The transition towards climate neutrality represents a profound societal transformation that affects different segments of society in unequal ways and imply the adoption of just transition policies. While the urgency of achieving net zero emissions is clear, the pathway to decarbonisation produces varied impacts across regions, communities, and social groups....
The SPES project suggests that a deeper shift is needed towards a just and green transition — one that redefines the very meaning of productivity, innovation, and competitiveness and how they must support sustainability and equity objectives. SPES does not treat these as separate or even competing dimensions, but as...
The impacts of climate change have far-reaching consequences in many domains, posing a range of interconnected risks. While some of these risks stem directly from climatic phenomena, many are shaped or amplified by existing socio-economic conditions. In Working Paper D6.2 “Vulnerabilities in Europe During Times of Transition” SPES Partners from...
At the heart of SPES is the recognition that traditional data sources alone are insufficient to capture the complexity of contemporary sustainability challenges. Instead, SPES identifies a wide range of novel and complex data sources – from web analytics to citizen-generated data – that offer new opportunities for monitoring transitions...
Despite the benefits of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) within the EU economy, the impact it will have on EU global trade partners remains unclear. SPES partners from PEP – Partnership for Economic Policy in their SPES Focus “A GVAR analysis of the macroeconomic effects of the Carbon Border...
The European Union has made significant progress in reducing CO2 emissions in recent decades, partly due to the implementation of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). However, the decline in emissions has not been matched by an equally substantial reduction in the continent's carbon footprint. To remedy this problem,...
Building a consensus on broader frameworks, metrics and accounts goes beyond simply agreeing on measurement issues: it calls for envisioning the new world we aspire to. Overcoming the addiction to GDP requires a collective commitment to broader well-being and sustainability. As argued in SPES Working Paper 3.3 by researchers from...
“Living well within planetary boundaries” is not just an aspiration but a core vision of the EU. As climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse accelerate, achieving this vision is increasingly urgent. Despite ambitious global frameworks, progress remains uneven. The Sustainable Human Development paradigm offers an integrated approach that balances...
Energy poverty - i.e. a situation in which households are unable to access essential energy services and products - is a key concept of the just and fair transition towards climate neutrality. Over the past decade the European Union has increased its efforts in reducing energy poverty, however they remains...
The twin transitions—the green transition towards sustainability and the digital transition towards technological advancement—have become central to policy debates in Europe and beyond. The European Green Deal, a cornerstone of the European Union's strategy, aims to achieve a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. This initiative highlights the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability...
