Exploring the Harmonization of Climate Policies in the EU : The Case of Germany

One thing the European Union and Germany have in common is their self-imposed role as forerunners in the field of climate policy. Therefore, this thesis explores whether this may be all the two have in common in this area, or whether they are pursuing the same objectives. For this purpose, a framework based on the theory of differentiated integration has been created to examine the extent to which German climate targets harmonize with those defined by the EU. Over a period from 2009 until the acceptance of the European Green Deal in 2020, I conclude that the German climate policy along its climate targets is, with minor exceptions, increasingly harmonized with the EU guidelines.