Climate Change & Energy
Our Work
Latest in Mitigation
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IEEP reports to the Science and Technology Options (STOA) Panel of the European Parliament
Recycling for bioenergy and options for climate-resilient agriculture which benefits biodiversity: presentation to the Science and Technology Options Panel of the European Parliament
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Use of financial instruments to address climate change policy objectives
Proposals for financial instruments under the new 2014-2020 EU budget could benefit from further changes to help ensure adequate level of investment into a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.
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The Guide to Multi-Benefit Cohesion Policy Investments in Nature and Green Infrastructure
Investments in nature and green infrastructure have helped meet Cohesion Policy objectives and vice-versa. This new guide presents some examples, tools and approaches making it a useful toolkit for stakeholders implementing Cohesion Policy up to 2020.
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Environmental complaint handling and mediation mechanisms at national level
Gradual harmonisation of Member States’ approaches to handling complaints over environment law breaches could have major benefits for the EU.
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IEEP at the conference ‘Next MFF: incentives and safeguards for climate friendly investments’
Axel Volkery, Head of the Environmental Governance Programme, presented the final results of the European Commission study ‘Optimal use of EU grants and financial instruments in the next Multiannual Financial Framework to achieve the climate objective’ at a high level conference organised in the European Parliament.
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IEEP presentation on EU budget and green economy
Axel Volkery, Head of the Environmental Governance Programme, gave a presentation on the role of the 2014-2020 EU Multi-annual Financial Framework to kick start the transition towards a green and low carbon economy at a public hearing in the European Economic and Social Committee.
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The sustainability of advanced biofuels in the EU
Using wastes and residues for biofuels has many advantages. But ensuring sustainability and including safeguards in EU legislation are critical issues.
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Alternative means of reducing CO2 emissions from UK road transport
Up to 2020 greater use of renewable electricity is the leading alternative to biofuels to reduce the carbon intensity of car and rail transport fuels. To realise this potential requires a mix of responses, including: increasing the decarbonisation of existing transport fuels; improving the energy efficiency of vehicles; and changing the way vehicles are used.
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Greener or greyer: what's next for the future EU budget?
This Policy Brief analyses the outcomes of the Special Summit on the future EU budget, which took place on 22-23 November 2012.
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New report: Nature and its role in the transition to a Green Economy
This new IEEP-authored report highlighting the importance of nature to the economy aims to clarify and help mainstream nature’s role in the transition to a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
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Using innovative financial instruments to finance EU policies and objectives
This report examines Commission proposals on the use of innovative financial instruments in the 2014-2020 budget and analyses implications for the financing of EU policies and objectives.
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Warsaw workshop: Climate change mainstreaming in EU Cohesion Policy
12 September, Warsaw: IEEP workshop provided Polish national and regional authorities with better understanding and knowledge of how to factor in climate change impacts and objectives in the future EU Cohesion Policy.
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Exploring Belgium’s contribution to international climate finance
What might be the Belgian contribution to the commitments made at COP15 and COP16 on potential sources of climate change finance? And how this might be implemented?
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Mainstreaming climate in EU funds - the progress to date
IEEP’s latest policy brief takes stock of the negotiation processes on the 2014-2020 EU Multi-annual Financial Framework and Cohesion Policy, and points at issues and opportunities ahead for ensuring the effective mainstreaming of climate change in the future EU spending plans
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Investments in improving the environment and in remediation of environmental damage – Comparative study of different measures funded through the use of economic environmental instruments
The effective utilisation of revenue from market based instruments is a way to achieve both environmental improvements in line with the promotion of a Green Economy, and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Given the existing shortfall in climate finance, the potential to generate revenue through auctioning under the EU-ETS should not be overlooked.
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Systemic approach to adaptation to climate change and renewable energy harnessing (Biomass and Mini-hydro)
Biochar has the potential to both mitigate greenhouse gases, and to act as an adaptation measure in terms of responding to the impacts of climate change. Based on its compatibility with the appropriate soil properties, it could increase the resilience of soil to erosion.
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Walking the talk - practical options for making the 2014-2020 EU MFF deliver on climate change
This report analyses the opportunities and weaknesses of Commission proposals on the future Cohesion Policy and the Connecting Europe Facility to ensure the effective mainstreaming of climate change concerns.
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Unfolding the green ‘elements’ of the Commission’s Common Strategic Framework 2014-2020
This policy brief analyses the Commission’s staff working document on the Common Strategic Framework for the 2014-2020 EU cohesion, rural development and fisheries funds. It discusses both the opportunities and weaknesses to advance the mainstreaming of climate change and the environment into the funds.
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Green Infrastructure Implementation and Efficiency
This IEEP-led study for the European Commission (DG ENV) improves the knowledge base on green infrastructure policy initiatives in Europe and assesses their implementation and efficiency. It also formulates policy recommendations for integrating green infrastructure into the EU policy framework.
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Criteria for maximising the European added value of EU budget: the case of climate change
This report revisits approaches to defining European added value as a key concept to help the identification of spending priorities under the 2014-2020 EU budget. It puts forward a set of operational criteria for European added value to aid the design of future EU funding instruments, implementation programmes and project selection processes in relation to EU’s ambitions to tackle climate change.