Energy sector in transition - Aligning EU ETS, climate ambitions and investment realities
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges and necessary investments for the EU's energy sector in light of climate ambitions and the revision of the Emissions Trading System.
The EU’s increasing climate ambitions and upcoming revision of the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) mark a critical phase for Europe’s energy sector. Achieving the EU’s 2040 climate target will require significant investments in power generation, networks, flexibility and district heating. Stable regulation and adequate financial support are essential to ensure security of supply, affordable energy prices for households and European industry, and a just transition. This debate will address one of the EU’s most pressing challenges – restoring competitiveness. Reducing energy prices was a central topic at the European Council in March 2026, which highlighted the need for reforms that take into account the different situations across Member States. In this context, the EU ETS revision should reduce carbon price volatility and mitigate its impact on electricity prices and related costs. At the same time, growing competitiveness challenges have led many Member States and organisations to call for easing the ETS framework to reduce its negative impact on energy prices and industrial competitiveness. On the anniversary of the Antwerp Declaration (11 February), European industry…
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