Europe the Emerging Climate Superpower: A new security policy paradigm?
In recent years the European Union has systematically strengthened its pioneering role with regard to climate issues. The announcement of climate change goals and the package of related measures proposed by the European Commission were a step in this direction. The Krium Workshop entitled "Europe the emerging climate superpower. A new security policy paradigm?", which took place in Bonn on May 31, 2008, took off from this point. Can the EU don the mantle of a global player through a coordinated climate and energy security policy that focuses on prevention and cooperation? What opportunities and risks are associated with this approach? These issues were the subject of a discussion by Hans-Jochen Luhmann (Wuppertal Institute), Dennis Tänzler (adelphi research) and Christoph Bals (Germanwatch).
Dennis Tänzler felt that the EU's climate and energy policy goals for 2020 provide only a partial scope for a potentially influential European role. The most promising in this regard are the policy initiatives for shaping global climate and energy governance. However, in view of the Solana and European Commission report on „Climate and International Security”, there is still insufficient evidence of adequate political backing for these measures. Hans-Jochen Luhmann, on the other hand, emphasized the new dimension of the EU's role on the international stage. According to him, the EU is using climate and energy policy as a means to extend its power. The inclusion of air traffic outside Europe in the emissions trading framework is proof, Luhmann felt that the EU is evolving into a hegemonic power that makes the rules - even for countries outside of Europe - instead of submitting to them. By applying policy instruments such as emissions trading and promoting renewable energy, which also affect sectors outside Europe, the EU would increasingly act as a hegemonic power. The growing consolidation of power in Brussels vis-à-vis the EU member states is also furthering this development.
While there was a heated debate on the concept of concerted action by the EU and the growing repercussions on global security, Christoph Bals' concluding remarks alluded to a discussion recently broached by the philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas: climate and energy policy attest to the fact that nation states are currently ceding their regulatory powers and that, increasingly, regional regimes such as the EU are crucial for a functioning international community. (Rixa Schwarz, Germanwatch)
For more information, please see http://www.germanwatch.org/
Dennis Tänzler felt that the EU's climate and energy policy goals for 2020 provide only a partial scope for a potentially influential European role. The most promising in this regard are the policy initiatives for shaping global climate and energy governance. However, in view of the Solana and European Commission report on „Climate and International Security”, there is still insufficient evidence of adequate political backing for these measures. Hans-Jochen Luhmann, on the other hand, emphasized the new dimension of the EU's role on the international stage. According to him, the EU is using climate and energy policy as a means to extend its power. The inclusion of air traffic outside Europe in the emissions trading framework is proof, Luhmann felt that the EU is evolving into a hegemonic power that makes the rules - even for countries outside of Europe - instead of submitting to them. By applying policy instruments such as emissions trading and promoting renewable energy, which also affect sectors outside Europe, the EU would increasingly act as a hegemonic power. The growing consolidation of power in Brussels vis-à-vis the EU member states is also furthering this development.
While there was a heated debate on the concept of concerted action by the EU and the growing repercussions on global security, Christoph Bals' concluding remarks alluded to a discussion recently broached by the philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas: climate and energy policy attest to the fact that nation states are currently ceding their regulatory powers and that, increasingly, regional regimes such as the EU are crucial for a functioning international community. (Rixa Schwarz, Germanwatch)
For more information, please see http://www.germanwatch.org/