European Union Climate Policy Research Articles

WIATEC: A World Integrated Assessment Model of Global Trade Environment and Climate Change

This paper describes the structure of the World Integrated Assessment model of global Trade, Environmental, and Climate change (WIATEC).The model consists of a multi-regional multisectoral core CGE model linked to a climate model. The core CGE is based on an existing global trade and environment model called GTAP-E (Truong, 1999; Burniaux and Truong, 2002). A suite of different and interchangeable ‘modules’ are then built around this ‘core’ to enable the model to be able to handle a range of different policy issues such as CO2 emissions, abatement, trading, non-CO2 (CH4 and N2O) emissions, land use land use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities, and changing technologies in the electricity generation sector. The approach which uses a core model structure with different additional modules built around this core structure allows the overall model to be flexible and can be adapted to a range of different policy issues. We illustrate the usefulness of this approach in a policy experiment which looks at the interaction between emissions trading scheme and the promotion of renewable energy targets in the European Union climate policy.

1990 bis 2010: Eine Bestandsaufnahme von zwei Jahrzehnten europäischer Klimapolitik

Abstract: Climate change ranks high on the policy agenda of the European Union (EU) which considers itself as a leading force in the battle against global warming. The EU is committed to the objective of limiting the rise in global average temperature to no more than 2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels in order to hedge against dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. In this paper, we provide a critical appraisal of EU climate policy over the last two decades. Given the global public good properties of climate protection we derive guidelines for sound unilateral action and evaluate contemporary EU climate policy against these guidelines. We find that – while the EU must be praised for pushing international agreements and going ahead with ambitious emission reduction targets – the implementation of EU climate policies is likely to make climate protection much more costly than necessary.

The EU ETS in the European Climate Policy Mix: Past, Present and Future

Emissions trading is arguably the lynchpin of EU (European Union) climate policy. In January 2005 the EU adopted a cap-and-trade emissions trading system, through which a certain emission cap was set and a fixed number of emission allowances distributed amongst installations in the various Member States. Although the system has encountered some problems, the EU has not lost faith in it. In fact, even more now depends on its performance – not least the EU’s credibility in international climate politics – than when it was first adopted. The system is undeniably innovative. Prior to 2005, only a few countries had experimented with emissions trading, and no one had ever attempted to employ it at a supranational level. Against this background, this report seeks to analyse and assess the functioning of the EU ETS from a political and legal perspective, and to explore how capable the scheme is to deal with future challenges. To this end, the report examines the past, present and future of emissions trading in the EU.

Rational lobbying and EU climate policy

Using a simple rational choice model as a heuristic device, this paper explores the lobbying behaviour of environmental and business organisations in the field of climate policy and discusses why their lobbying behaviour differs. I find that environmental organisations lobby less than what would be considered rational according to the simple rational choice model, and argue that this might largely be explained by tight budget constraints. I also find that business organisations lobby more than what would be considered rational according to the model, and argue that this might be explained if one applies a long-term perspective on rational lobbying in the policy field rather than a short-term perspective on single policy decisions. Moreover, I find that the type of lobbying differs. While environmental organisations focus on single policy decisions, business organisations also invest in general lobbying. The analysis is based on interviews with interest organisations lobbying in the field of climate policy at the European Union (EU) level.

The Climate Policy of the European Union

There is now almost universal agreement that climate change, with potentially disastrous consequences, is happening and that it is contributed to by human activities. This Forum is dedicated to the discussion of various aspects of the European Union's climate policy, e.g. the EU's future role in the global effort to combat global warming, the efficiency of its climate strategy, the design of a new rule for sharing the corresponding burdens fairly among member states, and the interrelationships between the Union's climate policies, on the one hand, and its energy and transport policies, on the other.

