Domestic acceptability as a condition for ambitious climate policies

Europe aims to become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. Today, the European Union Emissions Trading System is at the core of European climate policies. It is extending to new sectors, including road transport and buildings. The European carbon market(s) are supported by a set of diverse complementary policies to decarbonise the economy, including the industry and energy sectors. Succeeding to implement ambitious climate policies based on increasing carbon prices, as foreseen in the European Union, will affect directly households and companies across Europe. It requires that distributional impacts and acceptability are better accounted for in climate policies. This implies strengthening the governance of Europe’s environmental policymaking and the role of carbon pricing. Recent dramatic experiences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also invite us to consider new ways of tackling price-related problems and innovations for acceptability and crisis management. Solutions for increasing acceptability include a more articulated policy mix with distributional measures, citizens’ participation, and a stronger role of local initiatives. Moreover, handling the climate crisis implies balancing rapid decision-making, democracy, and fairness, building upon interdisciplinary sciences that inform policies and experiments, such as scientific advisory boards and citizen climate assemblies.