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Energising Europe

Climate Change, Energy Security
& Europe’s Next Big Project

Biographies

Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change, WWF-UK

Keith Allott is head of WWF-UK's climate change programme, which works on issues including the Climate Change Bill, UK and EU energy policy, emissions trading, climate change adaptation, international climate change negotiations and aviation. Before joining WWF, Keith spent most of his career working as Deputy Editor at ENDS, the leading publisher of information and analysis on UK and EU environmental policy. He also worked for the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and contributed to its 2000 report on Energy & Environment - the source of the Government's current target to reduce the UK's CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050.

Abstract

The paper will provide a WWF view of the strengths and weaknesses of the EU energy package, and an assessment of the prospects for taking it forward.

Jason Anderson, Senior Fellow and Head of Climate Change Programme, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)

Jason Anderson is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), and head of the Climate Change Programme. As a non-profit independent think tank, IEEP develops and analyses policies for European and international institutions and stakeholders. Jason has been a member of several European Climate Change Programme groups, and was a lead author of two IPCC special reports. He was formerly an energy policy analyst at Climate Action Network Europe, and developed solar energy projects in Central America with the US Department of Energy. He has degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and from Harvard University.

Abstract

Europe has claimed leadership on the fight against climate change for many years, and particularly since the United States pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol. Domestically, a range of policies have been promoted to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including a set of proposals for the post-2012 period currently under discussion. Internationally, it was the EU’s pressure on Kyoto ratification that held the treaty together until it entered into force. But Europe’s leadership faces several challenges, of which two are addressed here.

First is the notion that Europe has had a ‘free ride’ in its emissions controls due to German reunification, the UK dash to gas, and the accession of Central and Eastern European countries with easy Kyoto targets. As the EU proposes a 20% unilateral emission reduction target, how difficult is it, and does it turn the tables on the argument that Europe is resting on its laurels? With an ambitious set of revisions to the EU emissions trading system, renewable energy targets and others, will the EU be able to match its collective vision with Member State action, while facing up to other trends, including a return to coal fired power?

Second, although the EU has pushed the international negotiating process under the Kyoto Protocol, there is broad recognition that a future treaty without US participation is unlikely to be acceptable or meaningful. But for the US to participate fully, it is likely to want to claim to lead the process. Is Europe prepared to cede the mantel of leadership? And what is it prepared to accept in order to see the US fully engaged? With memories of an anticipatory rejection of the Kyoto treaty by the Senate before COP3 and a collapsed negotiation at COP6 over differences that seem subtle in light of subsequent events, how far will it be possible to align US and EU interests even after a new President takes office?

Pamela Barnes, Jean Monnet Chair, School of Law, University of Lincoln

Pamela M. Barnes is Jean Monnet Chair ‘ad personam’ in European Political Integration, School of Law, University of Lincoln. She has co-authored a number of books including “Environmental Policy in the European Union” with I.G. Barnes (2000), Edward Elgar. She is the author of articles and book chapters on enlargement and EU environmental policy, EU environmental management and audit legislation, the environmental impact of CAP reforms, development of EU’s nuclear energy strategy, EU citizenship, EU institutional developments and the decision making process. Her most recent publications include “The nuclear industry – a particular challenge to democracy in Europe” (2006) in Managerial Law, Volume 48:4, August; “Europeanization of Environmental Policy” in Massey A. and Carr F. (eds) (2006) “Public Policy and the new European Agenda”, Edward Elgar Publishing; “The future of EURATOM” in Neuwahl N. and Haack S. (eds) (2007), “Unresolved issues in the European Constitution” Les Editions Themis; “The resurrection of EURATOM” in the Yearbook of European Environmental Law, (forthcoming 2008)

Abstract

The EURATOM Treaty – ‘an outdated, undemocratic alien dinosaur’ in a liberalised energy market or a ‘remarkable and flexible document’?

