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The document argues that for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to maintain industrial competitiveness and meet climate targets, it must rapidly deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS). A critical barrier is the current reliance on exporting CO2 to the North Sea, which increases costs; the report finds that developing domestic storage could reduce deployment costs by 23% to 48%. To bridge the funding gap between high deployment costs and the EU ETS price, the brief recommends a 'Coordinator' role for governments to align value chains, leverage EU funds like the Innovation Fund and Connecting Europe Facility, and implement de-risking tools such as carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs). Case studies of the Porthos (Netherlands) and Northern Lights (Norway) projects illustrate how layered public-private financing, including state-owned enterprise (SOE) participation and capital grants, can lead to final investment decisions.

The document argues that large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, with estimates suggesting a need to capture between 490 and 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by that date. It highlights that current deployment is significantly below the required trajectory due to inadequate policies and a lack of storage sites outside the North Sea. The brief advocates for the development of shared CO2 transport and storage 'hubs' and cross-border networks to reduce costs for industrial emitters, particularly in Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe. It specifically urges EU Member States to use the 2023-2024 NECP revision process to detail funding commitments, deployment targets, and storage capacity to align with the Net Zero Industry Act's target of 50 million tonnes of annual injection capacity by 2030.

The document argues that CCS is essential for the European cement sector because approximately two-thirds of its emissions are process-related and cannot be eliminated by energy switches. While the EU is emerging as a leader with numerous planned large-scale projects funded by the Innovation Fund, challenges remain regarding energy requirements for capture and the dispersed location of plants relative to CO2 infrastructure. The briefing recommends carbon contracts for difference, low-carbon public procurement, and the development of an EU-wide CO2 transport network to accelerate the transition.

The document argues that CCS is essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel and for achieving net-negative emissions after 2050. It details the technical process of capturing CO2 using amines or membranes and storing it in saline aquifers or depleted reservoirs at depths exceeding 800 metres. The text asserts that geological storage is permanent and safe, with projected annual leak rates as low as 0.0002% in regulated industries. While costs vary by source—ranging from under 90 euro per tonne for fertilisers to 700 euro for direct air capture—the document suggests that government support for shared infrastructure can drive down costs, similar to the trajectory of offshore wind. It highlights approximately 100 proposed projects in Europe, particularly around the North Sea, and notes that the EU may need to capture 300 to 600 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050.

Croatia's industrial sector emits 2.76 MtCO2/yr, with cement production accounting for 62% of these emissions. The country has an estimated storage capacity of 4.2 GtCO2, primarily in saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon fields, which is sufficient to store 693 years of its annual point source emissions. Current initiatives include the Croatia Geothermal CCS project, which plans to store CO2 from the Našice cement plant and a plant in Beremend, Hungary, in the Drava saline aquifer. Other projects in development at Petrokemija Kutina, the Sisak Biorefinery, and a cement facility in Koromacno could collectively capture and store 1.3 million tons of CO2 per year. The document recommends streamlining permitting, developing a comprehensive carbon management strategy, and investing in storage site characterization to leverage Croatia's capacity for domestic and international CO2 storage.

Croatia aims for a 45% emission reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, with the industrial sector contributing 2.76 MtCO2/year (16% of national emissions). The document highlights that cement production, accounting for 62% of industrial emissions, has no viable decarbonization path other than CCS. Croatia possesses a significant storage capacity of 4.2 GtCO2, primarily in saline aquifers (4 Gt) and depleted hydrocarbon fields (175 Mt), which is sufficient to store 693 years of the country's annual point-source emissions. To optimize deployment, the document proposes three industrial clusters: the Adriatic, Central, and Eastern clusters. Current initiatives include the Croatian Geothermal CCS project, which plans to store CO2 from the Našice cement plant and a plant in Beremend, Hungary, at the Bočkovci-1 site. Other projects in development include Petrokemija Kutina (190,000 tCO2/year), Biorafinerija Sisak (55,000 tCO2/year), and a cement plant in Koromač (400,000 tCO2/year). Collectively, these could capture 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 annually. Economically, implementing CCS in the Eastern cluster could save 1.2 billion euros in EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) costs. The document recommends simplifying permitting processes, developing a comprehensive carbon management strategy, and investing in storage site characterization and cross-border cooperation.

The document examines the energy transition in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), highlighting the region's shift away from Russian energy dependence toward a diversified 'all-of-the-above' approach. It identifies significant potential for the region to lead in clean tech manufacturing and innovation, particularly in batteries, small modular reactors (SMRs), and carbon capture, while leveraging the EU's Just Transition Fund to reskill coal workers and build innovation hubs.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) advocates for the inclusion of diverse CO2 transport and storage projects in the EU's PCI and PMI lists to enable the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. CATF emphasizes the need to expand infrastructure beyond the North Sea to Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe, and to develop flexible transport networks using pipelines, shipping, barges, and trains. The document highlights that by 2050, 300 to 640 million tonnes of CO2 must be captured and stored annually in the EU, with at least 30% of industrial emissions requiring transport to non-North Sea storage.

