Peeters, Marjan --- "Local Climate Action in the European Union" [2012] ELECD 723; in Richardson, J. Benjamin (ed), "Local Climate Change Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012)

Book Title: Local Climate Change Law

Editor(s): Richardson, J. Benjamin

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9780857937476

Section: Chapter 10

Section Title: Local Climate Action in the European Union

Author(s): Peeters, Marjan

Number of pages: 27

Extract:

10. Local climate action in the European
Union
Marjan Peeters*

1. INTRODUCTION

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, combat-
ing climate change is now explicitly recognized as one of the policy objectives
of the European Union. Article 191(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union (TFEU) affirms that EU policy shall contribute to the pursuit
of, inter alia, `promoting measures at international level to deal with regional
or worldwide environmental problems, and in particular combating climate
change'.1 This rule codifies an already ongoing practice of the EU to provide
global leadership on climate protection. This role has been underscored by the
adoption of a vast package of EU climate and energy legislation imposing both
obligations on EU Member States and, through EU regulations, duties on
private actors.2 The details of this legislative package are extremely complex,
which poses a challenge for local governments in EU Member States when
determining their room for manoeuvre on addressing climate change, in partic-
ular with regard to mitigation.
This chapter will outline the core elements of the current EU climate pack-
age, focusing on some dilemmas for local governments that seek to pursue a
low carbon policy. Part 2 sets out the main elements of EU mitigation law,
explaining the room for action left for national and local governments. Part 3
of the chapter focuses on some selected approaches and related dilemmas for
local governments addressing climate change, focusing in particular ...