Gas pipeline politics in light of the green transition : a qualitative study of the justifications of the Baltic pipeline project

Abstract

How can fossil fuel infrastructure be justified in Europe today given ambitious climate targets? I study the arguments put forward by Denmark and Poland for the Baltic Pipeline Project (BPP) to study the interaction of energy security, environmental and economic concerns. The BPP is a novel and understudied project at a time when the salience of pipeline politics has reached new heights. After developing theoretical predictions, I use document analysis to examine the Danish and Polish arguments. I find that quests for energy security are the most pronounced justifications, natural gas is framed as a bridging fuel and is thus environmentally compliant, and the implications beyond the two participating states are leveraged by policymakers. It is inevitable that fossil fuel projects will be fraught with controversy and I find that policymakers neuter critiques by framing the BPP as a step towards a green future and a reflexion of geopolitical reality.