Swift and significant emission cuts by Europe’s top polluters under new rules would boost health and reduce healthcare costs.
On 18 December, EU Energy Ministers are expected to reach an agreement on four legislative files under the Clean Energy Package, namely those regarding renewable energy, governance and the internal market for electricity.
Worryingly, the draft documents for the meeting show that they are stubbornly insisting on an outdated, blatantly unambitious position on the renewable energy target and weak rules for helping countries make energy transition. They are also about to allow massive coal subsidies in the EU power market.
Read more: EU governments at a crossroads - clean or dirty energy?
Today an EU Platform for Coal Regions in Transition is being launched by European Commission Vice-President Šefčovič. The Platform aims to support Member States and regions as they shift away from coal towards renewable energy, in order to “leave no region behind”.
While EU leaders are discussing climate finance at the One Planet Summit in Paris, today the European Parliament failed once again to prevent further public investments in fossil fuels. A decision made in the European Parliament turns a blind eye to the Juncker plan’s investments in energy projects which have so far benefited fossil fuels almost as much as renewables, a study shows.
Read more: European Union fails to eliminate fossil fuels from the Juncker Investment Plan
The One Planet Summit, organized by French President Emmanuel Macron and taking place in Paris, France on 12 December will gather over 50 heads of state to celebrate the second year anniversary of the Paris Agreement and trigger new ambitious climate action [1].
Read more: One Planet Summit needs to boost EU climate action