Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the Industrial Accelerator Act presented on 4 March 2026 as it has the potential to support, if designed and implemented well, the creation of lead markets for less carbon-intensive products.

CAN Europe believes European industries must lead in the transition to a sustainable economic model generating social benefits within planetary boundaries. This requires regulatory consistency and climate ambition to guide policies and investments, improved resilience via reduced energy and resource use and decreased fossil fuel dependence, a people-centered approach to industrial transformation, and a transparent…

A sharp increase of renewable energy capacities is indispensable for the Paris Agreement’s objective to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. As action in the next ten years will be decisive in reaching the 1.5°C objective, the EU should strive for at least 65% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030.

To ensure we reach net zero emissions by 2040, EU Member States need to phase out fossil fuels and commit to a strong reduction in energy consumption and a transition of our energy system to one that is 100% based on sustainable renewable energy sources (RES) by 2040. The current 2030 EU RES target is not in line with the Paris Agreement objective to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.

Public procurement in the EU accounts for 14% of GDP but remains underutilized in advancing environmental and social goals. Most contracts prioritize price over sustainability, despite procurement being responsible for at least 11% of the EUs greenhouse gas emissions. CAN Europe advocates for revising public procurement rules to prioritize high-quality, environmentally friendly products and services.

CAN Europes response to the public consultation on the CRMA is provided in the context of the importance of EU policy addressing climate and resources/materials issues together, in an integrated and systemic manner.

CAN Europe looks favourably at different elements of the EPBD recast proposal that strengthen the current policy architecture and that are needed to ensure that the building sector contributes to the bloc’s decarbonisation efforts.

To be in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal, the EU should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030. This requires higher binding energy targets (at least 45% for energy efficiency and 50% for renewable energy) and to at least triple the current annual rate of energy renovations, increasing significantly their depth and moving towards a fully renewables-based energy supply.

The Climate Law is a good step forward and could be a great opportunity and tool for climate governance. The Law plants many good seeds but falls short of actual progress further than enshrining the climate neutrality target into law. The new European Commission has promised to place the fight against climate change at the centre of its political agenda for the next 5 years with the European Green Deal.

With current 2030 reduction pledges, we are set on a pathway towards 3-3.2°C increase in temperature. Countries however agreed in Paris to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5°C. The new European Commission has promised to place the fight against climate change at the centre of its political agenda for the next 5 years with its European Green Deal.

[Full 4000-characters-length input attached due to issues with characters counting system] CAN Europe supports the extension of the scope of the ETS1 in line with the Polluter Pays Principle, by lowering the nominal thermal power threshold for energy production units, by including municipal waste incineration and other waste management processes, and by including further emissions of the maritime sector, and by…

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe's leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 185 member organisations from 38 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 47 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

CAN Europe welcomes the Sustainable Products initiative, and considers it a further step towards filling a considerable and important gap in the EU policy framework addressing various aspects of environmental and social challenges – from the climate and biodiversity emergencies, to resource over-consumption, pollution and substances of concern.

CAN Europe views on carbon border adjustment mechanisms: a. Considering the necessity of a CBAM creation does not imply that CAN Europe agrees with the notion that our industry suffers from carbon leakage, as this is still largely unproven.

CAN Europe welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the public consultation process on the draft implementing act revising the benchmark values for the period 2026-2030. These values will determine the quantity of allowances that will keep on being allocated for free to industries, which between 2021 and 2024 were still covering on average 97% of industrial emissions.

In July 2021, the European Commission launched its recast proposal for a revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) within the “Fit for 55” package, which aims to reach at least 55% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 in line with the European Green Deal. The recast proposal is being now debated within the Council and the European Parliament.

Overall, CAN Europe believes that the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), like the rest of the elements of the Clean Energy for All package, is not consistent with the ambition of the Paris Agreement. Therefore, CAN Europe fully supports the initiative to evaluate and revise the EED with the aim to increase its ambition.

In light of the worsening climate crisis, the primary objective of the ETS revision is to strengthen its ambition in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C. This requires the EU ETS target to be increased to at least 70% emission reductions in 2030, compared to 2005 levels, in order to allow the EU to overshoot its -55% net emissions target and cut total emissions by at least 65% by…

The EU needs to cut emissions by at least 65% in 2030 to honor the Paris Agreement objective of keeping global temperature rise to 1.5°C. In order to deliver the necessary emission reductions in a socially fair and cost-effective manner, a holistic and comprehensive approach towards the entire policy architecture is needed.

