In brief | 17 July ‘26

Bloomberg: EU plans softer carbon curbs to ease burden on industry

The European Union is setting a slower pace for the reduction of its carbon market’s emissions cap over the next decade, as the bloc seeks to ease the impact of its climate goals on struggling industries.

Reuters: EU drafts plan to double electrification rate, cut oil and gas use 

Just 23% of the EU's final energy consumption is met ​by electricity today, a share that has been stagnant for a decade. The rest ​of the economy runs mostly on fossil fuels.

Wind Europe: French and German onshore wind auction results call for more volumes 

Countries were awarded more than 3 GW of new onshore wind capacity together as industry stresses need for more market visibility if Europe is to deliver on electrification.

Reuters: EDP chief says EU governments, not Brussels, slowing renewable energy investment 

Portuguese energy group ‌CEO says states are failing reforms to get renewable energy projects built despite European Commission efforts ​to spur investments.

Irish Times: Europe can escape fossil fuel shocks by accelerating its energy transition 

Future prosperity is inextricably linked to the strength and resilience of its energy system as geopolitical instability becomes the unfortunate norm.

Euronews: Interactive map predicts climate-driven farm decline by end of century 

Team in Barcelona has developed a platform that forecasts, on a 10‑kilometre grid, how much farmland will lose productivity to climate change by 2100.