The EU and several other jurisdictions around the world have committed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or the decade immediately after. 

Reaching ambitious climate targets requires the contribution of every sector of the economy, including energy, industry, transport and buildings. Sectors differ in terms of emissions, availability of mature low-carbon technologies, market structure and demand patterns. These and other factors lead to a differentiated decarbonisation potential and determine a diverse set of challenges. 

A rich policy toolbox is available to reduce emissions: some target emissions coming from all or most sectors of the economy, whereas other are sector-specific or seek to reduce emissions by promoting new technologies. Applying policies to reduce emissions can however generate side effects that must be dealt with to guarantee public goals going beyond climate change mitigation, such as social acceptance and economic competitiveness.  

Multiple combinations of policy tools are possible to pursue net-zero emissions. Different countries implement alternative policy mixes, depending on the structure of their economy and preferences. They can also re-assess their choices over time, including due to developments in international trade or the outcome of an election. 

After completing this course, you’ll be able to:  

• Map the decarbonisation goals adopted by the European Union and the other main jurisdictions around the world, including China and the US;  

• Recall the most important steps in the international negotiations on climate change and understand the challenges associated with any progress in their governance;  

• Describe the role of the various countries and economic sectors in the emission of greenhouse gasses and their potential contribution to achieve net-zero emissions over the next decades;  

• Understand the functioning of the main policy tools that can be adopted to foster the decarbonisation of the economy, and recognise their strengths and limits;  

• Recognise the specific challenges associated with the decarbonisation of the energy sector, industry, transport and buildings, including issues such as competitiveness in international trade, social acceptability and security of supply; 

• Evaluate the most appropriate policy mix to promote the decarbonisation of a specific sector of the economy and the interdependencies that may arise across sectors;  

• Compare the initiatives adopted by the EU to achieve a net-zero economy with those implemented by other jurisdictions around the world, including China and the US;  

• Discuss the possibility to pursue, at the same time, a sustainable, affordable and secure supply of energy by means of an integrated approach;  

• Critically assess the strategies and prospects to achieve net-zero emissions over the coming decades in the current geopolitical landscape. 

The course is given in English and developed for:

• Policy officers and representatives of stakeholder associations and NGOs that deal with or are affected by decarbonisation policies
• Officers of governmental organisations that are involved in decarbonisation policies at the national and international level (e.g., Ministry of the Environment, National Regulatory Authorities for Energy)
• Employees of private and public companies that deal with regulatory affairs and sustainability issues
• Energy experts and consultants
• Young researchers and university students

Participants can take the course on three different levels:

1) Investigator: learn about the challenges of achieving net-zero emissions and understand the different strategies implemented in Europe and beyond;

2) Advocate: learn to discuss and debate the strategies to achieve net-zero emissions in Europe and beyond with colleagues and field specialists;

3) Master: learn to analyse, discuss and attempt to define/improve the strategy to achieve net-zero emission in a specific country or in a specific sector.

The amount of time required to take this course depends on the aimed course level as well as the level of expertise in the subject prior to joining the course. For example:

• Novice to Investigator: around 6 hours/week
• Novice to Advocate: around 8 hours/week
• Novice to Master: around 10 hours/week
• Expert (Advocate level understanding of the topic) to Master: 5 hours/week

Welcome class (23 September 2025 – 12:00-13:00 CEST)

Introduction to the course and the faculty. Q&A with the course participants.

Week 1: The big picture (24-30 September 2025)

In this week, we set the scene for the whole course by exploring the evolution over time and the distribution across countries and sectors of human-related greenhouse gas emissions. We then recall the story of international climate negotiations until the latest developments and discuss the challenges associated with international climate governance. We look at the decarbonisation commitments that some of the main jurisdictions around the world have taken and the key elements of their strategies to reach a net-zero economy. Finally, we discuss how decarbonisation strategies are affected by the rise of populism and the new geopolitical context.

Live sessions:

• Expert panel with Jos Delbeke and Torbjørg Jevnaker (FSR) on 26 September, 12:00-13:00 CEST
• Office hour moderated by Sofia Nicolai (FSR) on 30 September, 12:00-13:00 CEST

Topics: Anthropogenic climate change; evolution and distribution of GHG emissions; international climate negotiations and governance; Paris Agreement; nationally-determined contributions; decarbonisation strategies; climate backlash.

