Environmental policy-making in Britain, Germany and the European Union. The Europeanisation of air and water pollution control

Book abstract:

This book examines the conflicts that have arisen between Britain and Germany over environmental policy. It looks at how they have been resolved at EU level, focusing on the Europeanisation of air and water pollution control. In particular, ecological vulnerability, economic cost and capacity, political salience and environmental regulatory styles are examined to explain divergences between the two countries.

The book has three main parts. The opening section examines the wider environmental policy-making framework in Britain, Germany and the EU. It includes an assessment of the main factors that explain the adoption of environmental policy measures at domestic level, an analysis of the main EU integration and politics theories as well as the main features of EU environmental governance. Part two examines car emission regulation with chapters on the origins of the regulation, the debate over the catalytic converter and lean burn engine and the auto-oil programmes. Part three examines bathing water protection, examining its origins, implementation, the revision process and bathing water science.

The book is aimed at students and academics of the politics of the environment.

Rüdiger Wurzel is Lecturer in Politics at the University of Hull.