Accelerating the climate transition is a central part of securing both the EU’s strategic autonomy and meeting the mid-to-long-term goals to decarbonise the economy, as the EU pledges to stay on course towards climate neutrality. This ambition requires both public and private climate investments but also policy tools. It also requires a clear understanding of the level of investment needed in different sectors to meet the EU decarbonisation targets and how those investments develop year-on-year.

With the second edition of our State of Europe’s Climate Investment report, we take stock of the development in investments supporting the climate transition in EU27. Our report assesses the real-economy annual investments needed to meet the 2030 targets set out in the Green Deal and Net Zero Industry Act for the energy, buildings, transport and clean tech manufacturing sectors. We track the actual investments in those sectors in the EU economy, highlight the deficits and analyse challenges to mobilise investments.

Based on the investment gap, the questions emerge: how do we mobilise sufficient public funding and private capital to accelerate the climate transition? Where should the money come from? What are the policy solutions needed to support the climate transition in times of significant budgetary constraints? And what would a long-term investment plan for Europe’s climate transition look like in the current geo-political situation?

PROGRAMME:

10:30: 10:40: Keynote: Staying the course on the EU’s climate ambition, by Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, European Commission
10:40: Opening remarks: The pathway for climate investments in turbulent times, by Jean Pisani-Ferry, I4CE’s chair of I4CE’s Board
10:50: Presentation of State of Europe’s Climate Investment followed by Q&A, by Clara Calipel, I4CE research fellow
11:30: Panel debate: Investing in Europe’s climate transition – do we have what it takes?William Todts, Executive Director, T&E – Transport & environment
- Heather Grabbe, Senior Fellow, Bruegel
- Giles Dickson, Chief Executive Officer, WindEurope
- Bertrand Magné, Senior Economist, EIB – European Investment Bank

In this panel debate we will dive further into the main sectors analysed in the report and the public and private investment needs and the challenges encountered. Panelists will also discuss the policy solutions needed to mobilise investments - or to reduce the cost of the transition.

12:15 – Concluding remarks: Next steps for the EU, by Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, MEP and co-chair of the Intergroup for Attracting Investment to Ensure a Competitive and Sustainable EU

The State of Europe's Climate Investment