Public policy and governance for European social-ecological protection

In a context where the debate on ecological crises and European welfare states is stuck at the initial phase of political action, this paper explores the role that welfare state sectors can play in mitigating social risks associated with the climate crisis, while also addressing greenhouse gas emissions, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. The authors highlight the challenges and opportunities in the current European situation, which informs the final section of the paper outlining policy considerations for risk-informed approaches to eco-social protection and welfare state reform. In particular, the authors put forward suggestions for adapting, extending and financing EU-level welfare state policies, ranging from incremental to transformative measures.