There is hardly a policy field in which ambition and reality collide as violently as in Europe’s climate policy. For years, the European Union has regarded itself as a pioneer in the fight against climate change. At summits, leaders speak of “historic responsibility,” “green leadership,” and a “new social contract.”´The goal is ambitious: by 2050, the EU intends to generate no additional CO₂ emissions, and by 2040 it aims to cut greenhouse gases by 90 percent compared with 1990 levels.