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Europe’s industrial transformation

Enhancing Europe’s long-term prosperity while strengthening security

Changes in global politics and economics are upending assumptions about Europe’s economic model and fuelling debate over the future of European industries. Europe must now design an industrial strategy that will help decarbonise and spur innovation in the manufacturing and heavy industry sectors; develop competitive, resilient clean tech value chains; and create a level playing field with its trading partners. This will improve the continent’s resilience to shocks, while providing good jobs and supporting a fair transition from fossil fuels.

Our work on Europe’s industrial transformation aims to make sure that climate-friendly production technologies are embedded into broader modernisation and investment agendas. We also strive to ensure that future investment cycles are aligned with the Paris Agreement and consider the altered geopolitical landscape in Europe. To achieve this, Europe must actively support the development of innovative, resilient industrial structures, reducing dependence on costly fossil fuel imports. Key measures include direct electrification of industrial processes using a cleaner domestic power mix, prioritising energy and resource efficiency, and promoting a more circular economy. Our goal is a European economy that is more resilient, competitive, and secure in the face of evolving challenges.

Beyond Europe, we also promote new alliances based on shared strategic trade and investment interests, aiming for more diverse, resilient supply chains with stronger environmental and social safeguards.

Our industrial transformation work involves close cooperation with other sectors, from climate finance to international affairs – for instance, mobilising mission-oriented finance for industrial transformation, and supporting economically vulnerable regions and just transition measures.

Meet the industrial transformation team

Impact stories

Land, food & nature
12.03.2024

A fairer future for farmers is a greener future

Addressing the inequities at the heart of our food system is necessary for both farmers and climate action European farmers have been taking to the streets to protest untenable levels of hardship. From increasing production costs and administrative burden to…

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Europe in the world
26.02.2024

Radical rethink and reforms will be needed to climate-proof trade

For the first time ever, the UN’s annual climate summit dedicated a part of its agenda to trade policy. The Trade Day at COP28 in Dubai offered a much-needed focus on the role that international trade can play in the…

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Fossil free energy
31.01.2024

Tackling energy poverty in Europe

The buildings sector is a key contributor to climate change, representing around a third of energy-related emissions in the EU. Inefficient buildings have also aggravated energy poverty, which is skyrocketing across the continent with at least 50 million Europeans living…

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