Climate change and energy

The Working Group on Climate change and energy consists of  representatives from different national and regional advisory bodies which have longstanding experience on matters such as climate change and energy.

Through communication and coordination, as well as the combined knowledge, expertise, and resources of its members, the working group is able to address a number of relevant issues with regard to climate and energy policies in the European area and beyond.

The Working Group is currently Chaired by:

folmer website

Folmer de Haan


Upcoming Events

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Past Events

Inter-council exchange
13 April 2022 - 13 April 2022

A group of five advisory councils e-met to  discuss food production/livestock farming in the context of climate change.

Online policy briefing: The energy transition in the context of geopolitical developments
29 March 2022 - 29 March 2022

Geopolitical developments have changed the dynamics between the winding down of old energy systems and the building up of new ones. Developments around the world mean that the pace of  phasing out of old energy systems is increasingly influenced by the issue of energy security. As a result, the energy transition is now being driven by climate ambitions and the desire to continue to guarantee energy security with reduced dependence on countries outside the EU. This expected push for an enhanced energy transition or adjustments in direction comes with challenges

The Working Group will organize an internal policy briefing. Two experts will share their insights with the members of the EEAC Network. André Faaij (Director of Science TNO Energy transition) will zoom in on the impacts of the current energy crisis and an effective response that accelerates the energy transition. Elisa Giannelli (Senior Policy Advisor, E3G. ) will focus on the options Europe has to reduce dependency on third country fossil fuels, while safeguarding energy security and affordability.

In conclusions, both experts will share their views on the questions whether – low carbon – energy sources can fill the void of fossil fuels in our energy mix in the short (next 2,5 years) and mid ( 2,5 to 8 years) term without jeopardizing energy security or affordability?

Documents for Online policy briefing: The energy transition in the context of geopolitical developments:

Agenda
Impacts of the energy crisis & an effective response that accelerates the energy transition, by André Faaij
How to repower the EU, by Elisa Giannelli
Online policy briefing: COP26, outcomes and pathways ahead
30 November 2021 - 30 November 2021

To get a deeper understanding of what happened at COP26 in Glasgow, the EEAC Working Group on Climate Change and Energy organized an online policy briefing for all colleagues of the EEAC Network.

With this policy briefing, the Working Group provided the colleagues with experts views on the outcomes of COP26, the negotiation process leading up to these outcomes, as well as providing the audience with an analysis of what the process and outcomes reached in Glasgow might mean for advisory bodies like gathered in the EEAC Network.

We were pleased that Lola Vallejo (Climate Programme Director at IDDRI), Bastiaan Hassing (Head of the delegation to the UNFCCC, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) and Anna-Katharina Hornidge, (WBGU) shared their views with us.

Documents for Online policy briefing: COP26, outcomes and pathways ahead:

Programme
Toward net-zero: Sound policies need science’
20 September 2021 - 20 September 2021

This summer, the European Commission launched a series of policy initiatives to contribute to the achievement of a net emission reduction of 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. This pathway towards climate neutrality will include a transition that is as necessary as it is complex. Therefore, this transition requires informed decision-making, supported by the best available scientific knowledge.

It is in this context that the EEAC Network and the Institute for European Environment Policies (IEEP) organized a webinar during which several experts reflected on the role of (scientific) advice in policymaking, and how the role of science can be optimally organised and utilised in the context of European climate policymaking. Special attention was paid to the role of the future European Climate Change Advisory Board.

The webinar – entitled ‘‘Toward net-zero: Sound policies need science’ –  took place on Monday September 20th , 2021 ( 09:00-11:15 CET ). Read More

Documents for Toward net-zero: Sound policies need science’:

Tentative Agenda
Role of scientific advisory bodies, by Peter Møllgaard, Danish council on climate change
Modelling for a just transition, by Pierre Marie Aubert, IDDRI
The EU Climate Law
25 May 2021 - 25 May 2021

The EEAC Working Group on Climate and Energy organized an online policy briefing on the EU Climate law.

With this online briefing the Working Group aimed to provide colleagues with: A) a brief overview of the law; B) an assessment of its strengths, its possible loopholes, and the proposed European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.

Elisa Giannelli (E3G) provided a presentation and the EEAC members then engaged in collegial exchange.

