Militant Farmer Defence Force spreads to Belgium
Angry Belgian farmers have rallied behind the new Farmers Defence Force (FDF) to protest in Antwerp on August 18, echoing earlier demonstrations in the Netherlands.
Energy and climate
Latest reporting and analysis on energy and climate.
Don’t be fooled: China’s investment in renewables is not about net zero – it is about preparing for war with the United States
History is a harsh mistress, especially for those who refuse to learn lessons from the past.
European Commission gave €10 million to “degrowth” research
While the debate on de-industrialisation in Europe is raging, the European Commission is pumping bags of cash into research exploring regrowth and the “planned…
International Energy Agency foresees record oil demand and prices going up
The International Energy Agency's (IEA) latest Oil Market Report (OMR) predicts global oil demand to expand by 2.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) to 102.
‘Green Pope’ Timmermans in pole position to lead Dutch elections alliance
Timmermans was nominated by an internal commission that saw him as the ideal candidate to "spread the common ‘green’ and social philosophy" of the cooperating…
No cash for emergency generators despite possible energy crisis, Brussels declares
The European Commission has rejected giving businesses support to buy emergency generators in preparation for a possible energy crisis.
‘No engines in existence’ can avail of EU ‘green’ energy scheme, MEP claims
There are no conventional fishing-trawler engines currently in existence that can effectively comply with the European Union's new "green" energy scheme, a French…
Lack of nuclear investment shows EU is ‘not serious about Net Zero’
European officials are "not serious" about achieving the EU's “net zero” goals as proven by the lack of investment in nuclear energy, Conservative think-tank…
Poland fires up legal assault on EC ‘green’ legislation ahead of elections
Poland is to challenge two key European Union environmental laws, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Emissions Trading System (ETS), in the European…
S&P Drops ESG scores from debt ratings after investor confusion
S&P Global Inc. will no longer publish ESG scores along with its credit ratings, as the company adjusts its approach in response to investor feedback.
France is Europe’s top power exporter as Germany turns importer
France has overtaken Sweden to become Europe’s top net power exporter, while Germany has moved from exporter to importer during the first half of this year.
German state police ‘stockpiling vegan rations over blackout fears’
Police in Germany's most populous federal state are planning to stockpile vegan and lactose-free rations in preparation for coming electricity blackouts, multiple…
Use only ‘extreme language’ to discuss climate change, German broadcaster says
A state-funded German broadcaster has advocated for only “extreme language” to be used when discussing climate change.
Ireland ill-equipped to deal with any Russian naval threat
The Irish Prime Minister, or Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has said his country must "do more" to defend its territorial waters from potential Russian threats.
German broadcaster caught interviewing own staff in ‘green’ agenda vox pop
A state-funded German broadcaster has been caught interviewing its own staff as part of an alleged vox pop regarding a “green” agenda story.
Firefighters don’t need help tackling electric-car blazes, EC says
Firefighters do not need extra help to fight electric vehicle (EV) blazes, the European Commission has declared.
EC rejects calls for tighter rules on lab-grown meat
The European Commission has rejected an MEP's call for tighter regulations on lab-grown meat.
Germany’s establishment just doesn’t get why the AfD is on the march
According to Robert Habeck, the Green Minister of Economic Affairs, Germany has to prepare for five tough years.
Drone strikes, space flights and social media: Europe increasingly reliant on Elon Musk
European governments are becoming increasingly reliant on Elon Musk, with the US tech billionaire holding a near-monopoly on a variety of major services.
‘Chill out’ says IPCC climate chief: global warming is ‘not an existential threat’
British Professor Jim Skea, the new chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), says apocalyptic messaging on climate paralyses public debate…
Climate activism ‘makes me orgasm’, presenter says on German state TV
A state-funded television show in Germany has featured a segment during which a presenter stated climate activism makes her "orgasm".
Austria confirms its largest domestic gas discovery in decades
Austrian oil and gas company OMV said it has made the biggest gas discovery in Austria in the past 40 years and now expects its natural gas production to increase…
Ship ablaze off Dutch coast carrying 20 times more EVs than first reported
The 18,500-tonne Panama-flagged transport ship that has been on fire off the Dutch coast since July 25 is carrying almost 500 electric vehicles (EVs), according…
Global coal consumption hit all-time high in 2022, says international agency
Despite all the pledges from the West to curb global carbon emissions, the world is burning coal like never before.
Over 140 ongoing inquiries into attacks on climate protesters in Germany
There are more than 140 active investigations into alleged attacks on radical climate protesters in Germany, authorities there have said.
Niger coup ‘no immediate danger to EU energy supply’
The military coup in Niger does not pose any "immediate" danger to the European Union’s energy supplies, an expert in the sector has told Brussels Signal.
Have we reached peak Net Zero?
That loud noise you hear may be the sound of the Net Zero agenda crashing.
Car transport ship ablaze in North Sea
A transport ship carrying cars has caught fire in the North Sea off the Dutch coast, leaving one crew member dead and 16 people wounded.
Nobel prize-winning physicist’s IMF speech cancelled due to his questioning of the climate crisis
US Nobel Prize winner Dr John Clauser has had his speech cancelled at a conference organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Solar panels may be much more carbon-intensive than thought
An investigative report by US-based campaign group Environmental Progress, in collaboration with UK online media outlet The Blind Spot, has caused concerns about…