The TANGO story: Towards the largest solar factory in Europe (28/07/2022)
Thanks to the TANGO project and funding from the EU Innovation Fund, the 3Sun factory is on its way to become Europe’s largest factory producing highly innovative next-generation solar panels, or photovoltaics.
Innovation Fund: EU invests €1.8 billion in clean tech projects* (28/07/2022)
On 12 July, the EU invested over €1.8 billion in 17 large-scale innovative clean-tech projects with a third round of awards under the Innovation Fund. The selected projects are located in Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden.
Governments met ahead of COP27 to pave the way for progress in Sharm el-Sheikh (28/07/2022)
Environment ministers from over 40 different countries met 18 – 19 July at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany to prepare the ground for this year’s annual UN climate conference.
118 regions and local authorities join the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change (04/07/2022)
On 7 June, the European Commission announced the first 118 regions and local authorities that will participate in the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change, the so-called Mission Adaptation, which will support the European Green Deal and the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy.
Modernisation Fund invests €2.4 billion to accelerate the green transition in 7 beneficiary countries (04/07/2022)
On 8 June, the Modernisation Fund made available €2.4 billion to seven beneficiary countries to help modernise their energy systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in energy, industry and transport, and support them in meeting their 2030 climate and energy targets.
Paving the way to COP 27: the Bonn Climate Change Conference (04/07/2022)
Delegates representing more than 100 Parties to the Paris Agreement met in Bonn, Germany, to prepare key decisions for the upcoming UN Climate Conference (COP 27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, and for the years to come.
Fit for 55 package: Council reaches general approaches relating to emissions reductions and their social impacts (04/07/2022)
The Council on 29 June adopted its negotiating positions (general approaches) on important legislative proposals in the ‘Fit for 55’ package. This follows the votes at the plenary sessions of the European Parliament on 6 - 9 and 22 – 23 June on the same set of proposals. Presented by the European Commission in 2021, the package will enable the European Union to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality in 2050.
European Commission reveals winners of LIFE Awards 2022 (07/06/2022)
On 31 May, the LIFE Programme announced the five winners of the annual LIFE Awards at a ceremony held during EU Green Week.
Canada, the EU and China co-convene the 6th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA) (07/06/2022)
We need urgent action to keep the 1.5°C limit agreed in Glasgow within reach. COP27 must deliver a higher level of ambition on mitigation as well as concrete steps to speed up the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Commission launches interest survey for projects in clean tech manufacturing and pilots for deep decarbonisation technologies (07/06/2022)
The EU ETS Innovation Fund will play a key role in the REPowerEU action plan. The Commission will double the funding for the next large-scale call to around €3 billion. To this end, we launched a survey to get an indication of the available project pipeline.
REPowerEU: A plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition (07/06/2022)
The European Commission on 18 May presented the REPowerEU Plan, its response to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
118 regions and local authorities join the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change (07/06/2022)
On 7 June, the European Commission announced the first 118 regions and local authorities that will participate in the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change, the so-called Mission Adaptation, which will support the European Green Deal and the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy.
United Nations’ science panel issues starkest warning yet to urgently cut global emissions (04/05/2022)
On 4 April, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its latest report, setting out the action we need to take to put a brake on global warming, avoid irreversible impacts on our planet and meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
Green Deal: Phasing down fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances (04/05/2022)
On 5 April, the European Commission proposed two new Regulations to more tightly control fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone depleting substances (ODS).
Joint Statement European Union - Egypt (04/05/2022)
On 11 April, H.E. Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President-designate of the Twenty-Seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, received Mr. Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.
Commission announces 100 cities participating in EU Mission for climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 (04/05/2022)
On 28 April, the Commission announced the 100 EU cities that will participate in the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, the so-called Cities Mission.
Kick-starting a sustainable Europe – with young people! (01/04/2022)
On 7 April at 10.00, DG CLIMA is kicking off a conversation between EVP Frans Timmermans and young EU Climate Pact Ambassadors to discuss sustainable consumption and how Europe can become greener for everyone. This Youth Dialogue is just one of many conversations that are being organised together with young people and EU Commissioners to celebrate the 2022 European Year of Youth #EYY22.
