP24 climate change conference: Outcomes
The COP24 climate change conference, held in Katowice, Poland, from 3 to 15 December 2018, agreed detailed rules for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, with the exception of rules on market mechanisms, a subject on which international negotiations will continue throughout 2019. Continue reading
COP 24: Making the Paris Agreement operational
The 24th UN climate change conference (COP24), which starts today in Katowice, Poland, is focused on the full implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the adoption of the operational ‘rulebook’. In the political phase of the Talanoa dialogue, initiated by the Fijian presidency of COP23, high-level representatives of the Parties will discuss collective efforts to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, guided by the questions Where are we?, Where do we want to go? and How do we get there? Continue reading
CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles [EU Legislation in Progress]
In May 2018, the Commission proposed a regulation setting the first-ever CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles in the EU, as part of the third mobility package. It would require the average CO2 emissions from new trucks in 2025 to be 15 % lower than in 2019. Continue reading
Removing CO2 from the air – golden opportunity or dangerous fantasy?
How can CO2 be taken out of the air? Will the technologies be ready? How much would it cost? How much CO2 could be removed? What are the risks?
These questions were discussed on 8 March 2018 in the European Parliament, at an event co-organised by the European Science Academies’ Advisory Council (EASAC) and the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS). Continue reading
CO2 standards for new cars and vans [EU Legislation in Progress]
In November 2017, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on reducing CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans). The proposed measures and targets are aligned with the 2030 climate and energy framework and with the energy union strategy, which envisages a reduction in transport emissions and energy consumption. Continue reading
Review of the Clean Vehicles Directive [EU Legislation in Progress]
In November 2017, the European Commission proposed a revision of Directive 2009/33/EC on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles (the Clean Vehicles Directive), after an evaluation showed that the directive had yielded limited results, for instance by not encouraging a more significant uptake of clean vehicles in the market overall. Continue reading
One Planet Summit in Paris to accelerate climate action
Two years after the Paris Agreement on climate change was concluded, world and business leaders gather in Paris today for the One Planet Summit, an initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron together with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Continue reading
COP 23 climate change conference: Outcomes
This year’s COP 23 climate change conference was held from 6 to 17 November in Bonn, Germany, under the presidency of Fiji. Continue reading
CO2 emissions from aviation [Policy Podcast][EU Legislation in Progress]
CO2 emissions from all flights to and from airports in the European Economic Area (EEA) have been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) since 2012. Continue reading
Financing clean energy: High-level conference in the European Parliament today
Leading personalities from politics, finance and business get together in the European Parliament hemicycle to discuss the financing of clean energy in Europe. Continue reading
COP 23 climate change conference in Bonn
Today, the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change begins in Bonn, Germany. The presidency is held by Fiji, a Pacific island state with high vulnerability to climate change impacts. Continue reading
Land use in the EU 2030 climate and energy framework [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 20 July 2016, the European Commission proposed a regulation regarding the inclusion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals from land use and forestry in the EU 2030 climate and energy framework. This would be the first time that the land-use sector is formally included in EU climate policy. The proposed regulation would require Member States to balance emissions and removals from the land-use sector over two five-year periods between 2021 and 2030. It sets out accounting rules and allows for certain flexibilities. Continue reading
EU sustainability criteria for bioenergy [Policy Podcast]
Written by Gregor Erbach, Bioenergy, which is generally produced from plants such as agricultural crops or trees, comes in various forms. Wood and other solid biomass are commonly used for heating and electricity generation. Liquid biofuels for transport and other purposes are mainly made from food and feed crops, but can also be produced from … Continue reading
Europe leading the way in global climate action [What is Europe doing for its citizens?]
Written by Gregor Erbach, EU climate and energy policies have performed well: carbon emissions have fallen significantly while the economy has continued to grow. Europe is on track to meet or even exceed its 2020 climate and energy targets. Having been key actors in concluding the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, the EU and … Continue reading
Effort sharing regulation, 2021-2030: Limiting Member States’ carbon emissions [EU Legislation in Progress]
In July 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation to limit post-2020 national emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in sectors not covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS). These include transport, buildings and agriculture. Continue reading
Paris Agreement: United States withdrawal
Written by Gregor Erbach, On 1 June 2017, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change and try to negotiate a deal that is more favourable to the USA. The withdrawal could come into effect in November 2020 at the earliest, coinciding with the next … Continue reading
Intergovernmental agreements in the field of energy [EU legislation in progress]
Written by Gregor Erbach (4th edition), The Commission has proposed a decision which would require Member States to submit draft intergovernmental agreements with non-EU countries in the field of energy to it before they are signed. The Commission would then check whether they are compliant with EU law, and Member States would have to take … Continue reading
Post-2020 reform of the EU Emissions Trading System [EU Legislation in Progress]
In July 2015, the European Commission proposed a reform of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for the period 2021-2030, following the guidance set by the October 2014 European Council. Continue reading
Risk-preparedness in the electricity sector [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 30 November 2016, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector. This proposal addresses shortcomings in the existing legislation, notably a lack of regional coordination, and differing national rules and procedures. It would replace the existing legislation, and establish common rules on crisis prevention and crisis management in the electricity sector. Continue reading
New rules for the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 30 November 2016, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal for a regulation on the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), as part of the ‘clean energy for all Europeans’ legislative package. Continue reading
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