Brave new world: Revised national climate plans could shift outlook for gas in EU

A revision of a key EU energy policy tool by member states is underway and could result in a radical shift in the outlook for natural gas and LNG in the union’s energy mix, industry commentators tell Gas Matters. In 2019, EU countries submitted their national energy and climate plans (NECPs), covering the period 2021-30, to the European Commission for review and approval, and were called to present an updated draft version by 30 June this year. While this is a routine legislative process, the war in Ukraine and Europe’s ongoing energy crisis have led to a drastic shift in energy policies both on an EU and national level in the past year, leading to a renewed focus on the outcome of the revision at a time of pronounced calls to speed up the continent’s energy transition efforts.