Europe

EU net-zero emissions target

In 2019, the EU committed to a net-zero emissions target by 2050. In the run-up to this historic decision, alongside many other organisations, the ETC contributed to raise the confidence of policymakers and crystallise the support of businesses for this target.

In Europe, the ETC leverages its unique voice as an ambitious, analytically robust, industry-backed organisation to engage with policymakers. Both at EU and national level, engagement focuses on strategies to operationalise their net-zero commitment and unpick critical tensions. The ETC targets the systemic dimensions of the energy agenda and draws attention to specific areas of policymaking where crucial design policy questions remain unanswered. We intervene by nurturing high-quality debates between leading business leaders, experts and policymakers.

net greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the EU by 2030 pledged as part of the Fit for 55 Package

160

billion per annum of incremental investment required to reach net zero

ETC’s engagement with EU Climate Policy

In 2019, the ETC organised a series of high-level roundtables on specific dimensions of the climate agenda ahead of the publication of the European Green Deal. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the ETC published recommendations to help the global economy recover, engaging with policymakers across Europe on key priorities to support the economic, social and climate agendas.

In 2022, the European Commission presented the RePowerEU plan in response to the energy market disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The plan aims to transform Europe’s energy systems by ending the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels while simultaneously tackling the climate crisis through energy saving mechanisms, diversification of energy supply and accelerated roll-out of renewable energy. The ETC directly engaged with the European Commission’s presidential cabinet, ahead of the RePowerEU proposal, on building energy security while aligned with transition efforts.

European focus areas of ETC research

The decarbonisation of harder-to-abate sectors in heavy industry and heavy-duty transport – including implications for carbon pricing and border carbon adjustment.
Europe’s clean innovation agenda and how to bring to market a new wave of clean technologies.
How to finance the net-zero transition, especially the rapid scale-up of zero-carbon power generation and hydrogen production.

For more information, please contact Philip Lake.