‘Illness, war, living costs, and deteriorating public security in Europe currently pose more pressing existential challenges for us than climate change. As of now, this has not always been the case, and one may hope it will not remain so.’

‘The EU can draw inspiration from global leaders like the United States and China. Both nations are integrating economic growth with environmental sustainability—whether through the American Inflation Reduction Act or the latest iteration of China’s Five-Year Plan. These strategies emphasize harmony between development and sustainability. The EU should adopt a similar approach.’

Some observers believe that the war offers a painful but historic opportunity for Europe to detach itself from fossil fuels more rapidly than planned, and the scarcity of energy will bring the required green shift in societal attitudes, as well as the operation of the economy.