Solidarity amongst the Member States of the European Union on energy resources offers the most effective way forward to meet the challenges posed by energy insecurity and climate change. But the national governments of the EU continue to jealously guard their rights to choose their national energy resources. The commitment to energy solidarity in the Lisbon Treaty appears to be nothing more than a political statement in response to the concerns of the Polish government and the governments of the Baltic States which are heavily reliant on Russian imported energy resources. There is little room for bargaining and consensus building between the national governments to transfer more competences over energy developments to the supranational level. As low carbon energy resources are sought governments are turning with increasing interest to the highly controversial nuclear energy technologies. In the current political environment it would appear to be unrealistic to expect to reach agreement on a legal and constitutional framework for action for this technology. However an EU Treaty already exists to promote solidarity in the peaceful use of nuclear technology - the sometimes forgotten EURATOM Treaty which established the European Atomic Energy Community in 1957. In this paper questions are raised about the ‘value added’ which the EURATOM Treaty brings to the debate about energy solidarity in the EU. Despite much criticism of the EURATOM Treaty it may be that it is in the arena of nuclear energy policy that the European Union will prove to be most effective in the search for energy solidarity.

Shanez Cheytan, Sustainable Development Attaché, British Embassy, Paris

Sustainable Development and Food Safety Attaché at the British Embassy in Paris, leading on emissions trading, energy market liberalisation, renewable energy, biofuels and land use as well as all aspects of food safety and animal health.

Sir Ken Collins, Former Chair of the European Parliament's Environment Committee

Ken Collins' career was originally in local government and in teaching. He then spent 20 years at the European Parliament, 15 of these as Chair of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. He is a former Board Member of the Institute for European Environmental Policy and the European Environment Agency. He is now a member of the European Commission's High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment.

Roxanne Decyk, Corporate Affairs Director of Royal Dutch Shell plc

Roxanne Decyk is the Corporate Affairs Director for Royal Dutch Shell plc. In this capacity, she oversees regional business coordination, global government affairs, communications, sustainable development, security and HSE for the $330Billion energy company. Effective 1 October 2007, Roxanne was appointed a member of the Shell Group Executive Committee. Prior to this position, she led strategy for RD/Shell and served as SVP for corporate affairs and human resources for Shell Oil Company. Earlier in her career she held senior positions in the oil and automotive industries and practiced law. Rosanne has served on corporate boards in the US and UK over the past 20 years and is active in international women's organizations. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Oil and Gas Advisory Board to the UK TI and a trustee of the Shell Foundation.

Jenny Fairbrass, UACES Treasurer and University of Bradford

Jenny Fairbrass is a Lecturer in Strategy in the School of Management at the University of Bradford. Her current research interests lie primarily in the areas of Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility. Jenny has co-written and published a number of journal articles and book chapters concerned with British and EU environmental policy and policy-making, devolution in the UK, and environmental and business organised interests. She has co-edited a book with (with Alex Warleigh-Lack) entitled Integrating Interests in the European Union: The New Politics of Persuasion, Advocacy and Influence (London: Europa). Previously Jenny worked at the University of East Anglia’s ESRC core funded Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment. Before entering academia Jenny worked as a chartered accountant.

Anthony Froggatt, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House

Since 1997 Antony has worked as a freelance consultant on energy and nuclear issues in the EU and neighbouring states. He has worked at length on EU energy policy issues for European Governments, the European Commission and Parliament and commercial bodies. He has also worked extensively with environmental groups and public bodies in Central Europe and neighbouring states, particularly in the run up to enlargement, assisting in the development of policies, initiatives and capacity building. Furthermore, he is a regular speaker at conferences, universities and training programmes across Europe and is a Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House.

Sue Harrison, Head of European Energy Markets, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR)

Since November 1993 Sue Harrison has been head of European Energy Markets in the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). She has led for the UK the negotiations in Brussels of all the European Union (EU) Directives and Regulations on the Internal Market in Electricity and Gas and on Security of Supply. Before 1993 Sue Harrison worked in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Affairs Division and was for many years the Head of the DTI's Translation Service.

