{"id":1027444,"date":"2026-06-15T05:10:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T05:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1027444\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T05:10:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T05:10:16","slug":"eu-tightens-rules-on-carbon-border-tax-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1027444\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Tightens Rules on Carbon Border Tax Suspension"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Today\u2019s ESG Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 18px; color: #111827; font-size: 15px; &#10; line-height: 1.6;\">\n<li><strong>EU Narrows Rules on Carbon Tax Suspension:<\/strong> Changes aim to reduce policy uncertainty for industry and support long-term decarbonization investment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Water Efficiency in Amazon Data Centers More Than Doubles:<\/strong> The company reported 75% progress towards its goal of becoming water-positive by 2030.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shell Plans $1bn Offshore Wind Sale:<\/strong> The divestment of wind assets is part of the company\u2019s broader shift back towards oil and gas under CEO Wael Sawan.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Living Wage Gap Persists in Global Coffee Trade:<\/strong> Major roasters and traders face pressure to reform sourcing practices before new supply chain rules take effect in 2029.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>EU reduces loopholes for pausing carbon border levy<\/p>\n<p>The <b>European Union<\/b> has moved to tighten safeguards around the<b> Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism<\/b> (CBAM) in order to boost policy certainty for industry.<\/p>\n<p>The CBAM imposes a carbon cost on imports of <b>emissions-intensive<\/b> goods, including steel, cement, and fertilizers to prevent <b>\u201ccarbon leakage\u201d<\/b>, where production shifts to countries with weaker climate rules.\u00a0 EU economy ministers agreed on <b>Friday<\/b> to narrow the conditions under which the levy could be <b>temporarily paused<\/b>, limiting suspension to cases of <b>significant price volatility<\/b> and deviation from long-term averages. The aim is to strengthen confidence for firms investing in <b>low-carbon production<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Most member states backed the change, though Slovakia, Romania, and Lithuania raised concerns over <b>cost impacts<\/b>. Further negotiations are expected as the EU continues efforts to balance climate policy with <b>industrial competitiveness.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>***<br \/>Further reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/environment\/eu-make-it-harder-suspend-carbon-fee-imports-2026-06-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">EU to make it harder to suspend carbon fee on imports<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 18px; color: #2E7D32;\">Featured ESG Tool of the Week:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #00695C; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/klimado.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Klimado<\/a> \u2013 Navigating climate complexity just got easier. Klimado offers a user-friendly platform for tracking local and global environmental shifts, making it an essential tool for climate-aware individuals and organizations.<\/p>\n<p>Amazon\u2019s data centers reach 75% of 2030 water-positive target\u00a0<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-120288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/pexels-amine-km-936570-5712211-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"ESG news regarding the widening of the EU\u2019s carbon border levy, Amazon\u2019s progress towards water-focused sustainability goals in data centers, Shell\u2019s planned divestment of offshore wind assets, and persistent living-wage concerns in the coffee industry.\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\"  \/>Caption: According to Amazon Chief Sustainability Officer Kara Hurst, the key to their success is \u201cholistic thinking.\u201d Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@amine-km-936570\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Amine KM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Amazon announced on Friday that it has made <b>75% progress<\/b> towards its <b>\u201cwater positive\u201d<\/b> <b>target<\/b>, which aims to replenish more water than its data centers use <b>by 2030<\/b>. The milestone represents a substantial increase from<b> 53%<\/b> reported in <b>2024<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>The company said it withdrew<b> 2.5 billion gallons<\/b> (9.5 billion liters) of water across its global data center network in 2025. To offset this, they invested heavily in initiatives to capture water and return it to communities, including <b>more than 50<\/b> <b>water replenishment projects<\/b> expected to deliver over <b>5.8 billion gallons annually<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Amazon also reported a <b>52% improvement<\/b> in <b>water efficiency<\/b> since <b>2021<\/b>, cutting data-center water consumption from <b>0.25 to 0.12 liters<\/b> per kilowatt-hour \u2014 around <b>7 times <\/b>more efficient than the industry average. The gains have been driven by measures including <b>free-air cooling<\/b>, which now operates 90% of the time, and higher server temperature thresholds that reduce the need for water-based cooling.<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p>Further reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\/news\/sustainability\/amazon-data-center-water-usage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Amazon\u2019s data centers are 7x more water-efficient than the industry average. Here\u2019s how we do it.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:<\/p>\n<p>Shell plans $1 billion sale of wind assets as it refocuses on oil and gas<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-120289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/julian-hochgesang-nrvj-J1AHMw-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"ESG news regarding the widening of the EU\u2019s carbon border levy, Amazon\u2019s progress towards water-focused sustainability goals in data centers, Shell\u2019s planned divestment of offshore wind assets, and persistent living-wage concerns in the coffee industry.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"  \/>Caption: So far, Shell\u2019s retreat from offshore wind includes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shell.us\/about-us\/news-and-insights\/media\/2024-media-releases\/shell-sells-interest-ocean-winds.