Sustainability and Energy Policy: The Case of Germany's Natural Gas Supply Chains

Climate change presents a global challenge. Despite the environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels, they remain vital for global economies. This is a particularly important topic for Germany, as the country is highly reliant on natural gas (NG) - a crucial component for its economic growth and stability, as well as for its ambitious energy transition policy, Energiewende. The central research question probes the impact of the energy crisis on Germany's energy transition and its potential consequences on achieving the country’s sustainability targets. The thesis begins with an analysis of the dynamics of Germany's natural gas supply chains, scrutinizing the nexus between sustainable energy practices and the policies that underpin them. Thereafter, a mathematical model is developed that connects the overall emission levels with changes in the Primary Energy Consumption (PEC) mix and this model is used to test the impact of changes in the future PEC caused by changes in NG supply conditions on future emission levels. The results of the analyses show that Germany needs to keep focusing on renewable energy sources development instead of moving its focus to LNG supply chains development if it hopes to reach the ambitious goals set out in its energy transition policy