Abstract
The European Union (EU) is among the world leaders in sustainability and renewable energy implementation. More recently, climate change has emerged as a prominent issue in the international community due to the wide array of research, which has highlighted the effects that anthropogenic activities has on the warming of our planet. To help mitigate this climate change, the European Union has developed an impressive renewable energy portfolio to ensure a clean green future. However, similar to the formation of the EU, generating a significant amount of energy from renewables did not happen overnight. In this study, I apply the same theories that explain the integration of Europe to explain the strength of the renewable energy policies of the EU. Specifically, I examine the EU’s renewable energy policies through a theoretical lens of neofunctionalism, new institutionalism, intergovernmentalism, and multi-level governance. Based on this study, I conclude that neofunctionalism and new institutionalism display equally functional explanations of the strength of the renewable policies of the EU.
Advisor
Lantis, Jeffrey S
Department
Political Science; Environmental Studies
Recommended Citation
Levy, Aaron, "Explaining Strength of the Renewable Energy Policies of the EU: From a European Integration Theory Perspective" (2016). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 7216.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/7216
Disciplines
Environmental Law
Keywords
renewable energy, energy policy, EU, european integration theory
Publication Date
2016
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2016 Aaron Levy