Energy policies and development: is a “just” transition still possible?

We publish below the introduction of the report entitled “Energy policies and development: is a” just “transition still possible? What Italians think. Second Eco-social Barometer” by Maurizio Ferrera, edited by Percorsi di secondo welfare for Fondazione Lottomatica. The report analyzes the socio-economic impacts of the energy transition for Europe. Using surveys of citizens and experts, the report offers an overview of opinions regarding one of the main challenges facing the Old Continent. A full downloadable version of the report is attached at the bottom of the page.

The arrival of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency marked an abrupt halt in this country’s support for the fight against climate change. The environmental measures introduced by Biden are already under attack, and the war on tariffs is likely to prompt the revival of fossil fuel production in the name of national energy independence. To what extent will the U.S. situation reverberate globally and especially in Europe?

Among the priorities of the new mandate, the Von Der Leyen Commission had confirmed its commitment to promoting and supporting the goals of the Green Deal, also as a condition for safeguarding – modernizing – the European model of economy and society.

Trump’s turn is likely to increase the general degree of turbulence and uncertainty in the international environment. Neither a global recession nor the outbreak of new conflicts between major powers can be ruled out. And these risks come at an already very delicate stage for the green transition in Europe. Indeed, during the process of implementing the ambitious goals of the Green Deal, various signs of sagging from the initial momentum have begun to emerge. The challenge for Brussels and each national government
is thus twofold. On the one hand, there is a need to recalibrate the way the Green Deal is implemented so as to make it more economically, socially and politically sustainable, so as to avoid negative feedback dynamics.
On the other hand, Trump’s policies and their global repercussions need to be addressed.

This second edition of the Eco-Social Barometer takes stock of the situation we find ourselves in. After reaffirming the centrality of the climate issue and the European agenda, the various sections of the Report address the main obstacles to its implementation, particularly at the level of public opinion. The main focus will be on the negative (often unanticipated) distributional effects of the transition and ways to counter them. In the conclusions, the Report will return to the impact
of the Trump presidency, briefly discussing scenarios for the EU.

To view the full report, click the link below: