ECA Journal: Is the EU’s energy transition getting into gear?

Following the 2015 Paris Agreement, the European Union committed to the shift from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption to systems based on renewable energy sources. It set itself a target of reducing CO2 emissions to 55 % below 1990 levels by 2030, and a net-zero target by 2050. Ambitious goals, and certainly [among] the most ambitious of any targets around the world. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made painfully clear how dependent the EU was, not only on Russian fuels, but also on fossil fuels in general. This watershed moment also propelled energy autonomy and security into the equation, alongside the sustainability criterion and the need to keep energy affordable for EU citizens. This edition of the ECA Journal features many contributions, from policymakers, researchers and auditors, that touch on these issues and, will provide readers with, if not conclusive answers, at least some insights into where the EU now stands – and where it wants to go with the energy transition.