National Energy and Climate Plans: Catalysts for the Energy Transition or Box-Ticking Exercises?

The European Union has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy and improve energy efficiency by 2030. To achieve this goal, each EU member state is required to develop “National Energy and Climate Plans” (NECPs) that outline how they will achieve these goals.   

This report by EUKI project Local Leaders for the Next Generation shows how seven central and eastern European (CEE) countries are approaching the revision of these NECPs. It highlights key steps taken to transform the energy system and evaluates the progress made in updating national energy plans since 2018 and 2019 respectively. It also provides recommendations to make sure that this process results in national pathways that align with EU climate targets.