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Communicating Europe in Times of Crisis pp 27–44Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Leader, Bridge-Builder or ‘Hobbled Giant’? Perceptions of the EU in Climate-Change Negotiations

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Part of the book series: The European Union in International Affairs Series ((EUIA))

Abstract

The European Union (EU) for a long time enjoyed an unparalleled image as an environmental leader in climate-change policy. It was the driver behind the Kyoto Protocol of 2001 and the actor that ensured its ratification in the years thereafter. More recently, however, two major developments have occurred that may have threatened the EU’s position as a leader in climate-change negotiations: externally, the advent of emerging powers, notably China, has changed the balance of power in many areas of global governance, challenging the leading roles of Western powers; internally, the financial crisis has challenged the EU’s economic clout and its internal unity. To what extent and in what ways have these trends affected perceptions of the EU’s role in climate change?

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lund University, Sweden

    Ole Elgström (Professor of Political Science)

Authors
  1. Ole Elgström
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Canterbury, New Zealand

    Natalia Chaban  & Martin Holland  & 

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© 2014 Ole Elgström

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Elgström, O. (2014). Leader, Bridge-Builder or ‘Hobbled Giant’? Perceptions of the EU in Climate-Change Negotiations. In: Chaban, N., Holland, M. (eds) Communicating Europe in Times of Crisis. The European Union in International Affairs Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137331175_2

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