EU climate policy

The German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) has published an analysis of the European Union's climate policy towards 2040, focusing on initial steps towards greater flexibility and a revised effort-sharing framework between member states. The piece examines how the EU may adjust its emissions reduction architecture ahead of the next phase of its climate targets.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said European leaders remain far apart on the next EU budget, highlighting continued disagreement over the bloc's long-term spending plans. The talks cover how to divide funding among priorities such as agriculture, regional development, defence and climate policy. His comments underline the difficulty of reaching a deal among member states with sharply different fiscal positions.

The European Commission has presented a Water Resilience Investment Accelerator, a new initiative aimed at mobilising investment to strengthen Europe's water infrastructure and resilience to droughts, floods and water scarcity. The scheme is intended to speed up funding for projects that improve water efficiency, reuse and management, supporting the EU's broader water resilience strategy and climate adaptation goals.

The European Union has auctioned 2.792 million spot carbon permits under its emissions trading system at a clearing price of 85.84 euros per tonne. The result gives a snapshot of carbon costs for power generators and heavy industry, a price that feeds into energy costs and the EU's climate policy debate.

The EU Council has agreed to reinforce market stability measures for the upcoming ETS2 emissions trading system, which covers buildings and road transport. The volume of allowances to be released will be doubled to a maximum of 40 million tonnes, as part of preparations for the system's launch in 2028. The move aims to limit price volatility in the new carbon market.

A Financial Times 'How To Spend It' column argues for spending wisely to move off fossil fuels, touching on electric vehicles, oil supply and climate policy. The discussion links the shift to geopolitics, citing the US, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz as oil chokepoints, with the EU's energy transition also in frame. Readers are weighing how consumer choices on cars fit into the broader move away from oil.

The European Union is postponing methane regulations for imported oil and gas, citing high energy prices. The delay means foreign suppliers will face the emissions requirements later than planned, drawing attention to the tension between the bloc's climate goals and concerns about energy costs and supply security.

The U.S. Trade Representative is inviting public comments on how the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism affects U.S. trade. The EU mechanism places carbon-related costs on imports of goods like steel, aluminum and cement, and Washington wants input from businesses and stakeholders on its consequences for American exporters. The move signals growing U.S. scrutiny of the EU's climate trade policy and its potential burden on transatlantic commerce.

Nordic countries are opposing moves to loosen requirements within the EU's emissions trading system, the carbon market that sets a price on pollution for heavy industry and power generation. The governments argue that weakening the market's rules would undermine Europe's climate targets and slow the transition away from fossil fuels, setting up a clash with member states seeking relief for industry.

The EU-funded MountResilience project, backed by the Horizon programme, is working to strengthen climate resilience in mountain regions across Europe. Its published results outline efforts to help mountain communities adapt to climate change impacts. The initiative is drawing attention among those following EU climate adaptation policy and funding.

Green Central Banking reports that addressing climate change in the European Union will require closer coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities. The argument is that central banks and national governments cannot tackle climate risks effectively in isolation, and that aligned policy tools would be needed to direct investment and manage climate-related financial instability across the bloc.

Disputes over the EU's next long-term budget are intensifying, with member states and institutions clashing over spending priorities and contributions ahead of the 2027 European elections. The framing of the budget is expected to shape campaign debates, as governments weigh national interests against collective priorities such as defence, climate policy and agriculture funding.

The EU-funded EIFFEL project is being highlighted for its work converting Earth observation data into practical climate intelligence for decision-makers. The project aims to help governments and communities respond to climate change by making satellite-derived information usable for planning, adaptation and policy. The update offers a progress report on how the research is being applied in practice.

Eni's chief executive has urged the European Union to suspend its emissions trading system, the bloc's flagship carbon pricing mechanism that charges polluters for each tonne of CO2 emitted. The call comes amid ongoing debate in Europe over the cost of climate policy for energy-intensive industries and households, though the company's full reasoning was not detailed in the report.

Major elections across Europe's largest economies are expected to change the balance of power within European Union institutions. Analysts warn that shifts toward populist or Eurosceptic parties in key member states could complicate consensus on EU policy, from budgets and enlargement to climate rules. The outcome of the votes may determine how easily the bloc can pass major decisions in the years ahead.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Brussels to urge the European Union to take stronger action on climate change. Marchers called on EU institutions to speed up emissions reductions and strengthen climate policy. The large turnout underscores continued public pressure on European leaders as climate policy remains a contested issue across the bloc.

The European Union auctioned 2.792 million spot carbon permits at a clearing price of 87.04 euros per tonne, a routine sale under the EU Emissions Trading System that caps pollution from power plants and heavy industry. The price level continues to draw attention as firms and traders weigh the cost of emitting against the bloc's climate targets.

The European Union's Copernicus programme has released the 10th edition of its Ocean State Report, which documents an ocean being transformed by climate change. The flagship scientific report draws on satellite observations and in-situ measurements to track changes in ocean temperature, circulation, sea ice and marine ecosystems. The anniversary edition is expected to inform European policy debates on climate adaptation and ocean protection.

A draft of the European Union budget keeps the proposed tax on businesses while making adjustments to carbon levy provisions. The changes suggest EU negotiators are seeking to protect revenue from corporate taxation while softening or refining the design of climate-related levies. Attention now turns to how member states and the European Parliament respond to the revised proposals in upcoming budget negotiations.

A commentary argues that Europe's green transition should be treated as a source of industrial and geopolitical strength, not just an environmental obligation. The piece calls for the European Union to convert climate policy into economic power, suggesting the continent's energy shift can bolster competitiveness and reduce dependence on others. Debate continues over whether EU climate ambitions can deliver strategic advantages.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Brussels to demand stronger climate action from policymakers. The large-scale march underscores continuing public pressure on Belgian and European leaders to speed up emissions cuts and strengthen environmental commitments, with organizers calling for bolder and more concrete measures to tackle the climate crisis.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is attending the UN General Assembly in New York, where the EU is presenting itself as a firm supporter of multilateralism and international cooperation. The visit is part of the bloc's broader diplomatic push on global issues, including climate policy, as world leaders gather for the annual assembly.

Tens of thousands of people marched through Brussels to demand urgent action on climate change. Demonstrators called on Belgian and European policymakers to speed up emissions cuts and strengthen environmental commitments. The large turnout in the Belgian capital, home to key EU institutions, underlines continuing public pressure for stronger climate policy across Europe.