While the ambitious objectives outlined in the EU’s Green Deal aim at making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, national implementation greatly varies depending on local geographies, history, culture, economics, and politics. This book analyses Member States’ and EU neighbours’ national efforts to combat climate change. It subsequently draws on these factors to highlight local challenges, tensions, and opportunities on the road towards climate neutrality. In the context of inter-country dependencies following Russia’s war against Ukraine, it addresses strategic questions regarding EU integration, the transformation of our economies, the reduction of energy dependencies, and public perception of the above. The book also makes concrete recommendations, in various policy areas, on how individual countries and the EU as a whole should deal with the climate crisis.
Author(s): Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, Paul Schmidt
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 181
City: Cham
Foreword
Keywords
Why This Book?
Contents
Contributors
Part I: Member States
Austria: Weathering the Storm and Greening the Economy?
Recommendations
Belgium´s Climate Policy: High Expectations, Low Performance
Heightening Public Awareness
Low Performance
Energy Vulnerability
The Involvement of Companies in the Transition
Pros and Cons in the Fight Against Climate Change
Public Perception of Government Action
Belgium´s Position in the European Context
Recommendations
Between Fighting for Climate Change and Fighting for Coal: The Bulgarian Case
Recommendations
Croatia: Needs Versus Capacity: Mind the Gap!
Recommendations
Cyprus: Global Energy Crisis Is an Opportunity to Tackle Climate Change
Climate Change: Concerns and Expectations
Green Deal and Green Transition
A Climate Change Initiative for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East
Recommendations
Czechia: Saving the Climate or the Czech Industry?
The Paradoxical Elites-Public Scepticism Gap
Czechia´s Environmental Reluctance and the EU as a Pace Setter
Recommendations
Denmark: Climate as a Given
Climate Is Not Politically Contested
From Global Front Runner to European Partner?
Frugality Poses a Risk to the Danish Climate Ambition
Recommendations
Has Estonia Already Lost the Path to Achieving Its Climate Goals?
Has Estonia Lost Its Focus on Achieving Climate Goals?
Recommendations
Finland´s Fight Against Climate Change: Ambitious Yet Pragmatic Approach
Recommendations
France: Not Living up to Its Ambition
In France, a Series of Small Steps Is Not Adding up to `An In-Depth Transformation´ of the Model
Lost in the Politics of Small Steps
At European Level, Neither a Pioneer Nor a Climate Leader
Recommendations
The Fight Against Climate Change in Germany: From Energiewende to Zeitenwende?
Recommendations
Greece´s New Energy and Climate Strategy. A Story of Hope?
Setting the Scene
Greece´s Climate Change Performance
The New Climate Change and Energy Transition Legislation
Enhancing Energy Cooperation in Response to the War in Ukraine
Hard Pressed by External Actors: Sustainability Transition in Hungary
Recommendations
`Now, We Need Action´: Ireland´s Fight Against Climate Change
The 2020s: A Decade of Ambitious Emissions Reduction
Public Support for Climate Action in Ireland
The Winds of Change
Managing Electricity Demand in the 2020s
Addressing Agriculture
Climate Change and the Irish-EU Relationship
Recommendations
Vulnerable and Unprepared: Assessing Italy´s Path to Fight Climate Change
Recommendations
Nature Friendly Latvia Against Its Unnatural Climate Change Problem
Recommendations
Climate Change Policies in Lithuania: As Usual, Words Speak Louder Than Actions
The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Environmentalism´s Political Salience
Ambitious Political Statements
But Decisions and Their Implementation Are Slow
Recommendations
No Decarbonisation Without Taxation in Luxembourg
Recommendations
Malta and Climate Change: Balancing Opportunities with Limitations
Rapid Progress Hemmed in by Island Status
The European Union and Malta´s `Lack of Ambition´
Recommendations
Concerned But Not Fully Dedicated: The Polish Perspective on Climate Change
Recommendations
Portugal Facing Climate Change: Deep Problems, Sluggish Responses, But Hopeful Prospects
Recommendations
Romania´s Fight Against Climate Change. Contributing to Ambitious European Targets While Facing Deep-Rooted Sectoral Flaws
Recommendations
Climate Change: A Second-Class Agenda in Slovakia?
The Climate Agenda in Slovak Politics
Challenges
Recommendations
Slovenia: Big on Plans, Small on Deeds?
Many Challenges, Few Answers
Nimby vs. Banana?
The EU as Carrot and Stick for Slovenia´s Climate Policy
Recommendations
Solving the Spanish Climate Conundrum While Contributing to the EU´s Decarbonisation Compass
Recommendations
Sweden: Much Progress-But More Is Needed!
High Ambitions
The Challenges
Transformation of Key Industries
Sweden and the EU
Recommendations
Ambitious Dreams Versus Harsh Reality: Can the Netherlands Really Become a Frontrunner in Climate Action?
The Importance of Climate Change Action in Dutch Politics
Key Industries, Climate Advocates and Opposing Forces
The Netherlands as a Frontrunner in EU Climate Action?
Path Towards Climate Neutrality and Recommendations
Part II: EU Neighbours
Albania´s Challenges and Risks on Climate Neutrality!
Recommendations
Mission (Im)possible-How to Fight Against Climate Change in a Country Enduring Permanent Crises: The Case of Bosnia and Herzeg...
Recommendations
Georgia: It Is Time to Address the Devastating Effects of Climate Change
Impact of Climate Change
Georgia´s Climate Policy
Cooperation with the EU
Energy Sector
Public Awareness
European Green Deal
Recommendations
Icelandic Climate Politics: Ways Forward to a Green and Socially Inclusive Welfare State?
Opportunities: Renewable Energy, Well-Being Economy and Social Inclusion
Challenges and Obstacles: Heavy Industry, Transport, Fisheries and Tourism
Recommendations
Liechtenstein: Small State, Little Responsibility?
From Vision to Strategy
Cornerstones of the Climate Strategy
Is There Enough Political and Public Support?
Recommendations
Climate Change: A Powerful Engine for Economic Transformation in Montenegro
Recommendations
North Macedonia: Pause on the `Green Agenda´ During Crisis
Heightening Public Awareness
Recommendations
Norway´s Climate Policy: Don´t Think of the Elephant!
Recommendations
Switzerland´s Climate Policy: Caught Between EU-Compatible Goals and Referendum Constraints
Recommendations
Türkiye: A Climate Financing Opportunist?
Factors Influencing Türkiye´s Attitude
Recommendations
United Kingdom: BREXIT, Climate Change and the Conservative Party
Recommendations
Ukraine: Revisit Climate Goals After the War to Increase Ambition
Recommendations
