5 December 202329 November 2023 Carbon removals: Parliament wants EU certification scheme to boost uptake European Parliament adopts position on certifying carbon removals as certification will help attract private investment to climate removal projects
27 November 202322 November 2023 Forests, nature and carbon removals in Europe The European Union wants to slash its greenhouse gas emissions but also boost the amount of carbon it removes from the atmosphere in order to prevent drastic global warming – and healthy forests have a big part to play in this
2 November 202330 October 2023 Hersteller von Kunststoffverpackungen warnen: Sonderregeln für Plastik sind ökologischer Irrweg! Die Kritik richtet sich vor allem gegen Vorschläge der Berichterstatterin Frédérique Ries für Sonder-Reduktionsziele für Kunststoffverpackungen, Ausnahmen für Verbundverpackungen, sowie Verbote von Einwegverpackungen und Mehrwegquoten, die Ausnahmen für Verpackungen aus Wellpappe vorsehen
24 October 202317 October 2023 Verpackungsgesetz: EU ringt um Definition von „hochwertigem“ Recycling Umweltorganisationen warnen vor dem Downcycling hochwertiger Materialien zu minderwertigen Produkten, da Papier zur größten Abfallquelle in der EU werden könnte
Definition of ‘high-quality’ recycling takes centre stage in EU packaging law Environmental groups warn against downcycling high-quality materials into lower-quality products, saying paper risks becoming the largest source of packaging waste in the EU
17 October 202316 October 2023 PPWR food & beverage packaging bans: are they sustainable? A critical review on the most controversial measures
13 October 202311 October 2023 Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) should be recognised as a strategic net zero technology in the EU Net Zero Industry Act CCU technologies will enable the supply of renewable fuels and other alternative sources of energy, as well as commercial products such as plastics, concrete, and reactants for chemical synthesis
10 October 202310 October 2023 Spinning a sustainable fashion revolution: meet the physicists turning wood into clothes How Spinnova today transforms cellulose from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood into textile fibre without using any chemicals
4 October 20232 October 2023 EU reaches deal banning ‘climate-neutral’ product claims In the wake of longstanding complaints of greenwashing by consumer advocates, EU institutions finalised a new law on Tuesday (19 September) enacting a sweeping ban to combat the misleading of its citizens through erroneous claims of sustainability
EU verbietet Greenwashing von Produkten Nach lang anhaltenden Beschwerden von Verbraucherschützern über sogenanntes „Greenwashing“ haben die EU-Institutionen am Dienstag (19. September) ein neues Gesetz verabschiedet. Es sieht ein umfassendes Verbot Produktversprechen über „Klimaneutralität“ vor, um die EU-Bürger vor Irreführungen zu schützen
27 September 202325 September 2023 Industrial carbon capture: Only for truly ‘unavoidable emissions’ Upcoming EU legislation should limit industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to truly unavoidable emissions, write Leon de Graaf, Dominika Floriánová, Antoine Grall and Ella Oksala
26 September 202321 September 2023 MEPs approve SAF mandate, limit eligible feedstocks The ReFuelEU initiative is part of the Fit for 55 package, which is the European Union’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030
25 September 202320 September 2023 5 major benefits of joining the circular economy model A circular economy highlights the importance of repairing and reusing what we consume, implementing recycling and organic recycling
70% of jet fuels at EU airports will have to be green by 2050 The European Commission seek to encourage the aviation sector to use sustainable aviation fuels in order to cut emissions
21 September 202318 September 2023 Parliament raises recycling goals in EU Critical Raw Materials Act The EU will aim to recycle at least 45% of each “Strategic Raw Material” contained in the Union’s waste under plans voted on by the European Parliament’s industry committee on Thursday (7 September)
4 September 202331 August 2023 European Green Deal: more sustainable use of plant and soil natural resources The Commission adopted a package of measures for a sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming
28 August 202324 August 2023 One year on, Europe is still missing a business case for industrial decarbonisation The US Inflation Reduction Act is one year old today. Its first 90 days were enough for the US to overtake the EU’s second-place spot in producing cleantech
22 May 202316 May 2023 McDonald’s Leads Lobbying Offensive Against Laws to Reduce Packaging Waste in Europe Flawed assumptions and a “disturbing” lack of transparency characterise an industry campaign against reusable packaging, academics and campaigners warn
