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Guide

Country guides and Dispatches

Our Dispatches keep you in the loop about energy and climate policy trends in key European countries and the EU itself. With a tight selection of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments, they provide a regular snapshot of what matters for the shift to climate neutrality in policy, diplomacy, society, and industry, and help readers look beyond national borders. For a deeper understanding of where those key countries and the EU stand in the transition, the respective Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Guides offer concise background, an outline of major transition stories, as well as a progress assessment of major economic sectors. Written by local journalists with extensive experience.
EU

How the European Union is trying to legislate a path to net-zero

The European Union announced itself as a potential early climate champion in 2018 by pledging to reach climate-neutrality by 2050. Yet, rules and regulations are needed to bring emissions down sufficiently to make ‘climate neutrality’ a feasible reality. A lot of work has been done but much is still on the agenda. Politics clashes with policy, continuing to influence what degree of legislative ambition can be pursued.
GuideDispatch
Germany

Germany nears 2030 climate targets, transport and heating remain laggards

Germany is nearly on track to achieve its 2030 emission reduction targets, with rapid progress in the expansion of renewables making up for the lagging transport and heating sectors. The new government is set to continue with the country's landmark energy transition, but is unlikely to increase the level of ambition compared to the outgoing one, which included the Green Party. The country's electricity system is the cleanest it has ever been, partly due to a weak economy and ongoing efficiency gains which have led to low energy consumption.
GuideDispatchIntroduction
France

Government turmoil casts doubt over France's transition progress

Despite a fresh set of decarbonisation goals published in 2023, France continues to focus on the deployment of nuclear reactors rather than closing the gap on the expansion of clean energy sources between itself and other EU member states. The published goals start with the progressive phaseout of fossil fuels, though the new reactors will likely cost more than expected. Whether the pace of development is too slow for some or the targets not ambitious enough for others, EU authorities are keeping France under close watch. Political turmoil prevails under prime minister François Bayrou, following the collapse of the previous government at the end of 2024. Despite reaching an agreement on the 2025 budget, doubts remain on whether the country will be able to follow through with a wide range of policy ambitions in a timely manner.
GuideDispatch