EU Climate Action

A huge majority of European citizens believe that climate change is a serious problem facing the world (93%), according to a new Eurobarometer survey published on July 20. Over half think that the transition to a green economy should be sped up (58%) in the face of energy price spikes and concerns over gas supplies after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

As several countries grapple with rapidly spreading wildfires, the EU stepped in to reinforce firefighting efforts and provide much-needed support to the affected communities with over 490 firefighters and 9 firefighting planes deployed to Greece and Tunisia since 18 July.

Climate change isn’t only about temperature rise. The warming of the planet also has repercussions on rainfall with both droughts and extreme rainfall becoming more common in different parts of the world.

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States have designated 15 July as the Annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.

On July 26, the European Commission has adopted a new set of guidelines to assist Member States in updating and implementing comprehensive national adaptation strategies, plans and policies.

The EU’s new Nature Restoration Law - which passed through the European Parliament on Wednesday, 12 July - paves the way for even greater biodiversity and climate action.

The European Commission adopted on July 5 a package of measures for a sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming.

On 13 July, the European Commission pre-selected 41 innovative, large-scale, clean tech projects for grants worth over € 3.6 billion from the Innovation Fund.

The European Commission has approved a €3 billion German scheme to support private investments in specific strategic goods needed to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan.

On July 11, the European Commission adopted the Greening Freight Transport package, which contains measures to make freight transport more efficient and more sustainable. The aim is to help the sector contribute to the target of cutting transport emissions by 90% by 2050, as set out in the European Green Deal, while allowing the EU Single Market to continue growing.

The European Commission welcomed the agreement reached on July 7 at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to revise its 2018 strategy on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. The agreement is a milestone to cut the carbon footprint of international maritime transport and ensure that the shipping sector makes a fair contribution to achieving the Paris Agreement targets.

On July 7, the European Commission proposed that the EU, its Member States, and Euratom withdraw, in a coordinated manner, from the Energy Charter Treaty. This Treaty is largely unchanged since it was agreed in the 1990s, and is no longer compatible with the EU’s enhanced climate ambition under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.

The 7th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA), co-hosted by the European Union, Canada, and China, took place in Brussels on 13-14 July. At the event, COP28 President-Designate Sultan Al Jaber presented the action plan for the upcoming UN climate summit, which was welcomed positively by Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans.

European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Ding Xuexiang held the fourth EU-China High Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate (HECD) in Beijing on 4 July 2023.

At the 10th High Level Dialogue between Mexico and the European Union, senior officials from the two regions agreed to continue their cooperation, work together towards the much-needed green and energy transitions, and tackle the pressing environment and climate challenges.

July 2023  is set to be the hottest month on record, according to @copernicusecmwf It has seen: The hottest three-week period ever recorded The hottest day on record It is still possible to avoid the worst of climate change, but only with urgent #ClimateAction

The effects of climate change are scary. Luckily, a lot of the solutions for tackling climate change will also be great for our health and wellbeing too! Climate action isn't just for the planet, it’s for us too. 

A comprehensive EU-funded study of European forests has revealed a sharp rise in forest disturbance across 34 countries between 1950 and 2019. Damage caused by bark beetles, fire, and other causes of disturbance are undermining climate and biodiversity policy targets, warn the authors.

Against the background of Russia's unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, with increasing energy prices across the globe, the 2022-2023 European Investment Bank (EIB) climate survey shows how a majority of people around the world favour a shift to greener solutions.

This publication by the European Environment Agency (EEA) sheds light on the essential transition from fossil fuels to renewables in our heating and cooling systems, accounting for half of the EU's total energy use. Explore the potential of modern district heating systems, the implications of biomass use, and the breakthroughs of heat pumps for a low-emission future.