ICROA’s Post

We are all good  Two intense days of office meetings left us in high spirits as we were joined by our colleagues working remotely from Copenhagen and Berlin.     Taking a break from every day focusing on the modelling work for a single project and instead having a look at the status of our combined efforts gave us a sense of pride.    Our energy systems modelling work supports decision-makers all over the world, so to say: Mexico, Singapore, Viet Nam, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Also, we have developed a global TIMES model, the TIMES-GEO energy systems model.    The highlight is the publication in February of the results of the multi-model analysis we carried out. The purpose was to support the evaluation of the 2040 climate target foreseen by the European Climate Law.    The evaluation contributed to the impact assessment report “Securing Our Future – Europe’s 2040 Climate Target and Path to Climate Neutrality by 2050 Building a Sustainable, Just and Prosperous Society”, published by the European Commission in February 2024 and mentioning E4SMA.    In this policy milestone, the Commission recommends a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990.    As experts in energy systems modelling, we stick to our scientific methods of advanced mathematical modelling. Meanwhile, the purpose of the energy systems models that we develop is to support strategic energy planning and decision-making advancing the green transition.    This is why it’s a great satisfaction for us when we see our work contributing to results such as the European Commission report. #energytransition #netzero #decarbonization #greentransition #energysystemsmodelling

The EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen is proposing a Clean Industrial Deal 💰 which includes:   💡 Staying on the course set out by the Green Deal 🔋 , and implementing existing legal framework for 2030 💡 A new Clean Industrial 🏭 Deal for competitive industries and quality jobs in the first 100 days of the mandate 💡 Introduce a European Climate Law – to include 90% emission-reduction target for 2040 💡 Introduce Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act – to support companies in their transition to cleaner energy 💡 Develop governance needed for a true Energy Union 🌐 💡 Prioritise investment in clean energy infrastructure and technology 🎯 💡 Activate and extend aggregate demand mechanism – to not just include gas but also hydrogen and critical raw materials ⚒ 💡 New Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships – to help secure supply of raw materials, clean energy and tech from across the world 💡 Europe to remain leader in international climate negotiations, building on recent EU initiatives on global issues such as methane, carbon pricing and global targets for renewables and energy efficiency 💡 Set out global climate and energy vision ahead of COP30 in Brazil in 2025 💡 Step up green diplomacy, which would mean to engage more with non-EU countries on environmental goals

🗳 🇪🇺 Next out in our European Elections series looks at how the next Commission and Parliament will face a critical test: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝟐.𝟎 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟎 𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞? ➡ Sofia Leinonen 🇫🇮 looks at how the electoral landscape favours the right - with the elections will take place in a very different Europe compared to 2019 and the next Commission expected to be more industry-oriented. 🏭 Expectations for carbon management technologies to reduce emissions are high and progress is also being made on the first EU-level certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and storage in durable products. ⚖ There is an emphasises for the need for fairness in the transition ✅ Green Deal 2.0 will be climate, nature and energy policy as much as social, industrial and security policy. https://lnkd.in/d-sVfnup #PublicAffaits #EuropeanUnion Rud Pedersen Public Affairs Finland

I was glad to represent Skeleton in the Clean Transition Dialogue on cleantech in January. The discussions were frank and fruitful, and it's great that the European Commission was willing to hear such feedback. That's very necessary because we don't need cheerleading exercises when we assess the Green Deal. We need the "deal" part of the Green Deal to finally happen and Europe's current (lack of) strategy is not really working for businesses, nor is solving the scale-up challenge. With this communication, we see that the European Commission has heard the message shared by all participants in this Clean Transition Dialogue that European cleantech companies urgently need simplification, as well as abundant and affordable decarbonized energy to remain competitive. We hope this honest dialogue will continue and that concrete actions will follow. At the moment, the EU doesn't know how to react to Chinese interventionism and US protectionism, doesn't match the Inflation Reduction Act’s simplicity and economic might, the situation of the European solar industry is dire, and the automotive industry faces massive competition from Chinese EV manufacturers. In large parts, this is because of EU Member States, and their misunderstanding that the main competition is not between Member States themselves. A common EU industrial and energy strategy is more important than ever, especially as the twin - energy and digital - transitions require massive amounts of electricity.

