European People’s Party (EPP)

Summary

• Advocates for a balanced approach including collaboration with the private sector, incremental targets, innovation, industry adaptation and economic stability.

• Challenges to their approach may include balancing short-term interests with long-term sustainability goals and navigating political dynamics.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels

• Supports private-public partnership for fuel development.

• Promotes investment in hydrogen infrastructure and global hydrogen production.

• Challenges may include reconciling competing public and private sector interests.

Net-zero priorities

• Their approach includes intermediate GHG reduction targets.

• Endorses technologies like carbon removal to help industries transitioning.

• Incrementalism may be critiqued for lacking ambition.

Green Deal targets

• Prioritises economic stability and job protection, supporting industry for local production of green technology.

• Supports EU leadership in concluding international environmental agreements for the entire bloc.

• Potential opposition from progressive factions advocating for faster action.

Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)

Summary

• Climate strategies include promoting public-private partnerships and public investment in green hydrogen and e-fuels.

• May encounter challenges in funding, navigating bureaucracy, and industry or political opposition. Balancing environmental objectives with economic considerations and social equity will be crucial for effective policy implementation and broad support for climate action.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels

• Public investment in green hydrogen and e-fuels for equitable transition.

• Public-private partnerships for research and development and ensuring scalability.

• Challenges include feasibility of large-scale public investments, bureaucratic hurdles, and aligning public and private interests in partnerships.

Net-zero priorities

• Committed to binding targets and regulatory frameworks.

• Promotes policy for a just transition supporting workers and social inclusivity.

• Challenges include feasibility and economic impact of targets, just transition policies and new labour practices potentially provoking industry resistance.

Green Deal targets

• Ambitious goals even surpassing the Green Deal.

• Addressing socio-economic disparities in tandem with climate crisis.

• Challenges to ambitious targets include critiques of feasibility, financial strain, and industry pushback.

Greens/EFA (European Free Alliance)

Summary

• Prioritises direct investment in green hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and biofuels to decarbonise aviation and shipping, as well as infrastructure including port and airport refuelling stations.

• 2040 targets surpass Green Deal involving total fossil fuel phase out, stringent carbon pricing and increased renewable capacity.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels

• Direct investments in green hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and biofuels, while recognising importance of infrastructure for deployment such as port and airport refuelling stations.

• Challenges include securing necessary funds, potential political resistance from less progressive factions, and navigating regulatory hurdles and stakeholder opposition.

Net-zero priorities

• Net zero by 2040, and substantial cuts by 2030.

• Focus on increasing renewable energy capacity and total fossil fuel phase out.

• Challenges will include perception of goals being unrealistic, and limits on energy storage and grid management to ensure reliability and stability.

Green deal targets

• Market-based approach emphasising higher carbon pricing, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and redirecting funds to renewable energy projects.

• Implementing higher carbon pricing and ending fossil fuel subsidies could encounter resistance from industry and member states concerned about economic impact.

European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)

Summary

• Cautious on green hydrogen and e-fuels in shipping and aviation, prioritising pilot projects to assess technological feasibility and economic viability before large-scale deployment.

• Prioritises energy security and economic stability while supporting low-carbon technologies and incremental efficiency improvements. Oppose the Green Deal’s regulatory burden, considering it to be excessive.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels

• Cautious approach endorsing green hydrogen and e-fuel pilot projects to mitigate risk, and prioritising technological feasibility and economic viability.

• Challenges include risk of caution limiting ambition, project scaling and therefore impact in shipping and aviation. Also lacks consideration of infrastructure development and policy incentivising investment.

Net-zero priorities

• Focus on energy security and economic stability.

• Advocates incremental efficiency improvements and a mix of low-carbon technologies to minimise economic disruption.

• Lack of ambitious targets and timelines will delay net-zero transition, posing risks to long-term sustainability.

Green Deal targets

• Calls for flexibility in Green Deal implementation to avoid regulatory burdens on business and protect economic interests.

• Challenges to this approach include ensuring effective climate action while maintaining economic stability.

The Left (GUE/NGL)

Summary

• Advocates for extensive public investments, state-led initiatives for renewables and worker retraining in line with equitable transition principles.

• Promotes strong regulation to accelerate green hydrogen and e-fuels in shipping and aviation.

• Goals go even beyond the Green Deal and might face challenges in securing sufficient public funds, managing large-scale projects, and balancing regulatory demands with economic stability.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels

• Large-scale public investments in green hydrogen and e-fuels promoting inclusivity and social justice in the transition.

• State-led initiatives in line with social justice agenda for example in retraining schemes.

• Challenges will include critiques of economic feasibility, management demands and crowding out private sector.

Net-zero priorities

• Ambitious timeline for net-zero emissions by 2040 shows commitment to climate action.

• Strong regulatory measures in aid of this goal.

• Challenges include burden of regulation on businesses inspiring industry pushback, and practical limitations for timeline such as period for technology to develop.

Green deal targets

• Committed to enhancing the Green Deal ambition.

• Prioritises comprehensive plans for worker retraining for a just transition.

• Challenges include strain on public resources and regulations’ impact on industry.

Renew Europe

Summary

• Advocates for public-private partnerships to stimulate synthetic fuels, biofuels, and green hydrogen innovation for shipping and aviation.

• Aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 with smart technologies and digitalisation to optimise energy use.

• They propose working with regulations to expedite renewable energy adoption and the decarbonisation of heavy industries to reach the Green Deal’s ambitious goals.

Green hydrogen and e-fuels

• Supports the Green Deal's ambitious climate goals and adoption of green technologies.

• Aims to enhance EU regulation to speed up renewable energy adoption, while providing clarity and stability for private investors.

• Challenges to a market-based approach include ensuring equitable distribution of benefits, and scaling up projects in time.

Net-zero priorities

• Fostering green hydrogen and e-fuel innovation through competitive markets and public-private partnerships.

• Advocating for EU funding for pilot projects for testing and scaling new technologies.

• Emphasising that a standardised regulatory framework is crucial for streamlining new fuels’ integration across EU.

Green deal targets

• Committed to net-zero by 2050, aligning with EU approach.

• Reliance on smart technologies and digitalisation to optimise energy use and reduce emissions.

• Progressive technology approach might overlook immediate needs for regulatory and behavioural changes.