Is there climate policy integration in European Union energy efficiency and renewable energy policies? Yes, no, maybe

Abstract

The integration of climate policy concerns in other policy areas where decisions are taken that determine greenhouse gas emissions is a prerequisite for effectively mitigating climate change. There are particularly strong interlinkages between energy and climate policy as the major part of greenhouse gas emissions is related to energy supply and use. We compile a set of five output-focused indicators for assessing climate policy integration (political commitment, functional overlap, policy instruments, weighting, and time perspective). We then apply the criteria for an appraisal of climate policy integration in European Union (EU) energy policy during the last decade;that is, we focus on climate policy integration from a horizontal perspective. The focus of our research lies on the comparison of the Renewable Energy and the Energy Efficiency Directives of the Energy Union Package with their predecessors.Our results show that climate change mitigation is a key objective in these documents. The energy policy objectives are generally synergetic with climate policy. The Energy Union Package makes progress in some areas like the more stringent EU targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency or the more stringent sustainability criteria for biofuels. However, some conflicting issues arise. The shift from national to an overall EU renewables target and the change towards more market-oriented support schemes might together with the elimination of preferential grid access for renewable electricity entail negative impacts on renewable investment and on achieving emission reductions. It remains to be seen whether the adaptations in EU energy policy will lead to the required acceleration of the energy transition. K E Y W O R D S climate policy, climate policy integration, energy policy, European Union

Governing energy in organisations: Energy management professionals, marginalised practices, and the limits to change

“…National policy frameworks related to both energy (e.g., carbon targets) and 'non‐energy' policies (e.g., marketisation), and differing social, technical and economic landscapes, deeply affect EMPs' practices. However, the cross‐national literature on EMPs and energy management reports broadly similar challenges and tensions across different national contexts (e.g., Ates & Durakbasa, 2012; Elmualim et al, 2012; Ivner et al, 2014; Kannan & Boie, 2003; Kurland & Zell, 2010; Min et al, 2016; Visser & Crane, 2010), as does the literature on environmental policy integration (e.g., Jordan & Lenschow, 2010; Dupont, 2016; Di Gregorio et al, 2017; Jacob & Kannen, 2015; Kettner & Kletzan‐Slamanig, 2020). Equally, important trends such as liberalisation, professionalisation, and projectification have been identified across the global North, though playing out in nationally and organisationally specific ways.…”

“…Moreover, the challenges associated with organisational change are well‐documented (e.g., Hayes, 2018; Schmitt, Raisch, & Volberda, 2018), including in relation to sustainability (Burnes, 2017; Wright & Nyberg, 2017). As long‐running debates on environmental policy integration (e.g., Jordan & Lenschow, 2010) and climate policy integration (e.g., Kettner & Kletzan‐Slamanig, 2020) indicate, it can be extremely difficult for institutions to meaningfully embed sustainability agendas into their operations.…”

Climate policy integration viewed through the stakeholders' eyes: A co‐production of knowledge in social‐ecological transformation research

“…CPI research differentiates between the policy process, the output, and the outcome (Kettner & Kletzan‐Slamaning, 2020). The overall aim of CPI as policy outcome is to reduce GHG.…”

“…Niedertscheider et al (2018) added to these (f) reflexivity as a criterion to analyze the learning process, (g) enquired if commitment and sanctions are given, (h) how uncertainties are addressed, and proposed to (i) analyze the multilevel interplay and (j) the multiactor involvement. We adapt these proposed criteria according to our research question and assess not only existing CPI together with stakeholders but also examine obstacles and challenges in CPI for reducing GHG (for CPI evaluation, see also Kettner & Kletzan‐Slamaning, 2020).…”

“…It draws on the debate around environmental policy integration (EPI; Lenschow, 2002; Lafferty & Hovden, 2003; Jordan & Lenschow, 2008; Jordan & Lenschow, 2010; Runhaar, Driessen, & Uittenbroek, 2014; Adelle & Russel, 2013; Jacob, Volkery, & Lenschow, 2008). So far, CPI studies have mostly focused on the integration of the energy sector at the European Union level (Dupont, 2015; Dupont & Oberthür, 2012; Dupont & Primova, 2011; Kettner & Kletzan‐Slamaning, 2020; Kettner, Kletzan‐Slamaning, & Köppl, 2012; Kurze & Lenschow, 2018). They have dealt to a lesser degree with other fields like the building sector (Steurer & Clar, 2015; Steurer, Clar, & Casado‐Asensio, 2020), water (Brouwer, Rayner, & Huitema, 2013), or land use (Di Gregorio et al, 2017).…”