How the hard reality of climate change hit Europe's economy this summer

For anyone in Europe who still thought climate change was a problem for future generations, this summer's sweltering heatwaves have brought home the reality that its costly and life-altering economic impacts have already arrived.

reut.rs

Record low gas stocks expose Europe to risk of price spikes

Europe's natural gas stocks have fallen to a record low after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran squeezed global supply, reviving memories of the 2022 energy crisis that ​drove inflation and sapped industry...

reuters.com

Climate change exacerbating drought across Europe, scientists say

Climate change is exacerbating drought this year in Europe as extreme heat evaporates water supplies, scientists said in an analysis ​published on Thursday, after low water levels disrupted shipping, ...

reuters.com

Explainer: What is the EU's emissions trading system?

The European Commission will propose on Friday an overhaul of the EU's emissions trading system, Europe's biggest climate change policy, which affects power plants, industry, airlines and shipping fir...

reuters.com

EU to revamp carbon market to ease pressure on industry

The European Commission will propose an overhaul of the EU's Emissions Trading System on Friday, allowing industries to emit ​CO2 longer while offering more financial support to invest in clean techno...

reuters.com

Ten countries urge EU to rethink new carbon price on fuel

Ten countries, including Italy and Poland, have urged the European ‌Union to reconsider a new carbon price on fuel, as part of a separate revision of the bloc's carbon market, according to a joint sta...

reuters.com

IEA warns EU methane law could limit bloc's oil supply options

The International Energy ​Agency has warned that the EU's methane emissions rules could limit the oil supplies available ‌to the bloc, as member states prepare to discuss calls from Germany and others...

reuters.com

EU imports record LNG volumes from Russia's biggest plant

European Union ​countries imported record-high volumes of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Yamal facility in ‌the first half of this year, EU data showed on Monday, ahead of a ban on Russian suppli...

reuters.com

Europe recorded 10,000 excess deaths during late-June heatwave, data show

The vast majority — more ​than 9,000 — were among people aged 65 and above.

reut.rs

EU drafts 'electrification' plan to curb oil and gas use, after Iran war disruption

The European Union plans to introduce ‌a raft of policies and funding schemes to shift more of its economy to run on electricity, instead of oil and gas, a draft European Commission proposal seen by R...

reuters.com

EU plans slower CO2 cuts, more free permits for industry in carbon market overhaul

The European Union could allow industry to emit CO2 for longer and give companies more free carbon permits ​under plans drafted by the bloc to make its emissions trading system more flexible, a ‌Europ...

reuters.com

Net-zero champion Europe snared by climate change on its doorstep

The June heatwave that broke a series of temperature records in Europe has focused minds on the urgency of adapting to global warming in a continent once complacent about its relatively gentle climate and its ambitious goals on reducing emissions.

reut.rs

Industrial firms warn EU carbon overhaul could benefit polluters

Steelmaker SSAB is spending €6 billion to upgrade its operations, switching from coal to low-carbon hydrogen in a bet that European Union policies would reward lower-emission production and help it ou...

reuters.com

Europe's heatwave 'virtually impossible' without climate change, scientists say

The record-breaking heatwave engulfing Western Europe would have been "virtually ‌impossible" without human-caused climate change, which has made this week's soaring night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been just two decades ago, scientists said on Friday.

reut.rs

Swedish minister brings baby to EU meeting, a first for the bloc

EU governments' ministers gathered for a long day's discussion of ​climate change policies on Thursday were surprised by a fresh-faced participant at their negotiating ‌table: a three-month-old baby.

reut.rs

EU warns Turkey over 'unacceptable' snub of Cyprus in climate summit preparations

The European Union has rebuked Turkey for ‌excluding Cyprus from preparations for this year's U.N. climate summit, as diplomatic tensions mount over the issue ahead of the global climate talks.

reut.rs

Germany joins opponents of EU methane law, warns it could up-end jet fuel supply

Europe's biggest gas market, Germany, joined mounting pushback against the EU's planned methane emissions rules for oil and gas imports on Friday, warning that the policy ​could disrupt jet fuel suppl...

reuters.com

Countries scale back EU plans to fund cross-country energy grids

Governments cut back EU plans to spend national funds on cross-country energy infrastructure projects on Friday, but agreed to more centralised planning of power network expansion to ​absorb more renewable energy and cope with demand from data centres.

reut.rs

Europe swelters under deadly 'Omega' heatwave, more records broken

Western Europe was in the grip of a heatwave on Wednesday that claimed dozens of lives, disrupted power ​supplies, shut schools and cultural landmarks, as forecasters warned the extreme temperatures c...

reuters.com

US, Qatar urge EU to change methane rules, warn of supply risk

Major energy exporters the ​U.S. and Qatar urged the European Union on Wednesday to rewrite planned methane ‌emissions rules for oil and gas imports, warning the policy could disrupt fuel supplies to ...

reuters.com

EU to require air con installers to tell buyers how energy efficient their systems are

Installers of air conditioning units will be obliged to ‌tell customers how energy efficient these systems are, under a European Union law proposed on Wednesday, in an attempt to help people manage their energy bills.

reut.rs

Climate fight will not stall because certain countries drop out, China says

Global cooperation to tackle climate change will not stall because ​of the absence of certain countries, ‌China's environment minister told a meeting of governments on Monday, as nations prepare for ​another U.N. climate summit without the ​U.S.

reut.rs

IEA's Birol says Strait of Hormuz must reopen without conditions

International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol on Thursday welcomed the interim agreement to end the Iran war and called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without conditions.

reuters.com

EU crafts plan to give industries extra free CO2 permits this year, diplomats say

The European Union plans to grant industry additional free CO₂ permits this year to quickly help companies compete with ​foreign rivals, according to EU diplomats and draft conclusions for ‌a summit of EU leaders. The move could, however, allow firms to increase emissions.

reut.rs

EU curbs on Chinese inverters risk slowing solar rollout over security fears

The European Union's ban on public funding for Chinese-made solar inverters could affect more than a fifth of new solar capacity, exposing a growing tension between energy security fears and the bloc'...

reuters.com

EU carbon market review to extend free permits in exchange for local investments, document shows

The European Union's review of its emissions trading system will extend industries' free emissions allowances, ​in exchange for them investing in the bloc, according to an ‌internal European Commissio...

reuters.com

'Short, sharp and more strategic': the EU's new approach to climate talks

The EU wants to target fewer, clearer goals at the world's annual climate ‌summit in November, building alliances in advance to avoid a repeat of last year's bruising talks where the bloc struggled to...

reuters.com

A strong El Nino may be imminent. Climate change will make its effects worse

The El Nino weather pattern is forming, and is expected to cause extreme weather around the world this year, the WMO said on Tuesday. Scientists say climate change will make ​its impact especially sev...

reuters.com

Nations meet to discuss fossil fuel exit as Iran war drives up prices

Around 60 governments, including Brazil, Germany, Canada and Nigeria, will hold the first ‌international meeting this week to discuss phasing out fossil fuels, as the Iran war upends global oil and gas markets and sends prices soaring.

reut.rs