Today in Strasburg, the European Parliament lead committees have brought the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), also known as 'the Juncker investment plan', closer to compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement. However, they have once again fallen short of eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, which stand in the way of climate action.
At its 2017 Annual General Meeting on Monday 8 May, the biggest Dutch bank ING will face calls from European campaigners to end its financial support to companies building or planning new coal mines and coal-fired power plants.
Health, environment and climate groups have welcomed the decision today by EU Member States of new air pollution standards (LCP BREF) which will force the coal industry to reduce their toxic fumes and save more than 20,000 lives every year (1).
The G7 Energy Ministers will meet on 9-10 April in Rome. On the agenda, the decarbonization of our economy, including the phase out of fossil fuels and related subsidies will be discussed.
The G7 must urgently see the writing on the wall and stop pouring tax payers' money into fossil fuels, which is an economic dead-end and environmentally disastrous.
Eurelectric, the association of European electricity producers announced yesterday that it did not “intend to invest in new-build coal-fired power plants after 2020” and declared its support for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
In reaction, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe stresses that this statement is merely a starting point that needs to lead to a comprehensive plan for a full phase out of existing coal plants.
Effective air pollution limits could save more than 20,000 lives every year, yet some national governments are threatening to veto EU measures to tackle toxic pollution.
The reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for the coming decade enters the final stretch today, with representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission meeting for the first informal ‘trialogue’ to negotiate an agreement on the redesign of the ETS.
On Tuesday 4 April the European Parliament will adopt its resolution on the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020. Members of the European Parliament must take this opportunity to ensure that the current EU budget serves higher climate and energy ambitions and complies with the Paris agreement.
On Saturday, EU Heads of State and Government will gather in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the EU and discuss its future. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe urges EU leaders to put climate action at the heart of a new vision that will help revitalise the European project. Unfortunately, a preparatory document for the Rome declaration does not contain any references to climate change.
EU foreign affairs ministers agreed today to put climate objectives at heart of EU security and foreign policies. CAN Europe welcomes the initiative and calls on EU diplomats to lead the fight to achieve deeper emission cuts to limit warming to below 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement.
Nicolas Derobert
Communications Coordinator
nicolas /at/ caneurope.org
Work: +32 2894 4673
Mobile: +32 483 621 888
Stevan Vujasinović
Communications Coordinator for Southeast Europe
stevan /at/ caneurope.org
Mobile: +381 (0)63 390 218
Goksen Sahin
Communications Coordinator
goksen /at/ caneurope.org
Work: +32 2893 0827
Mobile: +32 468 453 920