The document highlights that just 1% of Croatia's estimated superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 6 GW of capacity, generating over 48,521 GWh of electricity. This amount is more than three times the country's 2021 electricity consumption of 15,205 GWh. Such a resource could theoretically replace all coal and gas used for electricity production, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 3 megatonnes, which represents 23% of Croatia's share of the EU's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goal. Additionally, the technology could eliminate Croatia's dependence on imports for coal (100%), natural gas (79%), and electricity (76%). The report also notes the high energy density of superhot rock geothermal, estimating that 1 GW requires roughly 12 km² of land, significantly less than solar (180 km²), offshore wind (520 km²), or biomass (14,000 km²).

The document argues that the availability of CO2 storage sites is the primary bottleneck for industrial decarbonisation in Europe. While it supports the NZIA's proposed target of 50 million tonnes of annual injection capacity by 2030, it suggests this is a 'bare minimum' and recommends five key improvements: setting more ambitious long-term storage targets, creating an EU-level aggregation platform to match CO2 sources with sinks, requiring Member States to map storage potential and plan cross-border transport networks, ensuring oil and gas producers' storage obligations align with industrial needs, and accelerating permitting and exploration licences for storage projects.

The document advocates for the deployment of next-generation geothermal systems in Central and Eastern Europe to provide baseload carbon-free electricity and heat. It highlights superhot rock (SHR) geothermal as a high-temperature resource that can deliver 5-10x more power per well than traditional methods. The author calls for a comprehensive EU Geothermal Action Plan by Q1 2026 and increased R&D funding to reduce project costs, which are projected to fall by 80% over the next decade. It specifically identifies Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary as countries well-positioned to benefit from combined high-temperature heat and power projects.

The report highlights a significant gap between current EU agricultural emissions trends and the 2030 and 2050 climate targets. It identifies the absence of agriculture from the EU Taxonomy as a major barrier to defining sustainable activities. The author proposes repurposing the CAP, which accounts for approximately 30% of the EU budget, to fund a transition that requires an estimated annual public investment of EUR 155bn to reduce emissions by 53% by 2050. Key recommendations include adopting science-based sectoral criteria, reforming payment structures to reward green practices, and potentially extending the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to agrifood products to prevent carbon leakage.

The document assesses plastic pollution in China, highlighting significant production and leakage into oceans, and contrasts this with the EU's comprehensive regulatory framework. It details EU strategies such as the Waste Framework Directive, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the 'Plastics 2030' strategy, which aims for 100% reusable or recyclable plastic packaging by 2030. The report suggests China adopt similar integrated land-sea management, eco-design standards, and international cooperation to combat plastic waste.

A coalition of European civil society organisations (CSOs) is protesting a campaign of disinformation led by some Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the European People’s Party (EPP) and far-right groups. The attack specifically targets the legitimacy of public funding for environmental NGOs under the LIFE programme. The statement argues that independent CSOs are essential for a functioning democracy and a fully informed decision-making process, contrasting the modest public grants received by NGOs with the high spending of corporate lobbyists in Brussels.

The document highlights a significant disparity in EU fisheries funding, noting that while small-scale fishers make up 70% of the European fleet, they receive only 20% of EU funds. It identifies administrative complexity, bank guarantee requirements, and a lack of tailored support as primary barriers that favor industrial operators over sustainable, artisanal fishing. The brief recommends streamlining application procedures, removing banking barriers, creating dedicated budgets for small-scale fishers, and increasing the representation of these fishers in EU decision-making processes.

The analysis of 15 draft NECPs reveals a significant increase in wind and solar capacity targets since 2019, bringing the EU closer to REPowerEU goals, though still falling short. While renewable electricity is projected to generate 66-67% of EU electricity by 2030, the report highlights a critical lack of quantified targets for electricity storage and clean flexibility. Furthermore, the document criticises the poor quality and transparency of data provided in the draft plans, which hinders accountability and investment signals.

The report documents a series of interregional exchanges between youth activists from Africa and Europe, focusing on the intersection of environmental justice, colonialism, and systemic oppression. It provides practical learning tools for analyzing historical inequalities and dismantling patriarchy, while highlighting the challenges of interregional solidarity, such as visa restrictions for African activists. Personal testimonies emphasize the impact of industrial pollution in South Africa and the marginalization of youth in Liberia, arguing that true climate justice requires freedom of movement and a genuine commitment to listening to the Global South.

The document is a zine detailing a cross-regional exchange between youth activists from Africa and Europe. It focuses on dismantling systemic oppressions like patriarchy and colonialism, challenging visa injustices that hinder Global South participation in climate governance, and promoting intergenerational learning within the environmental justice movement.

The document is a collection of essays and interviews exploring the concept of borders in Europe. It argues that while the Schengen Agreement created a symbolic and practical 'common home' for Europeans, the refugee crisis has triggered a return to national borders and 'cognitive barriers.' Contributors discuss the failure of the Dublin Regulation, the need for a common European asylum system, and the potential for 'borderless solidarity.' The volume also extends the analysis of borders to the maritime domain, arguing for the ocean to be treated as a 'global nation' or common good to prevent resource exploitation and conflict.

The research tested a semantic clustering technique to identify coordinated manipulation on Wikipedia, focusing on the Russo-Ukrainian war and 48 related pages. While the method did not consistently distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate editors globally, it successfully identified several dense clusters of sock-puppet accounts and coordinated IP-based editing. The study concludes that semantic clustering is a useful tool for grouping accounts with highly similar editing patterns, which can then be targeted for human-led investigation.