Europe’s mayors called on to tackle climate change

European mayors are being asked to put their gold bling to good use – by pledging to help their cities prepare for climate change. EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard launched the Mayors Adapt scheme in Brussels this week, along with the Mayors of Naples, Italy and Hasselt, Belgium and Manchester City Council member Neil […]

EU reaches deal to cap ‘super’ greenhouse gases

The European Union has reached a tentative deal to partially ban the use of a group of “super” greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will be capped in 2015 and gradually phased down, with a target to achieve a 79% reduction by 2030. HFCs are considered to be much more powerful […]

European energy ministers say ambitious 2030 targets are needed

European cabinet ministers responsible for energy and climate change met yesterday in Brussels to lay out their vision for a low carbon economy. A pamphlet signed by ministers at the European Green Growth Summit set out three priorities for the European Union: agreeing on ambitious 2030 targets; reforming the structure of the Emissions Trading Scheme and […]

UN aviation body is "stalling" on emissions

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has been accused of stalling on measures to tackle aviation emissions following its 38th Assembly in Montreal last week. The UN body agreed to push forward with plans for a global, market based mechanism (MBM) to reduce emissions. However it only committed to coming up with proposals for the […]

UN body accused of ‘dragging its feet’ on aviation emissions

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has been accused of dragging its feet over measures to combat aviation emissions. On Tuesday the UN body agreed to have the tools in place by 2016 to create a global market based system for cutting greenhouse gases. But the commitment will still need to be ratified at their […]

EU boosts funding to €3.45bn for environmental projects

The European Commission has agreed to provide €3.45 billion (£2.97bn) worth of funding for a programme involved in financing climate and environmental projects. Called LIFE, the programme – launched in 1992 – is the EU’s financial instrument for climate protection projects. The increased funding will be made available from 2014 to 2020, with €2.59 billion […]

EU plans climate change cash, hunts green heroes

The European Union is hunting high and low for green heroes in a new contest launched this week to find exciting projects which cut carbon emissions. The contest comes as last week EU leaders agreed they would spend a fifth of its budget for 2014-2020 on climate action. Europe’s leaders drew up their plan for future […]

Renewable projects get €1.2bn from EU

The European Commission has awarded more than €1.2 billion (£976m) in subsidies to help kick-start 23 innovative renewable energy projects. The projects will be co-financed with revenues from the sale of allowances to emit carbon dioxide in a special reserve under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The announcement covers 200 million emission allowances sold […]

Australia to link with EU emissions trading scheme

Australia and the EU took a step towards an international carbon trading market after today announcing they will fully link their emissions trading systems in 2018. This means carbon credits under both schemes will count in either system, the EU’s Climate Commissioner and Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency said today. The two […]

EU emissions auctions timing to change

The European Commission (EC) has proposed to change the timing for auctions of emissions allowances as the market should not be “deliberately flooded”. The news comes after the EU Council approved the UK’s bid to have it own national emissions auction platform earlier this month, with the auctions due to begin at the end of […]