€1.5 billion for clean tech: 138 projects apply to the EU Innovation Fund’s second call for large-scale projects (01/04/2022)
In response to the Innovation FundSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••’s second call for large-scale projects, the European Commission received 138 applications for innovative clean tech projects in all eligible categories: renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture and storage.
Commission makes available €100 million for innovative clean technology projects (01/04/2022)
On 31 March, the European Commission is launching the second call for small-scale projects under the Innovation FundSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••, one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the auction of emission allowances from the EU’s Emissions Trading System.
Commission awards over €1 billion to innovative projects for the EU climate transition (01/04/2022)
On 1 April, the Commission signed grant agreements of €1.1 billion with seven large-scale projects via the EU Innovation Fund, funded by revenues from the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS). These projects aim to reduce emissions by over 76 Mt of CO2eq during the first ten years of operation.
EU Green Week is an annual opportunity to debate European environmental policy with policymakers, leading environmentalists and stakeholders from Europe and beyond. This year's edition focuses on the European Green Deal - the EU’s sustainable and transformative growth strategy for a resource-efficient and climate-neutral Europe by 2050. EU Green Week 2022 will take place from 30 May to 5 June 2022.
Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans travels to Vietnam for a three-day visit (28/02/2022)
Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans travelled to Vietnam on 17 February where he discussed the green transition with representatives of the government.
Green Deal: EU invests over €110 million in LIFE projects for environment and climate in 11 EU countries (28/02/2022)
On 17 February, the Commission announced an investment of over €110 million into LIFE programme integrated projects for environmental and climate protection, selected after a call for proposals covering the year 2020.
Urgent need to adapt to massive impacts of climate change highlighted in latest IPCC report (28/02/2022)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published on 28 February its latest report on the impacts, adaptation and vulnerabilities related to climate change. One of the report’s main findings is that climate change induced by humanity is already impacting nature and people more intensely, more frequently and over a wider geographical area than previously thought.
More than €7 million in LIFE funding for NGOs (28/01/2022)
27 NGOs across Europe are to benefit from more than €7 million in LIFE programme funding. The new projects support the European Green Deal's goal of making the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
Europeans see climate change as top challenge for the EU (28/01/2022)
Nine out of 10 young Europeans agree that tackling climate change can help improve their own health and well-being (91% of 15–24-year-old) while 87% of all respondents also share this sentiment, according to the Special Eurobarometer on the Future of Europe released on 25 January.
Webinar: Climate change models and new data approaches resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic (03/02/2022)
Join the Climate Change Modelling Information (CCMI) project on 3 February at 10.30 at its first webinar to hear about how modellers are integrating new types of data (e.g., global mobility data from Google and Apple, expert surveys) into long-standing climate change models to measure GHG emission dynamics resulting from government policies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commission is looking for top experts to advise on EU Missions (28/01/2022)
The European Commission launched a call for experts to join the five Mission Boards, with the role of advising on the implementation of the EU Missions. The five Mission Boards will have up to 15 independent top experts for each Mission.
Conference on Sustainable Carbon Cycles (31/01/2022)
On 31 January, the European Commission will host a virtual conference on sustainable carbon cycles. The conference will bring together decision makers and experts from different backgrounds to share their experiences in view of the upcoming EU regulatory initiative on the certification of carbon removals.
LIFE Programme: More than €290 million in EU funding for nature, environment and climate action projects (10/12/2021)
The Commission has today approved an investment package of more than €290 million for 132 new projects under the LIFE programme for the environment and climate action. This EU funding will mobilise a total investment of €562 million, with projects in almost all Member States.
Commission awards 27 grants under the Innovation Fund (10/12/2021)
On 10 December, 27 projects selected for a grant under the first Innovation Fund call for small-scale projects signed their grant agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), the implementing body of the Fund.
