With elections in May, the balance of opinion in Parliament is a climate policy risk factor on the minds of many in Brussels. The national draft 10-year energy plans, just in to the Commission, project widespread growth in costlier renewables. But populists who see climate as a globalist rather than nationalist-first agenda may prove hard to bring on side with an expensive and disruptive transition. The public will be influenced by climate awareness, leadership and their wallets. The EU’s efficiency-first programme won’t be enough in the long term but while it’s delivering savings there’s a chance to use that to support real decarbonisation. This could be crucial to keep citizens supportive in a more climate-hostile political landscape. Political observer, Joe Mitton, considers the opportunities and threats ahead…
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