War, Peace and the Green Economy

All that changed suddenly on 24 February when Russia invaded Ukraine, upending many of the questions we took for granted, including the future of the EU's Green Deal.

As we go to press, it is still not clear how the war in Ukraine will reshape the global green transition. Some are hoping for a stepping up of moves towards renewables while others speculate that some already-reluctant governments will seek to delay such plans.

The topic is vast, fascinating and multi-faceted. To polish up your green credentials, we have a glossary of key climate-related terms and a visual journey through the most defining moments and initiatives which mark the EU's green transformation.

For easier reading, we have divided the magazine into three parts:

First, we look into the more interesting and intriguing internal aspects of the EU's Green Deal. The magazine kicks off with our lead article, which finds that — at least for the moment — Russia's war against Ukraine and, before that, Covid 19, are supercharging the project, instead of derailing it.

There is criticism, however, that the EU's decision to include natural gas and nuclear power as "transitional activities" in its sustainable investments guidelines for green finance could turn out to be, in the words of some, the "biggest greenwash ever."

Meanwhile, increasing nuclear energy capacity has re-emerged as an option to help Europe cut dependence on Russian fossil fuels and, in Germany, we explore whether the government's pro-renewables rhetoric in Berlin is really being translated action on the ground.

Second, we take a closer look at the Green Deal's external fall-out, especially on African countries where the EU has been advocating an "African Green Deal", as a centrepiece of the continent's economic recovery. Our interviews and articles reflect more nuanced African thinking on the topic and warn that the EU's much-publicised Global Gateway connectivity initiative as well as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism are not universally welcomed in Africa.

Finally, we talk to former Green MEP Magic Magid who is campaigning for climate justice and to MEP Mohammed Chahim who says a large chunk of the proceeds from the carbon border tax should be used to help low-income countries to build renewable energy systems and clean-up their industries.

Uganda's young climate activist Hilda Flavia Nakabuye explains why she will not stop her campaign for the greening of Africa.

With its diversity of authors and views and its globally-inclusive approach, we believe the magazine sharpens ongoing EU discussions on the green economy.

We really enjoyed putting this magazine together and we hope you enjoy reading it.