The European Union's renewable energy policy is one of the most ambitious attempts to facilitate a transition towards more sustainable energy systems. This book provides a comprehensive guide to the policy and its implementation. It contains key case studies for understanding how member states have shaped the policy, how the EU has affected the policies of its member states and how renewable energy policies have diffused horizontally. An analysis of its external dimension is also included. This remarkable guide is the first comprehensive attempt to shed light on the complex dynamics of renewable energy promotion in the European multilevel system. Theoretically driven, the study employs Europeanization as an analytical framework for assessing policy change, both at the EU level and in the member states, and compares the development of renewable energy policies in the electricity and transport sectors from the 1980s to the present. Comprising contributions from leading scholars, the book is an indispensible guide for academics, researchers and students interested in EU energy and climate policies in general and EU renewable energy policy specifically, as well as practitioners and stakeholders involved in renewable energy policy and climate protection. Contributors include: A. Ancygier, M. Bechberger, P. Bocquillon, S. Davidescu, L. Di Lucia, M.R. Di Nucci, H. Dyrhauge, G. Escribano, A. Evrard, J. Fairbrass, R. Fernandez, B. Hirschl, R. Hiteva, T. Hoppe, K. Jankowska, H. Joergens, T. Maltby, D. Ohlhorst, E. OEller, D. Russolillo, I. Solorio, E. van Bueren, T. Vogelpohl

Over recent decades national environmental policies have become increasingly alike. This book analyses the driving forces of this process of policy convergence, providing an in-depth empirical analysis of the international forces at work. It does so by investigating how four countries - France, Hungary, Mexico and the Netherlands - have shaped their domestic environmental policies in the context of international institutions and relationships, while taking into account various domestic factors and national conditions. Employing a qualitative approach, the authors seek to deepen understanding of the processes and mechanisms through which international forces such as legal harmonisation, institutionalised information flows and global trade dynamics affect domestic environmental policy change. Together with its companion volume Environmental Policy Convergence in Europe: The Impact of Trade and International Institutions (2008) this book provides a 'showcase' of mixed methodologies, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches in an innovative way.

Seit Ende der 80er Jahre gehen PionierlAnder des Umweltschutzes neue Wege. Hintergrund ist das Konzept der nachhaltigen Entwicklung, wie es die 1992 in Rio de Janeiro beschlossene Agenda 21 formuliert. Im Kern handelt es sich um eine strategische Umweltplanung mit weitreichenden Konsequenzen fA1/4r andere Politikfelder. Rund vier FA1/4nftel der IndustrielAnder verfA1/4gen bereits A1/4ber die eine oder andere Form solcher Planung. In Deutschland hingegen kommt dieser ProzeA bisher nur mA1/4hsam voran. Was tut sich in den VorreiterlAndern einer strategisch orientierten Umweltpolitik? Was sind die Chancen und VorzA1/4ge einer kooperativen Umweltplanung? Und was ergibt sich daraus fA1/4r Deutschland? Dies sind die Fragen, denen sich dieses Buch widmet. Der Stand der internationalen Entwicklung wird von namhaften Wissenschaftlern im Aoeberblick dargestellt. Das Buch ist sowohl fA1/4r Umwelt-, Planungs- und Politikwissenschaftler als auch fA1/4r Praktiker in Politik, Wirtschaft und VerbAnden von Nutzen.