Week 2: The energy sector (1-7 October 2025)

The energy sector is a key vector in the transition to net-zero. Other sectors that currently consume unabated fossil fuels will need clean and reliable energy. In this week, we thus focus on the principal challenges for decarbonising the energy sector. We first examine the technologies behind the transition to zero-carbon energy, and consider the benefits and drawbacks of various policy tools used to encourage this transition. We then analyse how the shift to an energy system increasingly dominated by variable and distributed renewable energy sources creates complex problems for energy markets, infrastructure, and energy security. We moreover explore the policy responses to these challenges. Finally, we discuss policy and regulatory approaches to the more localised issues relating to the accelerated construction of clean energy and grid infrastructure, such as land-use conflicts and inclusive consultation processes.

Live sessions:

• Expert panel chaired by Torbjørg Jevnaker (FSR) on 3 October, 12:00-13:00 CEST
• Office hour moderated by Max Münchmeyer (FSR) on 7 October, 12:00-13:00 CEST

Topics: fossil fuels, renewable energy, nuclear energy, renewables support schemes, electricity markets, energy security, network planning, energy system digitalisation, just transition, land use, permitting, renewables acceleration areas.

Week 3: The industrial sector (8-14 October 2025)

In this week, we look at the role of the industrial sector in the road towards net zero. We present first the GHG emissions associated with this sector and the structure of the energy mix. We then provide an overview of the policy tools and main low-carbon technologies that can foster the decarbonisation of the sector. Later, we investigate how it is possible to support the development of a competitive clean-tech industry in a context of receding globalisation. Finally, we consider how to ensure the decarbonisation of the energy-intensive industries without undermining their economic sustainability.

Live sessions:

• Expert panel chaired by Nicolò Rossetto (FSR) on 10 October 2025, 12:00-13:00 CEST
• Office hour moderated by Sofia Nicolai (FSR) on 14 October 2025, 12:00-13:00 CEST

Topics: industrial decarbonisation technologies; carbon capture, storage and use; clean molecules; hydrogen; energy efficiency certificates; carbon contracts for difference; carbon border adjustment mechanism; carbon leakage; industrial competitiveness; industrial policy; clean-tech industry; critical raw materials; energy-intensive industries; state aid.

Week 4: The transport sector (15-21 October 2025)

In this week, we explore key aspects of sustainable transport, focusing on electro-mobility, intermodality, and policy strategies for the decarbonisation of the sector. We examine how electric mobility is advancing, how transport systems integrate for efficiency and the role of trade policies in shaping global transport networks. We also discuss technological neutrality in decarbonizing transport means and how infrastructure developments, such as charging stations, support sustainable mobility. Finally, we assess the interaction between transport policy and policies in other sectors, and the challenges arising from balancing environmental goals with economic and social needs.

Live sessions:

• Expert panel chaired by Torbjørg Jevnaker (FSR) on 17 October 2025, 12:00-14:00 CEST
• Office hour moderated by Sofia Nicolai (FSR) on 21 October 2025, 12:00-13:00 CEST

Topics: sustainable and smart mobility, electro-mobility, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, smart and bi-directional charging, mobility infrastructure, intermodality, modal shift, trade policy and transport means, technological neutrality, carbon pricing, ETS 2, alternative fuels, trans-European transport network (TEN-T).

Week 5: The building sector (22-28 October 2025)

In this week, we look at the role of the building sector in the road towards net zero. We present first the GHG emissions associated with this sector and the structure of the energy mix that supply buildings. We then provide an overview of the policy tools and some of the low-carbon technologies that can foster the decarbonisation of the sector. Later, we investigate the challenges of increasing the efficiency of the building stock, with particular regard to the issue of financing. Finally, we consider the issue of energy poverty and the need to include vulnerable consumers in the energy transition.

Live sessions:

• Expert panel chaired by Nicolò Rossetto (FSR) on 24 October 2025, 12:00-13:00 CEST
• Office hour moderated by Max Münchmeyer (FSR) on 28 October 2025, 12:00-13:00 CEST

Topics: heat pumps; district heating and cooling; energy system integration; smart buildings; energy performance certificate; energy efficiency standards; eco-design and energy label; energy taxation; financing building renovation; energy poverty; subsidies and regulated energy prices.

Weeks 6 & 7: Buffer weeks (29 October – 11 November 2025)

Week 8: Mastery challenges (12-18 November 2025)

In this week, we target two specific and timely topics with the help of a series of guest speakers. Participants pursuing the master level will deliver their assignment.

Live session:

• Mastery challenge 1: Getting to net-zero in a populist world: how to stay competitive and on track?, chaired by Torbjorg Jevnaker on 14 November 2025, 12:00-13:00 CET
• Mastery challenge 2: Getting to net-zero in Ukraine: how to build back better?, chaired by Nicolò Rossetto on 18 November 2025, 12:00-13:00 CET