Europa im Schwitzkasten

Europe is equally captivated by the increasingly palpable effects of global warming as it is by the return of war at its borders. Thomas Zehetner sheds light on the previously underexplored interplay between climate and energy transitions and international politics. The climate crisis will undoubtedly overshadow all other issues increasingly throughout the 21st century, making it all the more urgent to understand its impact on international cooperation. Addressing the climate crisis occurs during a phase of global disorder, where competition among various world regions intensifies, with Europe increasingly caught in the crossfire between the United States and China in the race for global dominance. Climate technologies are the new arena in this global competition, where Europe must ensure it does not fall behind in the emerging Green Cold War. Thomas Zehetner, a long-time climate spokesperson for WWF, explores the extent to which European climate diplomacy can resolve the contradiction between a power-oriented world of states and the necessity for planetary responsibility.