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In the first quarter of 2023, EU economy greenhouse gas emissions totaled 941 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq), a 2.9% decrease compared with the same quarter of 2022 (969 million tonnes of CO2-eq). This decrease took place simultaneously with a 1.2% increase in the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the same quarter of 2022.

A new law to ensure that batteries are collected, reused and recycled in Europe has entered into force on 17 August. The new Batteries Regulation will ensure that, in the future, batteries have a low carbon footprint, use minimal harmful substances, need less raw materials from non-EU countries, and are collected, reused and recycled to a high degree in Europe.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €6.5 billion German scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies to address the risk of carbon leakage from higher fuel prices resulting from the German fuel emission trading system (‘German fuel ETS').

Following his decision to be a candidate in the forthcoming general election campaign in the Netherlands, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans has submitted his resignation as Member of the European Commission. President Ursula von der Leyen has decided to assign the role of Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal to Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič.

On 17 August, the European Commission adopted the rules governing the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) during its transitional phase, which starts on 1 October of this year and runs until the end of 2025.

The 7th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA), co-hosted by the European Union, Canada, and China, took place in Brussels on 13-14 July. At the event, COP28 President-Designate Sultan Al Jaber presented the action plan for the upcoming UN climate summit, which was welcomed positively by Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans.

The European Commission has approved a €2.36 billion (approximately HUF 880 billion) Hungarian scheme for accelerated investments in strategic sectors to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan.

At the 10th High Level Dialogue between Mexico and the European Union, senior officials from the two regions agreed to continue their cooperation, work together towards the much-needed green and energy transitions, and tackle the pressing environment and climate challenges.

The European Commission adopted on July 5 a package of measures for a sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming.

As several countries grapple with rapidly spreading wildfires, the EU stepped in to reinforce firefighting efforts and provide much-needed support to the affected communities with over 490 firefighters and 9 firefighting planes deployed to Greece and Tunisia since 18 July.

The European Commission welcomed the agreement reached on July 7 at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to revise its 2018 strategy on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. The agreement is a milestone to cut the carbon footprint of international maritime transport and ensure that the shipping sector makes a fair contribution to achieving the Paris Agreement targets.

The EU’s new Nature Restoration Law - which passed through the European Parliament on Wednesday, 12 July - paves the way for even greater biodiversity and climate action.

European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Ding Xuexiang held the fourth EU-China High Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate (HECD) in Beijing on 4 July 2023.

On July 26, the European Commission has adopted a new set of guidelines to assist Member States in updating and implementing comprehensive national adaptation strategies, plans and policies.

On July 11, the European Commission adopted the Greening Freight Transport package, which contains measures to make freight transport more efficient and more sustainable. The aim is to help the sector contribute to the target of cutting transport emissions by 90% by 2050, as set out in the European Green Deal, while allowing the EU Single Market to continue growing.

On 13 July, the European Commission pre-selected 41 innovative, large-scale, clean tech projects for grants worth over € 3.6 billion from the Innovation Fund.

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States have designated 15 July as the Annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.

A new online platform providing data on all LIFE projects since 2014 was launched to demonstrate their impact and increase transparency. The LIFE public dashboard offers detailed data on over 1400 LIFE projects worth more than EUR 3.5 billion. Users can search and download information on financing, participation, beneficiaries and the current status of all LIFE projects.

A huge majority of European citizens believe that climate change is a serious problem facing the world (93%), according to a new Eurobarometer survey published on July 20. Over half think that the transition to a green economy should be sped up (58%) in the face of energy price spikes and concerns over gas supplies after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On July 7, the European Commission proposed that the EU, its Member States, and Euratom withdraw, in a coordinated manner, from the Energy Charter Treaty. This Treaty is largely unchanged since it was agreed in the 1990s, and is no longer compatible with the EU’s enhanced climate ambition under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.