News
Subnational and non-state initiatives play an important role in climate action, and the number of net-zero emissions pledges is increasing rapidly among subnational and non-state actors. A new report looks into the current landscape and emission reduction potential of such initiatives in Europe.
The European Union and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched a two-year project to scale up climate change adaptation in Africa yesterday at the Climate Adaptation Summit. The EU-funded project will address adaptation financing gaps in Africa to build more effective locally-led climate actions across the continent. The project will also increase the capacity to utilise climate risk information, assess and implement risk transfer mechanisms, and strengthen the knowledge and capacity to develop effective climate change adaptation solutions. It will be implemented by UNDP, in partnership with the Africa Adaptation Initiative and the African Union Commission.
EU foreign affairs ministers today underlined the sustained threat of climate change to humanity, and reiterated their support for the EU’s ambitious goal of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030, and reaching climate neutrality by 2050. To do so, the EU is calling for a global phase-out of harmful fossil-fuel subsidies including unabated coal in power generation, as well as promoting further technological innovation and development to advance the worldwide transformation towards climate neutrality.
The European Union welcomes the decision by President Biden for the United States to re-join the Paris Agreement on climate change. We are looking forward to having the United States again at our side in leading global efforts to combat the climate crisis. The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time and it can only be tackled by combining all our forces. Climate action is our collective global responsibility.
The European Energy Exchange (EEX) published today the 2021 EU ETS auction calendars. The auctions will start on 29 January 2021 with an auction by Germany. The auctions on the common auction platform will start on 1 February 2021 and will also include the volumes for the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund. The first 2021 auction by Poland will take place on 3 February 2021.
The Commission has published a report on the functioning of the EU-wide quota system for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The system was put in place in 2015 to drastically reduce the use of these greenhouse gases with a particularly potent warming effect. The gases have a range of applications in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, as well as foaming agents or aerosol propellants. Under the system, manufacturers and users of these products are incentivised to switch to more climate-friendly alternatives to significantly reduce HFC emissions.
The Commission yesterday adopted an implementing decision setting out the annual emission allocations (AEAs) for 2021-2030 under the Effort Sharing Regulation. Adopting this decision is an important step in ensuring Member States take the right path to achieving an EU-wide emission reduction of 30% by 2030 compared to 2005 in sectors not covered under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), as set out in current legislation.
The European Climate Pact – part of the European Green Deal – is today joining forces with global climate campaign Count Us In to mobilise millions of people across the EU to take concrete steps to reduce their carbon pollution and catalyse rapid action from leaders.
Dear guests of the Climate Ambition Summit!
55% – That is now indeed Europe's calling card. I am glad that the 27 European Leaders have signed up to the European Commission's proposal for taking climate action to a new level of ambition. Together with the agreement on our next 7-year-budget, the 55% agreement is the go-ahead for scaling up climate action across our economy and society.
The European Commission today launched the European Climate Pact, an EU-wide initiative inviting people, communities and organisations to participate in climate action and build a greener Europe. As part of the European Green Deal, the Climate Pact offers a space for everyone to share information, debate and act on the climate crisis, and to be part of an ever-growing European climate movement.
