Política & Regulação

The STARDUST project exemplifies sustainable urban transformation through smart integration in energy, mobility, and ICT in "lighthouse" and "follower" cities, focusing on renewable infrastructure, innovative technologies, regulatory adaptability, stakeholder engagement, and novel business models to foster replicable sustainable city initiatives.

The European R&I Days highlighted the need for a comprehensive government approach involving research and innovation to achieve the European Green Deal’s decarbonization targets. Showcasing success stories, it emphasized collaboration for transforming energy-intensive industries and integrating R&I for a sustainable future.

The article examines the efficacy of decentralizing environmental taxes to address region-specific environmental issues, contrasting it with centralization that may cause fiscal competition and efficiency losses. It suggests harmonizing economic incentives with environmental protection to optimize the impact of environmental taxes on sustainability.

The "From Farm to Fork" strategy under the European Green Deal sets ambitious targets like reducing pesticides, increasing organic farming, and halving food waste by 2030. It emphasizes environmental health and economic benefits, advocating technological innovation and stronger global partnerships for sustainable food systems.

The eceee industrial energy efficiency conference in Antwerp focused on the imperative for industry to achieve deep decarbonisation while remaining competitive. Themes included future challenges, energy management, and change drivers, acknowledging the complexity of decarbonising industries in under three decades.

The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, following a three-day negotiation, aims to integrate AI into the European market, balancing innovation with fundamental rights protection. The act's risk-based approach sets stringent rules for high-risk AI applications, excludes certain AI uses, and provides specific law enforcement exceptions. It establishes a governance system, including an AI Board, and introduces penalties for violations. The legislation will take effect two years post-enactment, with a focus on transparent and responsible AI development.

The DEESME project, under EU's Horizon 2020, aids SMEs in energy efficiency endeavours, countering technical, financial, and awareness barriers. It provides a multi-layered approach to align SMEs with EU goals, offering policy recommendations and strategies to effectively implement Article 11 of the Energy Efficiency Directive.

The European Union is intensifying efforts to foster green hydrogen as a key component of its energy and climate strategy. Policies are being developed to support the production, distribution, and use of green hydrogen, aligning with the EU's broader goals of achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable economic growth.

The Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG) will soon publish its final report from an expert working group on accelerating consumer demand.