Digitalization, Energy Systems, and Sustainable Development Goals: An Ecological Economic Analysis of EU Member States

Addressing climate issues has become an increasingly important global priority, particularly in the context of the digital and energy transition. Within the European Union (EU), the digital transition represents an essential pillar and crucial concern for all member states. Climate-related issues, energy sustainability, and digital and social transitions are the focus of the 2030 Agenda adopted by both the EU and the United Nations. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals target essential aspects of everyday life, revealing an interdependence between climate change and the digital, social, and energy transition. They underscore that we must protect the resources that humanity needs. In this paper, we contribute to the empirical deciphering of this inter-conditioning on two levels of research. First, we investigate how EU member states have evolved in the field of digital transition, with a particular focus on Romania. Second, we analyze the broader implications of the digital transition at the EU level and the impact of the adaptation of new technologies. The findings suggest that there needs to be a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the importance of the digital transition. Based on these findings, we propose several potential avenues for future research, including a detailed analysis of the subdimensions related to digital, social, and energy transitions.