Letter from Brussels: National realpolitik may water down EU climate policy

The EU is staking out a clear path towards climate neutrality, pursuant to its green deal. But national implementation in the decade ahead may fall short

The European Commission appears to have broad political support for its flagship climate policy. But it may lose steam when EU member states face translating policy into concrete action, with national governments keen to protect domestic industries and consumers while the economic consequences of Covid-19 continue to resonate. In October, the Commission presented the fifth edition of its State of the Energy Union report. This year’s publication boasts of progress on EU energy market integration, with a significantly more liquid European gas market—trading volumes on EU gas hubs saw an impressive 32pc year-on-year growth in the first quarter of the year alone. And it identifies "a clear need