NEWSLETTER N° 194 – 12 November 2024

Just like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, Europe has found itself in a whirlwind of political twists and turns. Donald Trump’s victory has added a layer of unpredictability on the global stage, while at home, the German government’s recent shake-up with Finance Minister Christian Lindner’s firing (and the impending vote of confidence) has raised the stakes within the EU. And let’s not forget Ireland’s upcoming elections on 29 November, along with the start of the highly anticipated hearings for the Commissioners-designate.

USA elections: On 6 November, Donald Trump was re-elected as President of the United Sates. What does this mean for the climate and the environment? Not anything positive as both these topics do not appear in his political program. He is also planning to leave the Paris Agreement once more (he left once in 2017) and wants to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (works to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts), POLITICO reports. 

NGOs call for an ambitious mandate embracing a holistic vision on circular economy: On 4 November, thirteen NGOs (including Zero Waste Europe, EEB, ecos, right to repair) published a letter addressed to MEPs ahead of the Commissioners-designate’s hearings (in particular, Jessika Roswall’s hearing). 

Jessika Roswall hearing: Jessika Roswall’s hearing did not go smoothly, with the decision about her fate being postponed to the afternoon the following day. This, even though she pledged to ‘stay the course’ on EU environmental legislation and prioritise the implementation and enforcement of the European Green Deal. In the end, MEPs confirmed her nomination. 

Dan Jørgensen hearing: Dan Jørgensen’s (future Commissioner for Energy) hearing on the other hand, went by much more smoothly getting two-thirds majority of support on the same day (5 November).

Valdis Dombrovskis hearing: Valdis Dombrovskis, the Commissioner-designate for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification was validated by MEPs on 7 November. 

Wopke Hoeskstra hearing: Wopke Hoekstra, the Commissioner-designate for Climate Action was approved by a large majority of MEPs after his hearing on 7 November. 

From waste plants to resource plants: On 23 October, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a plenary session during which they adopted the opinion ‘From waste plants to resource plants’. 

Plastic bags tax – Sweden: Sweden has abolished its plastic bags tax from 1 November. The tax was put into force in 2020 and has reduced the amount of plastic bags bought at the store from 74 per person in 2019 to 17 per person in 2023, much lower than the 40 per person European objective. 

Hazardous products found in cosmetics: On 30 October, ECHA reports that although banned, PFOAs and other environmental toxic substances are still used in cosmetics ‘of different types, different sellers and all price ranges’.

Clean Hydrogen: On 5 November, the Council adopted the conclusions on the special report of the Court of Auditors on the EU’s industrial policy on renewable hydrogen. 

Urban wastewater: On 5 November, the Council adopted the new rules on urban wastewater. This approval is the last step before its publication in the official journal and entry into force.

Construction products regulation (CPR): On 5 November, the Council adopted the construction products regulation (CPR). This is the last step in the decision-making procedure.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): On 30 October, the UK Ministry of Economy and Finance published a document which confirms its intention to implement a CBAM.  The mechanism will be implemented from 1 January 2027.

Carbon removals – call for action: On 28 October, 45 organisations such as bioenergy Europe and Carbon Business Council, published a letter addressed to Wopke Hoesktra (EU Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth) calling for action on carbon removals to support EU climate goals and competitiveness. 

Bio-waste – Zero Waste Europe and Bio-based Industries Consortium report: On 5 November, Zero Waste Europe and Bio-based Industries Consortium published a report titled ‘Bio-waste generation in the EU: Current capture levels and future potential’ which shows that despite some improvement, a large amount of bio-waste is still not collected separately. 

Green Deal – Press release: 60 companies published a press releases, each asking for a ‘smart implementation’ of the Green Deal. In the press release, companies such as IKEA, H&M, Patagonia, Ecosia, ‘urge the European Commission to support businesses in successfully implementing existing and upcoming environmental standards’ by modernising the EU and national administrations through digitalisation, and giving access to clean, cheap renewable energy for businesses and more. 

OECD Working paper on circular economy policies: On 22 October, the OECD published a working paper titled ‘Trade implications of upstream circular economy priorities’. The paper aims to fill the knowledge gap on the impact of circular economy policies, such as EPR schemes, ESPR and the Green public procurement, have on trade, especially international trade. 

FEAD news: Last week, FEAD was busy with a few externals events: 

• On 06 November, FEAD Senior Legal and Policy Officer, Aizea Astor-Hoschen, was at Recycling Renewables Summit co-organised by Solarplaza and PV CYCLE.
• We were also present at ECOMONDO, participating to a few events: 
• On 6 November, FEAD President, Claudia Mensi, gave a presentation at an event on ‘The market design of the municipal waste integrated cycle between public service and competition’
• On 6 November, FEAD Secretary General, Paolo Campanella, participated to an event on ‘The European regulation on transboundary movement of waste – the new operational changes’ by Assoambiente 
• On 6 November, FEAD Secretary General, Paolo Campanella, participated to an event on Tessile o non Tessile? by Confindustria Cisambiente 
• On 7 November, FEAD Secretary General, Paolo Campanella, participated to an event on The new End-of-Waste regulation on C&D waste by Assoambiente and ANPAR 
• On 7 November, FEAD Secretary General, Paolo Campanella, participated to Talk Ambiente on CRM
• On 8 November, FEAD Secretary General, Paolo Campanella, moderator an event on End of Life Vehicles: towards the new ELV regulation