EU Emissions Trading: Fluctuating Prices and the New Normal
The drop in ETS (Emission Trading System) prices through the first quarter of 2024 does not auger well for the stability and predictability most valued by energy users and producers. Some of the price pressure comes from shifts away from fossil fuels and global macroeconomic conditions and related regulatory and market activities have had an […]
Approaching the ETS Endgame in Europe
The Emission Trading System (ETS) serves as the primary policy instrument driving the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union. Established in 2005 as a cap-and-trade mechanism, ETS mandates that regulated installations surrender emission allowances corresponding to their greenhouse gas emissions. These allowances are distributed annually under a diminishing cap, which was decreasing […]
Get to know our Energy & Industrials Team
We are 24 colleagues dealing with everything related to energy and climate issues. Being Brussels-based, our focus is obviously public affairs, government relations, strategic communications. We also work very closely with our talented colleagues in economic consulting, corporate finance, business transformation, to support our clients with whatever challenge or opportunity there is. And Brussels doesn’t […]
The IEA World Energy Outlook 2022 – A Brief Analysis and Implications
The International Energy Agency (IEA) releases each year in October/November its World Energy Outlook (WEO). The IEA WEO 2022[1] provides analysis of global energy and of the implications for energy security, environmental protection, and economic development. The WEO uses a scenario-based approach to highlight the key choices, consequences and issues lying ahead, and to show […]
The certification of carbon removals
There is a consensus that developed economies should be net-zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, leaving one or two more decades for less developed economies to achieve the same goal. There are significant nuances in the net-zero pledges of these countries, with some targeting the reduction of emissions, others allowing the compensation of emissions […]
The Electricity Market Design in a Period of High Energy Prices
Europe is experiencing very high energy prices, due to the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the conflict in Ukraine. These high energy prices have widespread consequences for a variety of markets, including the gas and electricity markets. Throughout Europe, both of these markets are experiencing record high prices and instability, […]
The EU Taxonomy: Shaping the future of reporting
The EU Taxonomy marks a seismic shift towards mandatory sustainability reporting but offers an opportunity for companies to demonstrate genuine sustainability leadership. While the period up to 2018 was marked by an absence of ESG and sustainability focused regulatory pressure, in the period since, there have been efforts across the globe to ensure investors, financiers […]
Nuclear power generation and the urgency of fighting climate change
With the fight against climate change becoming more urgent than ever, nuclear energy is making a comeback in the discussions around the energy transition. The recent energy price crisis driven by fossil fuels and natural gas (sometimes also considered a necessary transition fuel) is also providing additional arguments in favour of nuclear. Although nuclear provides […]
Fit-for-55, en route to Fit-for-100
Under the pressure of climate change and the urgency to act, the European Union has recently adopted the European Climate Law which enshrines into binding legislation the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 as well as an intermediate target of a 55% cut in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Having increased the EU’s […]
The EU’s move to become a regulatory powerhouse will impact business around the world.
Introducing the first in a series of Spotlight articles on the Brussels Effect, we provide an initial overview of the key drivers and the impact emerging policies will have in Europe and beyond. As the world seeks to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and tries to define a balance with the urgent […]
Energy Transition | European Battery Manufacturing: Charging Ahead
Europe is responsible for around 3% of the world’s lithium-ion battery production, and was a net importer in 2020. However, FTI Consulting estimates Europe is poised to increase its output tenfold over the next five years, and will have a surplus by 2023. We share perspectives on how this potential overcapacity, and other risks, could […]
Take it away! Net-zero targets and the role of carbon removal
The recently adopted target to achieve a 55% Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction by 2030 is the most ambitious goal of the European Union so far when it comes to combatting climate change, and, combined with the 2050 carbon neutrality target, will require significant action and effort across all sectors of the European economy. Yet these […]
New Chemical Strategy to set the European Agenda – now is the time to get involved
Tomorrow the European Commission will publish a Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). While this document from October 14 is non-legally binding, it will lead to a host of new legislative proposals which will reverberate across European industry in the coming months. With the ambitious overall aim of achieving a ’toxic-free environment’, it will seek to […]
Climate Emergency: Europe is Prepared to Fight for Change, But is it Ready to Adapt?
While the world confronts the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, the climate emergency hasn’t gone away. Its consequences remain a firm fixture in global media headlines, from killer heat waves and floods to melting permafrost, often resulting in loss of life and property as well as disruptions to economic activity. Europe is at the forefront […]
Connected Cars: Data Processors in Motion
With vast amounts of (often sensitive) information constantly processed by increasingly more advanced models, connected cars and data handling are firmly on the radar of EU legislators. While GDPR already provides the foundation for the sharing of personal data, new provisions related to connected cars are likely to provide additional guidance for this rapidly-evolving sector. […]
E-Scooters: European Regulators Try to Address Insurance Uncertainty
Electric scooters have quickly become an urban mobility phenomenon on Europe’s streets. As a recent convert (as long as the weather in Belgium allows), I can see the real benefits: getting started easily by unlocking a scooter with a smartphone, they are not expensive, and they are available in more than 100 cities. Their popularity […]
Europe’s Circular Economy: A green light for the next chapter?
The European Union’s focus on the Circular Economy is stepping up a gear, matching the political rhetoric and the continued electoral success of the continent’s Green parties. At the same time, the regulatory and legislative focus is also set to expand to encircle new sectors and new areas of the economy. This will present a […]
Energy, Transport and Industrials Ones to Watch: Trends on the EU Agenda
Energy, transport and industrials covers a very broad range of debates that are all interconnected, some more, some to a lesser extent. The next five years will see the implementation of some of the flagship policies from the last Commission – think plastics and car standards – as well as new big projects: open data […]
The Race is on for Autonomous Vehicles
Automated vehicles will be one of the big issues the EU will be addressing further, once the new Commission takes office in November. For industry, the time to position itself is now. The shaping of both national and international legislation has started. Getting involved sooner rather than later will give companies a head-start over their […]
The EU’s Energy, Transport and Agriculture Legislative Agenda in 2019
Europe continues to lead the world on sustainability issues and implementation of a circular economy.