France trims renewables, revives nuclear as climate rollback rattles markets - Feb 12, 2026

As of February 12, today’s news highlights significant developments in energy policy, particularly relating to France's revised renewable energy plans, alongside corporate shifts in various sectors. In a change to its energy strategy, France trimmed its planned installation of total wind and solar capacity up to 2035 by as much as a fifth, under a new 10-year energy planning law (PPE) announced by the finance minister today, as electricity demand growth was set to slow. The law also reverses a previous legal mandate to shut down 14 nuclear reactors. Meanwhile, in a significant environmental development, the EU has witnessed a decline in utility stocks, driven by a sharp drop in carbon allowances, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested a possible softening of the EU's carbon market regulations. Among other market shifts, Fincantieri is pivoting towards military shipbuilding, planning to invest approximately 1.9 billion euros by 2030. The company will enhance its production capacity in Italy while reallocating other production to Romania and Vietnam, signaling a strategic focus on defense at a time of increased global tensions. Siemens has raised its profit outlook for 2026 on the back of a strong demand surge for AI-driven data center infrastructure, resulting in a notable rise in its stock prices. In contrast, Iveco reported a 28% decline in its adjusted operating profit, beset by weaker demand in the European truck market and production delays. On the international front, the Pentagon's policy chief has called for NATO to evolve into a partnership model rather than one of dependency, amid ongoing discussions about the organization's future and U.S. involvement. Finally, the administration of President Donald Trump today plans to announce the repeal of a scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health, removing the legal basis for federal climate regulations. The move represents the most sweeping climate change policy rollback by the administration to date, after a string of regulatory cuts and other moves intended to unfetter fossil fuel development and stymie the rollout of clean energy.