When Systems Fail: An Analysis of EU Energy Policy Throughout the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked the “first truly global energy crisis” which impacted every continent on the planet, and involved all fossil fuels (International Energy Agency, 2023). After the invasion, many European Union (EU) nations struggled to maintain a stable energy system due to surging prices and blocked pipelines impacting the region’s energy security. Energy instability contributed to economic instability as the EU scrambled to maintain consumer prices, and when policies failed to maintain the existing energy system, the environment suffered as well, leading to increased deforestation and wood-burning activity. The EU’s emergency energy regulation has since ended; however, impacts are ongoing. Using Germany as a case study for analyzing the crisis due to its central role in the crisis’ cause and formation, this study aims to answer: What are the structural and political elements which contributed to the crisis? What has been the economic, social, and environmental impacts on the public? And which stakeholders are involved in the crisis’ formation, continuation, and cessation?