Germany's active participation in EU environmental policy through the example of climate change policy.

• Main Authors: Lin, Yen Hsin, Nguyen, Phuong Quynh, Savella, Frances Larla
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2002
• Subjects: Environmental policy > European Union countries; Other International and Area Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10210
• Institution: De La Salle University

As the environment becomes more important nowadays, different countries are stepping up and taking the leadership role in environmental protections. Germany, one of the richest and most industrialized in the world have taken up the task and assumed the role as the environmental leader in both the regional and international levels. As the environmental leader, Germany has one of the most stringent environmental policies in Europe. As Germany has taken up the leadership role several questions such as what made Germany participate actively in EU environmental policymaking seem to be of significance. This case study on Germany's participation in EU environmental policymaking tries to explain the actions made by the elites in Germany that contributed to Germany's active participation in EU environmental policymaking. Aside from this, it also tries to answer questions such as what are the advantages for the German economy and who are the local elites who advocated environmental protection. Based on this research, the elites such as the trade union officials, business and trade representatives, higher civil servants, active politicians, environmental activists are motivated by the advantages at the microeconomic and macroeconomic levels. These advantages have created edges for the German market. At the macroeconomic level the advantages include expansion and creation of markets, job creation and development of environmental products and technologies. On the other hand, at the microeconomic level, through the cooperation between the Federal Government and the firms to come up with beneficial policies that would improve their sales and profits more. Aside from economic factors, political factors also contributed to the active participation of Germany in EU environmental policymaking. The decentralized system enables the citizens to have a voice when it comes to the environment. The German Green Party also helps in the success of Germany's environmental participation in the European Union. This research has shown that the economic advantages for the German economy, the German political structure and the participation of the German citizens enable Germany to participate actively in EU environmental policies.