Member State Laws and Policies

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter explores how three EU member states—Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland—reflect the challenges, progress, and setbacks that define the contours of European climate policy. It begins by exploring the roles of Germany and the UK as members of the EU-15 and nominal regional leaders in efforts to advance progressive climate policies. The analysis focuses first and foremost on Germany as the EU's most vocal and active proponent of aggressive climate policy. It then more briefly assesses the climate policy of the UK as a similarly important player in regional climate policy. In order to create a more inclusive picture of the challenges inherent in creating common climate policies for the full EU-27, this chapter also examines Poland's role in—and response to—efforts to create a common European rule of law with regard to climate change.