Insights from "E-quality: Shaping an inclusive energy transition" webinar

News Article

Over 500 participants joined E-quality: Shaping an inclusive energy transition, a webinar organised around the release of our report analysing the potential clash between some of Europe’s climate policies and today’s socio-economic realities. In this “Green Deal versus Yellow Vests” match, Eurelectric together with Guidehouse, Cambridge Econometrics and the Enel Foundation meant to come up with suggestions and solutions.

The full study, downloadable here, provides a meaningful contribution to the current debate on reigniting Europe’s economy with socially acceptable, green policies.

What did we learn during the webinar?

  • The power sector means to help define socially acceptable solutions towards a net zero economy.

Magnus Hall, our President and CEO of Vattenfall, stressed the engagement of our industry. He said:

“We are extremely committed to pave the way for a fossil free world. We truly believe in electrification as a way to fight climate change, and this means decarbonising electricity generation. But the energy transition must be fair: helping the areas in Europe with high transformation needs, as well as the consumers”.
  • A sustainable economy relies on clean investments, and care for citizens.

Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for Energy added:

“The pandemic has showed us how vulnerable we are. But, by investing in sectors, such as clean energy, energy efficiency and circular economy, we are building a more sustainable economy, better equipped to respond to future shocks. And we must commit to doing this by putting households, and each and every citizen first.”
  • Combining climate policies and mitigating options to neutralise negative effects.

Niels Fuglsang, Member of the EU Parliament stated:

“It’s really a great dilemma because some people – working in the fossil industry and driving gasoline cars - will be hurt by climate policies. We could compensate them, by putting in place reskilling and retraining programmes for laid-off workers.”