Energy and climate policy
Explore our work on European climate and energy policy and the economic policies required to drive the transition to a more sustainable growth model.
Adequately responding to climate change requires a profound transformation in the way we produce and consume energy, as well as a wider reorganisation of our economic model. The situation is further complicated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a major energy crisis in Europe and beyond. Bruegel fellows analyse European climate policy developments and the evolution of global climate governance, as well as data on energy flows.
Under the 2025-2026 research programme, Bruegel fellows focus on how tax policy can improve efficiency, competitiveness and climate, the design of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, green industrialisation for European competitiveness and security, and the development of functioning international carbon markets.
Energy
European natural gas imports
This dataset aggregates daily data on European natural gas import flows and storage levels.
EU renewables value tracker
How can carbon credits work better?
New ideas on reaching climate targets as COP30 gets underway
Europe’s electricity capacity mechanisms need to be better coordinated
This paper analyses EU capacity mechanisms, their cost and security impacts, and the pros and challenges of deeper regional coordination
European clean tech tracker
This tracker provides an overview of the main innovation, manufacturing and deployment trends in clean tech in Europe
Reconciling the European Union’s clean industrialisation goals with those of the Global South
Importing energy-intensive goods would be more efficient for EU clean industry goals than importing clean energy itself
European natural gas demand tracker
Tracking monthly natural gas demand by country and the EU as a whole, with a breakdown of the power, industry and household sectors where possible
Researchers
Maximilian Fuchs
Bruegel Affiliate Fellow
Heather Grabbe
Bruegel Senior Fellow
Alissa M. Kleinnijenhuis
Bruegel Non-resident Fellow
Irene Monasterolo
Bruegel Non-resident Fellow
Jonathan D. Ostry
Bruegel Non-resident Fellow
Roberto Rossini
Energy and Climate Data Scientist
Alexander Roth
Bruegel Affiliate Fellow
Simone Tagliapietra
Bruegel Senior Fellow
Georg Zachmann
Bruegel Senior Fellow
Publications
Europe has a solid basis for battery and electric vehicle manufacturing growth
Europe is successfully building up battery and EV manufacturing capacity, though mainly thanks to foreign investment
Resource Productivity: Europe’s Overlooked Route to Economic Security
The case for delaying the application of the EU’s carbon border levy to electricity
The inclusion of electricity in CBAM creates more problems than it solves; ways should be found to exempt it
The solution to Europe’s housing affordability crisis must include building decarbonisation
The EU can help tackle Europe’s housing crisis by reducing energy costs, decarbonising buildings and adhering to climate goals
A Strawman Proposal to Use International Flexibility in Achieving Developed Countries Climate Targets to Catalyse Global Decarbonisation
China can decarbonise the world – but even that won’t fix its overcapacity problem
China is on track to meet global green-tech demand but needs to pivot from manufacturing to infrastructure
First glances
Europeanised energy infrastructure planning is a good idea if done right
A European Commission bid for more central oversight of energy infrastructure planning promises benefits if buy-in of EU countries can be secured
Europe’s Clean Industrial Deal: four priorities to fulfil its promise
The Clean Industrial Deal presents an opportunity for Europe, but quick action is needed on four priorities to deliver its goals
Coffee and chocolate lovers should want EU deforestation rules in force without delay
A new pause in implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation is regrettable and should not lead to weakening of the law
One year on from Draghi, where does EU energy policy stand?
Progress has been made on EU energy integration to underpin competitiveness, but much more remains to be done
Economic development, carbon emissions and climate policies
Yes, there is an Environmental Kuznets Curve: economic development can be a pathway to lower per-capita emissions
Once per-capita income hits $25,000, as a global average, per-capita emissions tend to fall, with the drop made swifter by strong climate policies
Energy
Explore Bruegel's work on the energy transition.
Read morePodcasts
Climate, data and complacency
Why economists need to take the costs of climate change more seriously
Defence and climate: is a common agenda possible?
How Europe’s defence sector can align to climate goals without compromising security needs
[UPDATED] Wired for the future: building Europe’s next-gen electricity grid
New reflections on Europe's electricity grid system after the outage in Spain and Portugal
The price of a liveable future: Financing climate action
How the global economy must adapt to the costs of climate change