Documents for The EU Climate Law:

Presentaiton by Elisa Giannelli (E3G)
Draft Agenda
Hydrogen the missing link
30 March 2021 - 30 March 2021

Hydrogen can play a role in making the economy more sustainable in two ways: as an energy carrier, and as a feed stock for industry. The Dutch Climate Agreement, Climate Plan and various sector-specific scenarios all assign an important role to hydrogen. Hydrogen is also receiving considerable attention internationally, as illustrated by the many strategies, vision documents, reports and investments by governments and global companies. Hydrogen, in other words, has potential.

There are however multiple challenges and possible infringing interests when it comes to the use of hydrogen in the future. In this context the Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) produced its report aiming to answer the question: What is a realistic prospect for hydrogen as a feed stock and/or energy carrier in a sustainable economy, and what role should the (Dutch) national government and other parties play in that regard? During an online presentation, Folmer de Haan (Deputy Director Rli) introduced the advice and its finding and engaged in collegial exchange.

Documents for Hydrogen the missing link:

Hydrogen: The missing link
Presentation by Folmer de Haan
How will the Covid19 crisis influence European energy and climate policies
19 May 2020 - 19 May 2020

The context in which the European energy and climate transition is taking place changes by the day due to the Covid19 crisis.  Inevitably this changing context will affect the EU’s energy and climate policies. In order to obtain a better understanding of  how the Covid19 crisis will influence European energy and climate policies, the EEAC Working Group invited Milan Elkerbout of the Center for European Policy Studies to provide the working group with an online policy brief on this issue.

During the session, Milan touched upon both the short-term and the longer-term impacts of Covid19 on EU energy and climate policies. With this session the EEAC Working Group on Energy and Climate Change provided participants with an enhanced understanding of the short-term and longer-term impact of the Covid19 crisis on EU Energy and Climate Policies.

Documents for How will the Covid19 crisis influence European energy and climate policies:

Session outcome letter by Folmer de Haan
EU Energy Union: let’s engage in learning from each other
2 July 2019 - 2 July 2019

In line with the EU Energy Union governance regulation, Member States need to draft Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). These NECPs need to cover ten-year periods (middle-long term focus) starting from 2021 running to 2030, with a clear link to 2050 (long term focus). Within this 10-year cycle, it is possible for the Member States to adapt their National Integrated Climate and Energy Plans, so as to take into account the changing circumstances. For the period 2021-2030, the Member States can thus update their plans in 2024.

From 2021 onwards, Member States have to report on the progress they made in implementing their NECPs, this will take place on a two-yearly basis (short term focus). The variety of terms (long-;middle-; short term) offers on the one hand a stable basis (investors security for a 10 year period with a link to 2050), while on the other hand the cycle includes sufficient short term focus to ensure adequate flexibility for adaptation; improvement and implementation of lessons learned by Member States.

All in all, the EU governance structure requires that the NECPS are in line with EU and global long-term strategies and goals as well as include integrated reporting, monitoring and data publication mechanisms. Consequently, the EU Energy Union regulation will largely determine the overarching governance framework within which the climate and energy transition will take place in EU Member States. This means that it also sets a framework in which advisory work on the climate and energy transition will take place.

What did the EEAC Working Group on Energy and Climate Change do?

The EU Energy Union Governance Regulation is uncharted territory. There are no blueprints showing how best to operate in this context, and flexibility and a willingness to learn are required. All stakeholders – including advisory bodies – need to engage in a learning curve. The EEAC Working Group on Energy and Climate Change offers an operational framework for participative learning and exchange among fellow advisory bodies and external parties.

An initial stock-taking exercise has served to kick off this process. Advisory bodies filled in a questionnaire, providing valuable information and insights on how EU Member States are preparing their ‘National Energy and Climate Plans’ for December 2019. The input provided by these bodies is synthesised and summarised in an EEAC stock taking note that was used to identify common challenges and proposed solutions.

Round table

The findings were offered to several external experts for analysis during a working group session that took place in Brussels on July 2nd, 2019. A selection of national, subnational and European stakeholders joined advisory bodies on environment; sustainable development and climate change with a view to information-sharing and informed debate. Below you will find a cover letter by the working group’s Chairman and the EEAC stocktaking document, entitled ” Tentative NECPs A stocktaking excercise Version 1.1′. In addtion, the introduction presentation and the programme are enclosed.

Documents for EU Energy Union: let’s engage in learning from each other:

Cover letter by Folmer de Haan
Working Group Stocktaking document: Tentative NECPs A stocktaking excercise Version 1.1
Programme
Draft National Energy and Climate Plans: State of Affairs 2019 by Stefanie Corens, Minaraad