Europe Reminds the World What Climate Policy Looks Like
So much attention has been paid to the US climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, that the EU’s own, larger climate package has flown under the radar.
Finally, a US Climate Bill
EU trade officials might be up in arms about aspects of the US Inflation Reduction Act, but it offers the best opportunity for transatlantic climate cooperation in years.
Russian Energy Out, African Energy In?
In its attempt to drastically reduce its dependency on Russian oil and gas, Europe is turning to Africa. But the move is problematic, as producing fossil fuels on the continent presents its own challenges.
Germany Finally Starts to Turn from Russian Gas
There was no alternative for Germany to buying gas from Vladimir Putin, until there was. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reminded policymakers in Berlin that emergency action in the energy sector is possible.
Will the Traffic Light Turn Green?
Intra-coalition infighting, questions about EU policy, a mismatch between targets and policies—no sector better represents the climate challenges facing Germany’s government than transport.
COP26: Quite Successful, for a Conference
In the days since the COP26 climate summit, it’s become clear that international conferences can only do so much to determine national climate policy. That’s no reason to despair.
The Case for Climate Optimism
Efforts to mitigate climate damage are not going well ahead of COP26. But they could also be going much worse.
COP26: Goodbye Coal, Hello Oil and Gas
A Chinese announcement made clear that coal power is finished. But there’s a way to go before the same can be said of oil and gas.
Pricing vs Rules: The EU’s Balancing Act
Price-based or quantity-based mechanisms, which offer the more effective and fairer way to achieve carbon neutrality? In fact, the debate is somewhat artificial—EU climate policy needs both.
Climate Policy Comes Home
All the German parties want credit for raising climate targets. But none wants to be blamed for raising carbon prices to achieve them.
Radical Change Today, not Tomorrow
The ruling by the German constitutional court that the country’s climate law is unconstitutional is causing German politicians to press fast forward on the radical change needed to protect the climate.
Exit Means Exit
Phasing out a particular fuel source can prove tricky. The experiences of the United Kingdom with coal and Germany with nuclear power are harbingers of fuel exit debates to come.