Poised as a uniquely urgent, future-defining event, the recognition of and engagement with all stakeholders will be key as the events of COP26 get into full swing over the course of the next fortnight. Check out our position paper ‘COP26 – US Business Views’ which sets out AmCham EU’s vision for climate policy in the context of COP26, detailing both the issues to address if we are to achieve these goals and recommendations to feasibly achieve them.
COP26: US business views
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Full speed to net zero
The transport sector accounts for around a quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport responsible for the majority. As a company dependent on efficient logistics, Amazon is taking concrete steps to decarbonise its operations and support Europe’s climate ambitions. Across several Member States, the company is expanding its fleet of zero-exhaust emission vehicles, investing in electric trucks and delivering packages by lower-emission rail freight. These initiatives demonstrate how innovation in transport can combine operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. Read the full story on Invested in Europe.
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EU-Mercosur vote: a self-inflicted setback to Europe's strategic interests
The European Parliament’s decision to refer the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement (FTA) to the Court of Justice adds a further delay to one of the EU’s most important and long-running trade initiatives.
Commenting on the vote, Malte Lohan, CEO of AmCham EU, said: ‘Today’s vote by the European Parliament to refer the EU-Mercosur agreement to the Court of Justice is a self-inflicted setback for Europe’s economic interests and geopolitical relevance at a moment when the EU can least afford it.
After 25 years of negotiations, this should have been Europe stepping forward as a global trade leader and champion of win-win partnerships. It was an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s global position, diversify supply chains and open new opportunities in a fast-growing market of 284 million people.
Instead, this vote has chosen - yet again - delay.
Europe’s credibility as a trade powerhouse is now on the line. The EU must move decisively to get this agreement back on track.’
The EU-Mercosur FTA will deepen economic ties, reduce barriers to trade and strengthen long-term engagement with a key region. How this process now unfolds will be critical not only for the agreement itself, but also for confidence in the EU’s broader trade agenda.
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Reduce, reuse, reinsulate
Construction and demolition waste accounts for more than a third of all waste generated in the EU, much of which ends up in landfills. Nearly 30 years ago, Paroc, a subsidiary of Owens Corning, began to help change this trajectory by launching one of the first stone wool recycling programmes in Sweden. Through the REWOOL system, stone wool offcuts from production and construction sites are collected, sorted and recycled into new insulation products. This approach supports circular economy business models, reduces reliance on virgin raw materials and improves building sustainability ratings. Customer demand continues to grow as REWOOL expands into new markets. Read the full story on Invested in Europe.
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