EU governments should place greater emphasis on infrastructure projects in their efforts to tackle climate change

The European Union has positioned itself as one of the most proactive global organisations on climate change, with its Member States participating in an Emissions Trading System designed to progressively limit greenhouse gas outputs. Corentin Cohen writes that while the EU has chosen to place most of its focus on using taxation to discourage emissions, there are a number of ways in which EU countries can use investment in essential infrastructure to create ways for people to ‘be green’ and get real benefits from doing so. He suggests that this approach is the only way for Europe to successfully tackle the issue of climate change, and that it could provide opportunities for increasing citizens’ affinity for European integration.