Climate & Energy Targets

In June of this year the former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres led a number of scientists to a call for deeper and faster action on climate change. The message she is sending is clear: if we want to avoid the most dangerous impacts of man-made climate change we need to do much more and we need to do it faster.

Today the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on its formal opinion on the revision of Energy Efficiency Directive for the period 2021 – 2030.

While Europe is recovering from an unusually warm summer, a new study warns that heatwaves with temperatures of above 40°C are expected to become more frequent, with some regions of Eastern Europe hit by new super heatwaves of above 55°C, writes Wendel Trio.

CAN Europe has contributed a submission on "How the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change" sent out by the Citizens’ Assembly of Ireland.

In reaction to the outcome of the G20 summit that has taken place on 7-8 July in Germany, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:

In reaction to the new climate action plan published by the French government today, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:

The Paris Agreement is the route to prosperity, productivity, safety and health and we are moving ahead with its implementation at an accelerating pace.

This is the message being sent today by hundreds of cities, states, regions, businesses, investors and many others to the leaders of the G20 who will gather in Hamburg, Germany on 7th July. 

Tackling climate change will be one of the central tasks of the G20 summit of the world’s largest economies taking place on 7-8 July in Germany.

Civil society is calling on the leaders to send a strong signal of their commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, including through pursuing deeper emission cuts than currently foreseen.

EU Energy Ministers meeting in Luxembourg today have adopted their position on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) for after 2020. By agreeing to dilute its cornerstone measure: the annual energy savings obligation, they propose to significantly weaken the policy and thus also profoundly undermine the EU's commitments under the Paris Agreement.

On 26 June, EU Energy Ministers are expected to reach an agreement on the revision of the bloc’s main energy saving law for after 2020. Worryingly, they are considering throwing the policy into disarray by significantly watering down its cornerstone measure: the annual energy savings obligation. This would profoundly undermine the EU's commitments under the Paris Agreement, which requires boosting energy savings investments.

The Governance Regulation is an opportunity to support increasing climate ambition and a faster energy transition in Europe.

In reaction to the discussion on the Governance Regulation taking place in the European Parliament’s Industry and Environment Commitees today, Caroline Westblom, EU Climate and Energy Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe said:

Dear President/Prime Minister/Chancellor,

We understand you will be discussing the regrettable withdrawal by the US federal administration from the Paris Agreement.

Climate Action Network Europe very much welcomed the EU's reaction to this decision and the expression of its clear support to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. We similarly welcomed the strong support of so many other major carbon emitters as well as the determination of hundreds of US States,

EU heads of state and government meeting in Brussels on 22-23 June are expected to express their support to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the dedication shown by the EU, but urges leaders to translate their words into action by calling for deeper emission cuts than currently foreseen and providing more support to climate action in developing countries.

In reaction to the discussion on the Effort Sharing Regulation taking place at the Environment Council today, Caroline Westblom, EU Climate and Energy Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe said:

The European Parliament voted today on the revision of the “Climate Action Regulation implementing the Paris Agreement” (Effort Sharing Regulation, or ESR), which covers emissions from transport, waste, buildings and agriculture for the coming decade.

The Parliament failed to translate its recent numerous statements reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the Paris Agreement into substantial emission cuts. In its current shape, the impact of the Effort Sharing

The author of the European Parliament’s report on the new Energy Efficiency Directive, Polish MEP Adam Gierek, proposes to dismantle future EU energy efficiency policy and promotes measures that would extend the life of coal power plants.

With the opening of the European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels today, European development and environmental groups are urging the EU to take more ambitious actions in the fight against climate change.

Clarification added on 02/06/2017, 8:00PM CET: The EU and China agreed to step up cooperation on climate change today, but the statement is to be published at a later moment.

In a statement to be released today at a joint high-profile summit in Brussels, the EU and China reaffirm their unequivocal commitment to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and establish a closer partnership on climate action and the clean energy transition.

In reaction to today’s announcement by the US President Donald Trump, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said: