The Influence of Environmental NGOs on the Design of the Emissions Trading Scheme of the EU: An Application of the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Bruges Political Research Papers No. 8 09/2008

Dreger, Jonas. (2008) The Influence of Environmental NGOs on the Design of the Emissions Trading Scheme of the EU: An Application of the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Bruges Political Research Papers No. 8 09/2008. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

The adoption process of the emission trading scheme (ETS) directive in the co-decision procedure merged the dynamics of problem solution and political gaming, which Kingdon calls policy and political streams. An application of Sabatier’s advocacy coalition framework shows that an “economy-first” and an “environment-first” coalition competed for influence on the ETS. Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) as part of one advocacy coalition were subject to the constraints of lobbying in a multi-level governance system. Their ability to influence the ETS depended on relatively stable parameters and external events. As ENGOs are outsiders to the bodies with formal authority in the European Union (EU), they needed powerful coalition members such as DG Environment and the European Parliament (EP) as well as strong external facilitating factors. ENGOs fared better in the policy stream than in the political stream. They aimed for a strong initial Commission proposal to set a path-dependent process in motion and at counterbalancing the Council with the EP. They can contribute to policyoriented learning and instrumentalise perturbations, but they are not able to create a negotiation stalemate.

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