The European Union has long presented itself as a global leader in climate action. From the ambitious European Green Deal to the binding European Climate Law, the EU has committed to becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030.
But as the political tide begins to turn across Europe, questions are now being raised: Is the EU’s green transition losing momentum? Could its landmark climate commitments be weakened or reversed?
In this article, we at Haush explore the growing risks facing the EU’s climate laws and what it could mean for Europe’s Net Zero future.
Shifting Politics: A Green Backlash in the Making?
Recent elections across Europe have signalled a swing away from green politics. Populist and centre-right parties have gained traction, often campaigning against what they label as “green overreach”, especially in rural areas and among industries hit hardest by climate policies.
In the European Parliament elections of 2024, a surge in conservative and far-right seats raised concerns that support for key Green Deal legislation may waver in the new term. Several member states have also seen political leaders call for delays or exemptions to major climate regulations.
Notable examples include:
- Germany scaling back its national building emissions law after public backlash
- France pausing new environmental taxes affecting farmers
- Poland and Hungary opposing further EU-wide emissions limits
As political consensus weakens, the risk increases that climate laws may be slowed, softened, or contested, especially when it comes to enforcement and funding.
Economic Pressures and the Cost-of-Living Squeeze
- High inflation
- Rising energy prices
- A cost-of-living crisis for households across the continent
These pressures have made climate and energy policies more politically sensitive, especially when linked to consumer costs, such as phasing out internal combustion engine vehicles, introducing carbon pricing on buildings and transport, or requiring energy upgrades in homes.
As a result, some governments have called for delays to key measures, including parts of the Fit for 55 package, such as:
Though many of these have already been passed, their implementation is at risk of being weakened or poorly enforced at national level.
Rollbacks and Revisions: EU Green Deal Under Review
With elections reshaping the political balance, the incoming European Commission will be under pressure to review or revise parts of the Green Deal.
Industry lobbies and some governments are pushing to:
- Loosen deadlines for emissions cuts
- Reassess environmental regulations like nature restoration and pesticide bans
- Delay or drop sector-specific obligations, such as those for agriculture or buildings
The risk is not a repeal of climate law, but rather slow erosion through exemptions, delays, or lack of enforcement. This would undermine the EU’s ability to stay on track for its 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
Implementation Gaps and Member State Resistance
Some member states have failed to submit credible National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), while others are lagging in delivering required investments in renewable energy, green transport, and home retrofits.
This opens the door to policy fragmentation, where some countries push forward while others drag their feet, undermining the EU’s claim to unified leadership on climate.
The European Commission has the legal tools to intervene, including infringement proceedings, but these are slow-moving and politically fraught. Without stronger incentives and enforcement, the climate framework risks losing coherence.
Climate Fatigue vs. Climate Reality
Perhaps the most dangerous risk is the rise of climate fatigue, a narrative that Europe has “done enough” or should now slow down for the sake of competitiveness and affordability.
This clashes directly with the climate science, which shows emissions must fall dramatically over the next five years to avoid breaching the 1.5°C threshold.
Watering down climate laws now could mean:
- Missing the 2030 -55% reduction target
- Jeopardising the Net Zero 2050 goal
- Weakening Europe’s negotiating power in international climate talks
- Undermining the long-term resilience of EU economies
Finally: A Climate Law Worth Defending?
The European Climate Law remains a landmark, legally binding the EU to Net Zero by 2050. But laws are only as strong as the political will behind them.
With mounting economic, political, and social pressures, the EU now faces a decisive test: Will it hold the line on climate action, or begin to retreat from its global leadership role?
If Europe is to deliver a fair, affordable, and science-based green transition, it must resist the temptation to weaken or delay. Instead, it must double down on implementation, social protections, and investment, making the green transition a source of opportunity, not division.
The road to Net Zero is still open. But it will take courage to stay on it.
The post Is Europe’s Net-Zero Future Under Threat? Political Risks to the EU’s Climate Laws first appeared on Haush.