Energy, Environment & Transport Pro Brief |
|
Wed 23 October 2024 | View online
Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes |
|
|
|
Hoekstra talks tough on transport |
|
In his written response to MEPs ahead of his 7 November audition, released last night, would-be Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra is taking a strong stance on the EU’s transport sector.
“Transport is the only major sector in the EU economy where emissions are still higher than in 1990,” the Dutchman writes.
In that context, he reiterates that the review for the EU’s 2035 ban on diesel, petrol cars will not take place before 2026.
As foreseen, the review will focus on allowing e-fuels to be counted towards vehicle CO2 targets. However Hoekstra is not deaf to those who worry that cars are not the best use-case for e-fuels.
The review will keep in mind “the need for e-fuels in other sectors, where no other technological alternatives exist, such as aviation and maritime transport,” and e-fuel’s “projected scarcity.”
Instead, Hoekstra wants to tackle the taxation issues in the transport sector.
For one, he says he “will not hide the importance that I attach to action” for “taxation in the aviation and maritime sectors.”
“In the area of passenger transport, there is currently a widespread application of zero VAT rates, particularly for international air and maritime transport, regardless of their environmental impact,” he adds.
He also highlighting the need for international agreements but stressing that they are already covered by the EU’s ETS, where a key review is taking place in 2026. [NK] |
|
|
Secretariat: COP16 starts with a strong ‘spirit of compromise’ |
|
At COP16’s first press briefing yesterday, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) told the press that despite forceful positions in different regional groups, the “spirit of compromise and engagement by parties is very strong” and that delegate’s work has started well.
Discussions have already begun on two key questions: who pays into the future fund for the sharing of the benefits of genetic resources; and which mechanism will host this global fund.
The parties are also looking at the effectiveness of the global environment facility, a multilateral ‘family of funds’ focused on biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution.
Discussions have also started on mechanisms for planning, monitoring and reporting on biodiversity, with further debates to be held on Thursday. [BM] |
|
|
Report: Capitals could have zero-emission freight zones by 2030 |
|
A new report from NGO T&E released today looks at supply and prices trends of electric vans in Europe and finds that the market for electric vans is growing, and can enable the creation of zero-emission freight zones across Europe.
“Between 2025 and 2030, 3.9 million e-vans are projected to be sold in the EU and UK,” says the study.
The report notes that the recently updated EU ambient air quality directive will require cities to consider such low emission zones, if the directive’s air pollution limits are breached.
Looking ahead, T&E says that “e-vans should be at the heart” of the EU’s upcoming initiative to green corporate fleets. [BM] |
|
Germany hosts EV grid balancing summit this morning |
|
Balancing the grid with electric vehicles – known as ‘bidirectional power charging’ or BPT – holds a lot of promise, but has not yet been rolled out in substantial parts of the country’s population.
The Germany economy and climate action ministry wants to change this, with a self-proclaimed second ‘EU high-level meeting on bidirectional charging’ in Berlin. The first summit took place in November 2023, and sought to make BPT-related business models viable by 2025.
The ministry announced they expect EU ministers and Commission representatives to attend today’s summit. [JS] |
|
|
Nature restoration law secure as Austria abandons annulment bid |
|
Nikolaus J. Kurmayer reported yesterday that the EU’s nature restoration law will not be annulled, as Austria cannot file a planned lawsuit at the bloc’s top court.
Austria’s centre-right ÖVP party (EPP) had previously threatened legal action, following a June decision by Green environment minister Leonore Gewessler to support the law in Council, against the wishes of the wider government.
Yesterday the ÖVP said that a lack of support from the Austrian Greens means they cannot pursue the lawsuit without themselves breaking the law.
The two parties remain in a caretaker governing coalition until a new government takes over following September’s elections.
Constitutional minister and ÖVP member Karoline Edtstadler yesterday cited Austrian law, which requires the assent of all ministries for cross-cutting issues, and said that “The response to the breach of law by climate protection minister Gewessler must not be another breach of law.”
