The EU in International Environmental Politics

1
The EU in International Environmental Politics

• Chad Damro
• University of Edinburgh
• Lecturer of EU Politics and
• International Relations

2
PRIMARY QUESTIONS

• To what extent has the EU overcome the obstacle
  of shared competence in UN environmental
  politics?
• How might the EUs impact be magnified in future?

3
Shared Competence

• Authority to act internationally
• Determines EUs ability to
• Represent Union at international negotiations
• Sign and ratify agreements
• Implement domestic measures necessary to meet
  commitments
• Differs greatly from exclusive competence
• Potential for third-party confusion

4
Internal Developments

• ERTA Decision (1971)
• Environmental Action Programmes (1973)
• DG Environment (1981)
• Single European Act (1986)
• Maastricht Treaty (1992)

5
External Activity

• EU is signatory to over 60 MEAs
• Recognised by third-party negotiators at UN
• 1974 GA Resolution
• 1979 REIO status
• Regular relations with UN system via
• UNEP
• CSD
• Ability to attain objectives and manage lengthy
  UN negotiations on climate change
• UNFCCC

6
EU Magnification I

• Pursue compromise with AP6
• Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and
  Climate
• Australia, India, Japan, PRC, S. Korea, USA
• Promote enviro objectives in IOs
• UN agencies, G8, OECD

7
EU Magnification II

• Link environmental issues to trade incentives
• Inter-regional trade and bilateral agreements
• WTOs Doha Round (MEA Secretariats and UNEP)
• WTO membership

8
EU Magnification III

• Promote global environmental governance
• Improve coordination among overlapping MEAs
• Upgrade UNEP
• Lead by implementation example
• Kyoto targets
• Domestic emissions trading system

9
Conclusions

• Some hope and cause for concern
• EU seems to have overcome limitations of shared
  competence
• Still can be confusing for third parties
• Implementation issues/credibility?
• Role of US and AP6?
• Watch for 2012