BRUSSELS, Oct 24 (Reuters) – A green revolution to make EU
energy almost totally carbon-free by 2050 would generate 3
trillion euros ($3.9 trillion) in fuel savings, a report
commissioned by environmental campaigners said.

The energy shift would already create around half a million
extra jobs by 2020, researchers from German aerospace centre
DLR, which also specialises in energy and transport, found.

BRUSSELS, Oct 23 (Reuters) – A rapid rise in surplus EU
carbon credits is expected to slow from 2014 onwards, but to
tackle a short-term glut member states need to decide before the
end of the year on reforms, a European Commission draft document
said.

The draft report on the carbon market also called on the
member states to discuss and explore options for more lasting
changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) after allowance
prices hit a record low earlier this year.

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) – New EU rules to limit how much
food can be made into biofuels are “not perfect” and make it
harder to achieve overall goals on switching to low carbon
energy, European Commissioners said on Wednesday.

But they insisted the proposals sent out the right signal to
the biofuel industry, which would have to move on to
new-generation fuels that do not compete with demand for food.

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) – New EU rules to limit how much
food can be made into biofuels are “not perfect” and make it
harder to achieve overall goals on switching to low carbon
energy, European Commissioners said on Wednesday.

But they insisted the proposals sent out the right signal to
the biofuel industry, which would have to move on to
new-generation fuels that do not compete with demand for food.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU politicians have ignored European Commission efforts to hasten plans to bolster the bloc’s carbon trading scheme (ETS), in which prices have plunged under a burden of surplus allowances generated by recession, EU sources said on Tuesday.

That means one European Parliament vote, as part of the proposals to prop up the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), will not take place until February, after the start of the next phase of the market, which runs from 2013-2020.

BRUSSELS/LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Political wavering in
Britain, the world’s biggest offshore wind market, is casting
doubt on European ambitions to build a fleet of gigantic
turbines out at sea, desperately needed to meet legally binding
climate change targets.

The increasing scale of offshore wind means it is the one
green energy source able to make up for the phase-out of nuclear
generation – especially in the EU’s largest economy Germany -
and for the closure of ageing and polluting coal plants in other
countries such as Britain and France.

BRUSSELS, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Talks are under way to hasten a
deal to prop up the European Union’s ailing carbon trading
scheme, a senior European Commission official said on Friday.

Traders of allowances on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
(ETS) have been waiting for months for details and decisions on
Commission plans to hold back some of the massive surplus of
carbon allowances that has depressed the market.

OSTEND, Belgium (Reuters) – Belgium’s 72-km (44-mile) stretch of coast is distinguished by the world’s longest unbroken tramway to take beach-lovers from the Dutch border to the edge of France or vice-versa.

Mostly, it’s a very urban experience. High-rise development dominates and the challenge is to winkle out the remnants of graceful art-deco and unspoiled nature.

OSTEND, Belgium, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Belgium’s 72-km (44-mile)
stretch of coast is distinguished by the world’s longest
unbroken tramway to take beach-lovers from the Dutch border to
the edge of France or vice-versa.

Mostly, it’s a very urban experience. High-rise development
dominates and the challenge is to winkle out the remnants of
graceful art-deco and unspoiled nature.

BRUSSELS, Oct 4 (Reuters) – The EU proposes less stringent
carbon dioxide emissions limits for vans than for cars and
making the van goals as tough would save fuel costs for
companies that own them, Dutch consultancy TNO said, adding to
criticism the bloc’s policy is too timid.

The European Commission in July announced proposals for
binding 2020 carbon dioxide limits for cars and vans, which will
be debated by member states over coming months. It is also
expected to issue a policy document around the end of this year
to prepare for limits beyond 2020.