More renewables, more fossil fuels, more uncertainty, less cooperation, climate packages in the EU and Germany, the peak of emissions in China: 2026 is set to bring a number of important trends – and no doubt surprises, too. A look at what to expect.
By Bernhard Pötter
Greece is expanding its gas-fired power plants and wants to become a hub in south-eastern Europe for LNG imports. This strategy runs counter to the country’s climate targets – and has been welcomed by the US.
By Felix Keßler
Debates are raging at EU level over climate targets in transportation and supposed technological paternalism. Transportation researcher Johannes Weyer says in a Table.Briefings interview that good policy should not try to influence people’s attitudes.
By Alexandra Endres
Storms in Neu-Ulm, heavy rain in Oberallgäu: 400 districts and independent cities in Germany have been hit hard by the effects of global heating.
By Kai Schöneberg
In an interview with Table.Briefings, Christian Bernreiter expresses his disappointment at the EU Commission’s proposals to weaken CO₂ fleet limits and phase out combustion engines. According to Bavaria’s Minister for Transport, this is no more than a blatant charade.
By Lukas Knigge
Photovoltaics became more important for German electricity generation than coal and gas in 2025. This trend helped to curb prices on the European electricity market, which rose again for the first time since the energy crisis.
By Lisa Kuner and Manuel Berkel
More renewables, more fossil fuels, more uncertainty, less cooperation, climate packages in the EU and Germany, the peak of emissions in China: the new year shows many important trends and certainly also surprises. A look ahead.
By Bernhard Pötter
The German Ministry of Economics has provided an explanation as to why a key monitoring report on the energy transition was changed in several places shortly before its publication. However, this contradicts internal emails.
By Malte Kreutzfeldt
Rarely in recent years has climate action faced as much pressure as it has in 2025, both in Germany and internationally. The United States is leading a political rollback: Fossil fuel projects are becoming more attractive, while warnings from the scientific community are being ignored.
By Bernhard Pötter
Even if major developments are heading in the wrong direction, there have been some positive trends in climate policy: The annual COPs remain important, implementation is shifting to grassroots levels, climate lawsuits are successful and adaptation is proving worthwhile.
By Bernhard Pötter