A Report on the International Conference on Climate Policy After Marrakech: Towards Global Participation

The East-West Center convened the international conference on climate policy in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 4-6, 2003. Sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, Industrial Technology Research Institute (Taiwan), and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan), this major event covered almost every important issue and featured perspectives from the most important parties and stakeholders in formulating and implementing climate policies and taking international climate negotiations further. It brought together a remarkable cross-section of world opinion on climate policy after Kyoto. This report provides a summary of each presentation and highlights discussions organized under the following six session headings: Session 1: Climate Change in Focus - From Science to Policy; Session 2: U.S. Climate Policy and Perspectives; Session 3: European Union Climate Policy and Perspectives; Session 4: Challenges for other Major Industrialized Countries; Session 5: Issues Related to Developing Countries; and Session 6: Panel Discussions: Where Do We Go from Here?.

A Report on the International Conference on Climate Policy after Marrakech: Towards Global Participation

The East-West Center convened the international conference on climate policy in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 4–6, 2003. Sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, Industrial Technology Research Institute (Taiwan), and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan), this major event covered almost every important issue and featured perspectives from the most important parties and stakeholders in formulating and implementing climate policies and taking international climate negotiations further. It brought together a remarkable cross-section of world opinion on climate policy after Kyoto. This report provides a summary of each presentation and highlights discussions organized under the following six session headings: Session 1: Climate Change in Focus – From Science to Policy; Session 2: U.S. Climate Policy and Perspectives; Session 3: European Union Climate Policy and Perspectives; Session 4: Challenges for other Major Industrialized Countries; Session 5: Issues Related to Developing Countries; and Session 6: Panel Discussions: Where Do We Go from Here?.

International Conference on Climate Policy After Marrakech: Toward Global Participation - A Conference Summary

The Kyoto Protocol, as detailed in the Marrakech Accords, has now been rendered fit for ratification. In anticipation of the Protocol's entry into force, attention has focused on how Annex I countries can put a package of climate policies in place to meet their emissions targets. In the meantime, discussions of what comes next are expected to gain increasing legitimacy, given that the Kyoto targets are only the first step toward addressing the long-term global climate issue. Against this background, the East-West Center organized the international conference on Climate Policy After Marrakech: Towards Global Participation in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 4-6, 2003. Sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, Industrial Technology Research Institute (Hsinchu, Taiwan), and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Kanagawa, Japan), this major event brought together senior technical bureaucrats, well-respected policy analysts, and experienced practitioners to 1) share their views on recent developments in climate policies and initiatives around the globe; 2) advance our understanding of the actions and policy frameworks that can contribute to compliance with Kyoto emissions targets; and 3) discuss the paths forward to a global regime of wider participation and deeper greenhouse emissions cuts. Presentations and discussions are organized under the following six session headings: Session I: Climate Change in Focus - From Science to Policy; Session II: U.S. Climate Policy and Perspectives; Session III: European Union Climate Policy and Perspectives; Session IV: Challenges for other Major Industrialized Countries; Session V: Issues Related to Developing Countries; and Session VI: Panel Discussions: Where Do We Go from Here?. This conference report provides a summary of each presentation and a comprehensive account of 7-hour discussions.

The Role of Flexibility Mechanisms in EU Climate Strategy: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges?

The main objective of this paper is to examine the evolution of European Union (EU) climate strategy, scrutinising in particular developments in EU's views on the so-called flexibility or Kyoto mechanisms. In brief, the paper argues that there has been a gradual change in EU's views, from the role of a sceptic in the run-up to Kyoto towards becoming more of a frontrunner on emissions trading in recent years. The need to 'save Kyoto' and the protracted development of EU climate policy are highlighted as two of the most important drivers behind this process of change. This paper also discusses some of the lessons learned from international negotiations and the development of EU climate policy. Finally, and drawing upon the lessons learned, the paper explores key future challenges for the further development of EU climate strategy.

The political economy of climate policy-making in the European Union

The European Union's climate policy is characterized by uncoordinated measures taken at national level, and a preference for inefficient economic instruments. The vanguard role taken by the EU in international climate negotiations stands in contrast to the lack of action in meeting far-reaching emissions-reduction targets on a European level. The following article attempts to explain these shortcomings by using the instruments of the New Political Economy.