In this latest Brussels Briefing on Environment from viEUws.eu, Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest developments in the field of European environment policy. … [Read more...]
VIDEO: 5 toughest questions faced by Miguel Arias Cañete – Hearings of Juncker Commission
Miguel Arias Cañete – European Commissioner-designate for Climate Action and Energy (nominated by Spain) – had to answer a number of difficult questions during his hearing by the European Parliament’s Committees on Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE) and Environment, Public Health & Food Safety (ENVI) on 1 October. viEUws.eu produced a comprehensive video summary of the hearing, Cañete’s answers to these 5 toughest questions reveal best … [Read more...]
Carefully prepared Cañete dogged by conflict of interest
The candidate for EU Climate and Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete from Spain, demonstrated an impressive grasp of his subject matter at his hearing at the European Parliament on Wednesday night in Brussels. But he failed to answer repeated questions about his brother-in-law’s involvement in two oil-related companies. Today, his future hangs in the balance as he becomes a hostage in a fight between the Parliament’s different political … [Read more...]
Winter gas supply crunch in Europe unlikely, experts say
Major investment in European gas storage, transmission and emergency planning make a repeat of the 2009 gas shock unlikely this winter, market observers say, even if Russia trims exports to retaliate against western sanctions. That should be comforting news to EU Energy Commissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger, who is meeting with energy ministers from Ukraine and Russia (Yuriy Prodan and Alexander Novak) on Friday in Berlin. But analysts do caution that … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Jerzy Buzek, “Europe can enhance security of supply by opening gas market to US”
Jerzy Buzek - Chair of the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) - discusses the energy priorities for the new parliamentary term with Hughes Belin for viEUws.eu. … [Read more...]
In defence of TTIP: Good for the economy – and for the climate
The Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) currently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States may deliver significant benefits not just in terms of greater economic competitiveness, but also as regards energy security and even environmental sustainability, writes Carlo Stagnaro, senior fellow at the Italian think tank Istituto Bruno Leoni and advisor to Italy’s Minister for Economic Development. According … [Read more...]
NGO’s call for reform of Energy Community, Energy Community calls for reform by its members
A group of leading NGOs active in the Balkan region are calling for urgent reform of the Energy Community Treaty, as its Ministerial Council prepares to meet in Kiev on September 23rd . The groups are calling for both the expansion of the environmental and climate component of the Treaty and measures to ensure that existing obligations are better enforced. “Energy Community Treaty reform is a once in a decade opportunity to garner support for … [Read more...]
King Coal dethroned: future looks black
New research by the Carbon Tracker Initiative (CTI), the London-based NGO that invented the concept of “stranded assets” (aka the “carbon bubble”), claims that “the tide is turning against coal exporters”. After taking on the oil and gas industry, CTI has for the first time calculated the risks faced by the coal sector from slowing demand in combination with climate change policies. It concludes that most new coal mines will not be economic. … [Read more...]
World’s leading institutional investors call for carbon pricing, ambitious global climate deal
Days before UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convenes the Climate Summit at the United Nations to spur climate action and facilitate a global climate agreement in 2015, nearly 350 global institutional investors representing over $24 trillion in assets have called on government leaders to provide stable, reliable and economically meaningful carbon pricing that helps redirect investment commensurate with the scale of the climate change challenge, … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “Three commissioners will replace GĂĽnther Oettinger”
For ViEUws.eu's Hughes Belin discusses the implications of the new Juncker Commission. He concludes that three commissioners will replace Energy Commmissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger and expects that climate and energy deals "will be done behind the closed doors of a single cabinet". No wonder, says Belin, NGO's and MEPs have voiced concerns. … [Read more...]
A modest proposal on South Stream – for the EU’s new VP Energy Union
Ambassador Peter Poptchev offers an ingenious compromise on the stalled South Stream project: let Russia build half of it, to be filled with only new gas. The European Commission's new Vice-President for Energy Union could make this work - if she has a convincing strategy for South East Europe. (Plus: an overview of all stakeholder positions on South Stream.) … [Read more...]
Finns want Russian-built nuclear plant 60% Finnish owned, reject fourth Olkiluoto reactor
Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori said today he supports the construction of the new Fennovoima nuclear power plant by Russian Rosatom, provided at least 60% will be Finnish owned. At the same time, the Minister does not support a new deadline for a 4th nuclear reactor at Olkiluoto. The 3rd reactor, now being built by French Areva, has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. … [Read more...]
Team Juncker: EU unveils new Energy Commissioner(s)
Slovenia’s ex-Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek and Spanish ex-minister Miguel Arias Cañete have been nominated to lead EU energy policy in a new European Commission due to take office on 1 November. Incoming Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced Bratušek as Vice President for Energy Union and Cañete as Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy – yes the two portfolios are being merged – on 10 September in Brussels. Cañete is expected … [Read more...]
Why not follow the Swiss Energiewende?
While Germany rushes ahead with its nuclear phase-out and France dithers, Switzerland is following a third way away from nuclear and towards renewables. The Swiss version of the Atomausstieg/Energiewende is slow but steady, with concern for economic as well as environmental consequences. Bern’s policy offers important lessons to Paris, Berlin and others – all the more so because Switzerland is one of the most nuclear-dependent countries in the … [Read more...]
Oil is back – how Obama went from climate president to drill-baby-drill commander
Just a few years ago, president Obama promised he would reduce America’s dependence on oil. Now, energy expert Michael Klare points out, his administration is doing everything possible to boost oil production: opening up the waters off the Eastern seaboard to exploration, ramping up sales of leases for oil and gas drilling, expanding drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, even speeding up the processing of drilling permits. The results are visible: … [Read more...]
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