Andrew Jordan, Professor, University of East Anglia

Andrew Jordan is Professor of Environmental Politics in the internationally renowned School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK He is particularly interested in the governance of environmental problems in different political contexts, but especially the European Union. He is the Managing Editor of the international journal Environment and Planning C (Government and Policy) and has published over a hundred peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and authored or edited 10 books, one of which, The Coordination of the European Union (with Adriaan Schout), won the Contemporary European Studies Association’s – UACES - ‘Best Book Award’ in 2007

Mikael Karlsson, President, European Environmental Bureau

Dr Karlsson is President of the European Environmental Bureau and of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. He is agronomist and holds a PhD in Environmental and Energy Systems. His scientific work focuses on environmental and risk policy research. He has published numerous scientific articles and popular texts. He lectures in environmental sciences and has experience of international development co-operation. He serves as expert in the Swedish Environmental Objectives Council, in Swedish Governmental Committees on environmental policy as well as in European Commissions’ High Level Groups. Dr. Karlsson is 38 years and lives in Stockholm with his wife and children.

Abstract: Key Aspects of an EU Energy Policy Promoting Sustainable Development

The consequences of underestimating climate change would be disastrous in terms of GDP loss and biodiversity decline. Keeping global warming below two centigrade presumes a concentration of greenhouse gases well below 400 ppm. This also requires that global emissions peak within a few years and thereafter declines. In line with the principle that all humans are equal, a long-term global per capita target should be set. The European Union should aim for 90 percent reduction by 2050, which necessitates some 40 percent reduction for 1990-2020. In doing so, EU can take global leadership. This requires much higher energy efficiency in all sectors and a rapid development of renewable energy sources, a process that would increase the competitiveness of European business and decrease the vulnerability for climate change.

To promote these objectives, a combination of market incentives, regulatory frameworks, business strategies, and civil society campaigns is needed. Climate unfriendly subsidies must be abolished and the price of greenhouse gas emissions must increase. A binding plan for the former is needed. For the latter, taxes and other pricing tools should be used. The emission trading scheme must set strict interim cap targets and be based on full auctioning. Concerning transportation, kilometre pricing on heavy vehicles, taxation or full auctioning of emission rights to air traffic, and stricter limits for car fuel consumption are needed, as are investments and spatial planning for sustainable development. Nuclear power should be phased out. Unbundling of energy companies and combined heat and power production is crucial. Carbon Capture and Storage might, under strict conditions, contribute. Pricing of consumers’ electricity use should be variable, demand-related and include externalities. Subsidies for renewables that meet environmental criteria are needed as long as externalities for fossil fuels are not internalised. Synergies between climate change and other environmental problems should be sought.

Jean Lambert, MEP Green Party

Jean Lambert is London’s Green Party Member of the European Parliament – a position she has held since 1999. Jean works on a range of social and environmental concerns, to build a more just and sustainable future, with a focus on how these issues are connected. Jean has published reports on climate change and housing, environment and refugees, work-life balance, energy and waste, and social inclusion. She has produced a DVD involving young people in environmental justice issues, as well as a follow-up project with young people from London and other European cities. A member of the Parliament's Employment and Civil Liberties committees, and the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Jean won the 2005 award for MEP of the year for her work on justice and human rights. She was Vice President of the European Parliament Green Group for 2002-6.

Website: www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk

Juho Lipponen, Head of Unit, Energy Policy and Generation , EURELECTRIC

Juho Lipponen joined EURELECTRIC in 2000 as adviser in energy policy. Afterwards he worked as adviser in energy markets and was promoted Head of EURELECTRIC’s Markets Unit in June 2004. Since January 2005 Mr Lipponen is Head of Energy Policy Unit, in charge of the various policy areas that impact a wide range of power generation technologies.

Mr. Lipponen has a Masters degree in political science, economics and constitutional law from Turku University, Finland.

Role of Electricity: Towards Low-Carbon Power Generation

Despite the recent growth of renewable energy, the European electricity sector remains dominated by conventional fossil fuel fired and nuclear power generation. While the CO2 emissions per KWh from power generation have reduced significantly since the 1980s, the sector has a challenge in moving to a low-carbon generation portfolio in the coming decades. Ensuring a balanced generation portfolio is a key priority for the industry. As the new technologies for clean coal and CCS develop, it is possible to continue using coal-fired power generation in the future, while at the same time reducing CO2 emissions. As currently the largest single CO2-free power generation technology in Europe, the nuclear energy option should also be retained. EURELECTRIC’s recent “Role of Electricity” study shows that by employing a balanced energy mix and by developing synergies between supply and demand side, it is possible to reduce GHG emissions without unreasonable costs to society.

