This thesis examines the German role regarding the European Emissions Trading System, the setting of climate targets as well as the promotion of renewable energies in the EU in order to assess how Germany has shaped European climate policy between 2000 and 2015 and to which extend the country can be considered a climate leader in this context. Hereby, the necessary analytical tools are provided by a theory of political leadership within the EU. The thesis was able to determine that Germany can be called a climate leader to a significant degree, especially with respect to renewable energies and the setting of climate targets. Hereby, the country showed entrepreneurial as well as cognitive leadership. However, its frontrunner role is to be viewed under three limitations. Firstly, Germany can’t be considered a green leader regarding the EU-ETS. Secondly, the country often combined an aspirational climate policy with national interests. And thirdly, German leadership decreased over time. In addition, the thesis can confirm the assumptions of the theoretical framework that the country’s structural resources and the institutional setting are important aspects that limited or enhanced German leadership even if the exact degree of influence is difficult to determine.
