While the EU cannot solve the world’s challenges alone, it has a unique capacity to create an enabling environment for others, writes Ambassador Thomas Matussek.
Geopolitical competition is intensifying, cost–of–living pressures are straining societies, and our collective climate challenge is growing. Despite these global trials, collaboration among governments, private sectors, and innovators offers us a path forward toward the next generation of energy solutions.
The EU is doing an excellent job of managing its own green transition, but it can and should do more elsewhere. While the EU cannot solve the world’s challenges alone, it has a unique capacity to create an enabling environment for others, as the decisions made in Brussels shape regulatory standards worldwide when corporations follow the EU’s lead.
This regulatory influence must be leveraged across industries to ensure that the energy transition—globally and within Europe—is sustainable, inclusive, and equitable. The transition must offer intelligent solutions that reduce emissions without stifling economic growth. The EU’s Green Deal provides an exemplary model of how comprehensive, society–wide policies can legislate green strategies into reality, compelling industries, businesses, and people to act more sustainably.
Signs of progress are evident: businesses are adapting to the new regulatory landscape, and decarbonization is now an integral part of Europe’s economic fabric. Global corporations are aligning with the EU’s directives, with environmental concerns becoming central to corporate strategies. But to truly succeed, Europe must also inspire and support energy transitions in other regions.
A prime example of this is the EU’s relationship with Africa. As Africa’s most significant trading partner, the EU wields substantial influence, particularly in the energy and mining sectors, which represent around 60% of Africa’s exports to Europe. While European countries are rightly advancing emissions reductions on the consumer end, they must also provide regulatory incentives to clean up energy production at its source. As seen in Germany’s decision to subsidize its steel sector under the condition of investment in emissions reduction, the EU must apply similar oversight to its trade relations with developing countries, ensuring cleaner energy supply chains.
By holding energy suppliers to higher environmental standards, the EU can secure a steady flow of cleaner energy, laying a firm foundation for the energy technologies of tomorrow. The path forward must focus on stability and long–term progress, not the radical overhaul of current supply chains. Europe should play an active role in implementing clean energy solutions, especially in regions like Africa, where population growth will drive increased energy demand.
Moreover, Europe must support Africa’s economic growth by helping to build out its green energy infrastructure. With the continent’s population expected to double by 2050, the demand for energy will surge. The EU can help shape this energy demand by encouraging African markets to adopt solar, electric vehicle, and wind technologies. Facilitating trade deals that bring EU–based companies to set up operations on the continent can spur innovation, create skilled jobs, and foster a robust energy infrastructure that is both sustainable and scalable.
However, solving global energy challenges goes beyond regional efforts—it requires global collaboration. Europe cannot drive this transition in isolation. Governments and corporations from both the Global North and South must come together to engage in meaningful dialogue on the policies, regulations, and incentives necessary to make climate progress.
Intragovernmental decision-making bodies like the Conference of Parties (COP) will continue to align heads of state—and industry, as demonstrated by COP28’s unprecedented industry participation—in their climate and energy goals. At the same time, industry events such as ADIPEC 2024, taking place in Abu Dhabi this November, are playing an increasingly important role in convening leaders from across the energy ecosystem to discuss global decarbonization efforts across sectors. Reflecting this broadened impact, ADIPEC 2024 has placed a special emphasis on facilitating collaboration between the Global North and South, showcasing progress across the energy landscape, and helping overcome barriers to wide–scale emissions reduction.
Global challenges demand global solutions, and Europe’s role in this effort will be pivotal. The EU has the legislative expertise, capability, and resolve to drive meaningful change—not only for a cleaner present but for a sustainable, net–zero future. But Europe cannot afford to stand still or expect the world to follow. Reaching out, fostering active dialogue, and expanding the green economy into new regions will be essential to achieving our shared climate goals.
Thomas Matussek has had a distinguished career in the German diplomatic service, serving during which he served as German Ambassador to the UK, the UN, and India and as chief of staff to two German foreign ministers.
Source: Diplomatic Courier
