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 positioned itself as a potential early climate champion in 2018 by pledging to reach climate-neutrality by 2050. Since, it has enshrined that goal into law, alongside an interim target to cut net emissions by 55 percent by 2030, and agreed a broad range of new and revised legislation to shift to a more sustainable economy. However, the rise of security, competitiveness and cost-of-living concerns has taken some of the focus away from the transition, and green policies have seen a backlash from companies, member states and politicians.
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.
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France

Government turmoil casts doubt over France's transition progress

France aims to become climate neutral by 2050, yet emission reductions lag behind targets. The country's budget troubles continue, together with the dramatic twists and turns of the political crisis that began in July 2024. Renewables expansion has slowed, and state-owned electricity utility EDF faces uncertain long-term financing capacity. A plan intended to define the country's energy strategy up to 2035 is still pending.
GuideDispatch
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 determined to make the country a "gas hub" in the Mediterranean Sea, demonstrating its ongoing deep ties to fossil fuels. Researchers and NGOs have criticised the country's draft plan to reach EU 2030 climate targets for being vague about key topics such as phasing out oil, coal and gas, and expanding alternative energy sources like wind or solar power.
GuideDispatch
Poland

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

Poland, one of the major economies of the European Union, is also the only country in the bloc that still produces over half of its electricity from coal. The fuel's share in the energy mix has dropped significantly in recent years, but the transition is happening without up-to-date strategies, creating social and economic risks. Topics like the Green Deal and coal mining have become heavily politicised and, with exceptions, lack consensus among the ruling class.
GuideDispatch
Croatia

Croatia caught between LNG ambitions and abundant untapped renewable energy potential

Croatia's coalition government continues with plans to expand gas infrastructure related to the LNG terminal that receives gas from the US on the island of Krk. New nuclear ideas have also emerged, with a working group on nuclear energy established whose main goal will be to enable the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs). Gas and nuclear are much more the topic of conversation within the ministry of economy than the development of the renewable sources of energy.
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