Throughout 2024, our work in Europe focused on driving the climate transition by reducing emissions, expanding renewable energy and strengthening our ecosystem of partners. While the socio-political landscape has become more challenging, with increased climate backlash across the continent, Europe remains a global leader in sustainability.
2024 saw tangible examples of progress.
In addition, the EU’s electricity generation from wind and solar hit a historic high, rising from 27% in early 2023 to 30% in 2024.
Our key partner in Europe, the European Climate Foundation (ECF), has been working to drive a clean industrial transformation and an economy-wide shift to clean power and renewable energy infrastructure across the continent. ECF works closely with partners in the UK. In July, the UK Government lifted its ban on onshore wind farms and committed to doubling Britain’s current onshore wind capacity by 2030 – a milestone supported through advocacy by ECF’s partners.
Furthermore, in September, the country’s last coal power station, at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, was closed, marking the end of the UK’s 142-year reliance on coal-fired electricity and underscoring the nation’s accelerating transition toward a cleaner energy future.
The law sets binding targets to restore 20% of land and sea by 2030 and nearly all degraded ecosystems by 2050 – an achievement made possible through years of collaboration between stakeholders across Europe.
Alongside nature, the EU also advanced ambitious air quality goals.
This was shaped and accelerated with the support of CIFF’s partner, the Clean Air Fund. Their work has been instrumental in mobilising civil society voices and driving national momentum around clean air.
Tackling the climate crisis requires action at every level, and cities – responsible for over 70% of global emissions – are uniquely positioned to drive rapid, scalable change through bold leadership and local solutions.
Between 2015 and 2024, these cities achieved a remarkable 23% reduction in per capita emissions and introduced 235 high-impact climate policies, including new rules to ensure buildings are zero carbon, the use of electric vehicles in city services, and the introduction of climate-focused budgeting across city departments.
Furthermore, cities across Europe have taken tangible action for clean air in 2024 with two low emissions zones for transport implemented in Warsaw and Sofia, the launch of the Limited Traffic Zone in the Paris city centre, and the upcoming launch of a LEZ for heating in Sofia – the first of its kind in Eastern and South East Europe.
