Pathologies of Climate Governance
International Relations, National Politics and Human Nature

An overview of the obstacles to effective climate governance, including international relations, national politics and psychosocial factors.

Paul G. Harris (Author)

9781108423410, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 February 2021

300 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.2 cm, 0.56 kg

'a very timely book … The book is a great overview of climate change governance … [it] could be used as a climate policy textbook and would be of interest to anyone concerned with global climate governance policy.' Richard Smardon, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences

Earth's climate is in crisis. Climate governance has failed. This book diagnoses climate governance as if it were a sick patient, uncovering the fundamental factors causing the worsening climate crisis. It distils decades of global climate negotiations to reveal the features of international relations that are impeding climate action, and it identifies political obstacles to climate governance across a variety of countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The psychosocial aspects of climate change are explored to show how human nature, overconsumption, and global capitalism conspire to stymy climate action. Remedies are suggested for how to overcome hurdles to effective climate governance internationally and nationally, with ideas provided for individuals to help them align their own interests with those of the global environment. Covering all of the major recent events in climate politics and governance, this is an accessible book for concerned readers who want to understand the climate crisis.

Acknowledgements
List of figures and tables
List of abbreviations and acronyms
Part I. Problems: 1. Dysfunction in climate governance
2. The worsening climate crisis
Part II. Pathologies: 3. Pathologies of international relations
4. Pathologies of national politics in the United States and China
5. Pathologies of national politics in the Global North
6. Pathologies of national politics in the Global South
7. Pathologies of human nature
Part III. Prescriptions: 8. Reconsidering international, national and human governance
9. Prescriptions for governing climate change
10. Policies and prospects for climate governance
Conclusion
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Sustainability [RNU], Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Climate change [RNPG], International environmental law [LBBP], International relations [JPS]