Europe's Road to Sustainability: Assessing Progress Towards SDGs 7 and 13 Through Factor and Cluster Analysis and Its Implications for EU Climate Governance

Abstract

In response to the urgent challenges posed by climate change, various actions have been implemented to curb emissions and reduce the reliance on non‐renewable energy sources, among other goals. The introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) laid out a roadmap to be followed until 2030. However, current progress remains insufficient, since strong disparities still exist. As a result, it is crucial to analyze how European nations are addressing this issue and to examine both the commonalities and differences in their approaches. This study evaluates the performance of European countries on SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action) over the period from 2020 to 2022, utilizing data aligned with the goals' targets and relevant indicators. Employing statistical techniques, specifically factor and cluster analysis, the research identifies two main thematic dimensions: green transition efforts and energy consumption and emissions. These dimensions form the basis for four distinct country clusters: green but polluting, silent bystanders, climate laggards, and sustainable champions, revealing that European countries continue to exhibit markedly different levels of progress toward SDGs 7 and 13, highlighting persistent disparities in the energy transition and climate action. Thus, the identified country typologies provide an evidence‐based framework for designing differentiated energy and climate policies tailored to the specific characteristics of European countries, thereby supporting more effective implementation of the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Although disparities persist, the findings point to an emerging trend toward sustainability, though with significant room for further advancement.