CSD Policy Brief No. 25: The Green Element in the Sustainable Energy Policies of Europe
CSD Policy Brief No. 25: The Green Element in the Sustainable Energy Policies of Europe

Author(s): Author Not Specified
Subject(s): Energy and Environmental Studies, Economic policy, Environmental and Energy policy
Published by: Център за изследване на демокрацията
Summary/Abstract: Since the definition of the term by the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) in 1987, ‘sustainability’ has become one of the most prominent political terms in the international affairs to rule agendas for decades ahead. The series of relevant meetings on the issue of sustainable development and climate change in Rio (1992), Kyoto (1997) and Johannesburg (2002) and Copenhagen (2009), as well as the overwhelming proliferation of green organisations and advocacy groups in Europe, have predisposed the European Union to take the vanguard role in the global effort for more sustainable and greener development. One of the first expected steps to take in that direction was to devise a sound and comprehensive legislation structure governing the European and national energy and environment protection policies in the way that they follow the principles of sustainable development, or namely avoiding degradation of natural resources, protection of the environment, promotion of equitable sharing of the products and resources of prospering economy to all groups of society. // Main purpose of this study is to review and discuss the development of regulation at EU level to guide corresponding national legislation and policies designed to address the challenges of sustainable development, notably those on the environment dimension and as regards to the most relevant economic sector – energy. The paper will briefly examine the development of the idea and strategy for sustainable development in Europe over time, the concrete EU legislation and instruments to facilitate national policies to support such development.

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