CLIMATE GOALS ADDENDUM 3 (2026)
Climate Goals. Winning the challenge of climate goals through the creation of skills and competences worldwide
2026 EDITION
ADDENDUM 3
FOCUS GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS AND POLAND
Our international research on the demand for skills related to the energy transition continues, adding a European focus in 2026 with three new countries — Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland — and bringing the total panel of respondents to 17 countries across four continents, with 2,850 interviews (and 25 in-depth discussions with experts): Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for the Middle East; India, China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey for Asia; the United States, Chile, and Argentina for the Americas; Algeria for Africa; and Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom for Europe.
The Fondazione MAIRE – ETS, with the sponsorship of MAIRE Group, in the research conducted by Ipsos Doxa, brings to the table of dialogue the perceived urgency of the creation and upskilling of competences that are necessary to reach climate goals.
The 2026 edition brings with it the publication of three separate papers, each containing a dedicated focus on each new added country.
The first paper focuses on Germany, which stands out for its high level of awareness regarding the energy transition and for its pragmatic approach, viewing change as both an environmental necessity and an industrial evolution.
The second is the one about The Netherlands, which stands out as one of the most mature European markets but also one of the most demanding in evaluating the energy transition: not a technological change, but a broader economic and industrial transformation, shaped by financial innovation and circular models.
The third will be the one about Poland, and it will be published shortly.
The 2026 results of the study confirm nevertheless the perception that the true engine of the energy transition has shifted away from Europe. Emerging economies are prioritizing the transition as a top-down national mission, sustained by high levels of investment and strong public confidence. China and India are moving faster: they are committing more to education and training for energy transition and expressing stronger confidence in the benefits of the shift. Meanwhile, European countries – Germany, the Netherlands and Poland – are taking a more measured, and in some cases skeptical, approach, especially when weighing priorities and the trade off between costs and benefits.
Click below for more details and to read the paper!
FOCUS ON GERMANY
The first paper, “Climate Goals” Addendum 3 (2026 edition) focuses on Germany.
The survey reveals an extremely interesting international picture.
Germany stands out for its high level of awareness of the energy transition and its pragmatic perspective, seeing the transition as both an environmental necessity and an industrial evolution. Germans perceive the energy transition as a demanding process that requires immediate efforts to unlock future potential, while attention is increasingly shifting to the tangible structural and infrastructural hurdles that must be overcome to complete the process. This vision is supported by a "tripartite" governance model, where responsibilities are shared among politicians, private industry, and citizens. However, private companies are increasingly perceived as the primary drivers of operational progress.
The path forward is viewed as a strictly technical endeavor, rooted in the long-standing excellence of Germany’s energy, engineering and construction, and automotive sectors, that requires the immediate upskilling of the workforce to create "hybrid" professionals combining hard and soft skills.
The main findings of this study were presented on March 26, 2026, during the event “Climate Goals and the Reshaping of Energy. Awareness and Perspectives in Germany” — a MAIRE event held at the Italian Embassy in Berlin.
To learn more, read the dedicated article.
FOCUS ON THE NETHERLANDS
The second paper of “Climate Goals” Addendum 3 (2026 edition) focuses on The Netherlands. The survey reveals an extremely interesting international picture.
The Netherlands emerges as one of the most mature European markets, but also one of the most demanding in the evaluation of the energy transition, perceived not as a technological change, but as a broader economic and industrial transformation, shaped by financial innovation and circular models. The level of awareness is almost unanimous (98%) and 59% declare themselves to be “well informed” on the topic; among the motivations are climate (35%) and public health (30%), while 33% expect a net creation of jobs in sustainable sectors. A positive but realistic vision: 50% believe that in the coming years (from 1 to 3) costs will exceed benefits, to absorb a phase of “initial investments”.
Dutch respondents see business as the main operational driver (57%), while expectations remain high: 43% consider current corporate efforts inadequate. Priority areas align with the perceived strengths of the country: green chemistry (43%), solar and wind (42%), and ICT/digital solutions (33%). Human capital is central: 75% identify a key figure as a “hybrid professional”, capable of combining technical skills (renewables 47% and recycled materials 47%) with advanced cognitive abilities (critical thinking 57%, problem solving 56%) – our “humanist engineer”. While recognizing the need to update skills (70%), the preferred approach is structural and medium-term, with 41% indicating a 2-3 year horizon to integrate new skills.
The main findings of this study were presented on June 18, 2026, in the frame of Nextchem Symposium, during the event “Climate Goals, Awareness & Perspectives” at the Hague.
To read more about the event read the dedicated article.
FOCUS ON POLAND
The third paper of “Climate Goals” Addendum 3 (2026 edition) focuses on Poland. The paper will be published by June 2026.
CLIMATE GOALS - THE COMPLETE SERIES
In this section, you can find all the reports published since 2023 in the “Climate Goals” series: every year, the research expands to include new countries.
Read them all!
Enhancing the energy transition (2026)
The “Climate Goals” research continues! Addendum 3 of our study on global perceptions of the urgency of implementing the energy transition and developing the new skills required to do so expands the survey to include a European focus, adding three new countries — Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland — and dedicating an in-depth paper to each of them.
Enhancing the energy transition (2025)
The “Climate Goals” research continues! Addendum 2 to our research on the global perception of the urgency of implementing the energy transition and creating the new skills needed to do so integrates the survey by adding two new countries (Qatar and Argentina) and updating the data on the US and China.
Enhancing the energy transition – COP29 (2024)
“Climate Goals” research continues! Addendum 1 of our paper on the perceived global urgency for the creation of new competences for the energy transition has two new protagonists: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, looking forward to COP29.
Enhancing the energy transition – COP28 (2023)
“Climate goals.Winning the challenge of climate goals through the creation of skills and competences worldwide”: this is the title of our first research, created to investigate the responsiveness of countries on this theme’ urgency, and presented at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023.
