Climate change

Climate change is a global challenge that requires global actions. BusinessEurope is committed to and aware of the challenges that climate change presents as well as the impacts of human activities. This is why we highly welcomed the Paris Agreement, which reflects the long-term objective of limiting global warming below 2°C.

The Paris Agreement is the single most important tool in providing clarity on the direction that society must take to tackle climate change. It is equally important to provide a global level playing field, as reaching the Paris Agreement requires all countries (especially major economies) to make significant efforts to bring down emissions. BusinessEurope is fully committed to implementation of the Agreement, and the companies it represents invest billions in low-carbon innovation, as well as in the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies for the future.

The EU's ambitious climate targets require all sectors to make efforts to reduce their emissions, including transport. In addition to the EU ETS (emission trading scheme), BusinessEurope fully supports Europe’s intentions to move to a healthy, competitive economy that is driven by low-carbon modes of transport. It is however important that this support is given from a technology and fuel-neutral point of view, so that all technologies are able to compete. Massive investment will be made in the coming years in new technologies, fuels and efficiencies, and it is important that a significant share of it is made in Europe. 

Publications

Press releases Date
New study shows urgent need to reform EU permitting 13/02/2024
European business message for COP28 - All G20 countries should commit to 2030 targets 29/11/2023
Commission proposal for the Net-Zero Industry Act: “Limited scope risks to become handicap for Europe’s net-zero transformation” 16/03/2023
Trialogues on Emission Trading System and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism 15/12/2022
EU industry urgently needs instruments like ETS innovation fund to avoid de-industrialisation 06/12/2022
COP27 did not deliver on urgently needed convergence of ambition 21/11/2022
BusinessEurope pushes for COP to converge on high climate ambition 04/11/2022
ENVI vote on ETS and CBAM risks seriously undermining European competitiveness 17/05/2022
EU business proposals for climate neutrality and industrial competitiveness 18/11/2021
COP26: EU’s global trading partners miss out on solid 2030 commitments 12/11/2021
EU fit-for-55: direction is right, but the devil is in the details 14/07/2021
CBAM: WTO compatibility and continuity of free allowances are essential 08/03/2021
EU leaders agreement is oxygen for Europe’s economic recovery 11/12/2020
2030 climate target must be aligned with strong EU industry strategy 16/09/2020
What trade can do for climate: More than carbon border adjustments 23/06/2020
European climate law: moving the EU towards climate neutrality 04/03/2020
Sustainable Europe Investment Plan should close investment gap 14/01/2020
COP25: We expect all G20 economies to aim for climate neutrality 29/11/2019
EU should rebalance trade and become climate neutral 29/04/2019
UN Climate Summit COP24: Deal on the Rulebook is a step forward 16/12/2018
Climate negotiations COP24: The time for global action is now 30/11/2018
IPCC report confirms urgent need for global action 08/10/2018
Climate negotiations: business community concerned about slow progress 11/05/2018
COP23: Good on stakeholder engagement, slow on progress at global climate negotiations 17/11/2017
EU ETS reform deal: Strong on ambition, less so on protection 09/11/2017
Climate conference COP23: We need progress and transparency 03/11/2017
ETS study: Emission trading reform possible without risking carbon leakage 06/07/2017
US decision to leave climate negotiations is a severe setback 01/06/2017
EU Council ETS decision: Agreement, but not at any price 27/02/2017
Reports and studies Date
Licence to transform: SWOT analysis of industrial permitting in Europe - a BusinessEurope survey 13/02/2024
European business views on a competitive energy & climate strategy 29/04/2019
EU ETS reform: Comparative evaluation of the different options 05/07/2017
The Marrakech Declaration 18/11/2016
Position papers Date
BusinessEurope expectations for COP28 29/11/2023
Industrial Emissions Directive - BusinessEurope statement in view of the second trilogue meeting on 10 October 2023 09/10/2023
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – Reporting obligations during the transition period of CBAM - BusinessEurope response to the consultation 11/07/2023
Comments and proposals for amendments to the Net-Zero Industry Act proposal 12/05/2023
Taxonomy Environmental Delegated Act and revised Climate Delegated Act - BusinessEurope comments in reply to the public consultation 04/05/2023
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) Trilogue - a BusinessEurope position paper 09/12/2022
Expectations for COP27 - a BusinessEurope position paper 03/11/2022
BusinessEurope comment on the plenary vote on ETS aviation 31/05/2022
The 'Fit for 55 package' - a BusinessEurope position paper 18/11/2021
