Monthly National Update: January
As climate and energy policy continue to evolve across Europe, NGOs remain at the forefront—advocating for stronger measures, engaging with governments, and keeping an eye on the shifting political landscape. This blog post summarizes recent developments, key challenges, and upcoming actions from civil society organizations in Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania and at the EU level.
As climate and energy policy continue to evolve across Europe, NGOs remain at the forefront—advocating for stronger measures, engaging with governments, and keeping an eye on the shifting political landscape. This blog post summarizes recent developments, key challenges, and upcoming actions from civil society organizations in Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, and at the EU level.
LATVIA: Green Liberty’s fight against climate backsliding
Green Liberty has been actively participating in national climate dialogues, including the SCP (Social Climate Plan) stakeholder meetings and the ECoPP annual conference. However, the political landscape is shifting. Despite earlier momentum, climate targets are being deprioritized:
- The national climate law vote has been postponed, with surprising opposition from the President.
- Parliament is openly discussing the reclassification of peat as a renewable energy source, despite its 10% contribution to Latvia’s emissions.
BULGARIA: EPI confronts disinformation and political pressure
In Bulgaria, the EPI reports growing legislative pressure on NGOs and independent media, despite a rejected Law on Foreign Agents. The political climate remains tense, though new government coalitions since January 2025 may provide fresh opportunities for constructive engagement.
SLOVENIA: Umanotera pushes for Climate Law revisions
Umanotera has been deeply involved in climate policy dialogues, including research on sustainable transport and participation in the Climate Council. Unfortunately, progress on the SCP remains stagnant, and the Climate Law is delayed.
ROMANIA: Focus Eco Center engages locally amid national silence
With no recent national-level action on ETS2 or SCP, Focus Eco Center is focusing on local engagement. Their recent seminar on climate change in Odorheiu Secuiesc marked an important step in raising awareness.
HUNGARY: Clean Air Action Group calls attention to the enormous injustice of the current system of financing fossil fuel use
Some consultations on ETS2 and the SCP have started but there is still little information on the government’s plans. Meanwhile, CAAG is raising awareness of the fact that currently poor households receive much less subsidy than rich households, and this causes social tensions and unnecessary environmental pollution. See the article Our Campaign on “Stop Subsidising the Rich!”.
EUROPEAN LEVEL: EEB and coordination for ETS-2 implementation
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) continues to coordinate at the EU level, with an emphasis on ETS-2 revenue distribution and climate dividends. Two recent articles underscore the need for a socially just transition:
- Baltic Wind – “Przekazanie miliardów milionom” (PL)
- Balkan Green Energy News – “Giving the Billions to the Millions” (EN)
Shared advocacy goals and opportunities
Across the board, NGOs are aligned on several advocacy priorities:
- Fair pricing and just transition: Ensuring energy and climate policies do not unfairly burden vulnerable communities.
- Energy efficiency: Promoting low-cost, quick-win solutions—especially for low-income households.
- Transparent public engagement: Strengthening the role of civil society in shaping how EU funds are used.
- Joint statements and campaigns: Leveraging combined voices for greater impact in EU-level consultations and discussions.
As political winds shift and challenges mount, these NGOs continue to push for a greener, fairer, and more inclusive Europe. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved in the next phases of advocacy!
