EU Renewable Energy Policy

-By Zola Berger-Schmitz, ‘18C, Music and Environmental Sciences, and Cassidy Schwartz, ‘18C, Environmental Sciences and International Studies 

The European Union is in an advantageous position to spread climate policy options throughout its member states. Influential countries like Germany that have pioneered renewable energy support mechanisms have a vested interest in helping other member states adopt similar renewable energy policies. This greatly accelerates the diffusion of renewable energy policy from one EU member state to another and allows policies to be tested at the national level before they are adopted by supranational EU institutions.