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In October 2022, under the European Green Deal, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Dating back to 1991, and instrumental to the achievement of European Union water policy objectives, the directive needs to be updated and adapted to new challenges and realities. The recast proposal would introduce new obligations to do more to control pollution due to rainwater, impose stricter standards for nutrient removal and require advanced treatment ...

Covering some 52 000 large agro-industrial installations EU-wide, the Industrial Emissions Directive is the main EU instrument regulating industrial pollutant emissions. The proposal for a revision, tabled in April 2022, seeks to bring it into line with the EU's zero pollution ambition, energy, climate and circular economy policy goals under the European Green Deal. The main changes include expanding its scope, strengthening permit requirements, and adding measures to foster innovation. Stakeholders ...

The European Green Deal envisages a review of measures addressing pollution from large industrial installations, with a view to aligning existing legislation with the EU's zero pollution ambition, and energy, climate and circular economy policy goals. On 5 April 2022, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise the Industrial Emissions Directive, the main European Union instrument regulating pollutant emissions from industry, together with a proposal to revise the Regulation establishing ...

The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) puts a price on the carbon emissions of goods imported into the EU, thus levelling the playing field between EU industry, which is subject to a carbon price in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS), and foreign producers in countries that do not have an equivalent system in place.

The revised Effort-sharing Regulation (ESR) establishes more ambitious binding targets for each Member State for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in key sectors, and brings the effort-sharing legislation into line with the upgraded EU-wide emissions reduction target for 2030 to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The revision of the Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation effectively increases reduction in overall net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2030 to 57 %, from the 55 % required by the European Climate Law. This is thanks to an EU target for carbon dioxide removals in the LULUCF sector.

This in-depth analysis for the Committee on Budgetary Control concerns the system used for the free allocation of emission allowances within the EU ETS. It reviews recent press criticisms of the free allocation system, reviews the transparency of the system and assesses the risk it creates unintended distortions. It estimates the cost of free allocation to the EU budget and how these proceeds might be spent. It concludes with three policy recommendations.

In July, Parliament will vote on the report adopted by its Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on a Commission proposal updating EU rules to prevent and control pollution from industry. The report, as voted, would form Parliament's position for trilogue negotiations with the Council.

Although the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) pursues a range of aims, the two main ones are the lowering of inflation by removing purchasing power from the US economy, and to provide the United State's contribution to fighting climate change. Unlike similar EU measures, most of its climate support is done via tax subsidies. Although hailed in the EU for heralding a new era in US climate policy, the IRA is being criticised for its outright 'Buy American' provisions. Amongst others, it is feared that ...

The fishing sector is facing major challenges in the accelerating energy crisis, owing to its high dependency on the stable supply of fossil fuels at low prices. This report reviews the literature on drivers of energy use, identifies potential reduction measures and provides an overview of opportunities for using alternative fuels in the fishing sector. Each measure is evaluated in terms of greenhouse gas emission reduction potential and costs, and challenges and policy options that could facilitate ...