The windfall levy on energy companies that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is proposing could make billions of euros available to cushion the blow of soaring energy costs. That's likely to come as welcome news to many households.

The European Commission’s energy supremo, Estonian Kadri Simson, recently visited Ukraine to discuss what can be done to help energy infrastructure damaged in Russian missile attacks. She details plans to transfer specialised machinery and devices to Ukraine through a dedicated fund. The Commissioner also updates us on the negotiations among EU member states on a possible price cap on gas imports – a potential response to Europe's energy crisis.

Halfway through the COP27 UN climate summit in Egypt, the latest Climate Change Performance Index shows where countries stand in terms of climate protection measures. Right at the top: Denmark, Sweden and Chile.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping sought to "manage" differences in their first face-to-face encounter since Biden took office.

CO2 shortages caused by high energy prices are hitting the food and beverage industry hard. Breweries are taking some of the biggest hits.

There's no official family photo on the schedule for this year's G20 summit, an indication of just how much the war in Ukraine has complicated global cooperation efforts. Without directly naming Russia, China's President Xi Jinping said the threat of nuclear weapons was unacceptable.

World leaders used the G20 declaration to slam Russia's war in Ukraine, which has dominated the summit. They also expressed economic concerns, especially for middle-income countries.

The Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies have often pulled the strings at the G20, but the tide seems to be turning. Crucially, the G20 will be steered by developing countries over the next three years.

Rising gas and oil prices have plunged Europe into its worst energy crisis in decades. France has been hit hard, but perhaps not for the reasons you would expect. Nuclear and hydroelectric power, the country's main sources of electricity, are both running out of steam. Has the French energy mix hit a breaking point? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.

France has become the first country to tender out industrial-size floating offshore wind farms. The floating platforms are more promising than existing renewables but still have some hurdles to overcome.

Talks are taking place in Brussels on a proposal to set the ceiling for the price of Russian natural gas at €275 per megawatt hour. The plan has come under criticism from all sides for either being too complicated, too high or unnecessary.