Oil giants backslide on climate commitments, citing profitability drop
TotalEnergies, an energy company headquartered in Paris, has become the latest fossil fuel giant to retreat from its climate commitments, citing disappointing results…
Energy and climate
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Idiot Tax? Chinese companies use Germany’s ‘green’ rules in suspected €1bn scam
Chinese companies are believed to have scammed the German taxpayer out of around €1 billion using the country's own 'green' rules, a major economic research centre…
German Greens call for relaxing EU emissions fines on carmakers
Germany's Greens party economy minister Robert Habeck has called for the relaxing of fines on automotive emissions that were set to hit European Union carmakers…
Audi to recall more than 700,000 cars in new blow for owner VW
Audi, a Volkswagen subsidiary, has said it will have to recall hundreds of thousands of cars due to technical issues.
Greta Thunberg: ‘Fuck Germany! And fuck Israel!’
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been filmed laughing and talking to a crowd, shouting at one point, "Fuck Germany! And fuck Israel!
Largest tender process for offshore wind in Danish history ends in failure
The Danish wind industry has taken a hit after not a single bid was received for tenders for three offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
Trump can make world energy prices tumble, hitting Putin hard
A negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine shortly after Donald Trump takes office in January of 2025 seems more and more likely.
UK pays £1 billion to turn off wind farms
Problems and difficulties in managing the electric grid have forced the UK government to spend £1 billion (€1.21 billion) so far this year to cut wind farm output.
Germany to see weakest growth of all industrialised countries in 2025, says OECD
Germany, traditionally the engine of the European economy, will have the weakest growth of all industrialised countries in 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation…
EC to pump a further €1bn into ‘green’ battery tech despite Northvolt implosion
The European Commission has announced it will be pumping more cash into electric vehicle battery technology despite losing hundreds of millions on the now-bankrupt…
Nuclear power-plant operator claims German phase-out was ‘politically motivated’
Nuclear power plant managers have challenged Green Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck's assertions about the need for Germany's nuclear phase-out.
Stockholm county ditches ban on petrol cars
After companies operating in Stockholm appealed the planned petrol car ban, the County Administrative Board (CAB) for the county of Stockholm has decided to block…
International court to begin hearings that may shape global climate litigation
The United Nations' top court next week begins hearings on the legal obligation of countries to fight climate change and the consequences for states of contributing…
EU to focus on ‘decarbonisation’ to become competitive with US, China
The European Union will focus on the "decarbonisation" of its economy in an effort to make itself competitive with the US and China, the bloc's top civil servant…
‘Secret letter’ reveals German Greens minister asked France for nuclear energy support
Feathers have been ruffled by the unearthing of a secret letter from the German Vice-Chancellor and Greens party member Robert Habeck to the then-French energy minister…
EU taxpayers set to lose more than €300 million over ‘green’ darling Northvolt’s bankruptcy
Any bankruptcy of Swedish battery developer and manufacturer Northvolt is set to cost the European taxpayer a hefty sum.
Steel giant ArcelorMittal backs out of ‘green’ projects with industry’s future at risk
Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal said it was delaying big investment programmes in Europe, citing uncertainties over European Union…
Von der Leyen hires top Greens member as climate ‘advisor,’ gets mixed reaction in Brussels
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has hired a former top politician within the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament to advise her on climate…
EU signs another climate deal as US eyes fossil-fuel renaissance
The European Union has signed another global climate-change deal just as the US eyes up a fossil-fuel renaissance.
‘Green’ darling Northvolt with €5.62 billion in debt seeks bankruptcy protection as CEO quits
Swedish electric vehicle battery maker Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy protection, a Chapter 11 process in the US as it desperately looks for extra cash.
Member states doubt EU database for biofuels, saying market distortions are likely
The Union Database for Biofuels (UDB), which came into effect on November 21, is part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package of the Renewable Energy Directive…
German ex-chancellor Merkel publishes memoir targeting several leaders, including Trump
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel’s memoirs, Freedom: Memories 1954–2021, offer a look at her approach to global leadership, including her relationship…
Polish Government freezes energy prices in run-up to presidential elections
The Polish Government has announced a freeze on energy prices for households at just over €100 per megawatt-hour (MWh) for the first three quarters of 2025, the…
€600 fine for German who used poop emoji against Greens’ leader?
German media has revealed that a man was fined over a social media post that described Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and…
EP’s S&D holds Commission hostage to force through climate candidate Ribera
This strategic shift has been designed to see Ribera appointed to the new Commission despite her controversial management of the catastrophic flooding that hit Valencia,…
Crisis-hit EV battery champion Northvolt struggles to hit production targets
Embattled green tech player Northvolt has missed some in-house targets and has curtailed production at its battery cells plant in northern Sweden, according to…
Italy and Czechia plead for nuclear energy at COP29
With COP29 underway in Baku, a growing number of European leaders have highlighted the importance of nuclear energy in producing clean energy, breaking with older…
Destruction of Nord Stream ‘a good thing’, Ukrainian sabotage suspect claims
Speaking to the German media, retired Ukrainian secret service agent Roman Tschervinskyj maintained that he was innocent of any involvement in the attack, although…
Greece in talks with Israel to develop €2bn ‘Iron Dome’
Greece is in talks with Israel to develop a €2 billion ($2.
EU lawmakers soften bloc’s deforestation law
Members of the European Parliament have voted to delay implementation of the EU's deforestation law, and introduced amendments to soften some of the existing regulations.