AGP Executive Report

Climate and Energy: EU leaders left the Brussels summit divided over energy costs and carbon pricing. Hungary joined calls for more flexibility, but leaders requested a fresh assessment of ETS2 rather than delaying it. EU purchases of Russian LNG rose 9.5% in January–September, while Russian pipeline gas still reaches Hungary. Agriculture and Water: Martonvásár researchers found that a chitosan-selenium spray improved wheat seedling growth under salty irrigation in trials. Hungary is also reusing fish-farm water to help drought-hit land, as farmers call for forecasts that better support real decisions. Nature and Land: Budapest has lifted a logging ban, renewing concerns about urban tree cover. The Hungary–Serbia oil pipeline has received environmental approval. Renewable Energy: MOL opened its first biomethane plant in Szarvas.

Gas and Climate Policy: EU purchases of Russian liquefied gas rose 9.5% in the first nine months of 2026, despite plans to phase out Russian energy; Hungary remains among the countries receiving Russian pipeline gas. At the Brussels summit, Hungary joined calls to delay the EU’s new carbon market for transport and heating fuels, but leaders instead requested another impact review. Water and Farming: Hungarian farmers need forecasts that arrive in time to guide planting and irrigation, a recent commentary argues. Elsewhere, Hungary is reusing fish-farm water to help drought-hit land, as growers face declining potato acreage. Cleaner Energy: MOL opened its first biomethane plant in Szarvas, adding a renewable-gas source in Hungary. Forests: Budapest’s lifting of a logging ban has renewed concern over pressure on urban trees and green space.

Farm Forecasts: A commentary argues Hungary’s farmers need weather forecasts that arrive in time to guide planting, irrigation and transport. Drought Response: Hungary is reusing fish-farm water to ease drought, while local volunteers are building water barriers as communities adapt to drying conditions. Renewable Energy: MOL has opened its first biomethane plant in Szarvas. Climate Policy: Hungary joined calls to delay the EU’s ETS2 carbon market, but leaders resisted another postponement and ordered a fresh impact review amid energy-cost concerns. Nature Protection: Budapest has lifted its logging ban, renewing concerns about pressure on urban trees. Infrastructure: The Serbia–Hungary oil pipeline has received environmental approval. Circular Economy: Budapest is hosting the European Circular Economy Hotspot as EU countries fall short of electronic-waste collection targets.

Climate Policy: Hungary joined Italy, Poland and Czechia in pushing to delay the EU’s carbon-pricing scheme for building heat and road transport until 2030. Most EU leaders opposed the move, but agreed to review the carbon market. Drought Response: Hungary is reusing fish-farm water to help drought-hit land. Meanwhile, potato acreage fell to 5,065 hectares this year, with frost and summer drought adding pressure on growers. Clean Energy: MOL opened its first biomethane plant in Szarvas. Nature & Infrastructure: Hungary’s environmental approval for the Serbia–Hungary oil pipeline has been granted, while environmentalists criticised Budapest’s decision to lift a logging ban.

Carbon Market: Hungary joined Italy, Poland and Czechia in seeking to delay the EU’s planned carbon pricing for heating and transport until 2030. Leaders agreed to review the scheme, but dropped the proposed delay from their final conclusions. Renewable Energy: MOL opened its first biomethane plant in Szarvas. The HUF 2.7 billion facility can produce enough renewable gas each year to replace more than 7 million cubic metres of natural gas. Drought and Rivers: Low water levels on the Danube continue to disrupt cruise itineraries after a hot, dry summer; levels near Budapest were close to August lows. Hungary is also reusing fish-farm water to help drought-hit land. Geothermal Heating: PannErgy’s third-quarter heat sales fell short of target, with warmer weather and greater use of fossil-fuel heat in Miskolc contributing to the drop.

Climate Policy: Hungary joined Poland, Italy and other countries in urging the EU to delay ETS2, which would extend carbon pricing to buildings and road transport. Nordic states warn that weakening the system could slow decarbonisation. Oil Infrastructure: Serbia approved an environmental impact assessment for a planned 113-kilometre underground pipeline linking the Hungarian border to Novi Sad, with capacity for 5.5 million tonnes of crude oil a year. Drought Response: Hungary is reusing water from fish farms to help revive drought-hit land, while volunteers are building small barriers to hold onto scarce water. The country’s 2026 drought is reported to be its worst in 126 years. Forests: Environmental groups objected after Budapest lifted a logging ban. Circular Economy: Budapest will host the European Circular Economy Hotspot, putting resource reuse and waste reduction on the city’s agenda.

Cross-Border Infrastructure: Serbia approved the environmental impact study for a 113-kilometre underground oil pipeline from the Hungarian border to Novi Sad, designed to carry 5.5 million tonnes a year. Drought Response: Hungary is expanding efforts to reuse fish-farm water for irrigation and wetlands as the country faces its worst drought in more than a century; its fish ponds hold an estimated 300 million cubic metres. E-Waste: Hungary collected less than 30% of discarded electronics in 2024, far below the EU’s 85% target. Only Austria and Poland met it. Circular Economy: A Budapest conference highlighted that recycling alone cannot curb waste if material use keeps rising and products are designed for short lives. Urban Green Space: Budapest’s Városliget won a European award for large urban parks, recognising a 200-year-old space with around 7,000 trees and technology to monitor soil moisture and lake water quality.

