Environmental Policy and Politics in the European Union

As EU environmental policy has matured institutionally and in terms of providing a dense regulatory framework for public and private actors. This book offers a badly needed scholarly update on EU environmental politics and policy - just in time for its 30th formal 'birthday' in 2016. In linking a thorough and reflective analysis of internal governance issues and developments to the important question of policy outcome and in successfully situating EU policy in its international context, thus escaping an unduly Eurocentric perspective, the authors address two challenges of EU environmental policy analysis in an outstanding manner.' - Professor Andrea Lenschow, University of Osnabruck, Germany "The authors present a concise, informative overview of environmental policy and politics in the European Union with special focus on the cases of genetically modified organisms and climate change, two areas where EU policy approaches have attracted global attention. The book places EU developments in historical and international context; introduces the reader to the main actors, institutions, and policy making processes; and explains the increasing diversity of policy instruments used to address pollution and nature conservation. It will be very useful for the classroom and those seeking a general introduction to EU environmental policy." - Miranda Schreurs, Free University of Berlin, Germany "The European Union (EU) has arguably established the most intricate and mature bodies of environmental policy of any supranational organisation. From climate change to chemicals and biodiversity to biofuels, it is frankly impossible to understand fully the processes of environmental problem solving anywhere in the world today without taking the EU's policies into account. This impressive new book clearly and concisely explains their genesis and the impacts they generate at internal, national and sub-national levels of governance. A must read for specialists and students alike." - Andrew Jordan, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UK

State-of-the-art analysis of EU environmental policy and the political dynamics that shape it. By stressing its global context, it examines the historical developments, the institutions and actors involved in policy-making, as well as the content, drivers and effects of the policies in both the traditional and the 'new' environmental sub-domains.This brand new textbook provides a concise and informative overview of environmental policy and politics in the European Union. It includes a thorough analysis of the traditional areas of environmental concern such as pollution and natural resources, as well as newer environmental issues, including GMOs and climate change. Throughout this clear and readable introduction, the authors emphasize the interdependence between EU environmental policy and changes at the global level, focusing in particular on the EU's role in global environmental governance. The authors' didactic approach means this text will be invaluable to undergraduate and postgraduate students of environmental politics, policies and governance in the EU as well as MA programmes with a global focus, including international relations and EU studies.