At the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference on 11-22 November in Azerbaijan, the European Union will work with international partners to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement of limiting global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5C. Climate change continues to be an issue which knows no borders, and increasingly harms […]
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European Investment Bank mobilised €900 to back recovery and reconstruction after floods in Spain
On 6th November, the European Investment Bank (EIB) activated financial instruments to back recovery and reconstruction in areas affected by the recent devastating floods in Spain. The EIB is putting together an initial €900 million response package to speed up the rollout of existing initiatives and thereby support the rebuilding of critical infrastructure by regional authorities […]
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Council publishes 2023 international climate finance figures
In 2023, the European Union and its 27 member states contributed €28.6 billion in climate finance from public sources and mobilised an additional amount of €7.2 billion of private finance to support developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Council published the figures today, in […]
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EU adopts rules to better measure the environment’s contribution to the economy
On 5 November, the Council formally adopted the amended regulation on European environmental economic accounts, the EU’s common statistical system which brings together economic and environmental information. The new rules extend the scope of the European environmental economic accounts, introducing forest accounts, ecosystem accounts, and environmental subsidies accounts. The amended regulation aims to provide better information for the […]
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Council adopts new rules for more efficient urban waste water treatment
The Council gave the final green light for a revised EU directive on urban wastewater treatment. The revised directive extends the scope to smaller agglomerations, covers more pollutants, including micropollutants, and contributes to energy neutrality. The new rules are one of the key deliverables under the EU’s zero-pollution action plan. More agglomerations and more pollutants […]
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Climate report shows the largest annual drop in EU greenhouse gas emissions for decades
EU greenhouse gas emissions fell by 8.3% in 2023, compared to 2022, reveals the latest climate action progress report by the European Commission. The report states that net greenhouse gas emissions are now 37% below 1990 levels. Over the same period, EU Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 68%. This points to the fact that reducing emissions and economic growth are compatible. […]
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New images from Copernicus on the impact of the Spain´s cold drop
Extensive destruction and the tragic loss of over 200 lives have resulted from severe flash floods which struck the Community of Valencia, Spain, on 29 October 2024. As of 4 November, recovery operations continue in previously inaccessible areas in the region. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) has been activated (EMSR773) to deliver assessments […]
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Growth of renewable energy in Europe leads to a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions
The European Commission has published today the 2024 Climate Action Progress Report, showing that net EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell by 8.3% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This is the largest annual drop in decades, with the exception of 2020 when COVID-19 led to emission cuts of 9.8%. Net GHG emissions are now 37% below 1990 levels, while […]
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What is the EU’s disaster response?
The frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Europe is increasing. Largely due to climate change and urbanisation, Europeans have had to deal with more extreme weather including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms in recent years. Natural disasters in Europe As the European Environmental Agency points out, global temperatures have been increasing, with 2023 being the warmest year […]
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