EU climate policy and carbon pricing

Germany and the EU are currently not doing enough to contribute an adequate share to climate protection that could prevent dangerous climate change. Additionally, they are not cooperating sufficiently with other countries on climate protection and adaptation. Germanwatch calls for action at the national and EU level and actively supports these efforts.

Contact persons

Oldag Caspar

Head of Division – German and European Climate Policy

Charly Heberer

Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy

Marion Guénard

Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy and Franco-German Co-operation (currently absent)

Sylwia Andralojc-Bodych

Senior Advisor – EU Climate Policy and Polish-German Co-operation

News

Preview open letter

Report | 21.11.2024

European business travellers call for German rail investments

The German government must enable the expansion, modernisation, and renovation of Gemany's rail network with a strong budget in 2025. Read our open letter to Members of Parliament, signed by Germanwatch and influential industry voices, including SAP and IKEA retailer Ingka.

Vorschaubild Blog

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Blog post | 20.06.2024

Voters demand climate remains high on political agenda

It has been frequently noted in the aftermath of the European elections that climate policy issues were less on the election agenda than in 2019. That may be true. But it is also true that a broad electoral majority is in favour of appropriate political responses to the climate crisis: support for more effective measures is polling high in many EU countries and among supporters of almost all (relevant) German parties. This is shown in several EU-wide and national surveys, as well as our own Germanwatch survey, commissioned together with DNR and WWF.

Vorschau EU Agenda Offener Brief

Report | 29.05.2024

Shaping the EU's Future: Recommendations for the EU Strategic Agenda 2024–2029

Alle fünf Jahre kommen die Staats- und Regierungschefs der Europäischen Union (EU) zusammen und legen die politischen Prioritäten für die nächste Legislatur in der Strategische Agenda fest. Ein Monat vor Annahme der Agenda 2024–2029 wendet sich ein breites Bündnis von zivilgesellschaftlichen Akteuren, Unternehmen und Organisationen an die Staats- und Regierungschefs. Sie fordern in einem offenen Brief eine Strategische Agenda für eine klimaneutrale, grüne, faire und soziale EU.

Flaggen von Polen, Deutschland und Frankreich

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Blog post | 24.04.2024

Germany, Poland, and France: Recasting a Green Weimar Triangle

The current geopolitical context is pushing the Weimar Triangle of France, Germany, and Poland to prioritise defence and security. NGOs, think tanks, and businesses argue that a ‘Green Weimar Triangle’ could not only safeguard achieving the EU climate goals but also address critical issues of economic competitiveness and cohesion.

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EU climate policy and carbon pricing Position Paper | 14. March 2025

Carbon Capture and Utilisation

Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is increasingly being discussed as a promising approach to a carbon neutral industry. A realistic look at the potential of CCU as a climate change mitigation measure, taking into account the overall impacts, shows that there are significant dilemmas and trade-offs associated with the use of CCU. The paper identifies important guidelines for the development of this regulatory framework.

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International climate co-operation EU climate policy and carbon pricing Policy Brief | 21. May 2024

EU–Africa Energy Co-operation: Opportunities for Reshaping the EU’s Energy Partnership Offer

After the EU election in June 2024, the new Commission will hold the power to demonstrate global climate leadership and reshape its partnership offer. Given the strong historical ties and growing economic relations between Africa and Europe, partnerships with the African continent must remain a focus of the EU. Our policy brief provides five recommendations for reshaping the EU’s partnership offer on energy co-operation.

An Ambitious EU Climate Target for 2040

EU climate policy and carbon pricing Position Paper | 31. January 2024

An Ambitious EU Climate Target for 2040: Slashing Emissions while Strengthening Energy Security

On 6 February, the European Commission will propose climate targets for 2040. The current Commission can thereby frame the climate policy of the upcoming years ahead of the EU elections in June. The 2040 targets will be a guiding light for the new Commission and shape the EU's worldwide perception. In this policy brief, Germanwatch is therefore calling for 'An Ambitious EU Climate Target for 2040'.

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EU climate policy and carbon pricing Industrial transformation Policy Brief | 17. October 2023

Policies for a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe

While green hydrogen will play a vital role in decarbonising our economy, it is not the primary solution for emissions reduction. Instead, energy efficiency and savings, renewable electricity expansion, and direct electrification are the top three approaches for reducing emissions. However, green hydrogen becomes essential in certain applications such as steelmaking and other industrial processes, as well as for long-distance aviation and shipping, and it can be beneficial in seasonal energy storage. This policy brief spells out principles that should guide the development of a regulatory framework to advance a green hydrogen economy in Europe.

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EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 23.05.2024

Green Weimar Triangle should become a driving force for EU climate policy

Germanwatch welcomes initiative by France, Poland and Germany for a strong climate foreign policy / Further development now needed for more climate policy coordination between the three countries, including for the implementation of the European Green Deal

EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 29.09.2023

Launch of EU carbon tariff can advance climate policy worldwide

New CO2 border adjustment CBAM facilitates ambitious EU climate policy through effective competition protection for companies in the EU / Need for faster introduction and reform on revenue use

EU climate policy and carbon pricing | 07.12.2020

Climate Change Performance Index: Still no country good enough; EU stands at a crossroads

New ranking of 58 countries with the highest emissions published today: None of the countries surveyed are on a path compatible with the Paris Agreement goals / Emissions are decreasing in more than half of the countries analyzed / USA is at the bottom of the ranking

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