Transformative Energy Policy in Federal Systems: Canada and Germany Compared
Dublin Core
Title
Transformative Energy Policy in Federal Systems: Canada and Germany Compared
Subject
energy policy
transformation
federalism
intergovernmental relations
Description
Transforming the energy system towards an increasing share of renewables requires a significant change of a policy to redirect the path-dependent evolution of a highly complex technical system. Moreover, a new path of development towards energy provision from renewables has to be stabilized to assure sustainability. The federal systems in Canada and Germany diverge in the institutional conditions relevant for policy change and stability. Canadian federalism separates powers in energy policy and allows the federal and provincial governments to change policies on their own. In contrast, German federalism requires co-operation between federal and Länder governments which favors policy stability but renders significant change unlikely.
However, energy transformation started in the 1990s in Germany under conditions that allowed the federal government to avoid the usual mode of joint decision-making. In Canada, provincial governments took the lead in energy transformation, when the conservative federal government showed no interest in intergovernmental coordination. The article explains these shifts in power within the institutional framework. It also discusses the consequences, considering the stability of transformative energy policy. In Germany, policy change from the center undermined the stabilizing structures of intergovernmental coordination, in Canada, institutional conditions favoring continuity never existed. Hence in both countries, governments changed policies but failed to reform institutions of governance.
However, energy transformation started in the 1990s in Germany under conditions that allowed the federal government to avoid the usual mode of joint decision-making. In Canada, provincial governments took the lead in energy transformation, when the conservative federal government showed no interest in intergovernmental coordination. The article explains these shifts in power within the institutional framework. It also discusses the consequences, considering the stability of transformative energy policy. In Germany, policy change from the center undermined the stabilizing structures of intergovernmental coordination, in Canada, institutional conditions favoring continuity never existed. Hence in both countries, governments changed policies but failed to reform institutions of governance.
Creator
Benz, Arthur
Broschek, Jörg
Source
Canadian Journal of European and Russian Studies; Vol. 14 No. 2 (2020): Carbon Politics in Canada and Europe: Coping with Jurisdictional and Interest Diversity; 56-78
2562-8429
10.22215/cjers.v14i2
Publisher
Centre for European Studies, Carleton University
Date
2021-04-27
Rights
Copyright (c) 2021 Canadian Journal of European and Russian Studies
Relation
Format
application/pdf
Language
eng
Type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
Identifier
Citation
Arthur Benz and J Broschekörg, Transformative Energy Policy in Federal Systems: Canada and Germany Compared, Centre for European Studies, Carleton University, 2021, accessed September 21, 2024, http://igi.indrastra.com/items/show/2804