Climate and Energy Policy in the eu and Germany at a cross roads

Abstract

For decades the eu claimed for itself political leadership in fighting climate change. Less than two years from now to the global climate conference in Paris (in 2015), however, the eu’s climate policy stands at a cross roads: The eu can leave its impact weak or it decides to strengthen it showing global leadership in international climate policy making again. The situation is similar in Germany. Europe’s self-styled climate policy leader and architect of an economy-wide energy transformation (“Energiewende”) that followed the Fukushima events in 2011, the country now finds itself embattled by industry, political interest groups and consumers, and it risks losing track. If political leaders wish to save the “Energiewende” – certainly one of the boldest political reforms in decades – they need to get serious about putting it into practice.