Skip to main content

A Climate of Crisis: The Impacts of the Economic Crisis on EU Climate Change Policy

  • Chapter
Economic Crisis in Europe

Abstract

The European Union (EU) has long claimed a leadership role in the global response to climate change. At least since the withdrawal of the United States from the Kyoto Protocol in March 2001, the EU had expressly arrogated to itself such a leadership role in international climate negotiations (Christiansen and Wettestad, 2003; Hovi, Skodvin and Andresen, 2003; Schreurs and Tiberghien, 2007). This has been important both to international climate change policy, keeping up momentum in the face of the challenge of US non-participation, and in relation to the EU’s external identity — its construction of an identity around leadership in a range of non-military, but important diplomatic issues, along the lines of what Ian Manners (2002) calls ‘normative power Europe’.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Bibliography

  • Amann, M., J. Cofala, P. Rafaj and F. Wagner (2009) The Impact of the Economic Crisis on GHG Mitigation Potentials and Costs in Annex I Countrie. (Laxenburg: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, November).

    Google Scholar 

  • van Asselt, H. (2010) ‘Emissions Trading: The Enthusiastic Adoption of an Alien Instrument’, in A. Jordan, D. Huitema, H. van Asselt, T. Rayner, and F. Berkhout (eds) Climate Change Policy in the European Union: Confronting the Dilemmas of Mitigation and Adaptatio. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 125–44.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bachram, H. (2004) ‘Climate Fraud and Carbon Colonialism: The New Trade in Greenhouse Gases’, Capitalism, Nature, Socialis. 14(4), 5–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beckerman, W. (1974) In Defence of Economic Growt. (London: Jonathan Cape).

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrens, A. (2008) Financing Climate Change Bailing out the Environment in the Long-Term May Be Just As Important As Bailing Out Financial Markets No. (CEPS Commentary, 7 October) (Brussels: Centre for European Policy Studies).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, S., S. Asokan, H. Warrell and J. Lemer (2009, 2 March) ‘Which Country Has the Greenest Bail-Out?’, Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cc207678–0738–11de-9294–000077b07658.html#axzz1M576mQ63, accessed on 12 May 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhm, S. and S. Dabhi (eds) (2009) Upsetting the Offset: The Political Economy of Carbon Market. (London: Mayfly Books).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, A. and N. Stern (2010) ‘Environmental Policy and the Economic Downturn’, Oxford Review of Economic Polic. 26(2), 137–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, M. (2009) Subprime Carbon? Re-Thinking the World’s Largest New Derivatives Marke. (Washington: Friends of the Earth US).

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen, A. and J. Wettestad (2003) ‘The EU as a Frontrunner on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading: How Did it Happen and Will the EU Succeed?’ Climate Polic. 3(1), 3–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Convery, F. and L. Redmond (2007) ‘Market and Price Developments in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme’, Review of Environmental Economic Polic. 1(1), 88–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dryzek, J. (1997) The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourse. (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Egenhofer, C., M. Alessi, A. Georgiev and N. Fujiwara (2011) The EU Emissions Trading System and Climate Policy towards 2050: Real Incentives to Reduce Emissions and Drive Innovation. (CEPS Special Report) (Brussels: Centre for European Policy Studies).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellerman, D., F. Convery, and C. de Perthuis (2010) Pricing Carbon: The European Emissions Trading Schem. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • ENDS Report (2009) ‘Carbon Trading Scam Reaches Epidemic Levels’, ENDS Repor. 419 (December), 8.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2010) ‘Analysis of Options to Move Beyond 20% Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions and Assessing the Risk of Carbon Leakage’, COM (2010) 265 final, Brussels, 26 May (Brussels: European Commission).

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2011) ‘A Roadmap for Moving to a Competitive Low Carbon Economy in 2050’, COM (2011) 112 final, Brussels, 8 March (Brussels: European Commission).

    Google Scholar 

  • European Environment Agency (2010) ‘Recession Accelerates the Decline in EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions’, http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/recessionaccelerates-the-decline-in, accessed on 9 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbertson, T. and O. Reyes (2009) ‘Carbon Trading: How It Works and Why It Fails’, Critical Current. 7 (November) (Uppsala: Dar Hammarskjöld Foundation).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldenberg, S. (2009, 24 February) ‘Great Clean-Up — Can Economic Rescue Plans Also Save Planet?’ The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/24/obama-environment-economic-rescue, accessed on 1 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gourlay, P. (2009) ‘Innocent Companies Face VAT Fraud Bill: KPMG’, Point Carbo., 14 July.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green New Deal Group (2008) A Green New Deal: Joined-up Policies to Solve the Triple Crunch of the Credit Crisis, Climate Change and High Oil Price. (London: New Economics Foundation).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, F. (2011, 8 March) ‘Connie Hedegaard Wins Battle For 25% Carbon Emissions Cut’, The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/08/connie-hedegaard-25-per-cent-carbon-emissions, accessed on 9 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovi, J., T. Skodvin, and S. Andresen (2003) ‘The Persistence of the Kyoto Protocol: Why Other Annex I Countries Move on Without the United States’, Global Environmental Politic. 3(4), 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inman, P. (2010, 11 January) ‘Three Britons Charged Over €3m Carbon-Trading “Carousel Fraud”’, The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/11/eu-carbon-trading-carousel-fraud, accessed on 7 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) (2010), IETA’s Concerns over Recycled CERs. Press Release, Geneva, 15 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juillet, L. and M. Paterson (2009) ‘Une difficile modernisation écologique: l’evolution de la politique canadienne sur les changements climatiques’, in L. Cardinal and D. Karmis (eds) Les politiques publiques au Canada: Pouvoir, conflits et idéologi. (Québec: Presses de l’Université de Laval), 251–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanter, J. (2009, 20 August) ‘Carbon Traders Arrested for Tax Fraud’, New York Times. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/carbon-tradersarrested-for-tax-fraud/, accessed on 1 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ki-Moon, B. and A. Gore (2009, 17 February) ‘Green Growth is Essential to Any Stimulus’, Financial Times.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kossoy, A. and P. Ambrosi (2010) State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2010. (Washington: The World Bank).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomborg, B. (2001) The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the Worl. (London: Cambridge University Press).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann, L. (2006) ‘Carbon Trading: A Critical Conversation on Climate Change, Privatization and Power’, Development Dialogu. 47, 1–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann, L. (2009) ‘Climate as Investment’, Development and Chang. 40(6), 1063–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovell, H. and D. MacKenzie (2011) ‘Accounting for Carbon: The Role of Accounting Professional Organisations in Governing Climate Change’, Antipod. 43(3), 704–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manners, I. (2002) ‘Normative Power Europe: A Contradiction in Terms?’, Journal of Common Market Studie. 40(2), 235–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R. (2009, 10 December) ‘Copenhagen Climate Summit: Carbon Trading Fraudsters in Europe Pocket €5bn’, The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6778003/Copenhagen-climatesummit-Carbon-trading-fraudsters-in-Europe-pocket-5bn.html, accessed on 7 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, D., D. Meadows, J. Randers and W. Behrens (1972) The Limits To Growt. (London: Pan).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mol, A. (2001) Globalization and Environmental Reform: The Ecological Modernization of the Global Econom. (London: MIT Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Paehlke, R. (2008) Some Like It Cold: The Politics of Climate Change in Canad. (Toronto: Between the Lines).

    Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, M. (2009) ‘Post-Hegemonic Climate Politics?’, British Journal of Politics and International Relation. 11(1), 140–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, L. (2009, 10 December) ‘EU Emissions Trading An “Open Door” For Crime, Europol Says’, EU Observer. http://euobserver.com/885/29132, accessed on 7 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010a) ‘Carbon Market Growth to Stall in 2010: Report’, Point Carbo., 18 January.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010b) ‘Hungary Sells “Recycled” CERs’, Point Carbo., 11 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010c) ‘Market Braces For More “Recycled” CER Sales’, Point Carbo., 12 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010d) ‘Hungary Lifts Lid On Controversial CER Deal’, Point Carbo., 14 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010e) ‘Japan Will Not Ban Use of Recycled CERs’, Point Carbo., 18 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010f) ‘Bluenext Confirms Sales of Used CERs’, Point Carbo., 16 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010g) ‘Bluenext, Nord Pool Suspend Spot CER Trading’, Point Carbo., 17 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. and C. van der Linde (1995) ‘Toward a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship’, Journal of Economic Perspective. 9(4), 97–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prada, M., J. Barbéris and A. Tignol (2010a) The Regulation of CO 2 Market., Report Commissioned by the French Ministry of Finance, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prada, M., J. Barbéris and A. Tignol (2010b) The Regulation of CO 2 Markets, Executive Summary of Report Commissioned by the French Ministry of Finance. Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuters, (2009, 15 July) ‘Dutch Ministry Acts On VAT Fraud In CO2 Market’.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, N. (2010) Overview of Global Green Stimulus Spendin. (London: HSBC Global Research, February 17), http://csis.org/files/attachments/100217_NRobins.pdf, accessed on 1 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point Carbon (2010b) ‘Hungary Sells “Recycled” CERs’, Point Carbo., 11 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandbag (2010) The Carbon Rich List: The Companies Profiting from the EU Emissions Trading Schem. (London: Sandbag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreurs, M. and Y. Tiberghien (2007) ‘Multi-Level Reinforcement: Explaining European Union Leadership in Climate Change Mitigation’, Global Environmental Politic. 7(4), 19–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scoffield, H. (2010, 29 January) ‘Harper Urges “Enlightened” Foreign Policy, But Faces Criticism On Climate’, The Canadian Press. http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/69016–harper-urgesenlightened-foreign-policy-but-faces-criticism-on-climate, accessed on 10 June 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skjærseth, J.B., and J. Wettestad (2008) EU Emissions Trading: Initiation, Decision-Making and Implementatio. (Aldershot, England: Ashgate).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K. (2007) The Carbon Neutral Myth: Offset Indulgences For Your Climate Sin. (Amsterdam: Carbon Trade Watch).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thistlethwaite, J. (2011) ‘Counting the Environment: The Environmental Implications of International Accounting Standards’, Global Environmental Politic. 11(2), 75–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Twidale, S. (2010) ‘UK Arrests 22 As CO2 Tax Probe Widens’, Point Carbo., 30 April.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2009) Global Green New Deal: An Update for the G20 Pittsburgh Summi. (Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme).

    Google Scholar 

  • van Asselt, H. (2010) ‘Emissions Trading: The Enthusiastic Adoption of an Alien Instrument’, in A. Jordan, D. Huitema, H. van Asselt, T. Rayner, and F. Berkhout (eds) Climate Change Policy in the European Union: Confronting the Dilemmas of Mitigation and Adaptatio. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 125–44.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • von Weizsäcker, E., A. Lovins and H. Lovins (1998) Factor Four: Doubling Wealth — Halving Resource Use: The New Report to the Club of Rom. (London: Earthscan).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1987) Our Common Futur. (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2013 Matthew Paterson

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Paterson, M. (2013). A Climate of Crisis: The Impacts of the Economic Crisis on EU Climate Change Policy. In: DeBardeleben, J., Viju, C. (eds) Economic Crisis in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137005236_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics