EU needs to stop conflicts of interest from undermining climate policy

Revolving doors

"There is a revolving door between politics and the fossil fuel lobby all across Europe. It’s not just a handful of cases – it is systematic," comments Max Andersson, Greens/EFA MEP attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn today.

Report on revolving doors in the fossil fuel industry reveals widespread potential for conflicts of interest to undermine climate policy

Conflicts of interest in climate policy

A report published today by the Greens/EFA Group on revolving doors between the public sector and the fossil fuel industry in Europe concludes that there is a widespread problem when it comes to the potential for conflicts of interest to dominate climate policy-making.

A fair transition away from coal

11.04.2018

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament is determined to engage in a meaningful dialogue with all actors so we can find the best possible path out of coal, while supporting the regions and miners effectively.

A fair transition away from coal

Europe was built on coal. We all owe a great deal to the people who went down the coal mines each morning. Coal may have run its course, but that energy and skill is needed now more than ever. People from the mining regions have to be at the heart of this transition.

Phasing out away from coal - reinventing European regions

A study commissioned by the Greens/EFA

The EU can and should play a role in facilitating transformational change away from coal mining and in particular in mitigating social and economic hardship that may occur in the course of these transitions.

Tax/CO2 €10bn tax gap reveals the flaws in vehicle taxes

CO2 Emissions

A new report from the Greens/EFA group shows that the growing gap between real life CO2 emissions from cars and in lab tests has contributed to a major tax gap on cars. The study calculates for the first time the theoretical loss in revenue for 11 EU member states amounting to more than €10 billion in 2016. Between 2010 to 2016 the loss was at least 46 bn Euros.

1000 solutions to solve climate change

An inspiring speech by Bertrand Piccard

During the European Ideas Lab organised by the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament and the European Green Party presented '#1000solutions' initiative for clean, efficient and profitable solutions that can be implemented by lawmakers around the world.

European Ideas Lab - Brussels

01.03.2018

Greens meet changemakers

During a three-day event, Greens/EFA will welcome hundreds of "change-makers" from around many organizations of most European countries. This lab will be the opportunity for us to listen, share and take stock!

Coal Regions in Transition

Speech by Florent Marcellesi at the high-level conference "Coal Regions in Transition Platform: High-Level Dialogue on financing and investments" - Brussels, 27 February 2018.

"In order to talk about financing in the coal transition, I’d like to remind that to achieve a real, just and efficient phase out of coal, we need much more ingredients than money"

Internal electricity market must deliver for citizens and the climate

Internal electricity market

The European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee has adopted a series of legislative reports on the internal electricity market. The Greens/EFA group welcomes the parliament’s position on limiting public support for coal, which is much stronger than the Council's, but questions the insufficient measures for fighting energy poverty.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 5-8 February 2018

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg Plenary week included: Emissions Trading System; Glyphosate: authorisation process for pesticides; Geoblocking; Visit of Croatian Prime Minister; Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation; Transnational lists for European elections; International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) address to Parliament; Rule of law in Romania; Special committee on tax.

Member States must lead the transition

EU Emissions Trading System

Bas Eickhout comments on the revision to the EU’s Emissions Trading System - "Thanks to the insistence of the Greens, EU governments can now shut down coal plants without having to pass the CO2 on to other sectors."