In this special briefing, viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen picks out the top 5 environment issues that will be discussed by the EU institutions under the Italian Presidency. A first priority is the circular or zero waste economy, after the European Commission unveiled a new policy package on 1 July that pushes for higher recycling targets and the total elimination of landfill Green growth and jobs will be high on … [Read more...]
EU Court upholds national renewable subsidy schemes in surprise decision
In a rare event, the EU Court of Justice has overturned the opinion of its own Advocate-General to rule that member states are not obliged to open up their national renewable subsidy schemes to producers in other countries. The decision was welcomed by renewables producers and member states such as Germany, which have generous subsidies in place. But it was lambasted by others, such as RECS International, an organisation of market players, … [Read more...]
Why Brussels is reluctant to adopt an energy efficiency target thatâs good for the EU economy
Within weeks, the European Commission will propose an energy efficiency target for Europe for 2030 that is substantially lower than what many stakeholders and policymakers believe is feasible. It will even be lower than what the Commissionâs own impact assessment concludes is beneficial for the economy. And it will probably be non-binding although the impact assessment says a binding target would be more effective. Why this reluctance from … [Read more...]
Why the US has not made more progress in moving to a renewable energy future â a personal view
In 1978 a monumental multi-departmental study was submitted to President Carter concluding that âsolar energy could make a significant contribution to U.S. energy supply by the end of this centuryâ. The study, backed by 30 federal departments, stated that âeven with todayâs subsidized energy prices, many solar technologies are already economic.â Yet no action was taken and solar power and other renewable energies stagnated for over 30 years. … [Read more...]
Corruption serious barrier to sustainable energy system in southeast Europe
High-level corruption in the energy sector is seriously affecting countries in seven countries in South Eastern Europe, according to the study Winners and Losers: Who Benefits from High Level Corruption in the South East Europe Energy Sector?. NGOs who authored the report, Â launched 24 June in Brussels during a High Level Policy Conference, call upon EU institutions to treat the reform of the energy sector in South East Europe as an urgent … [Read more...]
A warning from the IPCC: the EU 2030âs climate target cannot be based on science alone
The European Union often emphasizes that it is pursuing a âscience-basedâ climate policy. The European Councilâs long-term emission reduction target of 80-95% by 2050 explicitly refers to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Thus, it came as a surprise for many European policymakers and stakeholders that the latest IPCC report did not offer any specific guidelines on future EU climate targets. … [Read more...]
An economic disaster in the making: how Europe is losing its energy efficiency lead
A European building retrofit programme could reduce Russian gas imports by 80%. A 40% energy saving target could  remove the need for Russian gas altogether. Yet the EU currently seems unwilling to impose the measures necessary to step up energy saving. As a result, European industry is rapidly losing its international lead in efficiency, which is crucial to its international competitiveness. What is more, European companies active in energy … [Read more...]
Capacity payments: expensive solution for a non-existing problem
As of 2015, the UK will be the first European country to launch a capacity mechanism that aims at rewarding power plants for the MWâs they can produce rather than the MWâs they actually generate. Similar plans are being  prepared in other countries, including Belgium, France and Germany. According to Benedict de Meulemeester, CEO of international energy procurement consultancy E&C, it is understandable that energy companies lobby for capacity … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Circular economy: âFrance aims to lead by exampleâ stresses French Sustainable Development official
In an exclusive interview with viEUws at Green Week 2014, Jean-Paul Albertini - French Executive Commissioner for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy - talks to viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen about the implementation of circular economy in Europe. Albertini discusses the benefits which a circular economy could bring to Europe. He claims that such an economy … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “Europe must rediscover its ambition on climate change”, urges UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), meets with viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen to talk about climate change goals and Europeâs role in the global climate negotiations. According to Steiner, countries are looking towards UN Climate Change Conferences in Paris and Lima as an opportunity to address climate change with a greater sense of ambition and urgency. However, how … [Read more...]
Obamaâs Clean Power Plan: why itâs smarter than you think (and beats EU policy)
The Clean Power Plan recently announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been hailed for its good intentions, but also widely criticized for its âmodestâ ambitions. What most commentators have failed to note, however, is that, compared to EU climate policies, Obamaâs plan is really a smart piece of legislation. It avoids the policy failures made by Brussels and lays a solid foundation for a successful low-carbon strategy. … [Read more...]
How the EU should deal with the Ukraine gas crisis
The Russian decision, on 16 June, to halt gas supplies to Ukraine spells trouble for the coming winter. Even if the current crisis is resolved, uncertainties over Ukraine will remain. Therefore, the EU needs to prepare for another gas crisis, both in the short term, by establishing crisis mechanisms, and in the medium term, to prevent future crises. Agata Ĺoskot-Strachota of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Poland sets out the urgent steps … [Read more...]
Shale gas: what it could really mean for Europe
The Ukrainian crisis has revitalized discussions in Europe about the role shale gas could play in the European energy mix and to enhance security of supply. Opinions  on this are very polarized. Whereas optimists declare that Europe could start commercial production in 2020, the pessimists insist that shale gas will never be profitable in Europe. According to Alexander Gusev, the real picture is not black-and-white. Cutting through the confusion … [Read more...]
Will China follow the US example and cap carbon emissions?
With his Clean Power Proposal, President Obama has entered on a drive to put a ceiling on carbon emissions in the US â for the first time. The question  is now whether China will follow this example. Nicholas Cunningham of Oilprice.com believes China may be about to turn a corner â with huge consequences for global energy markets. … [Read more...]
“Retroactive amendments to Czech law threaten renewable energy sector”
The Czech Photovoltaic Industry Association and the Alliance for Energy Self-Sufficiency have expressed their fears about planned retroactive changes to legislation guaranteeing support for renewable energy in the Czech Republic in letters addressed to the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament and have asked for an independent assessment of related materials and documentation. Suspicions about retroactive changes of the … [Read more...]
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