The EU's next 7-year budget (a €1.8 trillion beast) will be one of the main political battles defining Europe's climate action until 2034. What's in the proposal for climate? What's the timeline ahead? What are the most politically sensitive aspects?
Our take: www.e3g.org/publications...
Put a price on carbon — and give the money back to the people.
As the EU rolls out carbon pricing for heating & transport (ETS2), concerns grow.
Our new paper makes the case for direct payments to citizens as a way to:
✅ Support households
✅ Prevent backlash
✅ Build trust in climate action
Bottom line: Governments, businesses and people are making definite strides towards a cleaner future. However, to ensure a resilient transition, Europe needs better coordination, greater investment, stronger social foundations and more political stability.
How's the EU's transition actually going on the ground? Our latest @e3g.bsky.social analysis summes it up, including many real-world examples and stories you (climate advocates) can recycle and use for your own work!
Check it out here👇👇
www.e3g.org/publications...
🧵The EU’s next budget offers a key opportunity to enhance climate and energy policy coordination. We explore how better governance of the Multiannual Financial Framework (#MFF) can support #decarbonisation and a greener, more resilient economy.
🔗Read the full briefing: www.e3g.org/publications...
📢 The European Commission’s latest agenda sends mixed signals on Europe’s climate leadership. While the Clean Industrial Deal shows promise, gaps in strategy & deregulation risks weaken the #EU ’s position.
Read our full reaction👇
www.e3g.org/news/the-eur...
The various plans to boost the EU's economy add up to a mixed bag that recommits to decarbonisation as Europe’s economic backbone while simultaneously rowing back on key policies steering in that direction.
Today marks 100 days of the new European Commission.
We at E3G have released a new briefing taking stock of its competitiveness push, what it means for climate action, and identifying the key moments and policies coming up.
Read it here👇
www.e3g.org/publications...
🌍 The EU faces four major tests in 2025, shaping its path on climate action and global influence.
🔑 Investment, regulation, coordination, and competition are at the heart of this pivotal year.
📖 Dive into our briefing: www.e3g.org/publications...
@manondufour.bsky.social @pepeescrig.bsky.social
What's up on #climate & #energy in the EU in 2025?
Think tank @e3g.bsky.social published this nice timeline, which should help you plan your 2025
www.e3g.org/publications...
Add to that CLEW's EU agenda, and you are set:
www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/w... @pepeescrig.bsky.social
4️⃣ Europe will have to build strategic autonomy while managing economically critical trade relations. Too stringent protective trade measures could raise costs and slow the clean transition. Clean transition partnerships can help rebuild trust with the Global South and reduce overreliance on China.
3️⃣ The political conditions for further European cooperation are not ideal, but the value case has never been stronger. A joint EU approach that leverages the unique strengths of countries and regions holds significant benefits for Europe's (clean) economy and its position globally.
2️⃣ Deregulation interests see an opportunity in the EU's new focus on reducing administrative burdens. To simplify legislation without reducing substance, policymakers must distinguish legitimate business concerns from environmentally regressive agendas that risk undermining policy effectiveness.
1️⃣ The many investment needs are the enabling thread connecting all Europe’s strategic priorities, from competitiveness to climate to security. Resourcing these needs will require a coherent investment strategy and a break from the status quo in several politically challenging areas.
At E3G, we've identified four defining tests the EU and its climate transition will face in 2025.
You can read or download our orientation briefing here: www.e3g.org/publications...
Key ideas in the thread below 🧵👇
What’s next for EU climate politics in 2025?
The Polish presidency of the Council, the first initiatives of the new Commission, instability in France and Germany, geopolitics marked by Trump's return to the white house... are all setting the stage for a year of critical choices for the EU.
This dynamic risks aggravating mistrust and polarisation, leading to institutional clashes, policy inconsistencies, and ultimately inaction and paralysis. Yet, the EU’s effective response to pressing geopolitical and climate challenges still depends on its ability to build unity and consensus. 🧵9/9
The Commission - and its climate agenda - is still supported by Christian-democrats, liberals, and social-democrats, giving it a strong political foundation. But this coalition's leadership may struggle as right-wing-only majorities in the Parliament, Commission, and Council become more viable. 🧵8/9
The EPP is expected to continue forming ad-hoc majorities with groups to its right, making it the main deal broker. In this context, progressive groups may struggle to shape the EU’s agenda, and climate-ambitious MEPs - including from the EPP - will need to leverage all their bargaining power. 🧵7/9
💥The new political balance in the EU institutions herald a cycle making green policies more contentious. Teresa Ribera's hearing (transition portfolio) was the most tense of all. Tensions peaked when EPP sided with far-right weakened the EU's deforestation law, reversing an existing compromise. 🧵6/9
🔍The parliamentary hearings showed that EU decisionmakers see climate policy through the lens of economic competitiveness, adapitng to climate impacts, social acceptability, and regulatory stability and simplification. New EU climate action will have to respond clearly to those concerns! 🧵5/9
👎Key policy details remain unclear, particularly regarding financing (RRF, MFF, JTF...). They lacked plans for the EU’s social agenda, and failed to recognise the importance of energy and material efficiency. The "simplification" agenda remains a risk to EU’s regulatory stability in practice. 🧵4/9
👍Commissioner candidates pledged to continue Europe’s green and just transition, lowering energy bills and moving away from fossil fuels. Their focus will be on clean industry leadership, expanding renewables, upgrading grids, accelerating electrification, and addressing climate impacts. 🧵3/9
Perhaps the main takeaway is that the process reaffirmed the Commission’s continued commitment to Europe’s decarbonisation, but also revealed a more complex political landscape facing EU climate action. How so? 🧵2/9
The European Parliament has just greenlighted the new Commission. The EU's political renewal after the European elections is now complete. What did this process reveal about the incoming EU leadership and the EU’s ability to advance its carbon neutrality agenda?
🧵1/9
www.e3g.org/news/commiss...
🚨 Nos acercamos a un acuerdo para desbloquear la nueva Comisión Europea. Además, varias fuentes parlamentarias hablan de un acuerdo escrito entre PPE, S&D y Renew Europe para dejar claro y negro sobre blanco cómo trabajar durante toda la legislatura. "Una hoja de ruta", explica una de las fuentes.
Ayer varias personas de por aquí estuvimos contando por qué estábamos aquí.
elpais.com/tecnologia/2...
With the next 5 years shaping up to be crucial for the EU's climate ambitions, the new Commissioner appointments will play a pivotal role. What does it mean for the #ClimateTransition? 🌍
We've broken down the key takeaways 👇
Ursula von der Leyen has defined the portfolios of each of her Commissioners and their respective policy plans for the next 5 years.
❓Who will lead the EU's climate action?
❓What do the policy plans mean for the future of the EU's climate transition?
We explain it here👇
www.e3g.org/publications...
Watch the ESABCC's (European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change) webinar today at 14:30h CET for a detailed presentation of their latest report "Towards EU Climate Neutrality: progress, policy gaps, and opportunities".
Registrations closed, but it can be followed on their website 👇