The pushback on the net zero ambitions of many countries has become increasingly evident since the energy crisis of 2022.

The surge in energy prices, especially in Europe, has forced governments to address immediate concerns about the cost of living and high energy prices rather than gain more support for net-zero goals and policies.

Households and businesses are now much more focused on energy affordability than on clean energy. As a result, voters in the developed nations in recent months have chosen to punish the politicians during whose tenure energy prices spiked in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which coincided with a rise in energy demand after the initial Covid lockdowns.  

Sustainability and adoption of policies to advance net-zero goals were dominating energy policy and decision-making until the end of 2021.