In brief | 4 March '25

Euractiv: Von der Leyen proposes more relaxed CO2 target compliance for new cars

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced she will propose a more relaxed three-year timeframe for the automotive industry to comply with the bloc's CO2 standards, instead of annual targets.

FT: EU to extend relaxed subsidy regime for energy

Draft guidelines show Brussels plans to continue softer policing of state aid curbs to enable green goals.

Politico: Europe’s new industrial hope: Don’t just pick losers, create winners

Tailoring what governments buy is ‘one of the most important ammunitions we have’ in fighting climate change and economic decline.

Reuters: Germany not in talks over Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline revival

Germany's energy independence from Moscow is crucial and it is not in talks with Russia over a "possible pipeline-based supply of Russian gas" via the partly damaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the economy ministry said.

The Guardian: Did anti-green feeling fuel the right’s rise in Germany?

A backlash against climate initiatives appears to have resonated in conservative strongholds – and could influence future policy.

Reuters: German gas use could fall 3%-7% by 2030, McKinsey says

McKinsey anticipates a slower-than-expected transition to electric heat pumps from gas-burning boilers, and stronger than anticipated gas demand in power generation and district heating.

Bloomberg: Norway to allow cities to set zero emission transport zones

-Zones could help drive uptake in battery powered vans

-Ministry has asked road authority to make a recommendation

Reuters: Musk rallies the far right in Europe. Tesla is paying the price.

Musk’s far-right cheerleading appears to be coming at a price for Tesla, whose sales in Europe tumbled 45 percent in January from a year earlier, while its rivals’ rose by over 37 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, which represents major car makers.

Columbia SIPA: Realising the potential of Just Energy Transition Partnerships in the current geopolitical environment – commentary

This commentary explores the factors that have hampered implementation and offers policy recommendations that could enable JETPs to fulfil their potential as transformative programs for a just and effective energy transition.