Climate Change & Energy
Our Work
Latest in Mitigation
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IEEP on France 24
Céline Charveriat discusses US withdrawal from Paris Accord and breaking Antarctic ice shelf.
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The consequences of climate change for EU Agriculture: Follow up to the COP21 UN Climate Change conference
With its potential to reduce GHG emissions and increase CO2 removals, agriculture has a key role to play in the EU’s climate mitigation efforts, yet Member State action is lacking. As pressure on the sector to act increases, the development of a 2050 low-carbon and resilience roadmap for European agriculture would be one step towards putting the sector on a more ambitious trajectory towards the transformation required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
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Agriculture and its role in meeting the EU’s climate commitments
Sector far from reaching its climate mitigation potential, with Member States placing more emphasis on climate adaptation
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What contributions can agricultural emissions make to the proposed Effort Sharing Regulation?
New IEEP report finds the agriculture sector can significantly contribute to the EU’s climate commitments by reducing its non-CO2 emissions. It also finds these contributions can be delivered cost efficiently with environmental co-benefits without impacting production.
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Towards sustainability: Future policies for European livestock
The CAP is failing to reward adequately those livestock farmers who produce public goods. Brexit and CAP reform are opportunities to do better.
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New report launch: Call for a new vision for responsible renewable energy with a clear European dimension
Claude Turmes MEP hosted an event launching both IEEP’s report and a debate on the future of renewable energy in Europe. In the our report IEEP present how a resource efficient energy system might be delivered in a way that minimises impact on biodiversity and the wider environment.
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New report: delivering low carbon transport fuels post 2020
How should EU policy support the transition to low carbon transport fuels post 2020? A new IEEP led report argues that future policies should be differentiated to tailor support towards specific objectives and technologies that offer the greatest potential for a low carbon future.
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New report is out: delivering low carbon transport fuels post 2020
How should EU policy support the transition to low carbon transport fuels post 2020? A new IEEP led report argues that future policies should be differentiated to tailor support towards specific objectives and technologies that offer the greatest potential for a low carbon future.
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Getting delivery right: the EU 2030 climate and energy targets and the challenge of governance
The EU’s commitment to GHG reductions of “at least” 40% by 2030 are a useful contribution to international climate negotiations. But does the package of energy targets offered by the European Council at the same time put us on the right track to long-term decarbonisation goals? IEEP’s Martin Nesbit offers a personal perspective on what needs to be done, and how the governance arrangements need to be tightened.
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The Manual: Chapter 3 - Climate change
This is a chapter of IEEP’s Manual of European Environmental Policy. This chapter on EU climate change policy outlines the initial EU programme to stabilise CO2 emissions in the EU with explanations of the directives, decisions and legislation that were employed to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
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Europe’s Climate and Energy Crossroads – IEEP seminars for MEPs on climate and energy issues
IEEP has prepared two briefing documents on the climate and energy challenge in Central and Eastern European Member States, and in Southern European Member States. The briefings are background for a seminar we are organising for Members of the European Parliament, the first in a series on Europe’s Climate and Energy Crossroads.
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The EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets – a triumph of short-termism?
European leaders have raised the stakes for the Paris talks by agreeing a set of climate and energy targets for 2030. The challenge will be to implement the tortuous detail on energy policy in a way which matches with longer term decarbonisation ambitions.
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Environmental policy and the UK’s review of the EU Balance of Competences
The UK Government’s Balance of Competences review has now taken evidence on 25 subject areas, including the 6 with the most relevance for the Environment. We take stock of the IEEP’s contributions, and consider what a possible UK renegotiation might mean for the environment.
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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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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?
Highlights
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The consequences of climate change for EU Agriculture: Follow up to the COP21 UN Climate Change conference
With its potential to reduce GHG emissions and increase CO2 removals, agriculture has a key role to play in the EU’s climate mitigation efforts, yet Member State action is lacking. As pressure on the sector to act increases, the development of a 2050 low-carbon and resilience roadmap for European agriculture would be one step towards putting the sector on a more ambitious trajectory towards the transformation required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
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What contributions can agricultural emissions make to the proposed Effort Sharing Regulation?
New IEEP report finds the agriculture sector can significantly contribute to the EU’s climate commitments by reducing its non-CO2 emissions. It also finds these contributions can be delivered cost efficiently with environmental co-benefits without impacting production.
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New report: delivering low carbon transport fuels post 2020
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Promoting Low Carbon Innovations in the EU