The issue of climate change, in light of its cross-cutting and transnational nature, requires governments to step up and create effective policies capable of containing its threat to our societies. Political leaders bear the responsibility of crafting comprehensive strategies that transcend borders. In the face of this pressing challenge, political commitment is essential to implement measures that mitigate environmental impact and ensure the well-being of the planet.

In their contributions to Climate Change and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals, TEPSA’s most recent book from the Future of Europe series, Finland and Sweden’s perspectives on the challenges they face in pursuit of the ambitious climate goals set both domestically and on European level are represented through excellent contributions.

The Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) co-organised a public debate on views and positions related to climate change in Sweden and Finland, alongside its member institutes the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (UPI/FIIA) and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI). “Climate Politics Unveiled: European, Finnish and Swedish Perspectives” was held online through Zoom on November 29 at 14:00 CET (15:00 EET).

SPEAKERS:

• Niklas Bremberg, Associate Professor in Political Science at Stockholm University and Associate Senior Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs
• Emma Hakala, leading researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Helsinki
• Gunilla Herolf, PhD, Senior Associate Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Stockholm
• Moderated by Johannes Pollak, Rector and University Professor of Political Science at the International Relations Department at the Webster Vienna Private University, Vienna, Austria

The discussion in this webinar focused on views and positions related to climate change in Sweden and Finland, as well as how they position themselves within the European context. Speakers discussed the politicisation of European climate policies and, thereafter, deal with some particular Finnish and Swedish issues related to climate change and its mitigation. The discussion was moderated by Johannes Pollak, one of the editors of TEPSA’s most recent book, Climate Change and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals.

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 of aggression 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.