A prosperous and sustainable energy future, fully based on renewable energy is possible, by taking bold actions and boosting the clean energy transition in NECPs. The examples below show the transition is already underway, but we must scale up significantly.

The wrong investments, lack of capacity or false policy decisions can hinder the needed uptake of renewable energy. Attention should be paid to the existing shortcomings such as the lack of engineering capacity, and to the potential effect on nature.

Without additional and timely action, emissions from the transport sector will continue growing in Europe. By supporting modal switch and accelerating the uptake of public transport and zero-emission vehicles (as shown by examples) countries could swifty decarbonise and improve air quiality.

Between 2013 and 2019 transport emissions were constantly on the rise in Europe. Road transport remains the major headache across Europe and the progress to decarbonise is too slow, this sector needs a lot more attention and careful planning in NECPs.

The integration of renewable heating systems, energy savings and efficiency improvements in dwellings have a huge potential to alleviate the effects of energy poverty, as well as greater resilience to fossil fuel price rises. The momentum to renovate buildings is already high in some of the countries.

Heating and cooling must be renewable, accessible, efficient, and affordable for all. Governments cannot ignore this, and must put enough attention and support behind building decarbonisation policies in NECPs.

We already see positive changes where cities are provided with funds to target e.g. waste management, plastic reduction, urban planning and biodiversity, air quality and health. See below some good initiatives from Spain and Croatia.

Massive constructions and urban sprawl go against a sustainable and livable life in cities.The revised NECPs should provide a framework to make our cities greener, healthier.

We have gathered some good examples of tackling agricultural emissions: incorporating agriculture in the revised NECPS as France did, and including measures covering also livestock and food supply chains (Portugal) is the way to go.

Measures connected to sustainable farming and the agricultural sector are generally lacking in the NECPs and/or in alternatives falling short behind LULUCF and nature protection objectives.

Funds and taxes have a powerful impact on policies and trends at the national level. Public investments planned under the NECPs – coming from either EU funds or national resources  should be directed exclusively toward transformative, climate-proof measures. Taxation policy adjustments can also have a positive impact, as seen in some of the examples below. 

No money should flow towards fossil fuels or any other false solution that would generate stranded assets and lock-in effects. Countries are also required to report on their fossil fuel subsidies and plans to phase them out in their NECPs.

Energy communities put power in the  hands of people. Renewable based, decentralised energy systems are a key element in mitigating energy insecurity and effects of rising prices

Many citizens and communities across Europe are looking towards establishing their own energy community or energy cooperative, but the process is hindered by bureaucracy and lack of support.

Considerable measures will  be implemented to tackle energy poverty in some member states such as Bulgaria  (through the Energy Poverty Mechanism), Portugal (through upgrading the Energy Efficiency Vouchers) and Slovenia (through the Energy poverty reduction scheme). 

Considerable measures will  be implemented to tackle energy poverty in some member states such as Bulgaria  (through the Energy Poverty Mechanism), Portugal (through upgrading the Energy Efficiency Vouchers) and Slovenia (through the Energy poverty reduction scheme). 

A strong NECP should describe, and address  distributional impacts, energy poverty and transport poverty. Countries should set out measures that will ensure a fair and just transition, by tackling and mitigating any social and/or employment impacts. More progressive regions should enjoy support and the benefits of just transition as early as possible.

Just transition is often overlooked – as it is the case of France, where the current NECP does not contain a component on financing, particularly with regard to the support for households. A multi-year financing plan for a fair transition is needed.

So far, the overwhelming majority of Member States have failed to ensure effective, timely public participation that is required by law. A better public engagement would lead to better environmental decisions. The fact that we did not find good examples in this category is a warning sign in itself.

Examples of positive measures related to sufficiency can be found in Hungary where removing the price cap on household energy prices for above-average consumers led to decrease in energy consumption, and Slovenia that plans to shift away from meeting demand to demand management approach in the transport sector.

Policies should enable people to choose a more sustainable, sufficient lifestyle. Countries should not miss the opportunity and set goals and include policies in NECPs to shift consumption patterns.

Our compilation shows that the majority of EU governments are still stuck in the past, without vision for deep, transformative change that NECPs could kick off. They must avoid false solutions: Denmark doesn’t want to be locked into biomass and CCS, Slovenia doesn’t want to prioritise unsustainable biofuel use and large hydropower plants, Hungary shouldn’t rely on importing gas and uranium.