This thesis examines how democratic governments address the wicked problem of energy transition, using Germany’s Ampel coalition (2021–2025) as a case study. Energy transition is marked by contested values, uncertain outcomes, and multilevel governance challenges, making it a wicked problem. Drawing on Termeer et al.’s governance capabilities framework, the study analyses how Germany managed the nuclear phase out. The findings show that while no definitive solutions are possible, adaptive governance allowed the government to navigate short-term shocks while maintaining long-term objectives. The study contributes to political science by bridging theoretical debates on wicked problems with empirical evidence from a major European democracy, offering lessons on the governance of complex transitions.