The limits of ambitious environmental policy in times of crisis

The European Union has been hit by a range of crises since the late 2000s. The global financial and economic crises have led to the pursuit of austerity measures across the European Union (EU) limiting the ability and willingness of political elites to pursue ambitious environmental policy. This chapter reviews the impact of these crises upon the EUs external policy ambition, including consideration of how the UK’s decision to leave the Union may impact the Union’s wider environmental policy goals.