European Union's Influence on Global Climate Change Talks Leaves Something to be Desired, According to Energy Nominee

Gunther Oettinger is not exactly a household name today, but it's a good bet that in the next year anyone interested in energy policy is going to know exactly who he is.

Mr. Oettinger, shown at left, has been nominated as the European Union Energy Commissioner, a position that he should be confirmed to later this month. In this role he will help develop and implement the EU's energy policy.

What has caught observers a bit by surprise is how candid Mr. Oettinger was last week in his confirmation hearings before the European Parliament. In effect, Mr. Oettinger said that the EU's lack of international influence was clear for all to see in its lack of impact at the UN Conference on Climate Change at Copenhagen in December.

Generally speaking, nominees for the European Commission -- the EU's executive -- are not greatly forthcoming in their hearings. Better to be safe than sorry, I suppose.

However, Mr. Oettinger put caution to the wind when he said, "If the Copenhagen summit showed us one thing, it is that the European Union isn't big enough for world authority when it comes to countries like China." He was referring to the fact that the EU as a body was not a central player when the summit got down to tough talks. Despite the fact that the EU is the only major governmental entity to have in place a carbon cap-and-trade system, China and the U.S. --neither of which has anywhere close to the same commitment -- were calling the shots.

What does this mean for EU influence? In the short term, it is obvious -- even to Brussels -- that the EU does not "punch its weight" when in comes to international issues. Moreover, the hallways in Brussels must also be a bit bleaker when EU stalwarts recognize that they still remain the "only game in town" when it comes to a serious cap-and-trade system. On the other hand, Europe often seems comfortable reminding other countries what they should be doing but aren't.

Disappointing as it might be to European leaders, Washington and Beijing don't seem particularly interested in what the Europeans are doing in relation to climate change.

Two other European Commissions nominees to keep your eye on: Janez Potocnik, Slovenian economist, who has been nominated for Environment Commissioner and Connie Hedegaard, Danish journalist, who has been nominated for Climate Action Commissioner.

The three should be highly visible figures as the EU plots its environment/energy/and climate action strategies between now and 2014.

Meanwhile, within the EU discussion has resumed about whether the Union should increase its CO2 reduction commitment to 30 percent by 2020, up from the 20 percent it has already agreed to. According to euobserver.com ("EU States Divided Over Jump to 30 Percent Cut in CO2," Jan. 18, 2010), Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK favor a move to 30 percent while such a move is opposed by Italy and Poland. Belgium has suggested, as a compromise, 25 percent.

--Don C. Smith