17 May 202316 May 2023 Bio-based content, compostable plastics, and chemical recycling – many opportunities for more innovation and sustainability in the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position paper highlights chances for the EU to lead the way to a sustainable packaging industry and to promote innovation
Biobasierte Inhaltsstoffe, kompostierbare Kunststoffe und chemisches Recycling – viele Chancen für mehr Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit in der neuen Verordnung über Verpackungen und Verpackungsabfälle (PPWR) Das Positionspapier der Renewable Carbon Initiative zeigt Möglichkeiten auf, wie die EU den Weg für eine nachhaltige Verpackungsindustrie ebnen und Innovationen fördern kann
25 April 202324 April 2023 Reform des europäischen Emissionshandels: Parlament stimmt mit Ja Das Europäische Parlament hat am Dienstag (18. April) weitreichende Reformen beschlossen, um die europäische Klimapolitik ehrgeiziger zu gestalten. Der EU-ETS wird reformiert, CO2 auszustoßen wird damit immer teurer
Parliament backs EU carbon market overhaul, world’s first CO₂ tariff Europe’s carbon market forces power plants and factories to buy CO2 permits when they pollute. It has slashed those sectors’ emissions by 43% since 2005 but is facing a revamp to hit more ambitious EU climate change targets
19 April 202319 April 2023 EU-Verpackungsregeln: Linke-Koalition will Abfallvermeidung priorisieren Die Priorisierung der umweltfreundlichsten Wege im Umgang mit Abfall, beginnend mit der Vermeidung und Wiederverwendung, sollte im Mittelpunkt des neuen EU-Verpackungsgesetzes stehen, fordern die zuständigen Europaabgeordneten
Left-wing lawmakers to prioritise waste prevention in new EU packaging law Prioritising the most environmentally-friendly ways of dealing with waste, starting with prevention and reuse, should be central to Europe’s new packaging law, lawmakers working on the file told EURACTIV
6 April 20235 April 2023 EU exports of used textiles in Europe’s circular economy The common public perception of used clothing donations as generous gifts to people in need does not fully match reality
28 March 202328 March 2023 Carbon farming law only ‘first step’ in negative emissions push The EU executive’s proposed legislation on carbon sinks is only the first step in a broader effort to certify negative emissions in agriculture, as well as remunerate and potentially trade them, according to a Commission official
EU-Gesetz zu Carbon Farming nur ‚erster Schritt‘ hin zu CO₂-Senken Die von der EU-Kommission vorgeschlagene Verordnung zu CO2-Senken ist laut einem Kommissionsbeamten lediglich der erste Schritt hin zu dem Ziel, negative Emissionen in der Landwirtschaft zu zertifizieren, zu vergüten und möglicherweise auch zu handeln
8 March 20233 March 2023 Pathways towards circular plastics in Europe — good practice examples from countries, business and citizens Plastics play an essential role in modern society. However, their value chain is currently unsustainable, contributing to the generation of climate changing emissions and increasing waste and pollution. Reducing such impacts while retaining plastics’ usefulness requires a shift towards a more circular and sustainable plastics system. This shift can be accelerated by scaling up good practice examples and making improvements across the plastics value chain
27 January 202324 January 2023 Kelheim Fibres begrüßt EU-Einigung zu entwaldungsfreien Lieferketten Da die EU als einer der größten Wirtschaftsräume der Welt ein großer Verbraucher von holzbasierten Rohstoffen ist, kann das neue Gesetz signifikant dazu beitragen, die weltweite Entwaldung und Waldschädigung zu reduzieren sowie bedrohte Waldflächen zu schützen
Kelheim Fibres welcomes EU agreement on deforestation-free supply chains As one of the largest economies worldwide, the EU is a major consumer of wood-based raw materials. Therefore, the new law can significantly contribute to reducing global deforestation and forest degradation as well as protecting threatened forest areas
6 January 202328 December 2022 EU Commission chief hails ‘historic’ COP15 biodiversity accord After two weeks of fraught negotiations, world nations gathered in Montreal adopted on Monday (19 December) a new package to address the loss of biodiversity and restore natural ecosystems
Welt beschließt „historisches“ COP15-Artenschutzabkommen Nach zwei Wochen schwieriger Verhandlungen haben die in Montreal versammelten Nationen am Montag ein neues Paket zum Schutz der Biodiversität und zur Wiederherstellung natürlicher Ökosysteme verabschiedet
