Includes bibliographical references and index.

The importance of sustainable energy policies for Europe -- an introduction / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- Introducing a groundbreaking legislative framework / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- From cradle to adult life: European climate and energy policies until 2007 / Christine Lins -- The European climate and energy package for 2020 / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- From agreement via legistation to implementation -- will the climate and energy package deliver until 2020? / Jan Geiss -- Legal assessment of "discriminating market barriers" in national support systems / Markus Kahles & Thorsten Muller -- Powerful national support systems versus Europe-wide harmonisation -- assessment of competing and converging support instruments / Markus Kahles & Thorsten Muller -- Internal energy market -- implementation still pending / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- Scenario development and policy debates / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- Scenarios up to 2050 -- assumptions, figures, and more / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- Learning from the best practice -- what European legislation and policy development can contribute to global growth of renewables / Christine Lins -- Towards an integrated post -- 2020 framework / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes -- Outlook -- towards 100% renewable energy / Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes.

"The discussion about energy perspectives beyond 2020, up to 2030 and eventually 2050, has started. There seems to be a verbal consensus about the necessity of ambitious climate change mitigation policies, without a convincing perspective of the necessary policy decisions to be achieved in due time. Solutions for greenhouse gas reduction as well as for energy security vary from aiming at 100% renewable energies and setting up appropriate policy frameworks to a mix of renewables with so-called clean fossil and nuclear energy. This book provides an analysis of the different approaches and the reasons why there is no sustainable alternative to aiming at 100% renewables -- and how this vision could come true. The book provides an overview and in-depth analysis of a vital debate. It describes how the present policy framework with 2020-targets for the share of renewables, for increase of energy efficiency and for greenhouse gas emissions reduction was developed and how it was implemented so far. Further, it describes and analyses the emerging debate about the future of our energy system, and about necessary next steps and targets towards 2030"--