Message from the Director-General (17/12/2021)
Dear readers,
Another busy, but all in all very rewarding year in the fight against the climate crisis is drawing to a close. 2021 has been eventful at the Directorate General for Climate Action. Without going over everything from the past year, we saw the adoption of the Climate Law and of our new Adaptation Strategy, illustrating the importance that we, as the EU, attach to both mitigation and adaptation. We saw the development of the European Climate Pact, and the further strengthening of our climate diplomacy efforts, which undoubtedly contributed to the progress made at COP26 in Glasgow. We were, once again, at the forefront of innovation, supported by the granting of funds from the Modernisation and Innovation Funds. All initiatives with a major impact on the ground.
COP26: EU helps deliver outcome to keep the Paris Agreement targets alive (09/11/2021)
At the end of the COP26 UN Climate Conference, the European Commission supported the consensus reached by over 190 countries after two weeks of intense negotiations. COP26 resulted in the completion of the Paris Agreement rulebook and kept the Paris targets alive, giving us a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
New EU commitments at COP26
€1 billion in funding for the Global Forests Finance Pledge to protect, restore and sustainably manage forests worldwide;
Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa, which will mobilise an initial commitment of $8.5 billion for the first phase of financing;
Official launch of the Global Methane Pledge, a joint EU-US initiative which has mobilised over 100 countries to cut their collective methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels;
EU-Catalyst partnership with Bill Gates and EIB President Werner Hoyer to boost investments in critical climate technologies;
New pledge of €100 million in finance for the Climate Adaptation Fund, by far the biggest pledge for the Adaptation Fund made by donors at COP26.
Commission awards first three grants under the Innovation Fund (04/11/2021)
At a dedicated event during COP26, the first three projects to be financed since the creation of the Innovation Fund signed their grant agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), the implementing body of the Fund. They will benefit from a total grant of EUR 12.7 million. In addition, the Commission adopted a decision on the award of EUR 1.7 million for project development assistance to 10 projects.
With 4.3% drop in greenhouse gas intensity of road transport fuels, further action is still needed for meeting the 2020 6% fuel quality target (29/10/2021)
The Commission on 29 October adopted its annual Fuel Quality Report based on the 2019 reporting data submitted by EU countries. The report finds that the average greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of fuels in the 28 reporting Member States had fallen by 4.3% compared to the 2010 baseline. The year-on-year progress achieved compared to 2018 was limited to a 0.6 percentage point decrease. Progress varies greatly across Member States, and almost all need to act swiftly to meet the target set out under the Fuel Quality Directive to reduce the GHG intensity of transport fuels by a minimum of 6% by 2020 compared to 2010.
EU side events at COP26 | Recordings (01/11/2021)
During COP26, the EU hosted more than 160 side events at the EU Pavilion in Glasgow, Brussels and online. These events, organised by a variety of countries and organisations from Europe and around the world, addressed a broad range of climate-related issues, such as the energy transition, sustainable finance and research and innovation.
You can watch the recordings of all events on the side events platform.
Information Session on the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change (23/11/2021)
On 23 November at 14:30 Clara de la Torre, Mission Manager, will be joined by John Bell (Deputy Mission Manager) and Dirk Beckers (Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency CINEA) to present the concept and implementation mechanisms of the Mission, and explain how the regions can engage in the process. This will be followed by a Questions and Answers session via SLI.DO.
Second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund (11/11/2021)
The call is open for projects from all EU Member States, Iceland and Norway until the 3rd of March 2022. With a budget of €1.5 billion, the Innovation Fund will finance breakthrough technologies for renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and storage.
International Methane Emissions Observatory launched to boost action on powerful climate-warming gas (12/11/2021)
To support further progress on fulfilling the Paris Agreement, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with support from the European Union launched International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). IMEO will bring global reporting on methane emissions to an entirely different level, ensuring public transparency on anthropogenic methane emissions.
LIFE call for proposals 2021 (12/11/2021)
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The first LIFE Call for Proposals under the new LIFE programme 2021-2027 comprises four sub-programmes: nature & biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the clean energy transition, with a budget of over 580€ million to fund new projects.
Climate action in the post-COVID world (12/11/2021)
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Population exposure and migrations linked to climate change in Africa (12/11/2021)
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Message from DG (Editorial) (15/11/2021)
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Share your ideas for the European Year of Youth! (20/11/2021)
2022 will be the European Year of Youth! But it cannot be your year without your ideas. What do you want the EU to do for you? What should the year change in your life?
