European Green Deal: new rules agreed on applying the EU emissions trading system in the aviation sector (19/01/2023)
The Commission welcomes the deal reached in the week of 9 December 2022 between the European Parliament and the Council to help make the aviation sector ‘Fit for 55', setting in law its contribution to our target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
European Green Deal: EU agrees to strengthen and expand emissions trading, and creates a Social Climate Fund to help people in the transition (19/01/2023)
The European Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament and Council to strengthen the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), apply emissions trading to new sectors for effective economy-wide climate action, and establish a Social Climate Fund.
Innovation Fund: additional large-scale geothermal project invited to prepare grant agreement (19/01/2023)
EAVOR-LOOP will proceed with the first commercial-scale implementation of an innovative closed-loop geothermal technology.
EU and international partners strike an agreement to support Viet Nam's ambitious climate and energy goals (19/01/2023)
Leaders from Viet Nam and the International Partners Group, including the EU, United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States, Italy, Canada, Japan, Norway and Denmark on 14 December 2022 agreed a bold Just Energy Transition Partnership.
EU Carbon Market Report: driving emission reductions and enabling climate and energy investment (19/01/2023)
On 14 December 2022, the European Commission adopted its annual report on the European carbon market in 2021.
The Bigger Picture: how the climate and biodiversity are intimately linked, and what the EU is doing to protect them both (19/01/2023)
After the COP27 UN climate conference in Egypt and the COP15 biodiversity conference in Canada, it is clearer than ever that the two crises – climate change and biodiversity loss – are interconnected and need to be tackled together.
Implementing the Green Deal: Commission launches Climate Resilience Dialogue (19/01/2023)
The Climate Resilience Dialogue will explore how insurance and other risk mitigation actions can contribute to climate resilience, from increasing climate risk insurance penetration, to incentives and investment in good adaptation solutions.
The European Climate Pact: Together in Action (01/02/2023)
The European Climate Pact is celebrating two years of taking climate action together, in our worlds, for our planet. On 1 February 2023, we are bringing together Climate Pact Ambassadors, experts and activists to take stock of the journey so far and discuss ways to build a more sustainable Europe for the future. You can network with the people and organisations involved in the European Climate Pact, hear about their achievements, and learn how you can get involved.
LIFE Programme survey (24/03/2023)
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. You can now give your input on the ex-post evaluation of LIFE 2014-2020 until 24 March 2023.
2023 arrangement for the execution of transfers between the emission trading registries of the EU and Switzerland (05/12/2022)
The Joint Committee under the EU and Swiss Linking Agreement agreed on the 2023 arrangements for the transfers of emission allowances between the registries of the EU Emissions Trading System and the Swiss Emissions Trading System.
EU agrees to COP27 compromise to keep Paris Agreement alive and protect those most vulnerable to climate change (05/12/2022)
At the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the European Commission showed ambition and flexibility to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees within reach.
European Green Deal: EU agrees to increase carbon removals through land use, forestry and agriculture (05/12/2022)
The European Commission welcomes the provisional deal on the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry regulation reached on 10 November with the European Parliament and Council to increase the EU's target for net carbon removals by natural sinks to 310 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
How the EU is helping partner countries fight climate change (05/12/2022)
From Pakistan to California to the south of France: the floods, heatwaves and wildfires that have hit different countries around the world this year have – once again – demonstrated how climate change knows no borders.
European Green Deal: EU reaches agreement on national emission reductions from transport, buildings, waste and agriculture (05/12/2022)
The European Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament and Council to increase the ambition of the EU's Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR).
Commission invests €3 billion in innovative clean tech projects to deliver on REPowerEU and accelerate Europe's energy independence from Russian fossil fuels (05/12/2022)
On 3 November, the European Commission launched the third call for large-scale projects under the EU Innovation Fund. This call will boost the deployment of industrial solutions to decarbonise Europe and provide additional support towards ending the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
Call for tenders: Operation of the European Climate Pact Secretariat (PactSec) (16/01/2023)
The European Commission is seeking services for the implementation of the European Climate Pact. The Pact underpins the Green Deal by encouraging broad societal engagement on climate and environmental action. The contractor will provide: a general support and coordination for a wide range of activities; communications and outreach; citizen and stakeholder engagement; working together through online and offline means. Deadline is 16 January 2023.
UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal (05/12/2022)
The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada, is coming up in December: read up on how climate change is connected to the millions of plants, animals and other organisms that exist around the world, and how nature can help us achieve the EU’s climate goals. And how can you help protect nature? Join our campaign and share your actions using #ForOurPlanet!
The EU and Morocco launch the first Green Partnership on energy, climate and the environment ahead of COP 27 (04/11/2022)
The EU-Morocco Green Partnership was signed on the occasion on Executive Vice-President Timmermans’ visit to the Kingdom of Morocco on 18-19 October 2022. This is the first such EU initiative with a partner country as part of the external dimension of the European Green Deal.
Commission secures ambitious EU negotiating mandate for the COP27 on Climate and COP15 on Biodiversity (04/11/2022)
At the Environment Council in Luxembourg on 24 October, the Commission secured an ambitious negotiating mandate for the upcoming COP27 Climate Conference in November and the COP15 Biodiversity Conference in December. The EU will push for increased action at global level to tackle the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises, and will work with like-minded partners to secure a successful outcome at both international conferences.
EU emissions remain 4% below pre-pandemic levels despite rebound after COVID recovery (04/11/2022)
The Commission on 25 October adopted the EU Climate Action Progress Report. While EU domestic greenhouse gas emissions rose by 4.8% in 2021 from their exceptionally low 2020 pandemic level, they remained 4% below 2019 levels.
EU greenhouse gas intensity of road transport fuels down by 5.5% since 2010 – further action still necessary (04/11/2022)
The latest Fuel Quality Report finds that the average greenhouse gas intensity of fuels in the EU's 27 Member States has fallen by 5.5% compared to 2010, decreasing by 1.2 percentage points between 2019 and 2020.
EUTeens4Green: young actors of the green transition (30/09/2022)
EUTeens4Green call for project proposals is open and gives the opportunity for young people (15 - 24) to be actors of the green transition in Europe. The call for project proposals closes on 3 November 2022.
Second EU Innovation Fund call for small-scale projects: 66 applications for the €100 million funding for clean tech projects (30/09/2022)
In response to the second EU Innovation Fund call for small-scale projects, the European Commission received 66 applications for innovative clean tech projects in all eligible categories.
Breathing LIFE into the fight against climate change (30/09/2022)
Summer 2022 was Europe’s hottest on record – as we have all noticed. Across the continent, temperatures soared above 40°C, forest fires devastated huge swaths of land, and droughts reduced crop yields and dried up rivers – among much more.
Climate Diplomacy Weeks 2022 (30/09/2022)
From 12 September to 30 October, EU Delegations and embassies of EU Member States around the world will host events to foster dialogue and cooperation on climate change, showcase success stories and inspire further action.
CO2 emissions from new cars in Europe plummeted in 2020 as the share of zero- and low-emission cars tripled (30/09/2022)
CO2 emissions per km of new cars registered in the EU, Iceland, Norway, and the UK in 2020 decreased by 12% compared with 2019 levels, according to the European Environment Agency. This is mostly due to increased fleet electrification.
More signatories join the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change (30/09/2022)
100 more regions and local authorities sign the Charter of the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change in support of the goals of the European Green Deal and the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy.
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.
