European crisis risks climate action reputation

The events of the past year have radically altered Europe’s energy policy. The goal of achieving net zero before 2050, confirmed 12 months ago at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, is still in place. But the immediate priority across Europe, now, is to secure energy supplies for the coming winter and to mitigate the economic and social impact of dramatic increases in oil and gas prices.

The short-term responses — extensions of the use of…