The Policy Coherence Framework Approach in a Multi-Level Analysis of European, German and Thuringian Climate Policy with a Special Focus on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

Justus Eberl,Evgenia Gordeeva,Norbert Weber

doi:10.3390/world2030026

Abstract

This work sets out to apply the Policy Coherence Framework (PCF) to the case of climate policy, taking into account the European, German and Thuringian political levels of analysis. It combines an analysis of vertical coherence between these levels and horizontal coherence within and between different sectoral policies. The study demonstrates disparities between coherence within climate policy itself and between other policy sectors as regards forest area development. It further reveals some contradictions between economic and ecological goals in German climate policy, particularly as concerns the role of forests. According to the authors, this observation can, at least in part, be explained by the national security obligations of Germany as a nation state. This assumption is supported by the observation that the regional level of Thuringia is more consistent with the supranational level of the European Union, both of which can “afford” to favour ecology over economy due to not being nation states. Another finding suggests that the broad and ambiguous definition of climate policy causes many contradictions, leading to an “omnipresence” of climate policy, and in doing so, strips it of its meaning and, consequently, practical relevance.

Highlights

IntroductionAt the present beginning of the 21st century, forest policy faces numerous challenges
At the present beginning of the 21st century, forest policy faces numerous challenges.It must address requirements that are more numerous, novel and diverse than ever before in recent history
We can conclude that the internal horizontal coherence of German climate policy is weak as found in the identified contradictions within the German forest policy

Summary

Introduction

At the present beginning of the 21st century, forest policy faces numerous challenges. It must address requirements that are more numerous, novel and diverse than ever before in recent history. Among the most important challenges are climate change and biodiversity. Land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) have been incorporated into these challenges through various binding international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Accord, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) or the EU’s LULUCF Regulation 2018/841, and their respective national instruments of implementation, e.g., the German National. They all aim to maintain or enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Being the dominant type of terrestrial landscape on Earth, forests play a pivotal role in these policy areas by providing carbon sinks and critical habitats for biodiversity. Forest policy constitutes a central element of both climate and biodiversity policy

Results

Discussion

Conclusion