Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
5
EU CLIMATE AND ENERGY POLICIES
Foundation or diversion?
In examining European Union (EU) approaches to climate security, it is necessary
to consider the Union
s well established and distinctive role in both general climate
policy and traditional energy security. This presents a challenge that derives from
the EU
'
s policies are pre-
dicated strongly on a deeply embedded range of regulatory activity. As pointed out
in chapter three, this is invariably seen as forming the basis for much European
in
'
s unique set of energy rules and regulations. The Union
'
s formal borders. This is not akin to traditional security
policy, but has an implied strategic dynamic. It is impossible to conceptualise EU
'
uence beyond the EU
'
in climate security without taking this on board. The question is what
implication EU climate and energy security policies have for its contribution to
climate security. Do the Union
actorness
'
'
s mainstream climate and energy policies spill over
to accord it an e
ective and distinctive identity in climate security? Or is the link
between these policies tenuous and even negative for climate security?
This is not a topic about the EU
'
s climate change policies per se or the organi-
'
sation
s performance in multilateral climate negotiations. However, to set the scene
for an assessment of global warming
s impact on EU security policy it is necessary
to provide an overview of the state of play in Europe
'
'
s overarching climate poli-
cies. Experts and European o
cials themselves often claim that the EU
'
s lead role
in climate policies enables it to in
uence the broader political dimensions of global
warming. But are the EU
s climate commitments really exemplary enough to lay
the foundations for it to play a lead role in dealing with these geopolitical chal-
lenges? Likewise, the chapter assesses the relationship between the EU
'
s traditional
energy security policies and climate security aims. The Union has prioritised e
'
orts
