Policy News
Analysis and opinion pieces on EU and national policies that matter for the energy transition.
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Laundry, Sufficiency and the Climate Pact
Why a sufficiency-first approach to the Green Deal is needed for cities
I have two little boys and in our family photos they look like little angels. They are not. They are little savages. They fight, throw […]
The European Green Deal
How close to deliver genuine societal transformation?
The large-scale climate mobilizations of these past few years have not been in vain. The European Commission has finally recognized the magnitude – and urgency […]
“Behind the words” episode 1: The Climate Pact
Policy op-ed by Claire Roumet
The ecological transition is on everybody’s lips. Climate semantics is so diverse and varied that it sometimes leads to contradictions in the same sentence. This […]
5 takeaways from the EIB’s new energy lending policy
What the European Investment Bank's new funding policy will bring for cities' energy transition
We won! After months of lobbying by Energy Cities and the Fossil Free EIB campaign, Europe’s public bank has adopted a new funding policy. It is good news! But what will it bring for cities’ energy transition?
Addressing our inconsistencies in order to meet the challenge
Policy op-ed by Claire Roumet
How do we respond to the emergency, to the need to adjust our path and revisit our goals, without changing a single policy? In some […]
What cities need from the next Horizon Europe funding programme
4 recommendations to activate the next-generation climate governance
When the European Commission published the new mission-oriented approach proposed for the forthcoming Horizon Europe programme in January 2018, we were glad to see such […]
EIB’s proposed divestment from fossil fuels could go up in flames
Pro-gas forces threaten to derail ambitious proposal from Europe’s public bank
In July 2019, the European Investment Bank (EIB) proposed a bold new energy lending policy which would halt support to all fossil fuel projects by […]
9 country lessons + 10 recommendations = 1 effective National Energy and Climate Plan
New LIFE PlanUp report provides guidance on participative governance to national policymakers
With EU Member States set to submit their final national energy and climate plans (NECPs) by the end of the year, they should tap into the potential of their cities and citizens to design and deliver robust, ambitious and mutually beneficial plans.
Culling the Incoming Commissioners
European Parliament hearings of Commissioner-designates get underway in Brussels
The European Parliament is questioning the proposed commissioners in Brussels this week. The hearings are essential to inform Parliament’s decision to give its consent to, […]
Germany fails to regain climate leadership
Climate package proposed by Government falls short in meeting demand for ambitious action
It has been trumpeted as a “very powerful package” by the German government. The long-awaited draft of Germany’s first climate protection law, unveiled on September 20, is ultimately insufficient to catapult the so-called energy transition pioneer back into climate leadership.
