Net Zero Energy by 2060: Charting the Path of Europe and Central Asia Toward a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future   

Europe and Central Asia face a dual challenge: restoring short‑term energy security after the 2022 gas shock and transforming their energy systems for long‑term decarbonization. The World Bank’s Net Zero Energy by 2060 scenario maps a least‑cost route for 23 countries to reach carbon neutrality, showing steep declines in coal, oil, and gas use, rapid growth in renewables, and major gains in efficiency and electrification. 

The analysis highlights that coal must be phased down quickly, gas remains important but diminishes, and clean technologies—solar, wind, heat pumps, EVs, and eventually low‑carbon hydrogen—drive the transition. Achieving this pathway requires about $4.7 trillion in investment through 2060, with the power and transport sectors carrying the largest needs. 

Short‑term vulnerabilities persist, especially in gas‑dependent regions with limited storage, but long‑term decarbonization strengthens energy security, reduces import dependence, and opens new economic opportunities.