Energy, Climate Change and Environment

Energy, Climate Change & Environment

Both the threat posed by global warming and Russia’s aggression on the EU’s doorstep have placed energy security and energy use top of the agenda—without taking the eyes out of the ball regarding environmental preservation. This overarching topic covers the challenges posed by securing energy supplies, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, boosting the transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources, and devising mitigation and adaptation strategies to cope with climate change.

Related articles

Cover of EconPol Policy Report 45 Watts Next: Securing Europe’s Energy and Competitiveness - Where the EU’s Energy Policy Should Go Now

Watts Next: Securing Europe’s Energy and Competitiveness

Where the EU’s Energy Policy Should Go Now

Frédéric Gonand, Pedro Linares, Andreas Löschel, David Newbery, Karen Pittel, Julio Saavedra, Georg Zachmann

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to gas supply in Europe dropping significantly, shaking the EU out of its complacency regarding energy procurement and consumption habits. The costs of going green on top of more expensive energy are putting a strain on European competitiveness, with higher energy prices hitting the chemical, steel and metal processing industries in countries like Germany, Spain or Poland particularly hard.

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A New Understanding of Health Policy

A New Understanding of Health Policy Is Needed

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Expert Opinion
The current debate on health policy concerns important issues relating to the future provision and financing of our healthcare system. However, it is primarily taking place with the traditional focus on the treatment of illnesses. A broader understanding of healthcare policy is urgently needed for the future. This should increasingly combine prevention and the strengthening of resilience and potential for development as complementary approaches in a holistic health policy approach. This must explicitly include changing challenges against the backdrop of an increasing overuse of our natural resources.
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Cover of EconPol Policy Report 48: Climate Policy Priorities for the Next European Commission

Climate Policy Priorities for the Next European Commission

Clemens Fuest, Andrei Marcu, Michael Mehling

From the earliest announcement of the European Green Deal, the current EU political cycle has been defined by an unprecedented acceleration in the scale and pace of climate policy. Under difficult conditions that sometimes tested the ability to engage stakeholders, including various external shocks, the EU has put forward and largely passed an unprecedented legislative agenda, which was meant to have, and is having, deep impacts on the EU economy and society at large. Much has changed in the world since the European Green Deal and the “Fit for 55” packages were conceived, including a dramatic increase in industrial policy actions by Europe’s trade partners, a deteriorating geopolitical landscape, and an energy crisis that has been aggravated by these factors, all of which has led to persistent fiscal and economic pressures. 

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Money

Europe Must Avoid a Subsidy Race

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Expert Opinion
The energy crisis – especially the shortage of gas due to a loss of supplies from Russia – is plunging Europe into recession and causing social tensions and distributional conflicts. European governments are eagerly seeking ways to defuse the situation, but they will succeed only if they cooperate closely. The cross-border energy market must remain open, and the European Union should leverage its market power when purchasing gas in third countries. But without coordinated national crisis-management strategies, Europe’s response could become a self-defeating subsidy race.
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Cover of EconPol Forum 6/2023: Green Transition

Green Transition: How to Make It Finally Happen?

Niko Jaakkola and Riccardo Rovelli, Lorenzo Forni and Massimo Tavoni, Karen Pittel, Alessio Terzi and Roger Fouquet, Luisa Carpinelli and Daniele Franco, Simone Borghesi and Albert Ferrari, Niko Jaakkola, Frederick van der Ploeg and Anthony Venables, Gianmarco Ottaviano

The devastating effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident. It is difficult to accurately predict or even quantify the risks. Despite this threat, the pace of change is slow. Why is the world failing to tackle this problem collectively and effectively? What constraints are holding us back? How can we overcome them and contribute to the formulation of a credible and acceptable climate policy? What policy instruments can help pave the way to the green transition?

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