Today the European Parliament voted in plenary for a greater share of support for developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change in the EU’s future external investments from 2021 to 2027.
Energy Community countries propped up coal mining and electricity generation with direct and indirect public subsidies totalling at least 2.4 billion euros annually, out of which around half were provided by Western Balkan countries, shows a study (1) released today by the Vienna-based Secretariat of the Energy Community Treaty, the international treaty working to integrate the energy markets of the EU with those of its neighbours.
“To make decarbonisation a reality, voting down the eligibility of fossil fuels, including gas, is key.” This is the message sent today by businesses, local authorities and NGOs to the members of the European Parliament as they will decide this week if they will turn back the clock by allowing funding for fossil fuels in Europe’s regions from 2021 to 2027, or if they will choose a path of sustainable development for Europe’s regions, bringing them new jobs, competitiveness and modernisation.
European Council conclusions on climate change adopted today fail to send a signal that the EU is willing to increase its weak climate targets, despite last week’s unprecedented mobilisation of youth across Europe calling for more action against climate change.
Today EU ministers exchanged views on the climate aspects of the next EU budget after 2020 at a General Affairs Council. Most Member States agreed to the proposal of the European Commission that 25% of it will have to serve climate action. Few progressive voices call for a more ambitious spending target as well as for excluding any funding to go to supporting fossil fuels.
“We believe it is high time for European leaders to rise up to the challenge of climate action. We need Europe to transition to a sustainable society and economy as soon as possible.”
This is the message from a unique gathering of businesses, investor groups, local and regional authorities, trade unions and civil society groups, standing together as the Coalition for Higher Ambition. It is being sent today in support of last week’s unprecedented mobilisation of citizens across EU member states calling for increased action against climate change.
Tempus Energy yesterday took the European Commission to Court for approving the Polish electricity capacity market which favours fossil fuel generation at the expense of clean energy technologies.
In today’s vote on its resolution on the EU’s long-term climate strategy, the European Parliament called for achieving net zero emissions as early as possible and by 2050 at the latest and increasing the EU’s 2030 climate target to 55 percent emission cuts compared to 1990 levels.
A week ahead of the EU leaders’ discussion on the EU’s long-term climate vision, on Friday, March 15th thousands of schoolchildren around the world will be striking to demand stronger action on climate change from their governments.
EU Energy and Environment Ministers meeting in Brussels on 4 and 5 March to discuss the European Commission’s draft long-term strategy "A clean planet for all" added momentum for a climate neutral European economy by 2050.
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
