EU climate policy after the crisis

In the period 2009–2011, Member States discussed whether the EU should increase its emissions reduction target for 2020 beyond the existing 20%. This discussion has not resulted in any agreement, the different actors being deeply divided between those calling for a step-up to a higher target (for instance 30%) and those opposed to any kind of increase. The division can be seen as a result of a conflict between policy frames. The economic crisis has deepened the division between those who see climate-change policy as detrimental to growth and those seeing it as beneficial to growth. Whereas the latter group – including the UK and DG Climate Action –subscribe to the green growth policy frame, the former – including Poland – subscribe to the ‘trade-off policy frame’. Many Member States have been internally divided between proponents and opponents of a step-up, often with environment ministries in the former camp and finance and economics ministries in the latter.