Taxonomy and a renewed sustainable finance strategy - BusinessEurope comments on the April package 02/06/2021
Taxonomy disclosure obligations - Draft Art. 8 Delegated Act - BusinessEurope reply to the public consultation 02/06/2021
Decarbonisation in the aviation and maritime sectors - BusinessEurope comments 24/03/2021
Reporting requirements under the Taxonomy Regulation (Art.8) - BusinessEurope comments 22/02/2021
Revision of the EU emissions trading (ETS) directive - BusinessEurope's reply to the public consultation 08/02/2021
Stepping up Europe's 2030 climate ambition - BusinessEurope comments on the 2030 impact assessment 18/11/2020
The carbon border adjustment - BusinessEurope reply to the public consultation 28/10/2020
A renewed sustainable finance strategy - BusinessEurope reply to the public consultation 15/07/2020
2030 climate target plan - European business input to the public consultation 22/06/2020
What trade can do for climate - a BusinessEurope position paper 22/06/2020
Draft EU ETS state aid guidelines - BusinessEurope submission to the public consultation 10/03/2020
EU ETS state aid guidelines - BusinessEurope submission to the public consultation 15/05/2019
BusinessEurope expectations from COP24 30/11/2018
Sustainable Finance EU Action Plan: the “Taxonomy” proposal - a BusinessEurope position paper 16/11/2018
The future of low-emission mobility - a BusinessEurope position paper 02/03/2018
Opportunities to further enhance the effective engagement of non-Party stakeholders - BusinessEurope submission to SBI 48 (April-May 2018) 30/01/2018
BusinessEurope key positions on EU ETS reform ahead of the trialogue 30/03/2017
BusinessEurope submission regarding the Workshop at SBI 46 (May 2017) on opportunities to further enhance the effective engagement of non-Party stakeholders 27/02/2017
Public letters Date
BusinessEurope recommendations for the trilogues on ReFuel EU and ETS aviation - Letter from Alexandre Affre to members of the European Parliament 02/12/2022
Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act on gas and nuclear activities - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Members of the European Parliament 23/06/2022
CO2 performance standards for cars and vans - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to the Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety 10/05/2022
The ‘Fit for 55’ package under changed circumstances - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Barbara Pompili 16/03/2022
The carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and minimum corporate tax - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Bruno Lemaire ahead of the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers meeting on 15 March 2022 10/03/2022
Taxonomy reporting - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Mairead McGuinness 06/12/2021
Taxonomy Regulation Article 8 Delegated Act - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Peter Power 30/06/2021
CBAM, the ETS and the future of carbon leakage measures - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission 22/06/2021
Extending deadlines for non-essential environment and climate-related consultations and regulations - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Frans Timmermans 10/04/2020
Industry and banking representation in the Platform on Sustainable Finance - Letter from BUSINESSEUROPE and the European Banking Federation to Valdis Dombrovskis 14/01/2020
Sustainable finance taxonomy - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to the trialogue negotiators 02/12/2019
Life cycle assessments (LCAs) and road transport - Letter to Laura Lonza, DG CLIMA 06/11/2019
Sustainable finance taxonomy proposal - Letter from Alexandre Affre to Minna Kivimäki, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the EU 22/07/2019
Climate-related aspects in the non-binding guidelines on non-financial reporting - Letter from Rebekah Smith to Alain Deckers, DG FISMA 22/05/2019
Emissions performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Elisabeth Köstinger 08/10/2018
Emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to members of the European Parliament ENVI Committee ahead of their vote 10/09/2018
Climate Change Expert Group for the development of the Commission Delegated Regulation on post-2020 free allocation rules - Letter from Alexandre Affre to Mette Koefoed Quinn 05/07/2018
European Emission Trading System (EU ETS) reform - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to the deputy permanent representatives of the member states to the European Union 04/10/2017
EU ETS: BusinessEurope key positions ahead of October trilogue meeting - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Clyde Kull, Ambassador of Estonia to the EU 28/09/2017
EU emission trading system (ETS) - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Minister José Herrera ahead of Environment Council 09/02/2017
EU emission trading system (ETS) - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to MEP Ian Duncan ahead of the European Parliament plenary vote 30/01/2017

Contact

Alexandre Affre

Deputy Director General
Tel:
+32 2 237 65 39
Last updated: 19 June 2018