The European Union (EU) is currently setting out its climate and energy policy framework for 2030. Whether the EU should commit to binding targets for emissions reduction, renewables and energy efficiency, and how ambitious such targets should be, is hotly debated in Brussels. Scenario modeling and statistics are supposed to inform politicians with sound research-based guidance for their decision making. However, it seems that these information sources are often biased in line with the interests of powerful lobby groups thus putting at stake future EU competitiveness, the delivery of the EU climate and energy security and the transformation into a low-carbon economy, find Silvia Brugger and Luca Bergamaschi. “Renewables are expensive and the reason for high energy costs. In times of crisis we cannot afford current renewable energy support schemes and have to focus on growth and competitiveness. Therefore, we have to slow down our ambition, be pragmatic and roll back what is left from the once famous European Climate Leadership.” In short, this is the narrative pushed by influential stakeholders across Europe in order … Continue reading Censored EU Commission Numbers and Biased Scenarios – How Powerful Interests Undermine the Energy Transition in Europe