Nordic sustainability briefing: EV tax shifts, European heat deaths, stricter green-hosting checks
Nordic governments are recalibrating EV incentives as Norway and Denmark both move to curb tax breaks on pricier electric cars, even as new European research links this summer's 50,000-plus urban heat deaths to warming. Meanwhile, an EU analysis points to a persistent gap in green financing for households and small businesses, with lending still concentrated on new buildings rather than renovations.
Norway's 2027 budget halves the EV VAT exemption; Denmark signals higher tax on pricier EVs
Norway's budget proposal halves the VAT exemption on new electric cars from NOK 300,000 to NOK 150,000, so a NOK 300,000 car would carry NOK 37,500 more VAT. The government also proposes cutting fuel taxes. In Denmark, DR reported that the government will not extend the registration-tax exemption for EVs priced above DKK 366,000, which would make them dearer from 2027. DR's report cites ministers speaking to Berlingske, and its text also refers to a one-year postponement, so the final timing is unclear.
Studies: more than 50,000 heat-related deaths in European cities this summer, most linked to warming
Studies published in Nature Health estimate that heat-related deaths in Europe's urban areas exceeded 50,000 in summer 2026. More than 32,000 of those deaths were attributed to human-caused warming. The researchers, at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, say cities are struggling to keep pace with the health risks.
EU portal: green lending to households and SMEs remains limited and skewed to new buildings
An article on the European Commission's BUILD UP portal says green mortgages, sustainability-linked loans and renovation credit lines can encourage households and SMEs to improve energy efficiency. It adds that green lending remains limited and concentrated mainly on new buildings. The article suggests common EU definitions and voluntary labels could improve market transparency and support financing for transitional activities.