Finding a needle in a haystack? Identifying degrowth-compatible provisions in EU energy law for a just transition to net-zero by 2050

Abstract

Research shows that relying on a green growth strategy to limit climate change is, at best, a gamble. Degrowth represents a much safer way, relying on a steep reduction in energy and materials consumption, starting with developed countries. Consequently, the concept of degrowth should be implemented within European Union (EU) energy law to reach its net zero target by 2050. This academic article is the first to use the theoretical framework of degrowth to analyse EU energy law. To do so, it focuses on various core energy laws: the 2019 Electricity Market Directive, the 2018 Renewable Energy Sources Directive and the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive (slightly amended in 2018) as well as the recast proposals for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency directives tabled in the 2021 Fit for 55 package and 2022 REPowerEU plan. This research shows that various degrowth-compatible provisions already exist in EU energy law and can be harnessed in the short term, without waiting for a legal overhaul. This article also formulates recommendations, such as interpreting in a degrowth-favourable way the aforementioned provisions and challenging the current as well as forthcoming framework, for instance by amending the proposed ‘energy efficiency first’ principle to include energy sufficiency. Finally, opportunities for future research are outlined.