The much anticipated Energy Union communication and annex leaked from the European Commission can be found here. This is the latest version currently going through inter-sevice consultation prior to publication next week.
With less than 10 days to go to the European Council governments are edging closer to a deal as this latest leak of the Council conclusions, dated 13 October, indicates. The key points are:
– 40% GHG target is now almost accepted with only a few governments seeking a lower target. The ETS is to deliver 40% reductions by 2030 from 2005 emissions and non-ETS sectors 30% reductions.
– The ETS linear reduction will move from 1.74% to 2.2% .
– Innovation will […]
Donald Tusk, newly appointed President of the European Council, has managed to get a massive deal for Poland and CEE Countries through a transfer of EU ETS allowances estimated to be worth over €10 billion as the carbon price improves. This leak shows that Governments have also agreed to revenue hypothecation to support industrial innovation. Further developments to come.
Change Partnership’s response to the European Commission’s consultation on carbon leakage provisions post 2020 can be viewed here. This is the most controversial area of EU climate policy. The myth of ‘carbon leakage’ is the main reason why the wrong climate targets are set and perversely and why companies are subsidised for their pollution rather than having to pay for it.
There are three things to note:
i) there is no evidence of ‘leakage’ having taken place in the period 2005-2012 according […]
Less than a week away from the June European Council meeting and latest leak of the meetings Conclusions indicates there is movement on the 2030 climate and energy framework. Governments are waiting for this leak of the Energy Efficiency Review from the Commission. Considerable pressure is being put on the Commission to come forward with strong measures on energy savings as the most cost-effective and efficient way to increase economic resilience, address the challenges posed by Ukraine as well as directing investment into […]
Donald Tusk’s drive to create an Energy Union has taken a body blow in this leak of the Energy Council conclusions. Paragraph 7a stresses the need for “…the Commission and the Member States to examine the potential for measures to strengthen the bargaining power of the EU and its Member States vis-à-vis external suppliers.” This falls considerable short of Tusk’s proposals but there is still a long way to go until the June Energy Council and October European Council where this […]
European Parliamentary elections in May 2014 will kick start a frantic period of inward inspection and tense negotiation as senior personnel are replaced in key European institutions – the European Parliament, Commission, European Council and External Action Service. This guide provides a detailed timeline of the key milestones and a guide for focused advocacy to ensure a strong climate and energy framework to 2030.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is one of the few institutions that fully grasps the dire predicament that climate change will have on energy generation and its subsequent impacts on economic growth and social stability. Fatih Birol, the IEA’s Chief Economist, has become one of the leading global figures stressing the urgency for action before capital-intensive investments lock-in greenhouse gas emissions beyond the 2 degrees Celsius threshold. In fact, we are currently on course for a rise of at […]
Following on from our leak of the EEAG State Aid guidelines, the politics of the debate has gone up to a new level as Germany, France, Italy and the UK come out strongly against playing by EU rules. This confidential letter on the EEAG demands the Commission relax EU rules to allow these governments to set up their own rules on who they are going to subsidise in their industrial sectors.
They ignore the problems we face collectively when common rules are […]
The controversial State Aid guidelines on energy and environment have just entered final consultation within the European Commission with a view to publication in the coming weeks. This leaked draft of the current state aid guidelines shows considerable movement to soften the Commission’s attempt to kill off renewables energy support schemes. Governments have also come out strongly against the Commission’s proposal but prefer to water them down further.
The Commission proposed ending special electricity prices for producers of renewable energy commonly referred […]
