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The European Parliament elections, held June 6-9, 2024, determine the legislative representation for 27 EU Member States, with the number of seats increasing from 705 to 720. The document emphasizes the role of the European Parliament in shaping the EU Green Deal and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, while warning against the weakening of environmental requirements in the Common Agricultural Policy and the dropping of chemical regulations like REACH. It advocates for closing the 'implementation gap' of environmental laws, which could save the EU economy EUR 55 billion annually in health and environmental costs, and calls for universal access to justice rights for citizens and NGOs to challenge environmental law-breaking across all Member States.

Analysis of draft NECPs indicates that while EU member states have significantly increased wind and solar targets since 2019, the current trajectory falls short of REPowerEU goals. Renewables are projected to generate 66% of EU electricity by 2030, missing the 72% target. The report highlights a lack of data transparency in the drafts, particularly regarding power system flexibility and post-2030 decarbonisation pathways.

The author contends that the European Commission's response to farmer protests—scaling back environmental regulations—misidentifies the problem. The core issue is a neoliberal system that favors large agro-corporations and free-trade agreements, leaving small farmers with low incomes and high debts. The text proposes a 'just' Green Deal that includes ecological tariffs, a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to reward sustainable land stewardship rather than land size, and a shift toward agroecology to align the interests of farmers with nature conservation.

The report highlights that EU power system flexibility needs are expected to double by 2030 as renewables are projected to reach 66% of electricity generation. It identifies battery storage and demand side flexibility (DSF) as critical but under-utilised tools to replace fossil fuel backup and reduce renewable curtailment. While battery capacity doubled to 16 GW in 2023, the report notes a significant lack of explicit 2030 targets for storage and DSF in national policy documents. It calls for improved data transparency, the removal of regulatory barriers for distributed energy resources, and the inclusion of flexibility targets in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).

The author advocates for a European Artist Status to combat the precarity of creative work, citing the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the emerging threats of AI. The proposal, supported by the European Green Party, aims to establish common standards for employment and social guarantees, ensuring freelancers have access to healthcare, sick leave, and maternity protections. The text highlights the role of artists as essential contributors to European identity and the green transition, while calling for EU-level protections against government censorship in member states like Hungary and Poland.

Global operating coal capacity increased by 48.4 GW in 2023, reaching a total of 2,130 GW, primarily driven by a surge of new plants in China. While construction starts hit record lows outside of China, China's new construction starts reached an eight-year high of 70.2 GW. Despite a growing number of countries committing to 'No New Coal', 75% of global operating coal capacity still lacks a specific closure commitment, hindering alignment with the Paris Agreement goals.

The document argues that Poland, as Europe's third largest hydrogen producer, must transition from carbon-intensive production to a clean hydrogen economy to decarbonise its industrial and transportation sectors. It recommends prioritising 'no regrets' sectors, adopting a technology-neutral production approach, and carefully planning imports via pipelines or ammonia to manage limited domestic resources.

Ember reports that Germany's official coal mine methane (CMM) emissions are likely underestimated by 28 to 220 times. The current reporting relies on a single emission factor from a 1989 study that does not account for depth, geological variability, or surrounding strata. Independent estimates suggest annual emissions could be as high as 307,000 tonnes, compared to the 1.39 thousand tonnes officially reported for 2022. Ember recommends that Germany implement deposit-specific emission factors, direct measurements for active and closed mines, and pre-mine drainage to mitigate emissions.

The document evaluates how CEE countries have integrated public consultation and multilevel climate and energy dialogues (MCEDs) into their updated NECPs, finding significant variability in quality and frequent failures to meet European law requirements for early and inclusive engagement.

Global coal-fired power capacity reached a record 2,130 GW in 2023, driven largely by China, despite a general global trend toward reducing new coal construction. While the EU and UK are accelerating retirements, China's new construction capacity reached an eight-year high. Turkey continues to develop coal capacity, ranking eighth globally in capacity under development, despite significant local opposition and the cancellation of numerous projects.

The document identifies numerous factual errors made by candidates from various political parties during a debate on the ecological and social transition. Key corrections include debunking claims that the EU Green Deal currently imposes norms on farmers, correcting the ranking of France as the EU's third-largest agricultural exporter rather than the first, and clarifying that France's energy mix is the second most decarbonized in Europe, behind Sweden. It also addresses misconceptions about the carbon footprint of Chinese-made renewables, the efficacy of hydrogen cars, and the actual population and migration figures in Mayotte.

