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Lukas Knigge

Lukas Knigge Published: September 14th, 2023

Deforestation law: criticism of financial sector

The EU Commission criticizes that the new EU law against deforestation does not receive support from financial institutions. This was stated by a Commission representative on Wednesday. The Commission is making a lot of money available to producer countries, but financial institutions are not going along, complained Leonard Mizzi, head of unit in the commission’s […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 14th, 2023

ReFuelEU Aviation: Parliament approves binding SAF targets

The European Parliament on Wednesday approved binding targets for airlines in Europe to increase the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The act, called ReFuelEU Aviation, aims to increase both demand and supply of sustainable aviation fuels. The Council, Parliament and Commission had already reached agreement in trilogue in April. ReFuelEU Aviation is part of […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 13th, 2023

Green Deal: ‘Wind power package’ and dialog with industry and farmers

The Green Deal is still Europe’s strong answer to climate change. That was certainly the key statement on European climate and environmental policy in Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the EU address. Observers had hoped for such a renewed commitment to the green agenda after von der Leyen’s own party family in the EU […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 13th, 2023

Common charger: worldwide change to Apple’s charging technology

Apple has responded to EU legislation by equipping its new iPhone 15 with a USB-C charging port, instead of the in-house Lightning connector as before. The US company presented its new products on Tuesday evening at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. The background to the global change in charging technology is the EU requirement for […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 13th, 2023

EP votes for Ivanova as research commissioner

The EU Parliament has approved the appointment of Iliana Ivanova as the new Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. 522 of the MEPs voted in favor, 27 against and 51 abstained. Now the member states still have to approve Ivanova’s appointment. The Bulgarian replaces Mariya Gabriel, who has been foreign minister in Sofia […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 12th, 2023

Edenhofer calls for European carbon central bank

The EU is under pressure to move forward with its green agenda in light of the US Inflation Reduction Act, writes Ottmar Edenhofer, director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC). To ensure that Europe is not put on the “industrial policy sidelines,” the renowned climate researcher, who is also […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 8th, 2023

Today, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union plans to introduce a new compromise proposal for the Euro 7 emissions standard. Member states discussed the compromise proposal from July in the Council’s working group last Friday, and they provided feedback, which Spain will now incorporate into a new document.The German government initially […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 7th, 2023

Poland: New Ministry of Energy Transition

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced the establishment of a new Ministry of Energy Transition. It will be set up in the coming legislative period, provided that he and his party remain in government. Poland’s parliamentary elections will be held on October 15. Polls see good chances for a third term in office for […]

Lukas Knigge Published: September 7th, 2023

Hoekstra hearing not until October

The hearing of the EU Commissioner-designate for climate action Wopke Hoekstra by the members of the Environment Committee of the EU Parliament (ENVI) should not take place until October. A date at the beginning of the first October plenary week (Oct. 2-5) would be possible, so that the vote on the appointment of the Dutchman […]