Copyright @ 2020 Australian and New Zealand Journal of European Studies https://esaanz.org.au/anzjes/ Vol12 (2) ISSN 1837-2147 (Print) ISSN 1836-1803 (On-line) Borders and Catastrophe: lessons from COVID-19 for the European Green Deal Maren Klein European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
[email protected] Chloe Ward European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
[email protected] Bradley Davison European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
[email protected] Sophie Di-Francesco Mayot European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
[email protected] Debbi Long European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
[email protected] Campbell Hughes European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University
[email protected] Abstract This article considers how the European Union and Member States’ responses to the COVID-19 crisis in the first half of 2020 could inform climate action in Europe, and particularly the resumption of actions on the EGD. It first outlines the EU’s public health and economic responses to COVID-19 and Europe’s role in the global response to the pandemic. We find that, based on the challenges and successes of all these responses, a strong argument can be made for ‘more Europe’ – greater integration, and stronger EU-level institutions – to lead and govern the COVID-19 response. This has direct lessons for the governance and scope of future climate action. Key words: European climate policy, COVID-19, climate change, European Union, public health Introduction 4 ANZJES 12(2) Like the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic transcends borders.