PRESS RELEASE

FONDAZIONE MAIRE PRESENTED IN BERLIN THE “CLIMATE GOALS” STUDY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF MAIRE EUROPEAN STRATEGY LEVERAGING ON GERMANY

• The study by Fondazione MAIRE – ETS with Ipsos Doxa has been monitoring public awareness of the energy transition worldwide since 2023 involving 2,850 individuals and 25 experts from 17 countries
• Germany emerges as one of the most informed and pragmatic countries on the energy transition, even though momentum now appears to be shifting towards emerging economies
• The event was also an opportunity of discussion with German industrial community on group strategies in Europe on energy transition technologies

Milan/Berlin, 27 March 2026 – The fourth edition of “Climate Goals: winning the challenge of climate goals through the creation of skills and competences worldwide” (Addendum 3: Focus on Germany) has been presented at the Italian Embassy in Berlin. The study – promoted by Fondazione MAIRE – ETS and carried out in cooperation with Ipsos Doxa with the support of MAIRE – has been monitoring since 2023 public awareness and consciousness on the energy transition worldwide, looking beyond low- or zero-emission energy production to include the transformation of industrial processes, products, business models, distribution and consumption patterns.

The 2026 edition, with a deep focus on Germany, The Netherlands and Poland, provides insights involving 2,850 individuals, and integrates the view of 25 experts in 17 countries across 4 continents: Qatar, Saudia Arabia and the UAE for the Middle East; India, China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey for Asia; USA, Chile and Argentina for the Americas; Algeria in Africa; Germany, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands and UK for Europe.

Germany[1] - with its 64% - 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 2026 results of the study confirm nevertheless the perception that the true engine of the energy transition has shifted away from 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.

The event saw the participation of H.E. Ambassador Fabrizio Bucci, Ambassador of Italy to Germany for an institutional welcome; Ilaria Catastini, General Manager, Fondazione MAIRE – ETS presented the results, followed by a panel composed of Robert Grimm, Director of Corporate Reputation and Public Affairs, IPSOS Germany, Lucretia Löscher, Energy & Plant Engineering Executive & Board Member, Strategy & AI Expert, Giuseppe Sachero, Vice President Industrial Solutions Siemens Energy, and Giovanni Sale, Corporate and Business Strategy Senior Vice President of MAIRE Group, with Maarten van Aalderen, Former President of Foreign Press Association in Rome, as moderator.

Fabrizio Di Amato, Chairman and Founder of MAIRE and Fondazione MAIRE – ETS, closed the event with his final remarks. The event was attended by many German and European industrial stakeholders as well as representatives of the energy community.

MAIRE is a leading engineering group providing technology solutions and project execution for large complex projects in the energy and chemicals industry with 10.800 employees in 50 countries, and can count on a well rooted presence in Germany. Through its German centers Tecnimont Planung Industrieanlagenbau GmbH in Braunschweig and Gascontec in Bad Homburg, in fact, is actively engaged in industrializing a low-carbon economy[2] globally, leveraging is proprietary technologies and innovative solutions. Fondazione MAIRE is its corporate foundation providing studies and initiatives on the creation of skills and competences for the energy transition.

Fabrizio Di Amato, Chairman of MAIRE and Fondazione MAIRE – ETS, commented: “Our vision is that there is no turning back: the energy transition is an irreversible journey. Countries around the world are realizing that investing in energy transition is a competitive move, driving new industrial sectors, fostering new businesses, creating jobs, revitalizing outdated professions. The global changes are pushing us to remain resilient and reshape our business model accordingly”.

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Highlights from the Climate Goals’s research

The study covers Qatar, Saudia Arabia and the UAE for the Middle East; India, China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey for Asia; USA, Chile and Argentina for the Americas; Italy, UK, Germany, Poland and The Netherlands (in this 2026 wave) for Europe; and Algeria in Africa.

Awareness. Germany and India lead in awareness on the energy transition, with 64 and 63% of the population feeling very familiar with the topic. It is closely followed by the Netherlands (59%). In contrast, Poland shows a superficial understanding: only 39% feel very prepared. Argentina (36%) and Kazakhstan (29%) rank among the last for in-depth familiarity with the topic.

Priorities.The climate agenda is competing with other topics and issues, but the energy transition remains a priority for 70% of the respondents in India and Turkey, followed by 67% of Qatar and 65% of UAE. The three European Countries included in 2026 edition of the survey have surprisingly set the energy transition among the lowest priorities: the Netherlands is the most committed, Germany shows a more balanced and cautious approach,  the lowest rate is in Poland, with only 20% of the sample giving it top priority (lower than Argentina and Kazakhstan) and 66% recognizing priority on par with other themes. 

Opportunities. Algerians are the most convinced about cleaner environment, health benefits and job opportunities. India and Saudi Arabia emphasize the potential to boost women’s inclusion. For China, as well as for Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland, the creation of new jobs in sustainable sectors is an expected benefit, as also the reach of a cleaner environment and reduce global warming.

Governments. Governmental priority commitment is most positively rated in India (71%), Saudi Arabia (62%), compared to Kazakhstan (15%), Poland (21%) and Argentina (23%).

Leadership. Chinese participants feel their country is leading compared to the others and almost half of respondents place high importance on sustainable innovation of production processes, products and services, with 68% seeing technology as important for the energy transition. Technology emerges as the dominant priority also across Germany, the Netherlands and Poland.

Challenges. Algeria, Poland and China struggle to raise public awareness; Chile faces hurdles in private sector renewable adaptation. Ensuring the active involvement of all stakeholders is a challenge for China. Infrastructure development is a focus in the UAE, USA, Germany Netherlands, Poland and Kazakhstan. Training of professionals is a key goal in Azerbaijan. Qatar shows concern about job losses in traditional sectors. Turkey, Algeria, the USA, and the UK emphasize the importance of development of energy and environmental policies.

Pros&Cons. Kazakhstan shows the highest level of concern over whether the energy transition costs will exceed benefits. Conversely, half of respondents in Saudi Arabia believe that benefits of the energy transition will outweigh the costs initially, balancing out over time. In Europe, a "short-term pain" mindset prevails, with long-term optimism in Germany and the Netherlands contrasting with Poland, which remains a skeptical outlier expecting costs and benefits to stay balanced.

Education. China and Chile recognize the urgency for improved training programs on energy transition, whereas Poland and the Netherlands show less urgency, yet a high percentage still wants training within the next 2-3 years, (65% and 69% respectively). India (28%), SA (24%) and Germany (22%) report the highest level of confidence in terms of preparation. Overall, the global consensus underscores the need for both soft and hard skills to develop well-rounded professionals, which is essential for advancing the energy transition. Kazakhstan reports a severe shortage of skilled professionals for the energy transition, with mostly positive assessments from China and India.

Skills. Many countries recognize the importance of problem solving, critical thinking and creativity and innovation as essential soft skills in this sector. Technical skill in environmental impact assessment is highly required in Azerbaijan and Poland, while knowledge of renewable energy sources is required in Algeria Germany and Poland, and expertise in alternative renewable and recycled feedstocks is highly required in Algeria, Qatar, China, Netherlands and the USA.

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[1] Reflecting the views of a highly qualified "Informed Population" characterized by high education, active employment, and strong environmental engagement.

[2] MAIRE’s subsidiary Nextchem is pioneering advanced technology solutions for the circular economy and the production of low-carbon hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuels, essential components for sustainable agriculture, chemistry, shipping, and air transport.

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To learn more about Climate Goals Addendum 3: Climate goals addendum 3 2026 | Fondazione.

To explore the topics in depth and read the four publications: Studies | Fondazione.