Monthly National Update: May

With the summer deadline for Social Climate Plans (SCPs) fast approaching, the picture across Europe remains mixed. While some governments are finalising their drafts, few have opened them up for real public input. In many cases, civil society organisations are stepping in to ask the questions that still need answers—especially around fairness, transparency, and who will actually benefit from these plans.

Latvia and Bulgaria got early glimpses of their SCPs, but public consultation remains limited or rushed. In Poland, the consultation process officially began, but key events happened with little notice. Meanwhile, Hungary’s government has reportedly decided not to implement ETS2 at all—though work on their SCP continues—raising doubts about their direction.

At the European level, coordination is growing stronger. The European Environmental Bureau and others are preparing advocacy toolkits, events, and case studies to support national partners. Practical examples—like Austria’s system of postal vouchers for direct payments—are helping to show what fairness can look like in action.

As the final weeks of SCP drafting unfold, the message from across the region is clear: climate action must go hand in hand with social justice. Whether governments are ready to meet that challenge remains to be seen, but civil society is making sure the pressure—and the ideas—are there.

Photo: Kristīne Kozaka/Unsplash