The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) is one of the building blocks negotiated between 2021 and 2023 under the last EU cycle. Its implementation aims at staying the course with the broad policy toolbox and objectives put forward in the past mandate, as stated by the newly elected Commission, especially in combination with the revised European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

CAN Europe welcomes the initiative of bringing the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) and the wider EU and national taxation policies in line with the EU's climate commitments. We are strongly in favour of eliminating all subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

The EUs 2030 energy and climate framework has shown that a clear direction, binding targets and coordinated European action bring tangible benefits. In an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, Europe must move faster to phase out fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to a fully renewables-based and efficient energy system.

Climate Action Network Europe strongly supports the establishment of legally binding nature restoration targets in the European Union. Two crises pose serious threats to life on earth: the climate change crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Major global intergovernmental assessments, including from the IPCC and the IPBES, have demonstrated that they are strongly interlinked.

The proposed 2040 climate target lags behind a science-aligned and fair EU contribution. Both the Commissions own Impact Assessment and the ESABCC recommend a 90-95% net domestic target, and indicate that higher ambition levels are most beneficial and better reflect equity principles.

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe's leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 185 member organisations from 38 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 47 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

Detailed comments are in the document attached. Summary Climate Action Network Europe welcomes the European Commission found the review of the IED necessary and the need to improve its implementation, delivery and effectiveness on its objectives.

With the EU climate neutrality target, the F-Gas Regulation requires revision to strengthen its contribution to the target and to improve the Regulation’s implementation. The Regulation is a landmark piece of EU climate legislation for transitioning away from fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) – gases with considerably high global warming potential profiles.

The EC's roadmap, while correctly identifying the massive biodiversity financing gap, does not underline the continuous need for public financing, which can be increased by reforming existing public funding mechanisms.

Please find attached the short reaction of the Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe on the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) - Europe's leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 185 member organisations active in 38 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 40 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, as Europes leading NGO coalition working on climate action, welcomes the Commissions initiative to develop an Affordable Housing Act (AHA) as part of a broader response to the current housing crisis.

We welcome this assessment as an opportunity to identify where implementation gaps, not the substance of the rules themselves, prevent citizens and Member States from reaping the full benefits of building renovation and affordable housing policy. Simplification should improve the quality, coherence and predictability of planning instruments, not remove requirements that make housing policy socially effective.

The triple planetary environmental crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution), but also socio-economic and geopolitical crises are mutually reinforcing. They require a holistic and ambitious approach. The time when adaptation was a choice has long gone.

CAN Europe welcomes the attention being given to our electricity network, and sees this as an opportunity to raise EU ambition and support a 100% renewable energy system, while lowering prices and better integrating our infrastructure with nature and communities.

Electrification of demand is essential to reach an affordable, secure, and efficient energy system powered fully by a renewable energy system, in line with a Paris Agreement compatible decarbonisation pathway foreseeing a 69% direct electrification rate by 2040.

The upcoming EU Heating and Cooling Strategy represents a pivotal opportunity to place the building sector on a Paris Agreement compatible, affordable, and just decarbonisation pathway. To achieve this, the strategy must enforce the energy efficiency first principle, prioritise renewable-based solutions, and ensure coherence with the Electrification Action Plan and the Energy Security Framework while addressing…

Energy infrastructure is a key component in Europe’s fight against climate change. Investments must exclude any continued or new support for infrastructure based on fossil fuels or incompatible with nature protection.

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe supports strengthening the LULUCF Regulation in order to both safeguard our natural environment and biodiversity and to improve carbon dioxide removal through protection and the restoration of forests and other ecosystems.

CAN Europe has repeatedly argued that, to align with the 1.5°C temperature limit and equity, the EU could and should achieve domestic net zero emissions by 2040 at the latest, based on at least 92% gross reductions compared to 1990 levels. This should also be based on the EU achieving at least 65% gross (76% net) emission reductions by 2030, and at least 82% gross (94% net) domestic emission.

The post-2030 energy efficiency framework is being designed amid a fossil fuel crisis. In this context, reducing energy demand must be a central pillar of Europes strategy for energy security, affordability, competitiveness, and decarbonisation. Energy efficiency is Europes first line of defence against fossil fuel import dependency, price shocks and geopolitical coercion. The evidence is clear.

