Environment policy in the European Union
“The implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is creating confusion, legal uncertainty, and disproportionate burden for small businesses. Entrepreneurs ask for practical solutions now. Parliament and Member States should approve the suspension of the obligation to appoint authorised representatives in each Member State”, stated SMEunited President Davide Galli.
Environment Ministers have agreed on a 2040 climate target: a 90% reduction in emissions in comparison to 1990. On paper, this might not sound too bad, but in reality, the reliance on international offsets up to 5% and the inclusion of an emergency break for carbon sinks could reduce the actual domestic target to lower than 85%.
European environment ministers have finalised a long-awaited decision on the EU’s 2040 emission-reduction target and the 2035 climate plan under the Paris Agreement, just days before COP30 in Brazil.
The EU Commission has announced €2.9 billion in funding to 61 cutting-edge net zero technology projects, funded from the Innovation Fund using revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System.
Despite growing political pressure to weaken EU sustainability rules, companies are successfully aligning their climate transition plans with regulatory standards, reveals WWF in a new report.
The EU contributed €31.7 billion in climate finance from public sources, plus an additional €11.0 billion of private finance to help support developing countries in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
European leaders met to discuss the EU’s 2040 climate target but concluded without reaching a decision and passed the baton back to Environment Ministers.
