Would-be EU climate policy chief seeks green light from lawmakers

Former Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra will try to convince European Parliament lawmakers on Monday to approve him as the EU's next head of climate change policy, responsible for emissions-cutting measures in the world's third-biggest economy. Hoekstra faces a three-hour hearing in the European Parliament's environment committee on Monday evening, seeking approval from at least two-thirds of the committee. If approved, he would take on the role as climate action faces political pushback in Europe, and as tensions mount with China and the United States over the race to manufacture green tech.