EU Decarbonization under Geopolitical Pressure: Changing Paradigms and Implications for Energy and Climate Policy

This paper aims to assess the impact of EU energy and climate policy as a response Russia’s war in Ukraine on decarbonization enterprise. It showcases how Russian invasion was crunch point that forced abandon its liberal market dogma embrace practice an open strategic autonomy approach. led updated policy, with significant changes underpinning main pillars, interdependence, diversification, focus regulation build-up. The reversal enforced interdependence Russia legislative barrage support build-up domestic clean unlocks emission reduction potential, measures targeting efficiency, solar, wind, hydrogen development; urban renewable revolution electricity carbon reforms standing out. Such positive effects, however, are weakened by source fuel diversification moves extend coal shale gas, especially when leading infrastructure locking-in gas use mid-term. Despite these caveats, analysis overall vindicates hypothesis geopolitics constitutes facilitator accelerator transition.