Linda Kalcher

We did it!

€15.5 billion committed to scaling up renewable energy across Africa.

Including €15.1 billion from Team Europe.

Africa’s clean-energy future is taking off.

Europe, as your trusted friend and partner, will stand with you every step of the way.

link.europa.eu/KJKMQ3

Under no circumstances are we going to accept this text. Nothing that is remotely close to what is now on the table.

Yes, we do have a few more hours left.

You can count on us to do our absolute utmost to deliver #COP30

See my remarks this morning 👉🏻 ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

⚠️ EU Ministers agree on 2040 climate target

EU environment ministers reached an agreement today on the 2040 climate target, setting the direction for Europe’s path toward a net 90% reduction in emissions.

More in our press release 👇
strategicperspectives.eu/eu-ministers...

The finish line is in sight on the 2040 #climate target!

Tomorrow, environment ministers are set to agree on the 2040 target and the #NDC but key political and technical elements are still at play.

Read more about them in my latest blog with @neilmakaroff.bsky.social : lnkd.in/eB2MBzmC

Europe's contribution to climate finance (in €bn) How does the EU contribute to fighting climate change globally? The EU and its countries are the biggest providers of climate finance in the world.

Great news from 🇪🇺 as climate finance numbers are up: In 2024, EU contributed €31.7 billion from public sources and mobilised an additional €11 billion in private finance for developing countries in combating climate change and adapting to its impacts. Source: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infograph...

🌎 Preparing for COP30: issues at stake, metrics of success, and Europe’s role
📅 4 November 13:00-14:00 CET

Join us for this event! w/ @tagliapietra.bsky.social, @lindakalcher.bsky.social, @fredroder.bsky.social, Jacob Werksman & Paulo Henrique Ribeiro Zerbinati

🔗Sign up: buff.ly/bAgeaSs

#EUCO done: what happened and what next on climate? | Linda Kalcher Leaders had a substantial debate and adopted conclusions on #competitiveness and guidance how to achieve the 2040 #climate target. Admittedly, we’ve all be anxious on what could have happened.  Th...

My quick takes on #EUCO last night below.

Bottom line: there is actually a lot of good stuff in there that was kept out of the headlines.

Now the final sprint until 4 November and we might *finally* have a 2040 climate target and NDC ready for #COP30

www.linkedin.com/posts/linda-...

Instead, leaders set priorities on electrification, lowering energy prices and supporting businesses that can help reverse the ‘slow agony’ Draghi warns about.

Leaders crossed a major hurdle at #EUCO by adopting conclusions that confirm the 2040 #climate target contributes to competitiveness and prosperity. President Costa managed to rein in populist attempts to weaken existing climate laws or to derail the conversation entirely.

Meaningful progress on ending #gas import dependence on Russia!
Let’s ensure it won’t log us in expensive LNG imports from other countries. Decarbonising the power mix and #electrification are the way forward for energy security!

The recipe of a political package on 2040 | Strategic Perspectives As EU leaders debate a 2040 climate target, the focus shifts to securing economic and social conditions for a 90% reduction.

EU leaders meet this week to debate competitiveness and the 2040 climate target.

In their latest blog, @lindakalcher.bsky.social and @neilmakaroff.bsky.social look at what’s on the EUCO menu, and what it means for industrial growth and energy security👇

strategicperspectives.eu/the-recipe-o...

Expectations for the EU’s new global vision | Strategic Perspectives Explore five key expectations for the EU’s new global vision ahead of COP30, from energy diplomacy and supply resilience to TeamEurope partnerships and coordinated Commission action.

The EU’s new global vision on energy and climate diplomacy offers a chance to redefine its global role, linking competitiveness, resilience and partnerships that deliver real outcomes.

Read the analysis by Anne-Sophie Cerisola and @lindakalcher.bsky.social.

strategicperspectives.eu/expectations...

First major test for Chancellor Merz's claim to European leadership Sie können besser entscheiden, weil Sie besser informiert sind – das ist das Ziel von Table.Briefings. Mit dem Informationsvorsprung zum Wettbewerbsvorteil.

The #EUCO debate on 2040 will be the first major test for Chancellor Merz’s ambitions as EU leader. He was decisive to allow for leaders to provide "guidance". Now it's up to him and Macron to ensure that ministers can adopt the target afterwards.
My piece in @table.media table.media/en/europe/op...

Competitiveness Council: key debate on 2040 industrial conditions | Strategic Perspectives Ministers have the opportunity to discuss what industrial policies and incentives are necessary to scale up strategic industries.

At next week’s Competitiveness Council, ministers can send a clear signal that competitiveness and climate neutrality go hand in hand if the right tools are in place.

More in the latest blog by @neilmakaroff.bsky.social and @tristan-beucler.bsky.social 👇

strategicperspectives.eu/competitiven...

Trump attacks UN, Europe and climate change in fiery UN return The United States president slammed the West over migration and called climate change a 'con job' in his first United Nations speech since 2018.

This speech is a wake-up call for Europe.

#Trump claims to "love Europe" yet attacks the transition. What he really loves is to sell his oil and gas to Europeans. It's as simple as that.

Our decarbonisation efforts are working against his fossil fuel agenda. #UNGA
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

EU 2040 climate target: where are we at? | Linda Kalcher Morning read for your second ☕ Yesterday's Extraordinary #Environment Council was significant, but not for its outcome: ➡️ the statement of intent was negotiated as hard as if it was the NDC (given...

Thursday's Extraordinary Environment Council was significant, but not for its outcome. Neither the #NDC nor the 2040 #climate target got adopted.

It got me thinking of the rough road ahead.

Bottom line: EU still risks going empty handed to #COP30.

www.linkedin.com/posts/linda-...

This statement shouldn’t distract from the task at hand: getting the 2040 target and NDC adopted ahead of COP30.
Von der Leyen, Costa, Merz and Macron need to contain dynamics at #EUCO: leaders can debate political guidance but it’s for ministers to adopt the 2040 target and 2035 goal for the NDC.

It includes a couple of useful elements:
- the 66.25-72.5% range,
- clear quality criteria (1.5C, PA compatible with progression),
- and a commitment to submit 2040 and the NDC by #COP30.
And thus allows the EU to speak with one voice at the UN General Assembly next week.

Here is the statement of intent that EU Environment ministers have adopted as they were not able to agree the 2040 climate target today.

The EU missing the second UN deadline for the NDCs is embarrassing. The statement is a hard-fought consolation prize.
🧵
data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...

The EU will not submit its NDC ahead of the deadline next week.

"The statement of intent is a hard-fought consolation prize, but it allows the EU to speak with one voice at the General Assembly next week," commented @lindakalcher.bsky.social.

Full quote 👇

Ok... at least I jinxed the Council to end. Must be a turning point ;)

Denmark now seriously risking to double-ruining my evening....

Extraordinary Environment Council still ongoing and Copenhagen ahead against Leverkusen.

Sigh

How Macron joined the climate bad guys club The French president has joined Poland, Italy and Hungary to stall discussions ahead of the COP30 climate conference in November.

Macron has joined Poland, Italy and Hungary to stall the discussions on the EU's 2040 target.

"France is now putting itself in a dangerous position and running the risk of not reaching an ambitious agreement," commented our Director @neilmakaroff.bsky.social.

More 👇
www.politico.eu/article/emma...

The EU is set to miss the second NDC submission deadline next week.

Failure to have 2035 and 2040 targets ready before COP30 could weaken other countries' ambition, as they could use the EU as an excuse for their own inaction, said @lindakalcher.bsky.social.

More 👇
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Fossil fuels waste 2/3 of their energy — 380 EJ lost as heat, worth $5T every year.

Electrotech flips the script:
1️⃣ 3x more efficient than fossil fuels
2️⃣ Taps the sun directly, with 100x more potential

Full slidedeck 👉 http://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/the-electrotech-revolution

His suggestions for solutions how to be faster:
- joint debt for joint products by a group of countries that align
- fragmented investments no longer deliver,
- let's move beyond strategies and outdated plans,
- need to be held accountable for clear deadlines.

What a powerful speech, am impressed.

Inconsistently, he then asks for tech neutrality and adjustment of Co2 standards for #cars. How would that help against China?
At least he points out failures to make EV cheaper, produce batteries and chips, develop charging points. EU market too slow, innovation lacked and EU-made EVs too expensive

I would hope this speech is brought to #EUCO in October to make leaders face this reality cause let's be honest, this is not all down to the Commission to fix.

Leaders are currently not focusing enough on EU's industrial competitiveness, still high energy prices or how to boost innovation.

Refreshing that he doesn't mind talking about "decarbonisation" after the EC casually striped that word out of the "Industrial [Decarbonisation] Accelerator Act".

He voices the need for more pragmatism and flexibility, complementing the cutting of reporting guidelines.

He continues to question the EU-US trade deal and how the $750bn came into. However the conditions, he suggests we need to reorganise how we purchase #gas.
#LNG the EU is importing from US seems to be 60-90% more expensive than in US.
Collective EU purchasing could narrow this gap significantly.