Europe’s energy crisis: How fossil fuel dependence, geopolitical leverage, and austerity policies deepen inflationary cycles

Scientific evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that Europe’s fossil fuel dependence is not only economically risky but ecologically catastrophic, accelerating climate change and exacerbating extreme weather events. Studies from the IPCC and other bodies show that the transition to renewables is not only feasible but necessary to mitigate inflationary pressures tied to volatile energy markets. However, the dominance of neoclassical economic models in policymaking has led to a misplaced faith in market solutions, such as carbon pricing, which fail to address the structural power imbalances in energy systems. The scientific community’s warnings about the limits to growth are consistently sidelined in favor of incremental reforms.