At CAN Europe we kicked off 2022 with a very clear agenda to focus on influencing the ‘Fit for 55’, the climate and energy legislative package to operationalise the European Green Deal. We asked for much higher ambition – a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030 – that would allow the EU a greater chance to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C, keeping us all safer in a fit and fair way.

While we were still working on the aftermath of Covid on policy, funds and social impacts, trying to convey the many opportunities of a green recovery that reduces inequalities, Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine took place in late February.

After the absolute shock in the first days of the war, which was strongly condemned by civil society including CAN Europe, it was clear that the brunt of the invasion was borne by millions of innocent civilians in Ukraine, and its repercussions were global. The invasion of Ukraine exposed Europe and the globe’s dangerous chronic addiction to fossil fuels. An addiction that not only jeopardises Europe’s energy security, and pushes many Europeans into energy poverty, but also harms the climate and our future.

Mainstream news, and conversations in the street, featured the need for a fast energy transition to a system totally run by renewables like never before. The war, energy price and the climate crises are all interconnected and together they point to a solution that climate-concerned civil society has long been advocating for: fewer fossil fuels and more solar and wind energy. 

While the dreadful war in Ukraine added more reasons for policy-makers in Europe to step up and present bold policies, including under the ‘Fit for 55’ and the ‘REPowerEU’ plan, there were many contradictions and loopholes in some of the tabled proposals, hindering the real, quick and climate proof solutions: phasing out fossil fuels and investing in the energy transition.

With support of our members and allies we decried false solutions, like Europe’s focus on diversifying fossil fuel supplies and allowing Member States to invest EU funds in fossil gas. CAN Europe continued to criticise the overall lack of ambition in the legislative proposals while suggesting clear science-based pathways to keep us all safer. We continued to work with our members and partners on underscoring the social benefits that climate action and climate justice can bring, by tackling the root causes of many inequalities, including those created by climate change.

By the end of 2022, we were proud to see some improvements in the EU’s legislative proposals. However, there are still two big gaps: a lack of determination to phase out fossil fuels and end fossil fuel subsidies, and insufficient support for people during the fossil fuel crisis and in transitioning to renewables.

The EU’s commitment to reduce emissions continued to be off track in 2022. This was compounded by upsetting developments in the international climate negotiations at COP27 

where finance for adaptation and mitigation made poor progress. However, a historic win thanks to a massive push from civil society was achieved: an agreement to create a fund to address the impacts of climate change bringing justice to developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Despite the war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices, fossil fuels still dominated policy discussions and policymakers didn’t dare to loudly and clearly blame them for the energy crisis.

We need to ensure people are protected from energy price hikes in the coming winters and seasons to come. More and more of us are affected by devastating climate catastrophes such as droughts, wildfires and floods, but their impacts are not felt equally. Some regions are more vulnerable to climate impacts, and people who suffer more inequalities also bear the biggest brunt. The IPCC and other scientific reports remind us of the urgency to act now; 2023 must be the year of implementation at EU and state levels, with all hands on deck to secure a safe present and future for all.