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☆ Late push for coal subsidies upsets EU deal on energy reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU countries' energy ministers meet in Luxembourg on Monday to agree a joint stance on new EU power market rules, aimed at expanding low-carbon power and avoiding a repeat of last year's energy crisis, when record-high gas prices left consumers with soaring energy bills. Poland - which could prolong its support scheme for coal plants beyond 2025 under the proposal - said last week the idea had majority support. Some EU countries say they need more flexibility in how fast they exit the fuel and support new industries in communities that have long relied on coal sector jobs. The official said they expected ministers to approve the power market reforms - but that it was not clear if the coal carve-out would make it into the final deal. Once EU countries agree their stance, they must negotiate the final power market upgrade with EU Parliament, aiming to pass the law before EU Parliament elections next year.

Persons: Kate Abnett, Giles Elgood Organizations: Union, EU, Reuters, EU Parliament, Thomson Locations: LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg, Sweden, Poland

An internal Union Investment document seen by Reuters shows that the firm received just 30 responses to its outreach. Although consumer goods manufacturers are particularly exposed, other sectors that import goods associated with deforestation, including commodities houses and industrials companies, will also face scrutiny. Consumer goods makers are counting on technology such as satellites and artificial intelligence to help eradicate deforestation from their supply chains. Several large consumer goods companies say they are close to meeting their ambitious zero-deforestation goals. "The EU rules make deforestation a financial risk as well as an environmental risk."

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, Henrik Pontzen, Pontzen, Janus Henderson, Jonathan Toub, haven't, Snorre Gjerde, Christophe Hansen, Magdi Batato, Kit Kat, Nestlé, David Croft, Reckitt's, Arild Skedsmo, Richa Naidu, Kate Abnett, Matt Scuffham, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, EU, Germany's, Investment, Unilever, ESG, Union Investment, Nestle, Pepsico, Danone, L'Oreal, KLP, Aviva, Fidelity International, Reckitt, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Uruara, Para State, Brazil, NBIM, Nescafe, London, Brussels

☆ EU to try again for renewable energy deal after nuclear row
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) - European Union countries will try again next week to pass a deal on new renewable energy targets, which have been stalled by concerns from France and other states that the law sidelines nuclear energy. Paris has sought changes to the law to offer more favourable treatment of nuclear energy, and said the final deal puts at a disadvantage countries like France with large shares of nuclear power. Nuclear energy is low-carbon, but not renewable. The EU law is designed to drive a rapid expansion of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Meanwhile, states including Germany and Luxembourg - both anti-nuclear countries - plus Denmark and Ireland have urged the EU to resolve the spat quickly, warning the delay endangers investments in renewable energy.

Persons: Paris, Bruno Le Maire, Kate Abnett, Dominique Vidalon, Frances Kerry Organizations: Union, EU, European Commission, French Finance, France, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, EU, Paris, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland

☆ EU countries weaken nature law in hunt for deal -document
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 2 (Reuters) - European Union countries want to water down parts of the bloc's flagship nature law by adding loopholes to dodge certain targets, as they attempt to find a deal on the contested proposal, a draft document showed. The EU's proposed law would set binding targets for countries to restore damaged natural environments. A draft negotiating document, seen by Reuters, showed countries plan to weaken proposed targets to revive drained peatlands used in agriculture, and insert a loophole so countries can avoid these targets in certain circumstances. "Ireland supports the ambition of the Nature Restoration Law and is working with colleagues across Europe to ensure appropriate flexibilities that enable implementation," the spokesperson said. EU countries and the European Parliament must both approve the nature law.

