Climate change is the greatest global challenge of our times. It is a multidimensional crisis that affects us all in very different ways. It impacts all our policies and our way of life, and it interacts with and other overarching geopolitical transformations like Russia’s aggression of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of our economies.

It is therefore crucial to reflect on how the EU can both reach its own climate goals and contribute to global solutions in this field. In this context, the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) is co-organising a public debate with the Egmont Institute: “Towards a Climate Neutral Europe: Building Unity from Diversity” on May 10 at 18:15-19:30 CET. The event takes place in person at the Fondation Universitaire, Rue d’Egmont 11, Brussels, and a livestreaming option will be available. The Green deal provides the blueprint for tackling climate change in a resolute manner. The fight can only be won if Europe builds unity from diversity, overhauls its energy policies, enhances its strategic autonomy, and manages the necessary economic and societal transformations. The panel will be followed by an open Q&A and drinks reception.

In addition to debating how to build unity from diversity in Europe’s journey towards climate neutrality, this event represents the launch of TEPSA’s latest book: “Climate Change and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals”, edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak and Paul Schmidt, and published by Springer. The book presents insights from over 50 experts in 39 countries in the EU and neighboring regions, provides examples of national paths toward climate neutrality, and on public perception of the climate crisis, and includes recommendations on how policy-makers should implement climate policies, both at the national and EU level. Learn more about the book here.

SPEAKERS:

• Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General, Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA);
• Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome;
• François Roux, Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute;
• Adélaïde Charlier, co-founder, Youth for Climate Movement;
• Moderator: Jim Cloos, TEPSA Secretary-General and Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute.

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With this event, TEPSA and Egmont aim to provide an overview of how specific factors such as a country’s history, economy, or political system) can determine national approached towards climate neutrality, thus impacting EU-level policies to combat climate change. In doing so, the event will explore the key challenges and opportunities of implementing the European Green Deal, analyse how climate policies could be further integrated into the wider EU political agenda, in parallel to strategic autonomy as well as economic and social transformations, and provide a multi-stakeholder discussion platform for civil society, academics and media to engage with experts and policy-makers.

“Climate Change and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals” is edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak and Paul Schmidt, and published by Springer. While the ambitious objectives outlined in the EU’s Green Deal aim at making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, national implementation greatly varies depending on local geographies, history, culture, economics, and politics. This book analyses Member States’ and EU neighbours’ national efforts to combat climate change. It subsequently draws on these factors to highlight local challenges, tensions, and opportunities on the road towards climate neutrality. In the context of inter-country dependencies following Russia’s war against Ukraine, it addresses strategic questions regarding EU integration, the transformation of our economies, the reduction of energy dependencies, and public perception of the above. The book also makes concrete recommendations, in various policy areas, on how individual countries and the EU as a whole should deal with the climate crisis.

This event takes place in the context of TEPSA’s EU-Bridge operating grant within the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union.