Institute responds to EU election results

Aurélien Saussay, Assistant Professor at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said:

“Despite these election results, polling shows that Europeans’ concern for the climate crisis remains very high.

“Without ambitious policies by EU member states we will continue to see more extreme dangerous weather, like the tragic flooding in Germany, Austria and Hungary. Tackling climate change also has important co-benefits, such as improving Europe’s energy security in a context of rising geopolitical tensions.

“Yet, as we progress through the energy transition, challenges in  achieving our emissions reduction goals become more apparent. Climate policies which affect households directly, such as the ban on fossil boilers in Germany, can trigger a strong backlash – even in a population that doesn’t doubt the reality of climate change.

“Fairness and equity have to be at the heart of the design of climate policy. In particular, necessary regulatory action such as the 2035 ban on ICE vehicles have to be accompanied by strong financial support for lower-income households to ensure that climate action remains politically acceptable.

“Everyone benefits in the long term from action on climate change, provided the transition to a low-carbon economy remains equitable.”