Coal
EU deal on methane must not give coal mining industry a free pass
Est. 5minThe EU must not succumb to Poland's demands to dilute ambition on tackling methane emissions from coal mines, writes Dr Sabina Assan. Stricter rules will not only help address climate change but also ensure the future competitiveness of Poland's coking coal industry, she argues.
Poland’s failed energy policy update: Lessons learned
Est. 6minWarsaw decided to drop its energy policy update ahead of the upcoming Autumn elections in order to avoid upsetting the nation's coal lobby. However, in its unofficial scenario, the government quietly admits that the decarbonisation of the Polish electricity system should accelerate, writes Michał Smoleń.
Bulgaria’s coal giant stands on feet of clay
Est. 5minBulgarian politicians' gambling with the fate of people in coal regions and those affected by toxic air and the climate crisis is immoral and unacceptable, and a workable alternative for an energy future is needed, Apostol Dyankov writes.
Ambitious, green reconstruction will make Ukraine and EU more secure
Est. 5minAs Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its second year, coal mining towns are not only on the front line of our country’s resistance but also at the heart of our vision to rebuild a fairer, safer and greener Ukraine, writes Anna Ackermann.
The time to scale-up energy storage in southeastern Europe is now
Est. 5minThe cornerstone of a successful energy transition in southeastern Europe is the accelerated uptake of renewables and energy storage technologies, which should go hand in hand with the phase-out of coal and gas, write Toby D. Couture and Martin Vladimirov.
Hungary risks billions in EU funds if it goes ahead with investments in coal
Est. 6minHungary is one of the countries most dependent on Russian gas and most hit by its skyrocketing prices. The real solution is to invest in solar, and the current U-turn on coal phase-out places structural EU funds at risk, writes Alexa Botár.
The Russian war in Ukraine and the Green Deal
Est. 8minIn the light of the change of paradigm brought by the Russian war in Ukraine, there is no reason to halt or denounce the Green Deal, but it makes a lot of sense to significantly amend it, writes Radan Kanev.
Power is still an important resource
Est. 5minThe European power system is facing a serious adequacy challenge. This issue cannot be marginalised if constant access to electricity is to remain guaranteed. Member States are closing power plants… The European power sector is changing very fast. The energy sector …
The Polish government must wake up to the ‘third way’ out of the Turów crisis
Est. 5minIt’s not too late for Poland's government to do the right thing by Polish workers and its neighbours and end the dispute over the Turów coal mine by committing to a planned closure of the mine this decade, argues Zala Primc, campaigner at Europe Beyond Coal.
Western Balkan coal power plants are the EU’s blind spot
Est. 4minThe EU must step up action to insist that the Western Balkan countries bring down their pollution and comply with the emission requirements, write MEPs Petros Kokkalis and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, who also propose instruments to achieve this goal.
Investing in fossil fuels amidst an energy price shock: the case of Greece
Est. 7minTax reductions and subsidies to natural gas generate a wrong signal to the energy market, write Vlasios Oikonomou and Haris Doukas. A change of policy is needed before the phenomenon of energy poverty spreads throughout Greece and Europe this winter, they argue.
Getting off the fence? The future of coal in the Western Balkans
Est. 7minDriven by ambitious targets and a set of sharp regulatory tools, the Green Deal is about to redefine the European economy and policy. As to be expected from a transformation of that magnitude, developments do not always follow a straight …
Europe needs to speed up on climate action
Est. 6minEurope's recent push to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions is desperately needed, but it is happening too slowly, with many key measures laid out in the Fit for 55 climate package not coming into force until the 2030s, writes Michael Bloss.
Geothermal is the solution for the transition of coal mining regions
Est. 4minThe preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice that has ordered Poland to halt the lignite production at the Turów mine, and the subsequent announcement of Poland’s government that it will defy the ruling, have sent an important message …
Lack of coal phase-out commitments in Eastern Europe jeopardises just transition
Est. 5minUnambitious coal phase-out policies in central and eastern Europe threaten the just transition in the region and the European Commission should only accept plans that use the just transition fund to develop and diversify local economies for a greener future, writes Alexandru Mustață.
Time for Paris-compatible coal phase-out plans in Central and Eastern Europe
Est. 6minCentral and Eastern European countries need to set national coal phase-out dates by 2030 at the latest in order to fall in line with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, environmental campaigners write.
The real faces behind PGE’s Turów coal mine
Est. 4minCoal mines, like the controversial Turów mine on the Polish/Czech border, are not the future. Indeed, the presence of the mine is risking the region's ability to transition away from coal and the livelihoods of the people around it, writes Milan Starec.
Solidarity for Turów? Well, close the mine
Est. 5minThe controversial Turów coal mine in Poland has been negatively impacting the people who live around it for decades. The European Commission now needs to step in and enforce common EU rules to enable a just transition to take place, writes Mikuláš Peksa.
Unjust and environmentally damaging Turów mining licence prolonged until 2044
Est. 5minThe European Commission needs to be more engaged in environmental disputes between EU countries, like the escalating tensions between Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic over the disputed open-pit mine in Turów, Poland, writes Martin Hojsík.
Why Europe’s role must be to lead the world out of coal for good
Est. 6minAs European energy and environment ministers join their peers at the International Energy Agency’s COP26 Net-Zero summit, they must set the pace for the global phase-out of coal, writes Maria Mendiluce.
Poland goes all out on coal rescue against EU’s higher climate goal
Est. 6minThe Polish government is on the hunt for securing yet another stream of subsidies to its coal industry, two weeks after EU leaders agreed on an enhanced climate target by 2030. But the European Commission can stop this, Elif Gündüzyeli and Joanna Flisowska write.
Poland can contribute to the EU’s 55% target while solving its key problems
Est. 7minPoland is lagging behind cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but diversifying its energy mix, making heating clean and increasing traffic electrification could improve emission reductions and transform the economy for the future, writes Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk.
New coal law will be ‘canary in a coal mine’ moment for German presidency
Est. 6minAs Germany takes the helm of the EU, its problematic coal law risks sending out the wrong signals, writes Riccardo Nigro.
The Just Transition Fund must reward climate ambition
Est. 7minThe EU's Just Transition Fund must reward climate ambition and prioritise Europe’s coal communities where the cliff-edge is fast approaching, writes Niklas Nienaß.