🌿 Exciting news from Brussels! As participants in the Clean Transition Dialogue on cleantech back in February, we're happy to see the European Commission taking concrete steps towards a clean, resource-efficient, fair, and competitive economy with its latest #Communication. 📄 🔗https://lnkd.in/d69bQShw For those not familiar with #EU lingo, “Communication” refers to a formal document issued by the Commission that outlines its policies, strategies, initiatives, or assessments on specific topics. These documents serve as a means for the Commission to "communicate" its intentions, proposals, or recommendations to other EU institutions, member states, stakeholders and the public. This Communication, which summarizes the key points identified through nine Clean Transition Dialogues, reflects the collaborative efforts between the Commission, industry and social partners to accelerate the implementation of the #EuropeanGreenDeal. For instance, it underscores the importance of simplifying existing policies and regulations to achieve the 2030 targets and steer Europe towards climate neutrality by 2050. Additionally, it highlights the role of abundant and affordable clean energy, modern infrastructure, and unlocking finance for the transition. The Communication also emphasizes leveraging the clean Single Market in a globally competitive environment, promoting demand aggregation and joint purchasing for strategic commodities, and ensuring a level playing field in both internal and global markets. Exciting developments are underway and we're eager to see what the next months hold. 🌍 #CleanTransitionDialogue #EuropeanCommission #EuropeanGreenDeal #sustainability #cleanenergy #climateaction #cleaneconomy #EU #greentransition #SingleMarket

📯 Summer has been a productive period for our team at Perspectives Climate Research. Following our recent assessment of Sweden, we are pleased to now present our latest analysis on neighbouring Finland’s export finance alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement. This assessment, part of our ongoing collaboration with The Nordic Council of Ministers and The Nordic Council, focuses on Finnvera Oyj, Finland’s official Export Credit Agency. 💡 Applying our established methodology, Finnvera was rated as ‘Paris aligned’ with a score of 2.20/3.00. This mirrors the strong performance seen in our recent assessment of Sweden and reflects Finnvera’s significant progress, particularly in the near-total phase-out of fossil fuel energy financing, with virtually 100% of energy-related transactions now directed toward renewable energy, albeit at a slower growth rate. 🔍 However, Finnvera did not achieve a ‘Transformational’ rating due to gaps in financial and non-financial disclosures, limited national efforts to decarbonize exports, and insufficient reporting on project-level greenhouse gas emissions. The absence of a precise definition and earmarking of climate finance also contributed to this outcome. Our colleagues Max Schmidt, Ziqun Jia, Luisa Weber, and Igor Shishlov offer a terse analysis with actionable recommendations for the Finnish government and Finnvera to further transform the global export finance system, in close collaboration with Nordic and like-minded countries. Read the full publication on the Nordic Council’s website or at the following link 📑https://lnkd.in/dHHE55Sv or fast-track to key messages with this visual summary 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dy73Gcbs #ECAs #ParisAgreement #Finland

😁 Only one more case study to go (Denmark), before our much-anticipated ECA Best Practice Guide will round up years of Paris alignment assessments 👇

The European Parliamentary Research Service published a clear infographic on the 19 ‘Fit for 55’ package proposals and how they interlink. https://lnkd.in/eFkysnBt #FitFor55Package #EuropeanClimateLaw #ClimateNeutrality #GHGEmissions #EUETS #EffortSharingRegulation #LULUCF #EnergyTaxationDirective #RenewableEnergyDirective #TransportSector #MaritimeTransport #RoadTransport #Aviation #EnergyEfficiency #CarbonPrice #CarbonRemovals #SocialClimateFund #CarbonBorderAdjustmentMechanism #RenewableEnergySources #EUClimateGoals

🌍 What's next for the #EuropeanGreenDeal? In our latest blog post, Chairholder Marc Ringel and Sr. Research Programme Manager Sarah Thompson delve into "Europe's Choice", the newly released political guidelines from Ursula von der Leyen following her re-election as President of the European Commission. ✅ Contrary to fears that the recent #EuropeanParliamentaryElections would lead to a regulatory pause or reversal of the European Green Deal, their review of this new strategy indicates the Deal's key goals remain firmly on track, including aiming for #CarbonNeutrality by 2050 and reducing #GreenhouseGas emissions by 55% by 2030. 🔍 Further highlights: - The #CleanIndustrialStrategy will be the cornerstone of the next phase of the Green Deal, aiming to simultaneously #industrialise and #decarbonise Europe - Creation of a new #CircularEconomy Act to encourage more sustainable patterns of consumption and production - Boosting competitiveness, reducing dependencies, and improving resilience will be key aspects of the next phase - There will be increased focus on the social dimensions of the transition, involving several new initiatives that highlight efforts towards a #JustTranstion - Updates to the #EuropeanClimateLaw with a new target to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040 Read the full blog post here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e9Db7dVK #Sustainability #ClimateAction #PolicyAnalysis #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateTransition Sciences Po

Says POLITICO Europe, "The EU's #GreenDeal fail". "The #EU will “likely” or “very likely” miss the majority of its 2030 #green objectives, according to a new report. In the document, the EU’s #environmental agency says the EU will “very likely” overshoot its primary #energy #consumption targets, undershoot its #renewable energy targets and fail to double the use of recycled material." :-( #climate #economics #finance #future #mankind