The author contends that recent farmer protests in Europe and India stem from systemic issues including unfair trade agreements, corporate price-gouging, and a subsidy system that favors large-scale industrial farming. The document criticizes the European Commission's decision to scrap pesticide targets and loosen environmental requirements, arguing that these 'U-turns' ignore the root causes of farmer distress. Instead, the author proposes a 'just transition' that includes a carbon border adjustment mechanism for agriculture, a rethink of the Mercosur trade deal, and a CAP that rewards environmental stewardship over land ownership.

The author contends that the European People's Party (EPP) is actively undermining the European Green Deal and the Nature Restoration Law, moving away from its centrist roots toward a national-conservative ideology. This shift is framed as a strategic attempt to compete with far-right parties, which the author suggests strengthens those movements. The text highlights the precarious position of the Greens, who must now defend moderate policies they previously found insufficiently ambitious, and concludes that the 2024 elections are critical for determining whether the EU continues toward a climate-neutral future.

In 2023, Türkiye became Europe's second-largest coal-fired electricity generator, producing a record 118 TWh, with coal's share of total generation rising to 36%. This trend was driven by imported coal, primarily from Russia, which accounted for 73% of imports and 22% of total electricity generation. While solar capacity grew to over 12 GW, wind installations hit a 13-year low of 411 MW. The report notes that Türkiye's trajectory diverges from the EU, where coal generation halved since 2016. Despite a 2053 net-zero target, the National Energy Plan still forecasts new coal and gas capacity by 2035, and the report argues that rooftop solar potential (120 GW) remains underutilised.

The report argues that the UK is currently off track to meet its 2030 NDC and sixth carbon budget, necessitating a shift toward 'accountability and implementation'. It advocates for a systems-based approach that complements electrification with carbon capture and storage (CCS), low-carbon hydrogen, nuclear energy, and aggressive methane mitigation. Key recommendations include establishing a Methane Action Plan, creating a 'producer responsibility' policy for CO2 storage, and prioritising low-carbon hydrogen for 'no-regrets' industrial sectors like refining and ammonia production. The document also emphasises the need for international collaboration, particularly with the EU and emerging economies, to scale these technologies and maintain the UK's global climate leadership.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, carbon pollution drove abnormal warmth for approximately 80% of the global population. Roughly 4.8 billion people experienced at least one day of temperatures that would be 'virtually impossible' without climate change. The report highlights extreme temperature anomalies in the U.S. upper Midwest and Canada, as well as high Climate Shift Index (CSI) levels in tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean. It also documents associated extreme weather events, including record-breaking heat in Australia and deadly floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The report analyzes the energy strategy of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) countries, finding that planned LNG and pipeline capacity will significantly exceed projected gas demand by 2030. It warns that this creates a risk of stranded assets and security vulnerabilities due to global price volatility. The author advocates for shifting investment from gas infrastructure to wind, solar, and grid interconnectors, noting that 3SI countries could reach a 67% renewable electricity share by 2030.

The report argues that Poland requires a diverse technological portfolio—including wind, solar, nuclear, and carbon capture—to decarbonise its power system by 2050. Modelling of 19 scenarios indicates that relying on a narrow set of technologies increases system costs and infrastructure needs, while a 'base' scenario suggests a rapid transition involving a massive build-out of onshore wind and the introduction of nuclear power to replace coal.

The report argues that Poland, as one of Europe's most carbon-intensive economies, must adopt a diversified technology portfolio to achieve climate neutrality. It recommends a shift from coal (currently 70% of the power mix) toward a combination of renewables, nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), clean hydrogen, and superhot rock geothermal energy. The authors emphasize that restricting technology options would significantly increase system costs and infrastructure needs. Key policy recommendations include implementing 'carbon contracts for difference' to advance CCS, prioritizing clean hydrogen for 'no regrets' industrial sectors, and reforming the nuclear industry through standardized, product-based business models. Additionally, the report calls for urgent action to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and the mapping of thousands of abandoned wells. Public polling indicates strong Polish support for advanced nuclear (63%) and superhot rock energy (66%).

The Europe Gas Tracker Report 2024 finds that Europe is continuing a massive gas infrastructure buildout despite emerging from its energy crisis and seeing a decline in gas demand. With €84.1 billion in planned LNG terminals and pipelines, the report argues that the region is creating significant overcapacity and risking stranded assets. It further warns that these projects could increase annual emissions by up to 1.1 gigatonnes CO2e, undermining the EU's 'Fit for 55' goals. Additionally, the report characterizes the proposed 35,000 km hydrogen pipeline network as a 'red herring' that may serve to lock in methane gas infrastructure due to technical incompatibilities and the lack of green hydrogen production.