Energy and Climate

Trump is trying to kill the US climate effort. It was already in trouble.
Court rulings and the two Trump administrations have repeatedly derailed regulators’ attempts to forestall rising temperatures, while scientists’ warnings grow more dire.

French and German lawmakers push for joint border controls

EU faces uphill battle to pass new Russia sanctions

May 2025 was second-hottest on record, EU scientists say

EU announces punishing sanctions targeting Russian energy and banks

5 things to know about the global ocean summit in Nice

European Commission to unveil new Russia sanctions on energy, banks
Macron claims win in fight to save oceans — but there’s work to do
French president celebrates the incoming High Seas Treaty as important tool to help protect the planet.
Macron: Greenland is not up for grabs (nor is Antarctica)
The French president heads to the Arctic island on Sunday.
Slovakia will block EU sanctions on Russia that hurt Bratislava’s interests, Fico says
“I am interested in being a constructive player in the European Union, but not at the expense of the Slovak Republic,” Prime Minister Fico said.
EU’s zero-for-zero tariff bid stalls amid US pushback
A renewed offer to scrap tariffs on industrial goods “won’t fly” with Washington, says an official from one EU country.
German auto lobby proposal sparks renewed debate on EU combustion engine ban
The group wants to allow automakers to continue selling some combustion engines after 2035.
EU conjures up surprise law to govern use of ocean resources
The unexpected Ocean Act will cover everything from fishing to tourism to defense — but details are scant.
ECB cuts again as it heads into an uncertain future
The central bank expects big spending programs at home to offset weaker demand for eurozone exports.
EU looks to impose sanctions on Putin simultaneously with US, says von der Leyen
“We have discussed how we can implement European sanctions and American sanctions at the same time,” European Commission chief tells POLITICO.
Brussels asks EU countries to use less water
Countries would set their own water efficiency targets under the proposal, which would not be legally binding.
Greenpeace returns stolen Macron wax statue — after one more protest
Activists left it at the Paris headquarters of energy giant EDF to protest France’s imports of Russian energy.
Ukrainian delegation to brief US senators amid Russia sanctions push
Zelenskyy allies visit Congress to bolster Russia sanctions bill.
EU’s top Russian LNG buyers wary of Brussels’ gas ban
France and Belgium are seeking more reassurances on Brussels’ proposal to gradually end Russian gas purchases by 2027.
Macron wax statue stolen from museum then used at protest outside Russian Embassy
Greenpeace said it “borrowed” the statue for its demonstration.
EU must heed scientific advice, Ribera says as 2040 row deepens
The EU’s scientific advisers warned Monday that expected plans to outsource some emissions cuts would undermine the bloc’s climate credibility.
EU science advisers slam Brussels’ weakened 2040 climate plans
Using international carbon credits in place of domestic action undermines climate efforts, scientific advisory board says.
EU climate chief lobbied Germany to back weakened 2040 goal
Wopke Hoekstra successfully pushed the incoming coalition to back foreign carbon credits, helping shift the EU-level 2040 talks.
Trump court turmoil strengthens EU hand in tariff talks
Two separate legal cases tackling Trump’s tariffs may push the U.S. administration to strike a quicker deal, analysts say.
EU 2040 climate target with carbon credits expected in July, diplomats say
Germany, France and Poland are in favor.
Britain is wide open to Russian undersea sabotage
Critical gas pipelines, power lines and data cables are the “soft belly of British security,” ministers have been warned.
US court strikes down Trump’s tariffs on countries around the world
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled unanimously that the president overstepped his powers in imposing the tariffs on dozens of trading partners, most of which he’s since paused.
EU officially retires its ‘no cherry-picking’ Brexit line
A top EU diplomat described the pithy analogy as “no longer helpful.”
Merz’s coalition agrees on policy program aimed at boosting Germany’s economy
The first formal meeting of coalition partners ends in success as the parties agree on a wide range of measures for the government.
Germany’s Merz vows to keep Nord Stream 2 pipeline switched off
Some German politicians have pushed for the restoration of the flow of gas from Russia to Germany via the Nord Stream pipelines.
Brussels ‘urgently’ asks EU companies about US exposure as trade war deadline nears
Testing the strength of its hand, Brussels wants the latest data on the scale of EU investments in America ahead of crunch talks with the Trump administration.