EU’s Green Ambitions as its Normative Power in the Multipolar World

Climate crisis protests. Image: Unsplash

Climate crisis has been an important urgent issue to be addressed globally, as the UN has targeted nations worldwide to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. However, at this rate, global warming is expected to go around 2.5-3 degrees which could put the risk of catastrophe in various parts of the world (UN, 2023). Therefore, greening the earth due to climate change is currently the main agenda of many international organizations, especially the European Union. Climate change and environmental degradation pose a real threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Union is creating a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, by ensuring the following components: (1) achieving net elimination of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, (2) economic growth decoupled from resources use, and (3) no person and no place left behind (European Commission, 2023). In this brief, we discuss how the EU uses its green transition plans as part of its normative power in the multipolar world, which solidifies the EU’s standing globally.

The European Union is widely considered to be a major environmental leader. It became one through various measures such as the Environmental Action Programs (EAPs) which have a leading role in defining the EU's environmental principles and priorities. Speroni (2018) stated that the European Union's initial commitment to climate change and environmental protection occurred in the 1960s, when environmental issues began to become important in EEC Member States and other industrialized countries. This aim led to the 1971 UN Conference in Stockholm which was attended by the European Commission's Communications Committee throughout the program of public environmental action. The six member states of the European Commission were unable to obtain stricter environmental measures but only a draft declaration. Because of this dissatisfaction, European countries, at the Conference of European Heads of State and Commission of Government in Paris in October 1972, decided to establish a program of societal action, which included environmental action and future aspirations.

The Environmental Action Program was first adopted in November 1973. This EAP links social, economic and environmental development by laying out the broad principles of sustainable development, in accordance with those stated in the Paris Conference. Over the years until now, the European Union has developed several environmental principles, such as the principle of subsidiarity, enshrined in EU treaty law through the Single European Act in 1987; (2) the precautionary principle, which states that precautionary measures must be taken to ensure a high level of environmental protection; (3) a high level of protection; and (4) the polluter-pays principle, the principle that only polluters must bear the economic costs of pollution was established in the first environmental action program (Speroni, 2018). As time goes by, the European Union has become a leader in global environmental politics. EU leadership has been crucial in creating an international biosafety regime and establishing rules in international biotechnology regulation – a highly controversial and emerging norm in international environmental law and politics that competes with the norms and principles governing international trade. This is similar to the argument regarding the European Union's position as a “normative power” in international relations. It can be seen how in certain regions and conditions, normative power can consolidate Europe's effectiveness and enhance its reputation as a fairer superpower country (Almeida et al., 2023).

Environmental sustainability has been an important policy area for the European Union since being formalized as a fully-fledged economic union. The EU has set plans to make Europe become the first carbon-neutral continent, by targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (European Commission). Individually, EU member states have also set targets for phase-out of fossil fuels, transition towards renewable energy and having net-zero targets. Several EU member states rank highest in global rankings of sustainability, environmental protection and energy transition, such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands (Togliopietro et. al., 2019). At the same time, however, dependence on hydrocarbons and non-environmentally friendly energy is still an issue in EU member states, such as its eastern members which still depend on hydrocarbon imports, especially from Russia, as its energy sources, as well as Germany, the EU’s largest economy, reactivating the use of coal plants while nuclear power plants were closed (Wettengel, 2023).

When we see development in Europe, it is evident that European countries have shown good progress in terms of sustainable development in infrastructure. This is evident in European urban planning, which prioritise pedestrian areas, protection of historical and cultural heritage, extensive public transportation networks, as well as linking of cities and countries via electric rail and bus networks (Mayors of Europe, 2023). The development of sustainable urban planning in Europe is unparalleled in other continents, even other parts of the developed world such as North America which traditionally depends on automobile-based infrastructure (Mattioli et. al., 2020)..The vast network of rail and bus networks in European cities have been seen as an example of sustainable urban planning. In addition, electric automobiles have also become more common in Europe. The EU noted that 21.6% of new car registrations in 2022 were electric vehicles (EEA, 2023). In addition, many EU countries have also pushed towards energy transition, especially as the war in Ukraine causing the EU to reduce its energy dependency on Russia. The EU noted 23% of its energy use being from renewables in 2022, a rise from 21.8% in 2021 (European Commission, 2023). However, when being looked more generally, there is a striking inequality among EU member states. While Nordic countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland have done significant progress in energy transition, many other countries, such as Benelux countries, still relatively lag.

