Consultation response on fracking (alternative fossil fuels, or shale gas) in Europe In February 2011, citing needs for jobs, growth and European competitiveness, the European Council called for an examination of the environmental effects of hydrofracking. Hydrofracking is a method of harvesting gas held in impermeable rocks or coal. To release the gas from the […]
Sustainable energy security
Consultation Response: Ensuring Sustainable Development Globally
The Directorate General for Environment of the European Commission held a public consultation on Ensuring Sustainable Development Globally. The consultation aimed to gather views on how the European Union should follow up on the commitments that it has made to sustainable development. Questions related to issues such as the Green Economy and sustainable consumption and production. QCEA […]
Consultation response: European Investment Bank energy lending
The European Investment Bank asked stakeholders to respond to an issues paper with a number of questions. The EIB website stated they sought “to solicit views and input from a wide array of stakeholders that are involved in the energy sector and can bring valuable expertise to the review of the EIB’s energy sector lending […]
Around Europe 346 – October 2012
This is the first Around Europe following the change in staff here at QCEA. Programme Assistant Bethany Squire asks if Europe is setting the bar too low when deciding upon climate change targets. She writes an article entitled ‘Plotting Europe’s Route to a Sustainable Future’. Chris Venables is critical of a recent European Commission Working […]
Around Europe 343 – June 2012
Denmark to Change its Labelling Rules for West Bank Settlement Products; All Change at the Quaker Council for European Affairs; In the Time of your Life, Live, Love and Lobby(!). Click here to download (PDF – 684 KB)
Consultation response: preparation of the EU adaptation strategy
This consultation sought to collect opinions from stakeholders and experts in the field of adaptation to climate change with a view to getting additional information for the preparation of the EU Adaptation Strategy. The scope of the consultation ranges from biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services to food production and water availability, from the […]
Consultation response: policy options for the Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters
The European Commission is in the process of updating it’s water policy with a Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters, to be published at the end of 2012. In order for the EU to be able to produce a coherent policy for the Blueprint, it is essential for it to cover all areas that effect water […]
Around Europe 341 – April 2012
Trust and Detention in the European Union; Water and Energy: what is the Connection?; Is there room for civil society in the concept of stakeholder engagement in European Research?; Quaker House Brussels’ Carbon Footprint; Erratum Click here to download (PDF – 3.0 Mb) Deutsche Ausgabe – April 2012 Vertrauen und Inhaftierung in der Europäischen Union […]
Consultation response: financing energy efficiency in buildings
Dramatically improved energy efficiency in buildings is both achievable and economically desirable. However, low awareness of the environmental impact of buildings; the sector’s complexity, fragmentation, and lack of genuine champions; lack of know-how and experience in green construction; lack of financial instruments to reward energy efficiency; and life styles that are not focussed on energy […]
Consultation response: maritime transport emissions in GHG reduction commitment
Shipping affects European waters. In order to keep the global temperature change below two degrees, all aspects of our carbon emissions must be considered. Therefore it is essential that the maritime sector should contribute to European emission reduction efforts. The efforts will not give a comprehensive view if maritime emissions are not included. In order […]