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.
Keeping the World Cold
When it comes to climate policy, coal power and the EU’s proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism will likely cause friction within the EU-US-China triangle this year. But all sides have shown that they can work together.
The Negative Part of Net Zero
Carbon dioxide removal is on the agenda, even if most politicians won’t admit it.
The Pipe Dream of a Green Nord Stream 2
One of the reasons advanced for building the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline is that it’s needed for a cleaner hydrogen future. But such arguments don’t add up.
Flexing the Regulatory Muscle
The European Union is getting ready to introduce a so-called carbon border tax. But such a mechanism will not be easy to implement and has some pitfalls.
A Desirable Race to the Bottom
In the Brexit negotiations presently on knife’s edge, climate issues play a minor role. However, concerns around them mirror the obstacles. Both sides should realize they are essentially on the same team.
Net-Zero What?
In the bid to tackle global warming, achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions would be good. Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions would be even better.
A Transatlantic Green Deal
A Biden victory could pave the way for a big US climate package to match the European Green Deal. However, the checks and balances of the US political system may still throw up obstacles.
How Green Is the EU’s Coronavirus Recovery Package?
The EU’s coronavirus recovery package is much greener than that of China or the US. Brussels hopes that its partner-competitors follow its lead next year.