Image 1: Share of renewable energy in EU member states (European Commission)

At the same time, the European Union is trying to position itself as a major power in the current multipolar landscape. In a troubled global order with raising confrontation between a declining American hegemony, an ascending Chinese power base and an assertive Russia, the EU tries to position itself as a benevolent power by giving public goods to other regions and bring benefits in many issues of concern, including sustainable development and global transition (Puglierin and Zerka, 2023). At a time when ‘connectivity geopolitics’ have been more important as geopolitical narratives, such as the US Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as well as Russia’s Greater Eurasian Partnership and International North-South Transport Corridor, the EU is also trying to play its role in the current geopolitical chessboard through its Global Gateway and Team Europe Initiative (Mardell, 2021).

The Global Gateway is a European strategy to boost links and connectivities through sustainable development in various areas such as fighting climate change, global health resilience as well as education and research (European Commission). The first Global Gateway forum was held in Brussels in October 2023 with over 40 high-level government representatives. The projects are implemented especially for the developing world, such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Asia-Pacific. The EU noted 90 projects in 2023, including in climate change, energy transition as well as transport. Important projects by the Global Gateway include green energy partnerships in Africa, preventing deforestation in the Amazon basin, and in ASEAN member states they have also implemented green transition and sustainable connectivity projects (EU in ASEAN, 2023).

Global Gateway is implemented through Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs), which brings together the European Union, EU member states and development finance institutions for joint actions (European Commission, 2023). The TEIs focus on  identifying critical priorities that constrain development in a given country or region, based on collaboration (hence the name of ‘Team Europe’). Initially prepared as a response towards the COVID-19 pandemic, In the following years, it has evolved into  various forms of assistance delivered through Team Europe for the world as part of the Global Gateway projects, such as vaccine exports from the EU to the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, help for health resilience and disaster mitigation in the developing world, protection of biodiversity, maritime security and sustainable aviation fuel, smart green cities, as well as forest governance and green finance facility (EU in ASEAN, 2023). With these projects, it is evident that the EU is trying to bring lessons and experiences regarding sustainable development in other regions, to position itself as a leading power in sustainable development and green transition.

However, Global Gateway is also seen as a controversial strategy for the European Commission because it uses development funds to attract private investment in the Global South, and also marks a fundamental change in the space for civil society to interact with European institutions in their development agenda (Eurodad, 2023). Moreover, the Global Gateway program targets renewable energy, digital transition and developments in global infrastructure projects. It is also often compared to China's Belt and Road Initiative. Although the EU has avoided comparing the initiative directly with China's BRI, it has emphasized elements such as transparency and environmental sustainability, which are the same things that Beijing's project has been criticized for. In relation to developing countries, Global Gateway seeks to overcome problems arising from foreign investment in developing countries, especially those related to the environment, labor and safety. Apart from that, Global Gateway also aspires to empower the private sector in carrying out projects and mobilizing funds. In order to reduce intrusiveness and increase attractiveness for partner countries, there are voices within the EU that measure reducing political requirements in the GG while increasing technical requirements and maintaining some socio-economic requirements (e.g. on issues such as the environment or employment) . Therefore, the liberal conditionality that Brussels usually attaches to foreign aid, for example democracy, human rights or the rule of law) is not prominent in the GG (Wu, 2023).

In general, it is evident that the EU is trying to position itself as a normative power through its green ambitions, which is seen as an ideal source of power instead of material or physical concept  In terms of green transition, the idea is seen through the EU’s implementation of green-friendly politics both internally as well as its external policies towards other regions. This also proves the relevance of the European Union as a normative power in terms as a partner for sustainable development (Teevan et. al., 2022). In the case of Indonesia, given the urgency of sustainable development, climate action and energy transition in the country, Indonesia’s participation in EU-led projects will be beneficial for Indonesia’s own good. Therefore, this aspect should be considered well by Indonesia’s upcoming presidency, instead of seeing traditionalist lenses on Europe as the “old continent” but seeing it as a partner in a multipolar world where you could not depend on only one major power.

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