EU's Increased Spending on Consultants Highlights Challenges in Climate Policy
The European Union has significantly increased its spending on climate and energy consultancies, with a 433% rise since 2014, according to the Financial Times. In 2024, the EU spent 1.45 billion euros on external advisers, with 127 million euros allocated to consultants for the Green Deal climate program. This initiative aimed for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but has faced criticism for driving up electricity prices and stunting economic growth. The reliance on consultants indicates challenges in implementing the Green Deal, as high electricity costs hinder the development of energy-intensive projects like data centers, affecting the EU's competitiveness in areas such as artificial intelligence. 
