Today, a new report by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and Sandbag reveals Member States are receiving EU energy transition support but not committing to phase-out coal. The draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of 21 EU Member States which still use coal for electricity generation show that only eight are committed to phasing out coal by 2030. Yet, Member States with no plans to move away from coal are benefiting from various EU schemes intended to support the energy transition away from coal. Still, Member States are asking for more energy transition funding, - finds a new report entitled pdf “Just transition or just talk?” (3.20 MB)
As a result of the European elections concluded yesterday, the two traditional major parties of the social democrats and conservatives will no longer have a majority in the European Parliament. However, given the large support from voters for parties that have put climate action forward as a priority, there is a large majority of parties that now need to put climate action first and work together to tackle the climate emergency.
Read more: Fragmented Parliament needs unity to tackle climate emergency
The European General Court dismissed the People’s Climate Case on procedural grounds stating that the families and youth impacted by climate change do not have a right to go to court to challenge the EU’s 2030 climate target. However, in its decision, the Court recognised that climate change affects all Europeans in many different ways. Families and the Saami youth who initiated the case plan to appeal to the European Court of Justice.
Thanks to hundreds of thousands of young people protesting across European cities over the last months against the lack of adequate action to confront the climate emergency, climate change for the first time tops the agenda of the European election campaign. This has put pressure on more conservative politicians to finally acknowledge the need for climate action in their election campaigns.
Read more: Climate tops the European elections debate, forcing laggards to finally take a stand
As the Future of Europe summit in Sibiu, Romania, comes to an end, it is clear that EU leaders failed to respond to the growing public unrest and commit to make climate change the EU’s top priority. This is despite the momentum created by statements from eight EU Member States and a broad coalition of European stakeholders determined to push for more decisive climate action.
Read more: EU leaders turn a blind eye to the climate crisis, despite growing momentum