Jeremy Nicholson, Managing director of EIUG, the Energy Intensive User Group and a Board Member of IFIEC Europe (International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers)

Sebastian Oberthür, Institute for European Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Sebastian Oberthür has been Academic Director of the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel since October 2005. Trained as a political scientist with a strong background in international law, he focuses on issues of international and European environmental and climate governance, with an emphasis on institutional issues and perspectives. His current research interest focuses on the horizontal and vertical integration of international institutions and policies relevant to the environment as well as the role of the EU in international institutions and international environmental policy in particular.

Nieves Pérez-Solórzano, UACES Secretary and University of Bristol

Dr Nieves Pérez-Solórzano is a Senior Lecturer in European Politics in the Department of Politics at the University of Bristol and Hon Secretary of UACES. Nieves has written extensively about civil society participation and interest representation in European Union politics and the impact of EU membership on interest politics in Central and Eastern Europe. She is currently working on stakeholder involvement in the regulation and development of the electricity sector in South East Europe and the ethical implications of lobbying regulation in the EU. She has previously worked at the universities of Exeter and East Anglia.

Tim Rayner, Senior Research Associate, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia

Tim Rayner is a core researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, and a Senior Research Associate on the EU 6^th Framework Programme ADAM project (‘Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies: Supporting European Climate Policy’). This three year project, begun in spring 2006, is designed to lead to a better understanding of the synergies, trade-offs and conflicts that exist between adaptation and mitigation policies at multiple scales, and support EU policy development post-2012.

Artur Runge-Metzger, Head of Unit 'Climate strategy, international negotiation and monitoring of EU action', DG Environment

Artur Runge-Metzger, Head of Unit "Climate strategy, international negotiation and monitoring of EU action", DG Environment of the European Commission. He holds a doctoral degree in agricultural economics. He started his professional career at the University of Göttingen, Germany in 1985. His main scientific topics were natural resources economics and development economics, which included extensive field research in West Africa. He joined the European Commission in 1993, starting his career in the EC Delegation in Zimbabwe where he was responsible for the bilateral co-operation covering agricultural policies, rural development and the environment. From the end of 1997, he worked for four years in DG Development and DG Environment in Brussels on a wide range of environmental issues, particularly climate change. At the end of 2001, he was appointed Head of Operations in the EC Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He took up his position as Head of Unit on 1 September 2003.

Tim Rayner, Senior Research Associate, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia

Erich Scherer, Assistant Director, Renewable Energy Strategy, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform

Mr Erich Scherer studied Law and Politics in the Netherlands, Austria, France and the UK. He practiced as a lawyer in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and London before joining the Civil Service in 2004. He has held a number of posts at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR - formerly DTI) including as a member of the 2006 Energy Review team. In 2007 he was seconded to the Commission to assist with the development of the Renewables Directive. Having returned to BERR after the publication of the Directive he is currently a member of the Renewable Energy Strategy team.

Abstract: The UK renewable energy strategy

The UK can claim to be a leader in the fight against climate change. The UK Government has worked hard to promote action against climate change on the international stage. It has been a main contributor to the establishment of a credible carbon price within Europe. Domestically, the UK is on track to exceed its Kyoto target.

On renewable energy, the UK's achievements are less obvious - around 5% renewable electricity with negligible renewable transport and heat levels does not impress in international comparison. Many have been quick to conclude that Government action on promoting renewable energy is lacking. This article will attempt to put the UK efforts on renewable energy so far in perspective, highlighting the groundwork that has been carried out over the past few years and that has already started to show results.

The Commission's proposal for a Renewable Energy Directive was published in January 2008. The intention is for the Directive to be negotiated and agreed by 2009. The article will comment on the UK's contribution and support leading up to the Commission's proposal, and its role in the ongoing negotiations.

At the same time it will consider the UK reaction to the Directive at the domestic policy level. It will emphasise the ambitious nature of the target proposed by the Directive, and the resulting step-change in the Government's work on renewables. The article will examine the initiatives the Government is currently considering to allow the UK to meet it, and will focus attention on a major consultation exercise, starting in June, on the UK's renewable energy strategy to 2020 and beyond.

