Dispatch from the European Union | September '26
*** Our weekly Dispatches provide an overview of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments for the shift to climate neutrality in selected European countries, from policy and diplomacy to society and industry. For a bird's-eye view of the country's climate-friendly transition, read the respective 'Guide to'. ***
18 Sep 2026, 09:00
Sam Morgan, Kira Taylor
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- ETS and COP31 – Environment ministers from the EU’s 27 member states are expected to discuss the European Commission’s proposed reform of the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) when they meet on 12 October in Brussels for an Environment Council session. The EU ministers are set to hold a first debate on carbon market reforms ahead of a vote expected on 11 December or in the first quarter of 2027. The discussion is likely to be contentious, with member states divided over the issue. Italy and several Central and Eastern European countries criticise the ETS, while a coalition of eight countries comprising Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Finland is pushing for an ambitious scheme. Ministers will also discuss preparations for the UN climate change conference COP31 in Turkey in November. The exchange is expected to help "identify priority actions", according to a senior EU official.
- European budget – Ahead of the next meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on 15-16 October, Ireland, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, is expected to present a revised version of the negotiation box, the document that forms the basis of member states' talks on the union’s next long-term budget. Securing progress on negotiations over the next so-called Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is one of Dublin's main priorities. Under the current proposal, around 35 percent of the nearly 2 trillion-euro budget would be earmarked for climate and environmental objectives, including 66.3 billion euros for clean transition and industrial decarbonisation measures. Germany and a group of fiscally conservative EU states called for deep cuts to the European Commission's proposed 2028-2034 budget, saying the plan is too large and must be reduced by several hundred billion euros. The group includes Austria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.
- Climate resilience framework – The European Commission is to present a Climate Resilience Framework on 28 October to help member states prevent and prepare for the growing impacts of climate change. Designed as a new integrated strategy, the initiative is to respond to growing concerns that adaptation efforts across Europe remain fragmented and uneven. The chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, Ottmar Edenhofer, argues that “effective adaptation requires coordination across the EU”, while current efforts “remain insufficient, are too fragmented and often come too late”. The advisory board also stresses that “adaptation efforts to date remain insufficient to prevent avoidable impacts and to manage escalating climate risks”.
The latest in EU policymaking – last month in recap
- State of the Union speech – With reference to the fact that Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union address to signal a shift to an increased focus on policies to adapt to the effects of climate change. It was in this context that she pointed to the forthcoming Climate Resilience Framework (see above), alongside a heatwave action plan, a new water initiative and a European climate insurance alliance, as Brussels looks to strengthen the union’s ability to cope with the growing costs of extreme weather.
- Green procurement – The European Commission proposed an overhaul of EU public procurement rules aimed at using the union’s purchasing power to support industrial decarbonisation and clean technologies. The proposal introduces a definition of "green public procurement" and would bet more strongly on criteria based on factors other than price, including environmental and climate objectives, circular economy principles and energy efficiency. With public procurement accounting for nearly 2.5 trillion euros annually, or around 15 percent of EU GDP, Brussels wants to use public spending to boost demand for low-carbon technologies produced in Europe and complement the Industrial Accelerator Act currently being negotiated by lawmakers.
- Industrial Accelerator Act – European Parliament lawmakers presented a draft report on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), a cornerstone of the European Commission's Clean Industrial Deal aimed at decarbonising the continent’s industrial base. The draft would strengthen the EU's "Made in Europe" preference by raising the targeted share of European-made content from 25 to 50 percent by 2036 and linking eligibility to a low-carbon footprint criterion. Lawmakers also proposed extending the scheme to additional sectors, including plastics in construction, while tightening local content requirements for electric vehicles, buses and heavy-duty trucks receiving public support. The report marks the opening of negotiations within the European Parliament and will form the basis for lawmakers to agree their official position on the legislation. Once adopted, Parliament will enter negotiations with the Council of the European Union, which represents the union’s 27 member states.
Claire’s picks: highlights from upcoming events and top reads
- Transition future – On 30 September and 1 October, political foundation FEPS and partner organisations will gather policymakers, including the European Commission Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition and climate veteran Teresa Ribera among others, alongside researchers and civil society representatives to discuss the future of Europe's green transition amid growing concerns over competitiveness and industrial policy.
- End Times Fascism – Coming out in September 2026, End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World sees Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor explore how climate chaos and social crises are fuelling new alliances between tech elites, religious fundamentalists and nationalist movements. The book is both a warning about emerging authoritarian trends and a call for collective resistance in defence of democracy, justice and the planet.
- New podcast – Next week marks the launch of Against the Tide, a new podcast I co-produced with Brussels-based climate journalist and podcaster Seden Anlar. The five-part series follows women from different parts of the world who have successfully tackled water scarcity in their communities, sharing the obstacles they faced, the solutions they developed and the impact of their work. Beyond the water-climate nexus, the podcast explores a simple but timely idea: that meaningful change often starts locally, and that action, however small, can help break the sense of helplessness that increasingly accompanies the climate crisis. If this sounds like your kind of listening, I’ll share the link to the first episode on LinkedIn next Wednesday.
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