Abstract
De-coupling economic drivers from environmental degradation is a key dimension of ‘ sustainable development’ (SD), and ‘Environmental policy integration’ (EPI) – the assessment of potential environmental impacts in sectoral policy-making – is a key instrument in this regard. Promoting renewable electricity (RES-E) can provide de-coupling in the energy sector. Furthermore innovative modes of RES-E can also induce a ‘re-coupling’. In this contect, the present article provides a comparative assessment of the promotion of RES-E in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in the perspective of EPI. Danish and Swedish RES-E initiatives can to a lager extent than in Norway be related to de- and re-coupling, and therefore more strongly reflect EPI standards. Denmark and Sweden, in each their way, also indicate a positive interaction between EPI and the ability for more long-term and differentiated policy approaches to RES-E. Swedish RES-E initiatives resonate with a sector-encompassing, horizontal EPI approach – whereas Denmark reflects a more vertical, sector-specific EPI dimension. Long-term political commitments formulated at the national level represent a key variable in explaining the status of EPI standards in the present cases, but are substantially conditioned by institutional frameworks and economic interests.