Today the European Commission concluded its anti-subsidy investigation by imposing definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China for a period of five years. As previously disclosed, the investigation found that the BEV value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidization which is causing threat of economic injury to EU producers of BEVs. As […]
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8 ways life in the EU is becoming greener
Shifting to a greener way of life is crucial to address the climate emergency and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, especially those from Russia. The EU and its 27 countries have adopted new common rules with the so-called ‘Fit for 55 package’ to reduce the EU’s carbon footprint. The objective is to cut net greenhouse gas […]
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Geothermal energy: Potential and benefits
Geothermal energy has significant potential to assist in achieving EU targets for the uptake of renewables and the decarbonisation of the energy sector, particularly for heating and cooling. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source harnessed from the thermal energy stored in rocks and fluids deep within the earth’s crust. Drilled wells connect the fluid […]
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Why are the caps attached to the bottles?
The changes we are seeing to plastic bottle caps are part of a wide-ranging effort to combat the increasing plastic pollution affecting our seas and oceans and their wildlife. Have you noticed any changes in plastic bottle caps lately? It takes some time to get used to the fact that plastic caps are now attached […]
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EU invests €4.8 billion of emissions trading revenues in innovative net-zero projects
The Commission has today selected 85 innovative net zero emission projects to receive €4.8 billion in grants from the Innovation Fund to help deploy cutting-edge clean technologies across Europe. The 2023 call for proposals awards for the first time projects of various sizes (large, medium and small, as well as pilot projects) focusing on clean […]
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European Parliament approves more efficient and greener EU airspace
On Tuesday, MEPs paved the way for improved management of European airspace, enabling more direct flights and fewer delays, and supporting climate neutrality. The reform of Single European Sky rules, already agreed upon in negotiations with the Council last March, strengthens national performance plans for air navigation services and will help to improve EU airspace […]
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New Commission measures to help Member States recover from climate disasters
Today, the European Commission is taking further steps to support Member States affected by unprecedented climate-related disasters. As announced by European Commission President von der Leyen during her visit to Poland on 19 September 2024, the Commission is proposing amendments to three EU regulations to ensure that EU funds can be quickly mobilised in support of post-disaster recovery. The amendments concern the Regulations governing […]
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Commission secures ambitious EU negotiating mandate for triple COPs on climate, biodiversity and desertification
On Monday at the Environment Council in Luxembourg, the Commission secured ambitious negotiating mandates for the upcoming COP29 Climate Conference, the COP16 Biodiversity Conference, and the COP16 Desertification Conference. EU environment ministers also exchanged views in preparation for the final fifth negotiating session for an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty. Climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, land degradation, and pollution are […]
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EU to invest more than €380 million in 133 LIFE projects to boost Europe’s green transition
The Commission has granted more than €380 million to 133 new projects across Europe under the LIFE Programme for environment and climate action. The allocated amount represents more than half of the €574 million total investment needs for these projects – the remainder coming from national, regional and local governments, public-private partnerships, businesses, and civil society organisations. LIFE […]
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