Persons: Ireland, Kate Abnett, Susan Fenton Organizations: Union, Reuters, European Commission, Restoration, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, Belgium, Ireland, peatlands, Irish, Europe

☆ Centre-right lawmakers quit EU talks on nature law
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, May 31 (Reuters) - The biggest lawmaker group in the European Parliament on Wednesday walked out of negotiations on a landmark EU law to protect nature, dealing another blow to the contested proposal. French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested a pause on new EU environment legislation, while Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo questioned whether the nature law is needed. Meanwhile, the European People's Party - EU Parliament's largest lawmaker group - has called to reject it. The nature law needs approval from both EU countries and the EU Parliament, which is scheduled to vote on it in July. So far, EU countries have not attempted to block the proposal outright, but are negotiating amendments.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Alexander De Croo, Christine Schneider, Jutta Paulus, Kate Abnett, Sriraj Organizations: Wednesday, European Commission, Belgian, European People's Party, EU Parliament's, EPP, EU, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels

☆ EU Parliament delays renewable energy vote after late backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, May 22 (Reuters) - The European Parliament has delayed a planned vote to approve new EU renewable energy targets, after France and other countries lodged last-minute opposition to the law last week, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The vote in the Parliament's energy committee had been due to take place on Tuesday. The European Union is attempting to finalise a key pillar of its climate agenda - a law containing a binding goal for the EU to get 42.5% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Parliament had been due to hold a first vote on Tuesday, followed by a final vote in July. The EU Parliament and EU countries' approval of the law was supposed to be a formality, after negotiators from both sides agreed what was supposed to be a final deal earlier this year.

Japan's insistence on continuing to rely on gas may delay reaching global climate change goals, especially as its energy companies reap large profits from their investments in the sector, climate activists say. "But I think Japanese companies will generally hesitate to be involved in gas projects in the future, especially those with long lead times. Japan's support for gas clashes with findings that new investments in gas, which is mainly composed of the greenhouse gas methane and produces CO2 emissions when burned for energy, would undermine climate goals. But, gas investments have been lucrative for Japan's energy companies resulting in record profits. But, Japan's stated intention to lower its carbon emissions may mean these gas investments carry some risk.

☆ Southern Europe braces for climate change-fuelled summer of drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

As climate change makes the region hotter and drier, years of consecutive drought have depleted groundwater reserves. CLIMATE CHANGE TRENDSouthern Europe is not alone in suffering severe water shortages this year. The Horn of Africa is enduring its worst drought in decades, while a historic drought in Argentina has hammered soy and corn crops. "In terms of the climate change signal, it very much fits with what we're expecting," said Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts at Newcastle University. Some 90% of the mainland is suffering from drought, with severe drought affecting one-fifth of the country - nearly five times the area reported a year earlier.

☆ Centre-right lawmakers push back on EU nature laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It urged the European Commission to first help countries address issues caused by existing EU nature laws. The EPP has the most lawmakers of any group in the European Parliament - 176 out of the assembly's 705 members. A source from the EPP group said it stood ready to reject the two laws, if its views were not heard. That could block the policies, if lawmakers from some other groups in the parliament also reject them. A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the EPP resolution, but said it would work with lawmakers and EU countries to address the issues raised.

BERLIN, May 3 (Reuters) - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Wednesday China has invited him to visit "in the near term" for talks on averting a global climate change crisis even as diplomatic relations between the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters remain tense. The United States and China must work together to address climate change, Kerry said in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of a conference on global warming in Berlin. China, for example, first must issue its plan to reduce methane emissions and advance in the transition away from coal, Kerry added. "We're not pointing fingers and we're not out there trying to, you know, make this part of the other issues that are out there" between the United States and China, Kerry added. "This (climate change) is a free-standing issue which affects China as it affects the United States."

The proposal aims to increase both demand for and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which have net-zero CO2 emissions or low carbon emissions. The proposal sets binding targets for aviation fuel suppliers to ensure that all fuel made available to aircraft operators at EU airports contains a minimum share of SAFs from 2025, with the target increasing to 2050. In the nearer term, sustainable fuel is one of the few options to reduce air travel's carbon footprint. Airlines are set to receive around 2 billion euros in funding from the EU carbon market to help them switch to SAF. Biofuels can count towards the main SAF targets, so long as they comply with the EU's biomass sustainability criteria.

☆ UK, Netherlands plan cross-border power link to boost energy security
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, April 24 (Reuters) - The Netherlands and Britain plan to build what would be Europe's biggest cross-border electricity link connected to an offshore wind farm, their energy ministers said on Monday, part of efforts to boost energy security. "This new connection further boosts energy security and energy independence in Europe," Dutch Energy Minister Rob Jetten said in a statement. Britain and the Netherlands currently have one power interconnector, the 1GW BritNed link. The countries' leaders will commit to rapidly building wind farms and developing energy "islands", or connected offshore green power generation sites, according to a draft of their summit declaration seen by Reuters. The countries, which also include Germany, France and Norway, aim to develop a combined 120 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, the draft said.