CAN Europe welcomes this opportunity to provide input to the development of guidelines for designating renewables acceleration areas. Our input as the attached briefing titled "Renewable Energy Planning and Mapping for Successful Acceleration with Nature and Communities at Its Heart: Guiding Principles for Member States," emphasises the need for EU Member States to drastically shift towards a fully renewable energy…

The update of the Governance Regulation should strengthen the EU framework for planning, monitoring and contributing to deliver the energy transition post-2030 (without touching the 2030 architecture), while preserving the elements that have proven effective until now.

To read CAN Europe's detailed feedback on the revision of the Security of Supply Framework, including references and footnotes, please see the attached pdf file. The main objective of this feedback is to highlight the need for the revised Energy Security Framework to end fossil fuel dependence and build an integrated and climate-resilient energy system based on renewables, electrification, and long-term planning…

CAN Europe has repeatedly argued that, to align with the 1.5°C temperature limit and equity, the EU could and should achieve domestic net zero emissions by 2040 at the latest, based on at least 92% gross reductions compared to 1990 levels. This should also be based on the EU achieving at least 65% gross (76% net) emission reductions by 2030, and at least 82% gross (94% net) domestic emission by 2035.

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcomes the proposed Regulation setting up the Just Transition Fund. However we would like to raise the following comments. Regarding the funding allocation, we believe funding must be conditional on the Member States' commitment to achieve climate neutrality at latest by by the collectively agreed date.

The Omnibus on taxation legislative proposal aims at enhancing EUs competitiveness. EU competitiveness depends on many factors, including the capacity of states to invest in education and training, social protection systems, decarbonisation and circularity, research and innovation. Without effective, clear, harmonised and transparent taxation rules, those investments are not possible.

The EU is not on track to meet LULUCF targets The EUs LULUCF sector is critical for the protection of Europes biodiversity, water, soils, and carbon sequestration. However, the net LULUCF sink has been declining since 2010, and the projections show that the EU is expected to miss its -310Mt LULUCF 2030 target by 50-125Mt.

Delivering the Union’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality and resilience will depend crucially on whether and how well the EU institutions use their powers to take the necessary action to ensure the EU achieves its climate objectives by 2050 at the latest. It is therefore essential that the EU institutions can be held to account for taking the necessary action.

CAN Europe supports the definition of ecodesign requirements for iron and steel products in the ESPR delegated act. Getting these requirements right will be instrumental to the success of the steel transition in Europe as the sector requires long-term investment certainty to move away from the fossil model.

CAN Europe welcomes the possibility to contribute to the call for evidence on the revision of rescue and restructuring guidelines (RRG). Our submission mostly focuses on guardrails and principles that should be kept in mind in case the steel sector would be added to the scope of the RRG, but we strongly suggest that those conditions would also be applied across the board for all sectors potentially benefitting from…

CAN Europe, Europes largest network fighting dangerous climate change and representing more than 40 million citizens, welcomes the European Commissions consultation on the revision of the European energy security framework.

The aviation sector’s emissions have been growing much faster than other sectors around the world. At the same time the sector continues benefitting from numerous privileges in the EU, ranging from free allocation of allowances under the EU ETS, exemption from fuel taxes, exemption from VAT on international flights, state aid (e.g.

We welcome the initiative to simplify and clarify reporting obligations under the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC), and potentially consolidate various provisions into a single Directive for greater clarity. We note that recasting the DAC could help reduce the reporting burden on large companies and SMEs, as well as tax administrations.

We welcome immediate actions to reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels in the face of its aggression against Ukraine. However, the EC’s proposal falls short in mobilising sufficient additional finance at the EU level and puts at risk the achievement of key environmental objectives.

JULY 2018 CLIMATE ACTION IN THE EU BUDGET: ASSESSMENT OF ITS HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe's leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 150 member organisations from 35 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 40 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

Opening of the attached position paper · the full paper is on the Commission’s record (source link above)

This summer’s extreme weather events - flooding, extensive forest fires and the most extreme heat experienced to date - coupled with the IPCC AR6 point to the urgent need to increase ambition on climate action if we are to avoid further extreme events which could lead to irreversible climate damage and further loss of lives and livelihoods.