EU Environment and Climate’s Post

Dear friends, colleagues, While Jan Dusík is in the 🇵🇭 attending a meeting of the Loss and Damage Fund board, my post this week is coming from the informal Environment Council in 🇩🇰, which I am attending with Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. Topics on the agenda include COP30 and EU climate policy beyond 2030. We just finished a visit of Aalborg Portland A/S Cement, where we saw how the foundations are being laid for low carbon cement through carbon capture and storage, with support from the Innovation Fund. This week has again brought the need for climate resilience to the fore. According to Copernicus, this June was the hottest on record for western Europe, with an average temperature of 20.49C, 2.81C above the 1991–2020 June average. Scientists have attributed over half of the death toll from last week’s heatwave to climate change. This past week brought more extremes: a storm in northern Italy, flooding in Texas, and wildfires in Spain, France and Greece. In the face of these events, it is more important than ever to remember those who have lost their lives or been affected by climate change. Next Tuesday, 15 July, marks the third annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis. Next week we plan to launch a Call for Evidence for our new European climate resilience and risk management initiative, until now known as the ‘Climate Adaptation Plan’ announced in the President von der Leyen’s political guidelines. We also need to build resilience to disinformation. On Wednesday we published our latest ‘5 things to know’ article, looking at extreme weather, its links to climate change, and how we can reduce the risks it poses. The best and most cost-effective way to reduce risks is to reduce emissions. On Monday, I joined UNIDO’s Global Green Industrialisation Dialogue to explain the EU’s track record, the role of emissions trading and how the Clean Industrial Deal will help modernise our industry. I underlined the need to help build a strong business case for decarbonisation in energy-intensive sectors by giving them a perspective of return on investment in decarbonisation. DG CLIMA colleagues working on road transport published a consultation and 2 calls for evidence on the evaluation and review of CO2 standards for cars and vans and on car labelling, important steps in ensuring a fair and economically viable shift to zero-emission mobility and better-informed consumers. Also on Thursday, the Carbon Removal Expert Group met to discuss the draft Delegated Act establishing certification methodologies for direct air and biogenic capture and storage, and biochar carbon removal. There is great need for enabling carbon removals in Europe, which we will need at scale to become climate neutral. The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the hydrogen market by introducing a GHG emission methodology for low-carbon hydrogen and fuels. Another piece in the transition puzzle falling into place. Enjoy the weekend, Kurt