Catherine Waddams, ESRC Centre for Competition Policy, University of East Anglia

Professor Catherine Waddams (formerly Price) is founding Director of the ESRC Centre for Competition Policy at the University of East Anglia. She joined UEA from the University of Warwick in 2000. She has studied the development of utility privatisation and regulation, and is particularly interested in the effect on different income groups of introducing competition to such industries, both in developed and developing economies; and in the role of consumers in competition policy. Much of Catherine’s research centres on the energy sector. She is a part time member of the reporting panel of the UK Competition Commission.

EU Energy Policy: Problems and Prospects: What role for competition?

“A European Energy Policy will firmly commit the European Union (EU) to a low consumption economy based on more secure, more competitive and more sustainable energy” (EU energy website). How far is competition consistent with other energy objectives? Effective competition may bring prices down, which would encourage rather than discourage consumption. The household market for energy was opened up to entrants, together with formal removal of regulation, almost a year ago. Is there a realistic chance of effective competition in this market? Experience in the UK, where over half of consumers have switched supplier, shows that an active market can be created where consumer choice is introduced. There are similar encouraging signs in parts of the Nordic market. Evidence from both these markets points to the strong effect of rising prices in motivating consumers to seek a better deal. But even in well developed markets there are concerns about consumer ‘errors’ – both in staying with the incumbent despite higher prices, and in not choosing the best deal when they do switch. But in many countries of the European Union, incumbent prices remain too low to attract profitable entry, and in some (e.g. Spain) the reintroduction of regulation has stifled the market which was starting to develop. Even where entrants can offer attractive alternatives to incumbents there is concern that as consolidation and vertical integration amongst major European suppliers continues, there may be opportunities to soften competition, so that consumers are not offered deals at the lowest possible prices, leading to consumer detriment. This contribution reviews the evidence from both the demand and supply sides, using examples from the UK, where household markets have been opened since 1998.

Sir Stephen Wall, GCMG LVO, Honorary President of UACES

Born in 1947, Stephen Wall spent thirty-five years in the British Diplomatic Service. He was Private Secretary to five British Foreign Secretaries and worked in No 10 Downing Street for Prime Ministers Callaghan, Major and Blair. He was Britain’s Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1995-2000. He is now Vice-Chair of Business for New Europe and Chair of the Council of University College London (UCL) . He is married with one son.

Alex Warleigh-Lack, UACES Chair and Brunel University

Alex Warleigh-Lack is Professor of Politics and International Relations at Brunel University. He is Chair of UACES for the period between September 2006 and September 2009. His most recent research monograph is Democracy in the European Union: Theory, Practice and Reform (Sage 2003), and his main research interests lie in the reform of the EU and comparative regional integration/regionalisation. His eighth and ninth books, one the second edition of his textbook European Union: The Basics, and one a co-edited volume (with David Phinnemore) entitled Reflections on European Integration will be published by Routledge and Palgrave respectively before the end of 2008.

David Warrilow, Head of Climate, Energy and Ozone: Science and Analysis, DEFRA

David Warrilow is responsible for scientific, technical and analytical aspects of climate change, ozone depletion and energy use at the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). He is also the policy lead for the UK’s international policies on adaptation to climate change and for the UK’s international and domestic policies on Protection of the Stratosphere under the Montreal Protocol. He is responsible for ensuring that the UK Government receives sound scientific advice on climate change with regard to both its domestic activities and international negotiations. He heads the UK’s delegation to the IPCC and leads on the technical matters covered by the Subsidiary Body on Science and Technology of the Climate Change Convention. He manages a £20+ million research programme which provides policy relevant scientific advice and evidence. His own scientific background covers climate modeling, land-surface processes and hydro-meteorology.

Anthony Zito, University of Newcastle

Dr Anthony R. Zito has been Reader in Politics at Newcastle University since 2005. Dr. Zito was a 2007 Leverhulme Fellow, and currently is conducting a comparative analysis of environmental agencies in the EU and United States. In 2000-2003, he was co-investigator (with his co-researchers Drs. Wurzel and Jordan) of a project (within the ESRC Future Governance Programme) that examined the use of new environmental policy instruments in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the EU and was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the ESRC. He has authored Creating Environmental Policy in the European Union (Palgrave 2000) and articles in Political Studies, Public Administration and other journals, focusing on the European Union policy process and environmental actors and policy-making.