Poland's largest oil refiner, PKN Orlen, declared its preliminary readiness for direct financial involvement in the construction of the 1GW Ostroleka-C coal power project only if it is converted into a gas unit(1). The announcement by PKN Orlen, which only last month acquired EnergaSa - one of the companies behind the Ostroleka C projecr(2), means that Poland's troubled new coal project will not come to life. However, smart money is on renewables, not fossil gas.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the Commission to make its upcoming COVID-19 economic recovery proposal fit for the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement goals. This echoes the Commission chief’s recent address to MEPs that the crisis exit should not return to yesterday’s economy, but invest in a clean, modern, and healthy economy.

The European Commission is expected to present a revised long-term EU budget for the period 2021- 2027 to address the economic shock caused by COVID-19. In a moment when the EU faces a recession of historic proportions, the next EU budget and investments to be made in the next 7 years become crucial to tackle both the climate and economic crises. The new briefing published by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe underlines the importance of aligning Europe’s long term strategies to fight the climate crisis with the proposed financial measures.

Over one million people and 100 environmental NGOs across Europe are calling on the European Union to restart its economy by launching the biggest green investment plan the world has ever seen, financed by the bloc’s increased budget and recovery instrument. Tomorrow [Friday], MEPs will decide what they want in the EU’s Recovery Fund and seven-year budget ahead of the European Commission’s much awaited proposal next week.

Frans Timmermans, Vice president of the European Commission for the European Green Deal said that the Commission will only assess the emissions reduction target to 50 – 55% by 2030, during his presentation at the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee.

  1. Climate protection and economic recovery must go hand in hand
  2. Europe needs fossil-free energy infrastructure
  3. European Parliament’s climate law rapporteur calls for 65% emissions cuts by 2030
  4. The way to recovery: Untapped climate action potential of EU funds requires shift in Member States’ investment plans 

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