The devil in the details: Europe’s low-carbon economy dream
Blog entry | 17 August, 2012The increasing popularity of a ‘low-carbon economy’ rhetoric calls for robust assessments of the carbon intensity of EU funded projects. Otherwise the potential that lies in the concept may get diluted by conflicting interests.
Read moreMEP vote on EU budget is test of climate commitment
Press release | 10 July, 2012Brussels, Belgium – A European Parliament committee vote tomorrow (Wednesday July 11), with a major bearing on EU budget spending for the 2014-2020 period, must reject the re-classification of fossil fuels as ‘low-carbon’, urged environmental groups today.
Read moreEurope’s leaders must not subsidise fossil fuels with next EU budget, say NGOs
Press release | 26 June, 2012Luxembourg — Ahead of discussions this week about how the next one trillion euros EU budget will be spent, EU ministers are being urged to get rid of provisions that would allow public money to subsidise the fossil fuels industry.
Read moreMember States stepping back from EU’s low-carbon investment agenda
Press release | 13 June, 2012Brussels – Representatives of EU Member States meeting tomorrow in Brussels intend to promote the financing of gas distribution, storage and transmission from Cohesion Policy funds meant for low-carbon measures in the next EU budget. Such support for gas would mean the EU’s dependency on fossil fuels will continue for decades, undermining global efforts to combat climate change.
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Fossil fuels rebranded as low-carbon also in Cohesion Policy discussions
Blog entry | 1 June, 2012Discussions in the European Parliament on the next Cohesion Policy have seemingly been taken hostage by fossil fuel friendly interests – once again with Poland taking the lead.
Read moreMember States set to block greening of next Cohesion Policy
Press release | 24 April, 2012Brussels — Meeting today in the General Affairs Council, leaders of EU Member States have significantly watered down last year’s Commission proposal on greening the next Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 (1). Much of the power over how to spend EU regional funds is set to remain with national governments with only weak demands placed on the capitals over how to spend EU funds towards building a low-carbon European economy.
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Poland rejects EU money for jobs and energy independence at Environment Council
Blog entry | 9 March, 2012Poland’s veto against increasing Europe’s 2020 target for greenhouse gas emissions cuts to 25% is frustrating not only environmentalists in Poland and elsewhere.
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Polish energy companies’ black propaganda threatens EU climate ambitions again
Blog entry | 8 March, 2012Poland is on course to place further large roadblocks in the way of the European Commission’s Roadmap 2050 towards a low-carbon economy unless certain demands being insisted on by Warsaw are met. These include the granting of free allowances for all 16 power plants that Poland has asked to be supported under the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme.
Read moreRomania: New coal plants to be built with EU aid for greening economy
Press release | 22 February, 2012Bucharest – One of the eight Member States applying for EU help consisting of free of charge GHG emissions allowances from 2013 to 2019, Romania intends to implement investments which will lead to maintaining or even increasing the high share of coal in the country’s electricity production, thus contradicting the goals of the EU aid scheme.
Read moreBillions of EU funds wasted on dead-end investments
Press release | 2 February, 2012Brussels – Substantial environmental and social harm is being caused by controversial projects costing billions of euros of EU money, according to research published today by Friends of the Earth Europe and CEE Bankwatch Network.
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