This is your chance to help shape the year and the future of Europe together. Share your proposals (as many as you want!) via this call for ideas.
Don’t miss this opportunity to have your say!
European Green Deal: Commission adopts new proposals to stop deforestation, innovate sustainable waste management and make soils healthy for people, nature and climate (17/11/2021)
On 17 November, the Commission adopted three new initiatives that are necessary for making the European Green Deal a reality. The Commission is proposing new rules to curb EU-driven deforestation, as well as new rules to facilitate intra-EU waste shipments to promote circular economy and tackle the export of illegal waste and waste challenges to third countries. The Commission also presented a new Soil strategy to have all European soils restored, resilient, and adequately protected by 2050. With these proposals, the Commission is presenting the tools to move to a circular economy, protect nature, and raise environmental standards in the European Union and in the world.
Education for Climate Day (25/11/2021)
During the first Education for Climate Day, you will learn more about how the Education for Climate Coalition seeks to co-create a participatory education community to support the changes needed for a climate-neutral society.
EU invests over €1 billion in innovative projects to decarbonise the economy (17/11/2021)
The European Union is investing over €1.1 billion into seven large-scale innovative projects under the Innovation Fund. The grants will support projects aiming to bring breakthrough technologies to the market in energy-intensive industries, hydrogen, carbon capture, use and storage, and renewable energy. The projects are located in Belgium, Italy, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
EU Climate Action Progress Report (17/11/2021)
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European Union launches a Green Team Europe Initiative in partnership with South East Asia (19/11/2021)
On 18 November, a Green Team Europe Initiative in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)/South East Asia, was launched by Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, during the 3rd ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development. The initiative, backed by an initial €30 million grant from the EU budget, will strengthen the EU's partnership with the region in areas including climate action, environmental and biodiversity protection, clean energy transition, disaster resilience, prevention of illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and air pollution.
EU Climate Action: Progress reports show 2020 emissions down 31% from 1990, 76% of ETS revenues used for green transition (27/10/2021)
Together with the annual State of the Energy Union Report, the Commission adopted on 26 October three reports on the progress of EU climate policies in 2020: the EU Climate Action Progress Report, the Carbon Market Report and the Fuel Quality Report.
State of the Energy Union 2021: Renewables overtake fossil fuels as the EU's main power source (27/10/2021)
The Commission adopted today its State of the Energy Union Reports for 2021, taking stock of the progress that the EU is making in delivering the clean energy transition, nearly two years after the launch of the European Green Deal. While there are a number of encouraging trends, greater efforts will be required to reach the 2030 goal of cutting net emissions by at least 55% and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Boosting Europe's green transition: Commission invests €1.5 billion in innovative clean tech projects (27/10/2021)
The Commission has launched the second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund, one of the world's largest programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the auction of emission allowances from the EU's Emissions Trading System. With a budget of €1.5 billion it will finance breakthrough technologies for renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and storage.
Second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund (26/10/2021)
The call is open for projects from all EU Member States, Iceland and Norway until the 3rd of March 2022. With a budget of €1.5 billion, the Innovation Fund will finance breakthrough technologies for renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and storage. An Info Day will be organised on 10 November.
EU side events at COP26 (01/11/2021)
During COP26, the EU will host more than 150 side events at the EU Pavilion in Glasgow, Brussels and online. These events, organised by a variety of countries and organisations from Europe and around the world, will address a broad range of climate-related issues, such as the energy transition, sustainable finance and research and innovation.
All events will be accessible online on the event platform, which will go live on Sunday afternoon! In addition, you may explore the digital booths and connect with other participants via the networking feature. These following two weeks there will be great opportunities to listen, learn and showcase climate action. Join us!
Mobilising finance for clean tech deployment (04/11/2021)
On 4 November, the first successful projects under the Innovation Fund will sign their grant agreement. On this occasion, the Directorate General for Climate Action is organising an event at COP26 to present these successful projects and discuss together with project promoters and finance representatives how we can bridge the investment gap of breakthrough low-carbon technologies.