Drought Response: Hungary is expanding efforts to reuse fish-farm water for irrigation and wetlands as drought worsens. The country’s ponds hold about 300 million cubic metres of water, and officials say the effort is years overdue. Waste: Hungary collected less than 30% of its electronic waste in 2024, far below the EU’s 85% target, Eurostat data show. Cross-Border Infrastructure: Serbia approved the environmental impact assessment for an underground oil pipeline from the Hungarian border to Novi Sad, designed to carry up to 5.5 million tonnes a year. Wildlife: Hungarian researchers’ tracking work revealed a vast Angolan winter gathering of red-footed falcons, potentially numbering one million birds.

Urban Nature: Budapest’s Városliget has won Europe’s Best Large Urban Park award. The 200-year-old park has about 7,000 trees, and managers use soil-moisture sensors to guide care. Cross-Border Pollution: Environmental groups protested a planned Croatian poultry farm near Hungary’s border, warning that waste from its 1.8 million chickens a year could threaten nearby wetlands and pollute air, soil and water. Wildlife: Hungarian researchers’ satellite tracking of red-footed falcons led to the discovery of a vast winter gathering site in Angola, now featured by National Geographic. Water Security: Hungary’s 2026 drought is reported as the country’s most severe in 126 years. Volunteers are building small water barriers to hold water locally, while another project uses fish-farm water to revive drought-hit land. Forest Protection: Environmentalists have objected to Budapest lifting a logging ban.

Hungarian Wildlife: A Hungarian-led study tracking red-footed falcons has revealed a vast winter gathering in Angola, potentially involving a million birds. National Geographic has featured the discovery, spotlighting a major conservation finding by Hungarian researchers. Water and Climate: Melting Alpine glaciers are already affecting river levels, and the Alps feed the Danube. At home, Hungary’s severe drought is prompting volunteers to build water barriers, while fish-farm water is being used to restore drought-hit land. Budapest Nature: Environmentalists are protesting after the city lifted a logging ban; meanwhile, Városliget has been named Europe’s best large urban park. Regional Pollution: Greenpeace activists protested a planned poultry megafarm near Hungary’s border with Croatia, warning that animal waste could threaten a nearby protected wetland and water supplies.

Wetland Pollution: Greenpeace activists protested a Croatian megafarm near the Hungarian border, warning that waste from a planned 1.8 million chickens a year could threaten a protected wetland and water quality. Drought Response: Hungarian fish farms are redirecting water from harvested ponds to farms, parks and wetlands, with plans to expand the effort nationwide. Volunteers are also building small dams and terraces to retain rainwater as the country faces its worst drought in 126 years. Budapest Forests: The city’s lifting of a logging ban has drawn environmental criticism, putting urban trees and green spaces in the spotlight. Climate-Ready Crops: An EU-backed sunflower breeding project is testing drought-tolerant varieties in Hungary and other countries, aiming to help farmers cope with heat and water scarcity.

Drought Response: Hungarian fish farms are redirecting water from harvested ponds to farms, wetlands and parks, with plans to expand the scheme nationwide. The ponds hold nearly 300 million cubic metres of water. Volunteers are also building small dams and terraces to slow runoff and help rain soak into soils and groundwater. Forest Protection: A four-month logging moratorium in protected forests expired at the end of September. The environment minister says clear-cutting remains banned, but conservationists warn that “final felling” can still remove mature woodland and question the government’s green commitments. Climate and Biodiversity: Research on agile frogs in Hungary found that sex-reversed males sire fewer offspring, which are more vulnerable to heat and disease. EU-funded researchers are also testing drought-tolerant sunflower varieties in field trials that include Hungary.

Protected Forests: Hungary’s four-month logging moratorium expired at the end of September. Conservationists warn that “final felling” can still remove mature forest, despite the environment minister’s pledge to keep clear-cutting banned. Wildlife and Warming: Research on agile frogs in Hungary found that heat-linked sex reversal can reduce males’ reproductive success, while their offspring may be more vulnerable to heat and disease. Drought and Water: Hungary’s 2026 drought is reported as the country’s most severe in 126 years; volunteers in parched areas are building small dams to hold onto vanishing water. Climate-Resilient Crops: An EU sunflower-breeding project is testing drought-tolerant varieties in Hungary and four other countries, crossing wild plants from arid regions with European crops.

Drought and Water: Hungary’s 2026 drought is described as the country’s worst in 126 years, prompting volunteers to build small dams to retain vanishing water. Danube at Low Flow: Europe’s major rivers, including the Danube, hit record-low levels this summer; falling water has forced TUI to replace some Danube cruises with coach trips. Air Quality: The HungAIRy project has concluded after eight years of work to improve air quality across Hungary.

Hungary’s Water Emergency: The country’s 2026 drought is its worst in 126 years, and January–September was the driest such period since 1901. As water vanishes, volunteers are building small dams to hold onto what remains. Danube Under Pressure: Drought has driven major European rivers, including the Danube, to record-low flows, disrupting trade and energy supplies; TUI has replaced Danube cruises with coach trips. Air Quality: The eight-year HungAIRy project has wrapped up after working to improve air quality across Hungary. Wildlife: A 25-year conservation initiative is supporting owl protection in Hungary.

Water Crisis: Hungary’s 2026 drought is the country’s most severe in 126 years, prompting volunteers to build small dams to hold onto dwindling water. The emergency highlights the need for broader water-management decisions as lakes shrink and rivers run low. Rivers and Climate: Europe’s major rivers, including the Danube, hit record-low flows during the summer drought, disrupting trade and threatening energy supplies. Researchers also find that greenhouse gas emissions since 2015 intensified heatwaves. Air Quality: The eight-year HungAIRy project has wrapped up after working to improve air quality across Hungary. Budapest’s Danube: A city plan would use navigation revenue to fund embankments, heritage and public spaces along the river.