WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 54
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
These sovereignty policies, which are di昀케cult to implement
e昀昀ectively, will likely increase the cost of the energy transition for
citizens. They are also increasing market fragmentation and
unpredictability thus slowing down capital investment in energy
projects.
Despite Europe’s commitment to ambitious climate goals and
some progress in countries like China and India, there are signs
of a growing disengagement from climate action by companies
and banks. Public support for renewable energy is decreasing
due to concerns over energy transition costs.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/9/2332521/-Climate-Brief-Scientists-issue-New-DireWarning-The-Earth-is-careening-toward-Catastrophe
401
Meanwhile, global greenhouse gas emissions continued to
rise in 2024, accompanied by an increase in extreme weather
events. In this context, the path to a successful energy
transition appears more uncertain than ever as con昀椀rmed
by a recent report from more than 60 climatologists. Their
warning was dire: “Things are all moving in the wrong
direction!”401
Climate change could increase the number and the severity of
natural disasters. Some of these disasters such as major 昀椀res
would further increase carbon emissions. On the other hand,
they could have the e昀昀ect of alerting politicians and pushing
them to act more decisively to combat climate change.
There is an urgent need to accelerate adaptation
measures to address the impact of climate change,
while also improving access to electricity – a vital
resource – for a greater number of people on Earth.
Colette Lewiner
Paris, September 2, 2025
NB: I wish to thank my Capgemini colleagues, and especially Claire
Gauthier and Florent Andrillon, for their valuable comments that
helped me to enrich this Outlook.
WEMO 2025
driven by both the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East
con昀氀icts. Control over energy resources and critical raw materials
has fuelled these con昀氀icts, which, in turn, have impacted their
supply chains. China’s remarkable dominance in green energy
technologies is driving Western nations to adopt more sovereign
approaches to securing energy and critical mineral supplies.
The U.S.’s shift towards a fossil fuel-focused energy policy re昀氀ects
both a sovereign approach and a climate skeptical approach. It is
already having a signi昀椀cant impact inside and outside the US.
High American tari昀昀s on Chinese clean energy related goods
are pushing Chinese companies to expand their international
footprint to avoid these tari昀昀s. The challenges faced by
o昀昀shore wind projects are a昀昀ecting European utilities and oil
and gas companies, as they are pulling back from their US
ventures with 昀椀nancial losses.
Moreover, the "Not In My Backyard" syndrome fuels local
resistance to renewable energy projects. Increased defense
spending related to the Russia-Ukraine war, and the US
reduced commitment to NATO funding, will strain EU and
national budgets, risking reduced funding for climate change
actions.
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Throughout 2024 and the 昀椀rst half of 2025,
geopolitical tensions escalated. These tensions were