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  • EU plans to cut electricity taxes to shield households from Iran war energy crisis Ajit Niranjan
    Brussels will relax state aid rules to allow member countries to offer ‘targeted and temporary’ supportEurope live – latest updatesThe EU will cut electricity taxes and provide consumers with fresh incentives to ditch fuel-burning cars and boilers, the European Commission has announced, as the energy crisis from the Iran war speeds a shift to a clean economy.The plan, which foresees tweaking rules so that electricity is taxed less than oil and gas, aims to bring down bills while encouraging the
     

EU plans to cut electricity taxes to shield households from Iran war energy crisis

22 April 2026 at 12:48

Brussels will relax state aid rules to allow member countries to offer ‘targeted and temporary’ support

The EU will cut electricity taxes and provide consumers with fresh incentives to ditch fuel-burning cars and boilers, the European Commission has announced, as the energy crisis from the Iran war speeds a shift to a clean economy.

The plan, which foresees tweaking rules so that electricity is taxed less than oil and gas, aims to bring down bills while encouraging the move away from polluting devices that prolong reliance on foreign fuels.

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© Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

© Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

© Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

Almost half of EU’s busiest flight routes are ‘hard or impossible’ to book on trains – report

21 April 2026 at 04:00

‘Stone age’ system of booking cross-border rail tickets holding back climate action by consumers, says thinktank

Europe’s “stone age” system of booking train tickets makes it needlessly difficult for travellers to avoid polluting flights, a report has found.

Booking equivalent train tickets is “difficult or impossible” on almost half of the EU’s busiest international air routes, analysis from the Transport & Environment (T&E) thinktank shows.

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© Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work?

18 April 2026 at 20:00

The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuse

Is this how a national scheme to cut climate pollution is supposed to work?

Australian government data released this week shows emissions from Australian coalmines increased last financial year. About 80% of the coalmines pumped more into the atmosphere than their government-imposed limit.

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© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/REUTERS

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/REUTERS

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/REUTERS

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