Study finds emissions cuts can mask lack of systemwide change toward climate neutrality

Many countries have adopted ambitious climate protection targets, typically measuring progress through emissions reductions and the expansion of renewable energy. But according to a research team led by Germán Bersalli of the Research Institute for Sustainability, such indicators offer only limited insight. In Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, the researchers introduce a method designed to better capture the underlying drivers of change and apply it to four European countries. Their findings reveal a consistent pattern: despite measurable advances, none of the countries has yet achieved the comprehensive, system-wide transformation required for a fully CO₂-free energy system.