3 January 202322 December 2022 EU agrees carbon market overhaul in bid to hit 2030 climate goal European Union negotiators reached agreement early on Sunday morning (18 December) to reform the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the biggest carbon market in the world and the bloc’s flagship climate policy instrument
EU einigt sich auf umfassende Reform des CO₂-Emissionshandels Die Unterhändler der EU haben sich am frühen Sonntagmorgen (18. Dezember) auf eine Reform des europäischen Emissionshandels (ETS) geeinigt, dem größten Kohlenstoffmarkt der Welt und wichtigsten klimapolitischen Instrument der EU
16 November 202215 November 2022 Agriculture Commissioner: CAP budget ‘too small’ to face future crises A stronger budget must bolster the next Common Agricultural Policy to face future crises, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski told EURACTIV in an interview, stressing the need to equip farmers with more crisis management tools
10 November 20227 November 2022 Burning or recycling? EU weighs options on used tyres Draft EU rules could see millions of tyres shipped outside of Europe for dumping or incineration, recyclers warn
27 September 202222 September 2022 Bioenergy Europe welcomes the adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) revision by the European Parliament However, the new definition of primary woody biomass still raises some concerns
26 September 202221 September 2022 We need massive amounts of carbon capture from air to decarbonize aviation, and policymakers must act now The race to decarbonize aviation has begun, and synthetic jet fuel from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide, so-called e-kerosene, is to play a major role. Where will the CO2 come from and what is the role of Direct Air Capture?
23 September 202220 September 2022 European Parliament backs 45% renewable energy goal for 2030 If this new objective is confirmed by EU member states in upcoming talks with Parliament later this year, the EU will have to achieve a 45% share of renewables in its overall energy mix by 2030
EU-Parlament stellt sich hinter 45%-Ziel an Erneuerbaren bis 2030 Wenn dieses Ziel von den EU-Mitgliedstaaten in den anstehenden Gesprächen mit dem Parlament noch dieses Jahr bestätigt wird, muss die EU bis 2030 einen Anteil von 45 Prozent erneuerbarer Energien an ihrem gesamten Energiemix erreichen
22 September 202219 September 2022 Holz als Alternative zum teuren Gas: Platte oder Pellet? Energie ist so teuer, dass inzwischen sogar Möbelholz im Kraftwerk landet. Das Europaparlament will nun aus Klimagründen gegensteuern
2 September 202230 August 2022 Warum Waldbiomasse nicht zu den „erneuerbaren“ Energien gezählt werden darf Der Umweltausschuss sieht vor, dass die Verbrennung sekundärer Biomasse weiterhin als erneuerbare Energie im Rahmen der Richtlinie angerechnet werden kann und damit Subventionen erhält
Why forest biomass must not be counted as ‘renewable’ energy The environment committee amendment still allows burning secondary biomass materials, like sawdust and bark from sawmills, to qualify as renewable energy under the RED and receive subsidies
26 August 202217 August 2022 Verbrennerdebatte: fünf Fakten zu synthetischen Kraftstoffen Ab 2035 sollen Neuwagen EU-weit emissionsfrei sein, auf diese Formulierung einigten sich die Mitgliedsstaaten
26 July 202220 July 2022 Two cheers for the EU’s new Fit for 55 transport fuels policy European Parliament to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in transport by at least 55% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels – the ‘fit for 55’ package
22 July 202221 July 2022 Fit for 55: Parliament pushes for greener aviation fuels However, MEPs excluded feed and food crop-based fuels, and those derived from palm oil, soy-derived materials and soap stock, because they do not align with the proposed sustainability criteria
21 July 202221 July 2022 Indigenous Peoples’ message gets through in EU corridors of power The draft Regulation on deforestation-free products was a landmark in the fight against deforestation
19 July 202214 July 2022 S&Ds: By labelling gas and nuclear as sustainable in taxonomy, the conservatives have shamefully betrayed EU climate ambitions Including gas and nuclear among taxonomy-compliant economic activities remains the wrong political message, both from an environmental and economic prospective
8 July 20225 July 2022 Fit for 55: Transport MEPs set ambitious targets for greener aviation fuels EU aviation should gradually switch to sustainable fuel, such as synthetic fuel, used cooking oil or even hydrogen, to help EU become climate neutral by 2050
13 June 20228 June 2022 A series of EU Parliament votes on Fit for 55 sends wrong signals on industry decarbonisation & bioeconomy development The Committee’s vote notably fails to provide a concrete solution for exports, while accelerating free allowances phasing-out and threatening the existing indirect carbon cost compensation scheme