System change or bust

4 December 2019

System change: Europe’s environmental and climate warning signals are flashing red according to a comprehensive ‘State of the Environment’ survey published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

22 November 2019

Unleashing the power of community renewables in central-eastern Europe

As community renewables grow in western Europe, what about central and eastern regions?

A socially fair energy transformation means putting renewable energy into the hands of communities and people. The transition to 100% renewable energy, must benefit people too – not just big corporations - we must take power back from Big Energy. Big energy companies have consistently acted in their own financial interest, instead of the planet and sharing the wealth from renewable energy with communities.

Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic
4 October 2019

Will incoming EU energy chief pour gas on the fire?

Kadri Simson alarmingly weak on climate crisis

Just days after the biggest climate protests the world has ever seen, members of the European Parliament started the interview process for the nominees for European Commissioners 2019-2024. Yesterday was the turn of the proposed EU energy chief, Ms. Kadri Simson. How did she do?

Estonia
24 July 2019

The danger and the injustice of summer energy poverty

As temperature gages hit 40°C across Europe this week, terrifying heatwaves are becoming the new normal. But we are not all equal in the face of extreme weather, writes climate justice campaigner Clemence Hutin.

Last summer, a shocking heatwave seemed to dry up and set alight our continent before our eyes. This year we see this terrifying pattern repeating.

21 June 2019

Declaration - we all have a right to energy

At the Right to Energy Forum, over 100 activists, trade unionists, campaigners, and people from all over Europe came together in Brussels to debate, unite, and demand energy solutions for all. This is their unanimous declaration:

18 June 2019

National energy plans fail on socially fair energy transformation

Today’s European Commission analysis of Member States’ draft ten-year plans for climate and energy confirms a big climate fail, according to Friends of the Earth Europe. The EU's 2030 renewables and energy efficiency targets — already insufficient — will be missed if Member States do not improve their plans.

20 February 2019

Majority of EU countries unable to keep citizens warm this winter

First-of-its-kind EU-wide ranking reveals energy poverty especially prevalent in south and east of Europe, and worst in Bulgaria.

18 January 2019

Embrace energy democracy - or face social and climate breakdown

Opinion article by Susann Scherbarth of Friends of the Earth Europe, and Sean Sweeney of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy. First appeared on OpenDemocracy.

30 October 2018

Campaigners force Austrian backtrack on heating homes with oil

Global 2000/Friends of the Earth Austria campaigners have won a significant victory after forcing the Austrian oil and gas company OMV to end subsidies for oil heaters. OMV will by the end of 2019 phase out funds for a programme known as ‘Heizen mit Öl’ (‘heating with oil’), which promoted and gave financial payments for the installation of oil heating systems in Austrian homes.

Austria
9 October 2018

UN's climate clarion call is proof EU must end fossil fuels

Last Saturday (6 October), as top climate scientists were putting the final touches to the latest shattering UN report on climate science, 50 thousand people were demonstrating against the expansion of one of Europe’s biggest, dirtiest coalmines.

Germany
25 September 2018

Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe for its Citizens

Today – on a global day of action to end poverty, reduce inequalities, and tackle climate change – a coalition of civil society organisations has launched a manifesto with core demands for the political leadership of the EU and the candidates in the 2019 European Elections.

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