EU climate policy and carbon pricing

Germany and the EU are currently not doing enough to contribute an adequate share to climate protection that could prevent dangerous climate change. Additionally, they are not cooperating sufficiently with other countries on climate protection and adaptation. Germanwatch calls for action at the national and EU level and actively supports these efforts.

Contact persons

Oldag Caspar

Head of Division – German and European Climate Policy

Charly Heberer

Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy

Marion Guénard

Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy and Franco-German Co-operation

Sylwia Andralojc-Bodych

Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy and Polish-German Co-operation

News

Vorschaubild Blog

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Blogpost | 20.06.2024

Voters demand climate remains high on political agenda

It has been frequently noted in the aftermath of the European elections that climate policy issues were less on the election agenda than in 2019. That may be true. But it is also true that a broad electoral majority is in favour of appropriate political responses to the climate crisis: support for more effective measures is polling high in many EU countries and among supporters of almost all (relevant) German parties. This is shown in several EU-wide and national surveys, as well as our own Germanwatch survey, commissioned together with DNR and WWF.

Flaggen von Polen, Deutschland und Frankreich

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Blogpost | 24.04.2024

Germany, Poland, and France: Recasting a Green Weimar Triangle

The current geopolitical context is pushing the Weimar Triangle of France, Germany, and Poland to prioritise defence and security. NGOs, think tanks, and businesses argue that a ‘Green Weimar Triangle’ could not only safeguard achieving the EU climate goals but also address critical issues of economic competitiveness and cohesion.

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Blogpost | 03.05.2023

Which European Countries are the Worst Climate Polluters, and Why?

Year after year, the CCPI finds economically developed countries from the Global North, including many EU countries, contributed disproportionally to global warming. Factors such as high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, lagging climate policy, and high energy use are responsible for a low rank in the CCPI. However, which are the worst polluters, and why? The CCPI can identify them in several easy-to-understand ways. It shows their poor climate performance and opportunities for them to improve on it and take effective climate action.

Preview Paper

International climate cooperation EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 21.05.2024

EU–Africa Energy Co-operation: Opportunities for Reshaping the EU’s Energy Partnership Offer

After the EU election in June 2024, the new Commission will hold the power to demonstrate global climate leadership and reshape its partnership offer. Given the strong historical ties and growing economic relations between Africa and Europe, partnerships with the African continent must remain a focus of the EU. Our policy brief provides five recommendations for reshaping the EU’s partnership offer on energy co-operation.

An Ambitious EU Climate Target for 2040

EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 31.01.2024

An Ambitious EU Climate Target for 2040: Slashing Emissions while Strengthening Energy Security

On 6 February, the European Commission will propose climate targets for 2040. The current Commission can thereby frame the climate policy of the upcoming years ahead of the EU elections in June. The 2040 targets will be a guiding light for the new Commission and shape the EU's worldwide perception. In this policy brief, Germanwatch is therefore calling for 'An Ambitious EU Climate Target for 2040'.

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EU climate policy and carbon pricing Industrial transformation | 17.10.2023

Policies for a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe

While green hydrogen will play a vital role in decarbonising our economy, it is not the primary solution for emissions reduction. Instead, energy efficiency and savings, renewable electricity expansion, and direct electrification are the top three approaches for reducing emissions. However, green hydrogen becomes essential in certain applications such as steelmaking and other industrial processes, as well as for long-distance aviation and shipping, and it can be beneficial in seasonal energy storage. This policy brief spells out principles that should guide the development of a regulatory framework to advance a green hydrogen economy in Europe.

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EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 23.05.2024

Green Weimar Triangle should become a driving force for EU climate policy

Germanwatch welcomes initiative by France, Poland and Germany for a strong climate foreign policy / Further development now needed for more climate policy coordination between the three countries, including for the implementation of the European Green Deal

EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 29.09.2023

Launch of EU carbon tariff can advance climate policy worldwide

New CO2 border adjustment CBAM facilitates ambitious EU climate policy through effective competition protection for companies in the EU / Need for faster introduction and reform on revenue use

EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 07.12.2020

Climate Change Performance Index: Still no country good enough; EU stands at a crossroads

New ranking of 58 countries with the highest emissions published today: None of the countries surveyed are on a path compatible with the Paris Agreement goals / Emissions are decreasing in more than half of the countries analyzed / USA is at the bottom of the ranking

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