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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATIONS
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matic increase in fossil fuel prices globally, and the ongoing European dependence
on energy imports from Russia. Without considerable change to its economic model,
Russia will continue to be trapped by the effects of its resource abundance impact-
ing both its own political and economic stability, but also that of the European Union.
Historical political rivalries, geopolitics, economic linkages, and resource dependence
on Russia all constitute an explosive cocktail for all actors involved.
In her paper, Kalantzakos seeks to move beyond the perception that the fight against
climate change represents a global political failure. The author then takes a fresh look
at potential new power partnerships that are more suitable to address the worsen-
ing climate crisis given the track record of the more powerful states in climate change
negotiations. She asserts that a dynamic EU-China partnership can represent a more
effective paradigm shift as well as a demonstration of global leadership. The leader-
ship that EU and Chinese collaboration could provide, she maintains, may result in the
necessary push to solidify a concrete vision and a roadmap to a low carbon future, al-
lowing other developing countries to enter the fold and also, perhaps, solidifying true
US commitment to the process.
Scholars from the University of Piraeus Energy Master Program lend their expertise to
the second section of the book that takes a close look at Energy Developments in one
of the major global powers: the European Union. Europe, the most committed and vo-
cal proponent of a global binding treaty to curb carbon emissions, is faced with chal-
lenges of its own vis-à-vis institution building and energy management. Farantouris
asserts that EU member state positions, concerning hydrocarbon exploration and
exploitation continue to differ greatly and have always been fragmented. The new
Article 194 TFEU while ensuring the functioning of the EU internal market, intersects
with other equally important priorities, such as security of energy supply, energy ef-
ficiency, energy saving, the development of renewable sources and the optimal inter-
connection of energy networks. The author goes through a detailed analysis and his-
tory of the treaties and the new Article 194 TFEU to conclude that the EU still has a
way to go and that the European institutional framework remains fragmented and in-
sufficient to tackle questions of growing external reliance on fossil fuels, as well as the
challenges of the hydrofracking revolution.
Farantouris’ paper ties in well with the paper by Dagoumas that explores how the
European policies to ensure the Triple Dividend, namely Energy Security, the com-
pletion of the Internal Energy Market, and the fight against Climate Change can be
complemented by national policies. By taking a closer look at the case of Greece, he
explores the complementarity between European and national polices as they seek
to incorporate: the European Energy and Climate Package for 2030; enhance Energy
Security through diversification of Routes and Resources and the exploitation of
Indigenous Resources; implement critical energy infrastructure projects; moderate
energy demand through the financing of Energy Saving projects; and incorporate the
European Target Model toward an Internal Energy Market. His analysis concludes that