The geopolitics of the European Green Deal

Abstract

The European Green Deal is a plan to decarbonise the EU economy by 2050, revolutionise the EU’s energy system, profoundly transform the economy and inspire efforts to combat climate change. But the plan will also have profound geopolitical repercussions. The Green Deal will affect geopolitics through its impact on the EU energy balance and global markets; on oil and gas-producing countries in the EU neighbourhood; on European energy security; and on global trade patterns, notably via the carbon border adjustment mechanism. At least some of these changes are likely to impact partner countries adversely. The EU needs to wake up to the consequences abroad of its domestic decisions. It should prepare to help manage the geopolitical aspects of the European Green Deal. Relationships with important neighbourhood countries such as Russia and Algeria, and with global players including the United States, China and Saudi Arabia, are central to this effort, which can be structured around seven actions: 1) Help neighbouring oil and gas-exporting countries manage the repercussions of the European Green Deal. The EU should engage with these countries to foster their economic diversification, including into renewable energy and green hydrogen that could in the future be exported to Europe; 2) Improve the security of critical raw materials supply and limit dependence, first and foremost on China. Essential measures include greater supply diversification, increased recycling volumes and substitution of critical materials; 3) Work with the US and other partners to establish a ‘climate club’ whose members will apply similar carbon border adjustment measures. All countries, including China, would be welcome to join if they commit to abide by the club's objectives and rules; 4) Become a global standard-setter for the energy transition, particularly in hydrogen and green bonds. Requiring compliance with strict environmental regulations as a condition to access the EU market will be strong encouragement to go green for all countries; 5) Internationalise the European Green Deal by mobilising the EU budget, the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund, and EU development policy; 6) Promote global coalitions for climate change mitigation, for example through a global coalition for the permafrost, which would fund measures to contain the permafrost thaw; 7) Promote a global platform on the new economics of climate action to share lessons learned and best practices.

Low-Carbon Transition Models of High Carbon Supply Chains under the Mixed Carbon Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Tax Policy in the Carbon Neutrality Era

“…For example, the EU region has introduced the Fitfor 55 package, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 55% by the end of 2030 compared to 1990. Utilizing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which makes imported goods responsible for the cost of carbon emissions, the global supply chain is encouraged to switch to a low-carbon economy [ 4 ]; The Build Back Better Act (BBBA) was passed in the USA to put the new energy deferred investment tax credits (ITCs) and production tax credits into effect (PTCs); In the “2022 China Low Carbon Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Development Report”, China establishes various carbon policies for various industries and businesses [ 5 ]. However, 10% of Chinese firms still fall short of the emission reduction goal, according to the “Investigation Report on Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction of Chinese Enterprises during the 13th Five-Year Plan” [ 6 ].…”

Impact of Plant Growth Regulators to Development of the Second Generation Energy Crop Miscanthus × giganteus Produced Two Years in Marginal Post-Military Soil

“…The lignocellulose biomass, which contains carbohydrate polymers (cellulose and hemicellulose) and an aromatic polymer (lignin), is identified as a prospective alternative for biofuel production [19][20][21]. The conversion of lignocellulose biomass to heat, bio-oil, syngas, ethanol, methane, and hydrogen is valuable in climate change mitigation [57]. The biomass of second-generation industrial crops, including Miscanthus spp., can be processed to produce energy through the thermochemical routes of gasification and pyrolysis [58].…”

Blue Skies, Blue Seas: Air Pollution, Marine Plastics, and Coastal Erosion in the Middle East and North Africa

“…The decades after 2030 will be characterized by lower demand in the EU for oil (dropping by almost 80 percent) and for gas (dropping by around 60 percent) (Leonard et al 2021). Oiland gas-producing countries will feel the repercussions through both the direct channel of lower exports and the indirect channel of lower global prices for fossil fuels.…”