Global Covenant of Mayors recognised for its action for the climate (27/10/2021)
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has announced the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy as the winner of the 2nd Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. The Covenant was selected from 113 candidates in 48 different countries for its ability to enhance and support climate leadership across 11,000 different cities and local governments worldwide to advance towards a low-carbon economy and society. The award ceremony for the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity will take place on 9th November at the COP26 in Glasgow.
#EveryTrickCounts: Commission joins forces with UEFA to fight climate change (27/10/2021)
Let's protect the climate together as a team! We have joined forces with UEFA and a team of football greats using their skills against climate change.
Innovation Fund: lessons learned from the first call for small-scale projects and state aid support | Recording (27/10/2021)
On 12 October, the Directorate General for Climate Action and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) organised an event to present useful take aways from the Innovation Fund call for small-scale proposals, the revised state aid rules applying to clean tech projects, as well as relevant national aid schemes.
The European Union and the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) call for acceleration of climate action and ambition at COP26 (27/10/2021)
In preparation for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) met in an OACPS High-level Dialogue with Partners on 15 September 2021 to discuss common priorities for the Conference.
Joint Press Communiqué following the Second EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue (27/10/2021)
European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng held their second High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue (HECD) on 27 September 2021 and reaffirmed that the HECD will continue to be a key platform to enhance actions and bilateral cooperation on environment and in the fight against climate change.
Union for the Mediterranean countries commit to tackling climate and environmental emergencies (27/10/2021)
Ministers from the 42 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) met in Cairo on the 4th of October for the 2nd UfM Ministerial Conference on environment and climate action. They agreed to work together and strengthen efforts in the Euro-Mediterranean region to tackle its many climate and environmental challenges. At a critical moment for the region ahead of the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, ministers stressed the importance of mainstreaming environment and climate action across all sectoral policies.
EU and Indo-Pacific leaders commit to enhance cooperation on climate action (27/10/2021)
The Prime Minister of Fiji Mr Frank Bainimarama, the President of the Marshall Islands Mr David Kabua and the Prime Minister of Samoa Ms Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa exchanged views with the Executive Vice-President in a virtual public conference. Representatives from the governments of Timor-Leste, Papua-New Guinea and Bhutan also contributed to the discussion.
Information Session on the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change (23/11/2021)
On 23 November at 14:30 Clara de la Torre, Mission Manager, will be joined by John Bell (Deputy Mission Manager) and Dirk Beckers (Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency CINEA) to present the concept and implementation mechanisms of the Mission, and explain how the regions can engage in the process. This will be followed by a Questions and Answers session via SLI.DO.
Commission launches EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change (27/10/2021)
The Commission launched on 29 September five EU missions, a new and innovative way to work together and improve the lives of people in Europe and beyond. The Mission Adaptation to Climate Change will help prepare for unavoidable climate impacts and accelerate Europe’s transformation into a climate-resilient continent. The aim is to support at least 150 European regions and communities to move towards climate resilience by 2030.
EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change Implementation Plan (27/10/2021)
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COP26: EU encourages partners to turn ambition into action and deliver on the Paris Agreement (28/10/2021)
From 1 to 12 November, the European Commission will take part in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow, UK. On 1-2 November, President von der Leyen will represent the Commission at the World Leaders Summit which officially opens COP26. Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans will lead the EU negotiating team. Commissioner Kadri Simson will also attend COP26, and the EU will host over 150 side events at the EU Pavilion.
The EU budget and NextGenerationEU: fireworks or big bang? (08/11/2021)
"The EU budget and NextGenerationEU: fireworks or big bang?" European Commission conference on 8 November 2021 will bring together policy-makers, research organisations, capital market participants and citizens. A technical workshop on measuring climate mainstreaming with Clara de la Torre (Deputy Director-General for Climate Action, European Commission) will be part of the event.
Mapping of international climate initiatives and coalitions (28/10/2021)
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Innovation Fund: Second Large-scale call for projects Info Day (10/11/2021)
On Wednesday 10 November 2021, CINEA is organising together with DG Climate Action an Info Day to present the second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund. The Innovation Fund is one of the world's largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies.
