Leaked paper shows EU plans for ‘green’ boost to make bloc ‘competitive’
Brussels is planning to ramp up the European Union's green crusade, a move meant to make the bloc more competitive, a leaked document seen by Brussels Signal has…
Energy and climate
Latest reporting and analysis on energy and climate.
Polish PM Tusk wants to ditch Green Deal to ‘save EU competitiveness’
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, has given a landmark speech in the European…
Netherlands ordered by court to slash nitrogen emissions by 2030
A Dutch court ordered the government on January 22 to drastically cut nitrogen emissions in the Netherlands by 2030, in a ruling that could hurt construction and…
EC ‘paid shadow lobby to promote own green policies’, Dutch newspaper claims
Secret contracts between the European Commission and "green" NGOs were part of an alleged "shadow lobbying scheme", Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported.
‘Almost one in five’ European hydrogen projects scrapped in 2024
Despite the EU heavily promoting hydrogen in its 'green agenda' and net-zero ambitions, the industry is struggling, with many project cancellations and delays.
Greenpeace activists delay EC chief von der Leyen’s WEF opening speech
Greenpeace activists have evaded the World Economic Forum's tight security checks, staging a brief climate change protest outside the main hall of the annual meeting…
‘Germany will push Trump to rejoin WHO’: German health minister
Germany's health minister has said the outgoing left-wing government will urge the US to rejoin the World Health Organisation (WHO) after US President Donald Trump…
Spanish citizen Darío Gil to serve as US Under Secretary for Science
Donald Trump has appointed Spanish scientist Darío Gil as Undersecretary of Science and Innovation at the Department of Energy.
EU car industry calls for CO2 fine relief to avoid ‘irreparable’ harm to competitiveness
The European automobile industry has called on the EU to roll back CO2 emission fines to avoid crippling the bloc's competitiveness.
NGOs gained influence under von der Leyen, while companies lost theirs
NGOs had much more contact with the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen, compared with her predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker.
Austria will scrap ‘green’ subsidies, say coalition negotiators
The Austrian Freedom Party and the People’s Party pledged cuts in "climate subsidies" to curtail Austria's ballooning budget deficit.
Irish coalition buckles, vows to continue carbon tax hikes
Members of Ireland's new coalition government have reversed their criticism of carbon tax policies, undertaking instead to continue the regular increase in the highly-unpopular…
Swedish debt collectors begins seizures at doomed green-tech Northvolt
'Green' darling Northvolt faced seizures by the Swedish Enforcement Authority, Kronofogden, the country's debt collector, over unpaid bills.
All parties except AfD to push on with German energy transition
Energy policy has figured highly in Germany's February 23 elections, the country's first since Berlin severed ties with Russia, its long-time gas supplier.
Danes to rely on bean burritos to achieve green transition goals
Major Danish grocery chains and the Danish Consumer Council have launched a campaign to encourage Danes to eat more beans and less meat to achieve the country's…
NATO to deploy ships, aircraft in Baltic Sea after cable breaches
NATO countries will deploy frigates, patrol aircraft and naval drones in the Baltic Sea to help protect critical infrastructure and reserve the right to take action…
Germany’s CDU leader, ahead in polls: industry more important than climate protection
Friederich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats in Germany's coming elections, said industry was more important than climate protection.
Musk adviser says Italy’s data sovereignty would be ‘guaranteed’ in Starlink deal
An Italian representative for US billionaire Elon Musk's aerospace ventures has said Italy would retain full control over its data in any potential agreement with…
Slovak PM Fico says Russian gas supply ‘secured’
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico says he has secured guaranteed gas supply from Russia just before Ukraine halted the transit of gas from the country at the…
EU car makers turn to Tesla and Polestar for carbon credits to avoid fines
In a bid to comply with the European Union’s increasingly stringent CO2 emission targets, several European car manufacturers have been purchasing carbon credits…
Poland offers to supply electricity to Ukraine
Poland’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, has said the country was prepared to supply electricity to Ukraine if needed.
Germany’s declining economy ‘helps it cut emissions’, think tank finds
Germany's declining economy is helping the country reach its goal of reducing emissions, a think tank report has found.
EU gas reserves plunge as winter demand and supply disruptions bite
European Union gas reserves have suffered one of the sharpest declines on record.
Trump calls to ‘open up’ North Sea, get rid of windmills
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called to "open up" the British North Sea and get rid of windmills in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday.
Southeast Germans told to limit electricity use
Germans living in the southeast of the country were told to limit electricity use on the morning of January 3 over issues to do with the local grid.
Slovakia weighs retaliation against Ukraine over gas transit termination
Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced possible retaliatory measures against Ukraine after Kyiv halted the flow of Russian gas to his country.
Russia cuts gas supply via Ukraine as transit deal expires
Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled gas giant, has announced a significant reduction in gas flows to Europe via Ukraine.
NATO to ‘ramp-up Baltic Sea operations’ after suspected undersea cables sabotage
NATO has said it will boost its presence in the Baltic Sea after the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable and four internet lines.
Finland detains Russia-linked oil tanker over suspected deep-sea cable sabotage
Finland has detained an oil tanker with links to Russia over concerns it intentionally damaged several deep-sea cables.
Zelensky says Europe’s security ‘at risk over Slovakia’s dependence on Russian gas’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised what he said was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's lack of desire to end his country's dependency on Russian…