☆ World could face record temperatures in 2023 as El Nino returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Issei KatoBRUSSELS, April 20 (Reuters) - The world could breach a new average temperature record in 2023 or 2024, fuelled by climate change and the anticipated return of the El Nino weather phenomenon, climate scientists say. During El Nino, winds blowing west along the equator slow down, and warm water is pushed east, creating warmer surface ocean temperatures. "El Nino is normally associated with record breaking temperatures at the global level. Climate models suggest a return to El Nino conditions in the late boreal summer, and the possibility of a strong El Nino developing towards the end of the year, Buontempo said. The world's hottest year on record so far was 2016, coinciding with a strong El Nino - although climate change has fuelled extreme temperatures even in years without the phenomenon.

☆ EU lawmakers back ban on goods linked to deforestation
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The rules aim to eliminate deforestation from the supply chains of a range of everyday items sold in Europe. It will apply to soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, rubber, charcoal, and derived products including leather, chocolate and furniture. Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's largest palm oil exporters, have accused the EU of blocking market access for their palm oil. The EU is the world's third-largest palm oil importer. The EU Parliament approved a deal on the rules, which was agreed by EU negotiators last year.

☆ European Parliament backs reform of EU carbon market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

STRASBOURG, April 18 (Reuters) - The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve sweeping reforms to the European Union's carbon market, which are expected to hike the cost of polluting in Europe in the coming years and cut CO2 emissions faster. The reforms would cut the supply of carbon permits in the market faster than planned, phase out free permits for industries by 2034 and gradually bring the shipping sector into the carbon market, starting in 2024. The Parliament approved the changes with 413 votes in favour, 167 against and 57 abstentions. The reforms were agreed by negotiators from the European Parliament and EU countries last year. They still need final approval from EU countries, due in the next few weeks, to enter into force.

☆ EU Parliament backs overhaul of Europe's biggest climate policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Europe's carbon market forces power plants and factories to buy CO2 permits when they pollute. It has slashed those sectors' emissions by 43% since 2005, but is facing a revamp to hit more ambitious EU climate change targets. Under the upgrade, factories will lose the free CO2 permits they currently receive by 2034, and shipping emissions will be added to the CO2 market from 2024. EU carbon permits were trading at around 94 euros per tonne on Tuesday, having nearly quadrupled in value since the start of 2020. Lawmakers also backed plans to launch a new EU carbon market covering emissions from fuels used in cars and buildings in 2027, plus a 86.7 billion-euro EU fund to support consumers affected by the costs.

SAPPORO, Japan, April 15 (Reuters) - Members of the Group of Seven rich nations must act to help emerging countries reduce emissions, including the financing of decarbonisation in "hard-to-abate" industries, Japan's economy and trade minister said on Saturday. Ministers from the G7 are meeting for climate and energy talks in the Japan's northern city of Sapporo on Saturday and Sunday, as part of Japan's G7 presidency this year. The issue of emissions in emerging markets has long been a focus for developed countries. However, the world's richest countries need to do more to help emerging nations reduce carbon, said Alden Meyer, a senior associate at E3G, a climate change think tank. There needs to be "much stronger leadership" from G7 countries in leveraging financial and technology resources to help developing countries reduce emissions, Meyer said.

"The G7 countries have agreed that the first response to the energy crisis must be to reduce energy and gas consumption… For the first time ever, the G7 said that we must accelerate the phasing out of all unabated fossil fuels... The event has also put focus on the need to help emerging countries reduce emissions, including through financing. Nishimura said ministers would like to discuss ways to use finance to help reduce carbon in so-called "hard-to-abate" industries, which include chemicals, shipping and steel. "Developed countries first need to follow through on the $100 billion pledge they made to developing countries over a decade ago." G7 countries must exert "much stronger leadership" in leveraging financial and technology resources to help developing countries reduce emissions, Meyer said.