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">selling<\/a> its 50% stake in SouthCoast Wind Energy in March 2024 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shell.us\/about-us\/news-and-insights\/media\/2025-media-releases\/shell-withdraws-from-atlantic-shores-offshore-wind-assigning-its-membership-interest-to-existing-joint-venture-partner-edf-power-solutions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">exiting<\/a> the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project in October 2025. Photo Credit:<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@julianhochgesang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\"> Julian Hochgesang<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Shell is preparing to sell its offshore wind farm assets in a deal expected to raise more than <b>$1 billion<\/b>, according to <b>Bloomberg<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>The company has reportedly appointed <b>Rothschild &amp; Co<\/b> and <b>PJT Partners<\/b> to advise on the sale, which could take place around <b>2027<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>The planned divestment forms part of Shell\u2019s <b>broader retreat<\/b> from renewable energy. Under chief executive <b>Wael Sawan<\/b>, the company has consistently scaled back its offshore wind portfolio, instead prioritizing higher-return <b>oil and gas,<\/b> particularly liquefied natural gas.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Shell is also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/climate-energy\/shell-says-it-is-reviewing-strategic-options-unlock-long-term-value-sprng-2026-02-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">reviewing strategic options<\/a> for<b> Sprng Energy<\/b>\u2019s renewable power unit, which it bought for <b>$1.55 billion<\/b> in <b>2022<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p>Further reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-06-12\/shell-plans-1-billion-wind-farms-sale-in-latest-renewables-exit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Shell Plans $1 Billion Wind Farms Sale in Latest Renewables Exit<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Top coffee companies yet to commit to living wage for farmers as EU due diligence rules loom<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-120290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/charles-gao-PfAFNYL-qXY-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"ESG news regarding the widening of the EU\u2019s carbon border levy, Amazon\u2019s progress towards water-focused sustainability goals in data centers, Shell\u2019s planned divestment of offshore wind assets, and persistent living-wage concerns in the coffee industry.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"  \/>The Coffee Barometer is produced by four NGOs: Conservation International, Ethos Agriculture, Solidaridad, and VOCAL. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@charlesgs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Charles Gao<\/a><\/p>\n<p>None of the world\u2019s <b>15 largest<\/b> coffee roasters and traders have committed to ensuring farmers earn a living income, despite an EU law that will make this a <b>legal obligation<\/b> for large companies from <b>2029<\/b>, according to the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/coffeebarometer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Coffee-Barometer-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Coffee Barometer report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The report warns that major industry players, including <b>Nestl\u00e9, Starbucks<\/b>, and <b>JDE<\/b> <b>Peet\u2019s<\/b>, remain ill-prepared for the EU\u2019s <b>Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive <\/b>(CSDDD), which will require companies to address human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains or face fines of up to <b>3% of global turnover<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Around <b>12.5 million<\/b> smallholder farmers produce most of the world\u2019s coffee, yet many continue to live on or below the <b>poverty line.<\/b> According to the report, \u201cpricing structures, contract duration and payment terms \u200bare no longer purely commercial decisions; where they are linked to <b>adverse human rights impacts<\/b>, \u200ccompanies \u2060are required to change them\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The authors argue that the industry\u2019s continued reliance on <b>low-cost commodity purchasing<\/b> risks undermining other sustainability commitments, calling for fundamental changes to <b>sourcing practices<\/b> ahead of the 2029 deadline.<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p>Further reading:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/climate-energy\/coffee-firms-have-not-met-looming-eu-rules-farmers-living-wage-report-finds-2026-06-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\"> Coffee firms ill-prepared for EU rules on living wages, report finds<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/b> The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com \u2014\u00a0 <b>In the Cover Photo:<\/b> Multiple cargo ships crossing the ocean. <b>Cover Photo Credit<\/b>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@regan-dsouza-1315522347\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer external noopener nofollow\">Regan Dsouza<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Today\u2019s ESG Updates EU Narrows Rules on Carbon Tax Suspension: Changes aim to reduce policy uncertainty for industry&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1027445,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5174],"tags":[324,26258,15679,283710,2000,299,5187,1699,4582,5348,73442],"class_list":["post-1027444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-eu","tag-amazon","tag-carbon-border-tax","tag-csddd","tag-data-center-water-consumption","tag-eu","tag-europe","tag-european","tag-european-union","tag-human-rights","tag-offshore-wind","tag-shell"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116752406531899103","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1027444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027444\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1027445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1027444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1027444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1027444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}