European Union climate policy priorities under scrutiny after heatwaves

Following a summer of record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, questions are rising regarding whether the European Union will re-prioritize climate change in its political agenda. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to address the issue in her upcoming “State of the European Union” speech on September 16, which sets the political priorities for the next year.

In recent years, climate concerns have reportedly taken a backseat to defense and industrial goals. Critics point to environmental rollbacks, such as the watering down of green rules for businesses and proposals to abandon the 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine cars. While approximately 200 environmental groups have urged von der Leyen to present concrete plans to transition the 27-nation bloc away from fossil fuels, some EU sources suggest the focus may shift toward “climate resilience” and the economic potential of green industries rather than the more ambitious legislation seen during the initial Green Deal era.