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.