Next stop: EU countries must submit their nature restoration plans by 1 September 2026. |
|
|
Germany’s hydrogen ‘core grid’ provides certainty, but not for all |
|
|
|
|
The two companies presented a map of the approved grid that will be constructed. The core grid is expected to be fully constructed and partially operational by 2032. It entails a total pipeline length of 9,040 kilometres, made up of 60 per cent repurposed gas pipelines and 40 per cent of new pipelines.
The final construction plan is not only shorter but also cheaper than initially projected – leaving regional and municipal level experts worried about being left out. |
|
|
Ukraine: Toxins detected downstream of destroyed Kakhovka dam |
|
On 6 June 2023, the massive Kakhovla Dam under Russian control was breached, unleashing vast amounts of water that flooded thousands of square kilometres downstream in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Today Czech NGO will present the results of a study it undertook with Ukrainian partners Free Arduino and Green World, on toxic pollution downstream of the dam, which according to the NGO are a result of the dam’s destruction.
Their researchers took sediment samples from 14 sites and found a range of different pollutants, including DDT and HCH linked to obsolete pesticides.
The NGO acknowledges pollutants may also be long-term pesticide usage during Soviet-era agriculture.
Other identified pollutants included heavy metals such as arsenic, manganese and chromium.
The report will be made available on the Clean Air for Ukraine website during the day.
Ukrainian environment minister Ruslan Strilets told Euractiv in May that his country is keeping a tally of the environmental damage resulting from Russia’s invasion. Ukraine wants Russia to pay compensation for the damage, once the fighting is over. [DC] |
|
NGOs: EU dragging its feet on water pollution |
|
Yesterday a coalition of NGOs noted in a press release that it had been two years since the Commission proposed to monitor and regulate of PFAS, glyphosate and pharmaceuticals in Europe’s waterways, and accused EU institutions of delaying actions.
The coalition, which includes WWF, Pan Europe and EEB, said that scientists have identified over 500 chemical substances present in Europe's waterways, yet the EU's Water Framework currently regulates only a fraction of these substances.
The European institutions are required to update the Directive’s list of chemicals every six years, but the last updates were carried out in 2013 for surface water and 2014 for groundwater.
The NGOs pointed the finger at the 2023 Swedish Presidency of the Council, which they say delayed the file to where negotiations with the Parliament could not begin before the July 2024 elections.
While the Parliament has now appointed a new negotiating team, the ‘green light’ vote needed to launch these negotiations is yet to be scheduled.
“We’re now marking two years since the Commission proposed new water pollution standards – some of which were already proposed 10 years ago – but negotiations to adopt them are still not scheduled. Every month of further delay means another month of legally allowing the presence of PFAS, pharmaceutical residues in our waters.” said Sara Johansson, Senior Policy Officer: Water Pollution Prevention at the EEB. [NC] |
|
Ministers reach Baltic Sea fishing compromise, NGOs concerned |
|
Hugo Struna reports on EU agriculture and fisheries ministers’ agreement yesterday to reducing Baltic Sea fishing quotas, which left NGOs concerned over "ignoring ecosystem limits."
The aim of this deal is "to strike a balance between helping fish stocks recover, protecting marine ecosystems, and ensuring the viability of the sector in the future," said István Nagy, Hungarian minister for agriculture and chair of the Council in a press release.
The agreement covers key commercial fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, including herring, cod, plaice, sprat and salmon.
"EU fisheries ministers have yet again ignored the limits of the ecosystem and exceeded scientific recommendations on some of the Baltic TACs," reacted the NGO Seas at Risk in a press release. |
|
|
|
|
Opinion: EU must not waver in global environmental negotiations |
|
Janice Weatherley-Singh from the Wildlife Conservation Society says that the trilogy of global environment talks this autumn offers the opportunity for integrated solutions, but Europe will need to step up. |
|
|
|
|
|
Today’s brief was brought to you by Euractiv’s Energy, Environment & Transport team |
|
|
|
|
|
Today’s briefing was prepared by the Energy, Environment and Transport team: Donagh Cagney, Nathan Canas, Paul Messad, Nikolaus J.Kurmayer and Bárbara Machado, but not with the keen eyes of any proofreaders. Share your feedback or information with us at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
|
Transfer to third parties is not authorised. If you found this newsletter valuable, please recommend a free trial. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