But at the same time, EU countries have increased their overall purchases of Russian LNG, undermining the bloc's pledge to end its use of Russian fossil fuels by 2027. Russian LNG exports by region Russian LNG exports by regionEU analysis found Russian LNG imports increased to 22 billion cubic metres (bcm) last year, up from 16 bcm in 2021. Belgium and Spain nearly doubled their imports of Russian LNG in the 12 months since Russia invaded Ukraine, analysis by Kpler showed. The Netherlands has eliminated its Russian pipeline gas imports since the war and reduced, but not eliminated, Russian LNG imports. TO BAN OR NOT TO BANHalting Russian LNG imports would be double-edged, analysts say.

The EU's current 2030 target is for a 32% renewable energy share. The EU got 22% of its energy from renewable sources in 2021, but the level varied significantly between countries. Sweden leads the 27 EU countries with its 63% renewable energy share, while in Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Ireland, renewable sources make up less than 13% of total energy use. EU countries will have to raise to 29% the share of renewables in energy used by the transport sector. The deal must be approved by the EU Parliament and EU countries to become law, normally a formality.

☆ EU countries approve 2035 phaseout of CO2-emitting cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The approval from EU countries' energy ministers means Europe's main climate policy for cars can now enter into force - after weeks of delay caused by last-minute opposition from Germany. The EU law will require all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035, and 55% lower CO2 emissions from 2030, versus 2021 levels. The EU policy had been expected to make it impossible to sell combustion engine cars in the EU from 2035. "The direction of travel is clear: in 2035, new cars and vans must have zero emissions," EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans said. Germany's late intervention, after EU countries and lawmakers had already agreed the 2035 phaseout last year, irked some EU diplomats, and stoked concerns that governments may try to block other carefully-negotiated deals on climate policies.

☆ Factbox: EU keeps on doing business with Russia despite sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Here is a list of areas where the EU keeps on doing business with Russia. TRADE FLOWSIn 2021, Russia was the EU's fifth-largest trading partner with goods exchange worth 258 billion euros, according to the EU executive European Commission. Since the invasion in 2022, the value of EU imports from Russia fell by a half to around 10 billion euros last December. Gas is not covered by EU sanctions, but Moscow slashed pipeline deliveries to Europe since the invasion. The EU imported 2.1 billion euros worth of nickel in 2021, up to 3.2 billion euros last year, according to Eurostat.

☆ EU countries poised to approve 2035 phaseout of CO2-emitting cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Most countries are likely to back the law on Tuesday, EU officials said, which would allow it to enter into force. The EU law will require all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035, and 55% lower CO2 emissions from 2030, versus 2021 levels. The policy had been expected to make it impossible to sell combustion engine cars in the EU from 2035. Transport accounts for nearly a quarter of EU emissions. Other carmakers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Ford are betting on battery-electric vehicles to decarbonise, and had urged EU countries not to row back the 2035 phase-out.

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS, March 25 (Reuters) - The European Union and Germany have reached a deal on the future use of combustion engines, officials said on Saturday, an issue that has been closely followed by the auto industry. The agreement will allow some combustion engines beyond 2035 and was quickly condemned by a prominent environmental group. "We have found an agreement with Germany on the future use of e-fuels in cars," Frans Timmermans, head of EU climate policy, said on Twitter. "Vehicles with internal combustion engines can still be newly registered after 2035 if they fill up exclusively with CO2-neutral fuels," he said in a post on Twitter. Sweden, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said EU diplomats would vote on Monday to formally approve the 2035 phaseout law.

BERLIN, March 24 (Reuters) - Germany's transport minister on Friday said he was optimistic a dispute between Berlin and Brussels over the future of combustion engine cars running on e-fuels was close to resolution, though some questions still needed clarifying. The original law would effectively ban registration of combustion engine cars after 2035, but Germany seeks an exemption for cars that run exclusively on climate-neutral e-fuel and legal assurances from the Commission. In a letter to the Commission seen by Reuters on Friday, Germany's transport ministry welcomed the EU executive's proposals but asked for legislation to ensure its implementation. Berlin's demand for an exemption had "now been answered by the EU Commission with a letter that makes me optimistic," German Transport Minister Volker Wissing told a news conference on Friday. The European Commission declined to comment on the latest proposals.

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