The report puts numbers on benefits of climate action that are often missing from debates focused on the cost of the transition: lower energy expenditure, new jobs, better health, fewer working days lost to illness and avoided global climate damage.
Key findings that energy-saving measures could deliver by 2030 in Europe:
826 billion euros in annual monetised co-benefits from energy-saving measures;
More than 8.5 million full-time-equivalent jobs supported, including around 6.5 million in construction and renovation;
Almost 34,000 premature deaths avoided every year, alongside around 8,000 fewer hospital admissions;
3.3 million fewer sick days due to lower air pollution;
Up to 713 per person in avoided end-use energy costs.
“Climate action does not mean only cutting emissions” said Chiara Martinelli, Director at CAN Europe. “It means lower energy costs, healthier homes, cleaner air and millions of jobs supported across Europe. At a time when many ask what the cost of the energy transition is, the real question is what Europe stands to gain from investing in the transition. Climate policies work when they improve people’s daily lives, now and in the future. Health benefits, cleaner air, better homes, improved transport and lower bills are not side effects. They are the reason these measures matter.”
The report finds that these gains increase over time, with annual monetised co-benefits reaching nearly 2 trillion euros by 2050. It estimates almost 32 trillion euros in cumulative monetised co-benefits between 2030 and 2050.
“The scale of the benefits is striking: more than €826 billion a year by 2030, over 8.5 million full-time-equivalent jobs supported, and almost 34,000 premature deaths avoided annually” added Corentin Bonte, one of the authors of the report, from Climact. “And these are conservative estimates: the modelling does not capture every benefit of climate action, nor the full economic losses avoided by limiting climate change.”
The findings come as EU governments negotiate the policies, budgets and governance rules that will determine delivery of Europe’s post-2030 climate targets. The report reminds that continued fossil-fuel dependence also carries major costs: the EU spent around 340 billion euros on fossil-fuel imports in 2025, while its climate investment gap stood at 344 billion euros.
The analysis also includes country-level findings, showing how the benefits vary across Member States depending on national energy systems, housing, transport and investment needs.
“In France, millions of people are still exposed to high heating and transport costs because they depend on expensive and imported oil and gas” added Alix Mazounie, Program Coordinator at Réseau Action Climat. “This research shows that the transition can offer a way out: lower energy and fuel costs, nearly 300,000 jobs by 2030 and a stronger economy, if clean alternatives are made affordable and accessible to everyone.”
For additional information:
Europe’s Climate Dividend: Economic Benefits, Jobs, Health and Lower Energy Costs
