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 CLEW 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.
Germany

Germany's renewables push brings 2030 climate target in reach

The share of renewables in Germany's electricity mix continues to grow, following a combination of government policies to speed up their expansion, favourable weather conditions, and a weak economy. Coal use has reached record lows and government projections for the first time show the country nearly on track to reaching its national 2030 climate targets. However, budget woes and the rise of populist movements could slow down the country's progress towards climate neutrality.
France

Fallout from snap parliament elections delay energy and climate policy in France

Despite a set of fresh new decarbonisation goals published last year, starting with the progressive phaseout of fossil fuels, France seems more focused on deploying new nuclear reactors – which will likely cost more than expected – than making up for the gap between the development of its clean energy sources and those of other countries in the European Union. Whether the development pace is too slow for some or the targets not ambitious enough for others, the EU executive is keeping France under close watch. Following two months of political turmoil as a result of snap elections, the process of forming a new government continues, holding up progress on key climate and energy policy.
Italy

Italy moves on green transition, but fossil ties remain tight

Italy has taken significant steps in its green transition over the past decade, but the current government under prime minister Giorgia Meloni is also focused on making the country a "gas hub" in the Mediterranean Sea, demonstrating its ongoing deep ties to fossil fuels. The year 2024 has started with the Italy-Africa Summit and the country's G7 presidency, both focusing on energy cooperation and addressing immigration issues through the so-called "Mattei Plan". Researchers and NGOs have criticised the country's new draft energy and climate plan (NECP) for being vague about key topics such as phasing out oil, coal and gas, and expanding alternative energy sources like wind or solar power – issues that make meeting the EU's climate and renewables targets all the harder.
Poland

Poland's new govt yet to deliver on energy transition promises

Poland's energy supply still heavily depends on fossil fuels, with coal the biggest and most visible burden for its climate footprint. The eastern European political heavyweight plans to gradually phase it out, replacing it with a mix of renewables and nuclear generation, but – at the same time -remains the only country in the EU without a set end date to complete that task. The energy crisis ensuing Russia's war in Ukraine, however, has prompted Poland to accelerate the move away from coal and to increase renewables capacity. The new government following the 2023 elections promised an even more ambitious energy transition, but has yet to deliver the necessary policy and legislation.
Croatia

Croatia caught between LNG ambitions and abundant untapped renewable energy potential

Amid what has been dubbed a "super election year" in Croatia with three important votes – parliamentary, EU and presidential – it was expected that energy issues would play an important role in political campaigns. However, they were not dominant in either the parliamentary election campaign or the European election campaign. In May, a new coalition of the centre-right HDZ and the right-wing Homeland Movement (Domovinski pokret) received the green light from parliament, and the new government, in its four-year plan, highlighted plans to invest in renewable energy sources, decarbonise the transport sector, and expand the LNG terminal on the island of Krk.

Journalism for the energy transition

Get our Newsletter
Join our Network
Find an interviewee