environment

The dangers of not cutting mercury emissions

Cutting highly toxic mercury emissions must be the priority of the upcoming revision of European clean air policy.  The EU’s signed up to the Minamata Convention on mercury, a legally-binding treaty to cut mercury emissions, as a first step taken in the right direction, but urgent domestic action is required to protect its citizens, animals and ecosystems.

The health risks posed by mercury and its organic compound methylmercury (MeHg) are significant, especially for women and children. Methylmercury can seriously affect […]

By |March 19th, 2015|Air Quality, Climate Change, Coal, environment|0 Comments
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Energy Community countries risk losing € billions unless they modernise their energy systems

Outdated energy infrastructure, increasing fossil-fuel capacity and massive electricity losses through distribution and transmission are some of the key challenges faced by Energy Community countries, according to a Change Partnership analysis released on Tuesday.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine have to revise their investment strategies to account for water stress, environmental and climate change impacts which will have a dramatic impact on their future development. A carbon price signal, introduced either through an emissions trading system, […]

By |March 10th, 2015|Climate Change, Energy, Energy Community, energy efficiency, environment, Renewable energy|0 Comments
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Leak of June Council conclusions and Energy Efficiency Review

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 […]

By |June 19th, 2014|Climate Change, Energy, environment, EU 2030, Leak, Renewable energy|0 Comments
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Leak of June Energy Council conclusions

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 […]

By |May 22nd, 2014|carbon leakage, Climate Change, Energy, environment, Leak|0 Comments
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EU Parliamentary elections timeline

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.

By |May 19th, 2014|Climate Change, Energy, environment, EU 2030|0 Comments
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Government leaders ignore the people on climate change action

Hundreds of people gathered outside the European Council whilst leaders inside dithered on agreeing urgently needed targets to address climate change, speed up energy savings and investment in renewable energies to reduce our dependence on Russian fossil fuels and boost equitable economic growth.

What would make the 2030 strategy work?

Demonstrators denounced the lack of ambition of the 2030 climate change and energy plans proposed by the Commission and called them “dirty and dangerous”. They asked for serious, binding targets of […]

By |March 21st, 2014|Climate Change, Energy, environment, EU 2030, Renewable energy|0 Comments
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Leak of draft energy and environment state aid guidelines – EEAG

 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 […]

By |March 17th, 2014|Climate Change, Energy, environment, EU 2030, Leak, Renewable energy|4 Comments
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