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A Toolbox Approach to the EU’s External Climate Governance

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Global Power Europe - Vol. 1

Part of the book series: Global Power Shift ((GLOBAL))

Abstract

This chapter discusses EU external governance in climate policy, conceptualizing a toolbox of policy options. The EU can make use of different tools, which can be introduced either unilaterally or bi- and multilaterally, to exert influence in global climate governance. These tools can be hard or soft policy. This leads to a classification of EU external governance tools into four groups: international treaties and agreements, cooperation with extra-EU jurisdictions, coercion and incentives, and external effects of EU pioneering policy. Each of the groups of tools holds potential to advance EU influence in international climate governance, but they also have limitations. None of the tools is a silver bullet that solves all problems. While the EU prefers multilateral solutions, this is challenging in climate policy in practice. International climate negotiations progress slowly and may prove insufficient for the EU to pursue its climate policy goals. Whether the EU achieves its climate governance goals depends on its skill in using the entire external governance toolbox effectively.

This chapter is the result of research conducted in part at the Kolleg-Forschergruppe (KFG) ‘The Transformative Power of Europe’, hosted at the Freie Universität Berlin, and in part at the Institute for European Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The KFG is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Emissions trading systems are based on a jurisdiction-wide emissions limit. Each large emitter is assigned a certain amount of emission allowances, based on their emissions. Excess allowances can be sold to other emitters. Excess emissions must be covered by the purchase of extra allowances from other emitters. The price for allowances varies according to demand and supply. It is up to the emitters to decide whether to buy allowances or to invest in emission reduction measures (Biedenkopf 2012a, pp. 6–7).

  2. 2.

    The term jurisdiction, rather than country, is used in this chapter, since subnational entities, such as states, provinces and cities, are also involved in climate policy, and in some instances introduce their own measures irrespective of their national government’s activities.

  3. 3.

    Financial Times. EU Turns Away from Carbon Tax on Imports. November 25, 2007.

  4. 4.

    Keynote speech by Jos Delbeke, Director General for Climate Action. Conference on A New Flightplan—Getting Global Aviation Climate Measures Off the Ground, Brussels. February 7, 2012.

  5. 5.

    ENDS Europe. Anti-ETS Countries Agree Counter-Measures. February 22, 2012.

  6. 6.

    ENDS Europe. Chinese and Indian Airlines Miss ETS Deadline. May 15, 2012.

  7. 7.

    ENDS Europe. US Representatives Back Draft Anti-EU ETS Law. October 25, 2011.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universiteit van Amsterdam, OZ Achterburgwal 237, 1012 DL, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Katja Biedenkopf

  2. Institute for European Studies (IES), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussel, Belgium

    Claire Dupont

Authors
  1. Katja Biedenkopf
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  2. Claire Dupont
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katja Biedenkopf .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , European Union Center, University of Miami, Memorial Drive 1000, Coral Gables, 33146, Florida, USA

    Astrid Boening

  2. Center for Global Studies, Institute for Political Science, Bonn University, Walter-Flex Str. 3, Bonn, 53113, Germany

    Jan-Frederik Kremer

  3. , Chair for International Politcs, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany

    Aukje van Loon

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Biedenkopf, K., Dupont, C. (2013). A Toolbox Approach to the EU’s External Climate Governance. In: Boening, A., Kremer, JF., van Loon, A. (eds) Global Power Europe - Vol. 1. Global Power Shift. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32412-3_11

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